The main advantage is that every time you re-engage drive you get to impart
slightly more wear to that forward clutch pack. Maybe it reduces some heat
in the torque converter and it does make the engine idle easier. If
everything is working as it should there really is no benefit except to
avoid that final push on the brakes just before the actual stop.  

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Malcolm Stebbins
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2011 5:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: LVC Auto Tranny & Neutral at Stop Lights

This can be answered as either vanagon specific, or more generally as an
Auto Tranny question:

Is there any reason to, or not to, put an auto tranny into neutral when
stopped at a stop light?� I mean making a habit of it.� 

When driving an auto tranny car, I have a tendency to slip the tranny into
neutral when the vehicle slows to about 5 mph, and then wait for the light
to turn green and slip it into Drive.� In part, I do this to avoid a jerky
stop.

What are the pros and/or cons of this habit?�� Thanks.� Malcolm