Well known car accessories shop stuffed my ST into a sign

[rb5er]

Leaving cars in gear is a bit silly unless you are on a hill.

[Blakeatron]

All our manual vehicles are left in gear. Even the 17year old apprentice who has just passed his test knows to check they are in neutral before starting!

[TooMany2cvs]

Gixer said:

Nope the easy thing to do is learn to drive properly and always check a car is out of gear before starting.

You might like to re-read my post, if that was to me.

Gixer said:

Not to mention many cars these days have to be left in gear when parked...

Really? Apart from Saab - who've been out of business for five years - which?

[TimewarpUK]

Now if this was a post about a car rolling down a hill I wonder how many people would have replied with "You should have left it in gear".

[TooMany2cvs]

TimewarpUK said:

Now if this was a post about a car rolling down a hill I wonder how many people would have replied with "You should have left it in gear".

Or put the handbrake on properly... or fixed the handbrake so it worked in the first place...

[V8covin]

rb5er said:

Leaving cars in gear is a bit silly unless you are on a hill.

No it's not.
Were you not taught to check it's in neutral before you try to start ? That's how I was taught.Maybe they teach differently these days.

[TimewarpUK]

TooMany2cvs said:

Or put the handbrake on properly... or fixed the handbrake so it worked in the first place...

I usually put it enough on to suit the incline that it is parked on. No need to put it on full on a flat surface.

Leaving it in gear is a habit. Driving 101 - the very first thing you learn about driving is checking it is safe to start.

[TooMany2cvs]

TimewarpUK said:

I usually put it enough on to suit the incline that it is parked on. No need to put it on full on a flat surface.

There's no reason NOT to.

[Butter Face]

TimewarpUK said:

Driving 101 - the very first thing you learn about driving is checking it is safe to start.

I think it's actually to check your mirrors and driving position....




Pretyy crappy situation, chap is obviously covering his arse but TBH he should just put his hands up and let the company fix it.

[Rich_W]

I can't believe that would be a sackable offence for the guy. Unless he has a history of that sort of thing. I imagine that every now and then Currys staff drop a TV and break it. It's what the retailers insure for (aside for theft of course)

Oh and in answer to "Cars that have to be left in Gear"

R Tronic Audi R8 prompts you to "Engage gear. Vehicle may roll"

[TimewarpUK]

Rich_W said:

I can't believe that would be a sackable offence for the guy. Unless he has a history of that sort of thing. I imagine that every now and then Currys staff drop a TV and break it. It's what the retailers insure for (aside for theft of course)

Oh and in answer to "Cars that have to be left in Gear"

R Tronic Audi R8 prompts you to "Engage gear. Vehicle may roll"

Same for Volvo:

Volvo said:

When parking the vehicle, always engage 1st gear (for manual gearbox) or put the gear selector in position P (for automatic gearbox).

That's why you have a P on autos so you can leave it parked safely rather than in the N setting which allows freewheeling.

Edited by TimewarpUK on Sunday 29th November 11:38

[frisbee]

TooMany2cvs said:

TimewarpUK said:

I usually put it enough on to suit the incline that it is parked on. No need to put it on full on a flat surface.

There's no reason NOT to.

Because its made from various bits of crappy pressed metal that will cost a bomb to replace?

Amused by the people on this thread who haven't driven car hard enough for the handbrake to release when it cools down. Never mind pads welding to disks...

[4737 Carlin]

I'm shocked at how many PHers believe it's bad practice to leave a car in gear.

[Palms]

I always leave any of my cars in gear and start with the clutch depressed.

[Zerotonine]

Get a claim in, sucks to be that chap but accidents happen! If it had been a shed then I wouldn't worry but as it is a ST it is surely worth getting done right.

[PorkInsider]

4737 Carlin said:

I'm shocked at how many PHers believe it's bad practice to leave a car in gear.

Me too.

[*Al*]

Part of my job includes starting a car (for the very first time!) around 40 an hour, depressing the clutch and checking it's not been left in gear is critical as we also have someone checking in front of the car in the engine bay!

[TimewarpUK]

frisbee said:

Because its made from various bits of crappy pressed metal that will cost a bomb to replace?

Amused by the people on this thread who haven't driven car hard enough for the handbrake to release when it cools down. Never mind pads welding to disks...

^^ that.

I do put it on firmly, but I don't put it on any harder than needed (discounting the need to protect it against people launching their foot off the pedal when it's in first ).

[Rickyy]

How can it be anyone elses fault, except the person operating the car, if they release the clutch with the car in gear?

What next? Mechanic scratched the side of my car reversing it out of the space. "Ah, but did you straighten the wheels when you left it in the space?"

Get it reported and repaired properly.

[djdest]

I'm intrigued to know what his ignition check would actually be?
Had he plugged something into the car to check it as he started the engine (I can't think of anything that would be of use any way) or was he just going to start it and use his expert knowledge?
Personally I avoid anywhere that offers such nonsense like the plague, I certainly wouldn't want any idiot messing around with my car!
As for him offering a smart repair and not recording it, sod that, he was clearly just trying to keep himself out of trouble.
What will you do if his smart repair turns out to be a load of crap?