I have 162k+ on the original clutch in my Jetta TD.
I always let is idle in neutral, and never accelerate hard until the clutch
is fully engaged...or is it DIS-engaged??? Either way, when leaving a stop,
I accelerate gently until the crank speed and input shaft speed are equal,
then I nail it to the floor until I change gears. I don't downshift/clutch
brake very often, and when I do, I match the speed with the throttle before
releasing the clutch.

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Austin [SMTP:austins@IX.NETCOM.COM]
Sent:   Tuesday, June 29, 1999 9:34 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: Clutch Use/NEW THREAD??

At 12:40 PM 6/29/99 -0500, you wrote:
>I've been reading the traffic regarding pressure on the clutch pedal while
>in idle, and I offer the following.
>
>I am the original owner of a 1973 Ghia Vert. It has ~95K on the ORIGINAL
>clutch (all components). I do drive conservatively, and have always
>"tapped" the transmission into neutral upon coming to a stop.......
>
>Mick
>

This is my entry for longest clutch life on the list;  '77 Rabbit that
taught 5 (five!) teenagers to drive in 135K miles.  At that point rebuilt
the engine so clutch was replaced while the engine was out - Friction
Materials told me the clutch disc wasn't even half gone!

Austin