How does the clutch work on The automated tranny? Like when sitting at a stop light. Does it disengage? Or does it slip and when you jump on the brake while creeping down the street doe it disengage or what? Is that why the clutch does not last as long as the manual?

 

Below a certain rpm it is fully disengaged and above a certain rpm it is fully engaged, and in between it is progressively engaged. So, at a full stop it is disengaged. There are other operating subtleties, but that's the gist of it.

 

While i agree that at stop the clutch disengages, my habit has been to pull back both paddles at a stop to put in neutral. ..

 

How do you manually control the clutch without a clutch pedal? The clutch won't last longer whether you put it in neutral or not; disengaged is disengaged. If you are talking about the throw out bearing, that's a whole different matter.

 

Ding ding ding...!

 

You are correct about the benefit to the throw out bearing. That said there is some benefit to the clutch assembly if the car is put into neutral. By releasing pressure on the clutch’s pressure plate you are prolonging the life of the pressure plate itself.
Clutch won’t last longer but the pressure plate will (smile)

 

Which is exactly the same reason that you shouldn't sit at a stop light with your foot on the clutch in a manual car.