The only times my shifter has ever seen lower gears than OD is twice in WV on really truly STEEP downhills on dirt roads with questionable traction.
Other than that, I've never met a hill that would fade my brakes, and quite frankly, my trans is smart enough to get the right gear when I want it.

my car does not have performance shift or a computer just yet..so i do. I actually can see change since i can wind out the car more and i see some improvement. I raced a newer body style SLE Bonne and i had about a hood length on him at the end and my car is stock while we both had the same launch..

there'* so many other factors in that, you cant really say that the lead was due to the shifting... even between 2 "identical" cars, they will not be exactly the same. a hood length isn't much. plus, the newer body styles are a completely different animal.

I've actually heard it'* hard on a transmission to coast in neutral because the fluid pump isn't circulating transmission fluid as efficiently as when it'* in gear.

who said he was putting it in neutral?

Lack of description is open to interpretation. I assumed the same thing that Custom88 did.

i just assumed he was leaving it in D... it wont shift down into first while coasting at speed, will it? i dont drive on steep hills

Well, keeping it in N while stopped takes the load off the Transmission and it also seems to keep the temp down while sitting in traffic. Another thing is you don't need to press the brake pedal down as hard to keep your car from moving, so less wear on trans and brakes. I have never forgotten to shift back into gear. I am used to manuals anyhow.

I never shift manually, I see no point in it

Not the Bonnevilles.

I shift the three speed Nissan into N when going down steep hills where I know I can shift back into D without ripping it, e.g. an interstate off ramp where I know I have to stop.

I do this, yet, I am unsure if it damages the tranny. I have been told that if you shift to N and then into D at any speed above full stop it stresses the TCC. I have no idea if this is true or not.

The only reason I do it in the Nissan is cuz it'* a damn annoying 3-speed mated to a weak engine.