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As far as an automatic goes, my limited opinion is that you're not adding much wear to the transmission itself but the shift linkage is the big additional wear point.
As far as engine braking goes, its a matter of cost, brakes are cheaper (and easier to work on) than engines/transmissions. Another view is I can periodically change brakes in an evening without being without a car, but engine/transmission work is usually a lifestyle change.
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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)
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