Parking in gear or in neutral
Discussion
Dave. said:
I usually leave them in first, and don't usually bother with the handbrake.
I was one told by a self proclaimed petrolhead that I was damaging my gearbox with all the weight of the car resting on the gear. Same guy also said it should be in 5th/6th as higher gears are harder to turn.
Classic.I was one told by a self proclaimed petrolhead that I was damaging my gearbox with all the weight of the car resting on the gear. Same guy also said it should be in 5th/6th as higher gears are harder to turn.
I leave mine in gear but correct me if I’m wrong there’s no need to choose first or reverse depending on the direction of the hill? You’re still only fighting the compression and internal friction of the engine.
It just means that should a car roll backwards down a hill in first the engine will spin the wrong direction? But it won’t roll because the resistance is still there (okay there’s generally more resistance in reverse as the hearing ratio is lower)
It just means that should a car roll backwards down a hill in first the engine will spin the wrong direction? But it won’t roll because the resistance is still there (okay there’s generally more resistance in reverse as the hearing ratio is lower)
sim16v said:
I always leave mine in gear, and was taught that from the beginning of my driving.
I'm pretty sure it says to in the Highway Code.
Always amazed at the ignorance of people who don't, and their amazement when the handbrake fails and their car rolls down the hill in to something solid!
I believe gears are for going, brakes are for stopping. The only time I park in gear is very steep hills or jacking the car up. I don't consider this to be ignorant.I'm pretty sure it says to in the Highway Code.
Always amazed at the ignorance of people who don't, and their amazement when the handbrake fails and their car rolls down the hill in to something solid!
What I do consider to be particularly ignorant is someone borrowing my car & then parking it in gear rather than leaving it as they found it. I automatically check before starting someone else's car but generally don't on my own vehicle as I know how I leave it.
People can do as they please provided it's safe but please don't preach to others or assume an air of moral superiority.
sim16v said:
I always leave mine in gear, and was taught that from the beginning of my driving.
I'm pretty sure it says to in the Highway Code.
Always amazed at the ignorance of people who don't, and their amazement when the handbrake fails and their car rolls down the hill in to something solid!
I'd be amazed, too. I've been driving over 30 years and was driven around from my first or second day on earth. I'm pretty sure my parents never left the car in gear and I don't yet we've NEVER had a handbrake fail in our family.I'm pretty sure it says to in the Highway Code.
Always amazed at the ignorance of people who don't, and their amazement when the handbrake fails and their car rolls down the hill in to something solid!
OP: the UK is not particularly level, especially the hilly bits!
I always leave the car in gear, 1st or reverse dependant on situation. I try and explain this to my partner, who cannot comprehend this at all and thinks I'm mental.
I've developed this habit after a costly mistake when I was younger. Parked my car on a steep sloped driveway, left the car there for the weekend, and when I came back the car was through the garage
a few months later I received a letter from Vauxhalls to say there had been a recall on the handbrake!
I've developed this habit after a costly mistake when I was younger. Parked my car on a steep sloped driveway, left the car there for the weekend, and when I came back the car was through the garage
a few months later I received a letter from Vauxhalls to say there had been a recall on the handbrake!I note many suggest altering which gear (forward/reverse) you select whilst parked in accordance with the direction you are facing relative to the hill. I’m not convinced this makes the blindest bit of difference. Other than cranking in the opposite direction (a minimal amount) to the normal operating condition, I don’t see the benefit.
Our office carpark has a steep hill to park on. A lad started earlier this year and on his first day, found his car rolled down the hill, into a concrete wall, causing a lot of damage. Turned out he didn't know about leaving the car in gear, so after his hour long commute, he'd parked up and come in the office. When the brakes had cooled, the handbrake could no longer hold the car and off it rolled. Now he leaves it in gear.
I've driven enough crap with rubbish handbrakes in my time, always leave them in gear now!
The automatic XM I never used the handbrake on, through fear of breaking the unobtanium Y piece that connects the 3 cables together! Quick excercise at MOT time was all it got!
The Laguna had an automatic parking brake, which was reliable* as always on mid 2000's Renaults! But I couldnt disconnect that as it lit the dashboard up if I did!
Current 406 needs the shoes adjusting, it just about holds the car but where I park at home, it would roll back into next doors house, so it gets left in gear!
It's habit now, which has great* feedback from SWMBO when I've driven her car, as she doesnt check
The automatic XM I never used the handbrake on, through fear of breaking the unobtanium Y piece that connects the 3 cables together! Quick excercise at MOT time was all it got!
The Laguna had an automatic parking brake, which was reliable* as always on mid 2000's Renaults! But I couldnt disconnect that as it lit the dashboard up if I did!
Current 406 needs the shoes adjusting, it just about holds the car but where I park at home, it would roll back into next doors house, so it gets left in gear!
It's habit now, which has great* feedback from SWMBO when I've driven her car, as she doesnt check
Rovinghawk said:
I believe gears are for going, brakes are for stopping. The only time I park in gear is very steep hills or jacking the car up. I don't consider this to be ignorant.
What I do consider to be particularly ignorant is someone borrowing my car & then parking it in gear rather than leaving it as they found it. I automatically check before starting someone else's car but generally don't on my own vehicle as I know how I leave it.
People can do as they please provided it's safe but please don't preach to others or assume an air of moral superiority.
What I do consider to be particularly ignorant is someone borrowing my car & then parking it in gear rather than leaving it as they found it. I automatically check before starting someone else's car but generally don't on my own vehicle as I know how I leave it.
People can do as they please provided it's safe but please don't preach to others or assume an air of moral superiority.
Pothole said:
I'd be amazed, too. I've been driving over 30 years and was driven around from my first or second day on earth. I'm pretty sure my parents never left the car in gear and I don't yet we've NEVER had a handbrake fail in our family.
OP: the UK is not particularly level, especially the hilly bits!
Hey, I'm not trying to preach, just offering advice that gives a free extra safeguard that might save yours or a family members life.OP: the UK is not particularly level, especially the hilly bits!
Try looking at highway code rule 252 if you don't believe me.
Edited by sim16v on Friday 14th December 15:11
I have always used handbrake only. However since I only drive my cars about once every 2 or 3 months I thought I would leave them in gear to prevent the brakes sticking. Cue the next time I drive the car and turning the engine on to find the car bolting down the driveway (engine didn't even stall). Must have travelled 10 metres before I realised what was going on and reacted. Luckily driveway is big and no damage was done.
I never leave in gear now as I never developed the habit of checking the gear is in neutral before starting the car. It must be a generation thing as no one I know parks in gear. I certainly won't going forward.
I never leave in gear now as I never developed the habit of checking the gear is in neutral before starting the car. It must be a generation thing as no one I know parks in gear. I certainly won't going forward.
Hol said:
I think you are right.
Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.
When I learnt in 2006 I was taught to leave it in manual, Something my mum & dad always hated. Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.
Fast forward to now, I have a manual car that gets parked on a bit of a bank so that gets left in 1st + handbrake, PDK car is left in park + handbrake.
DanL said:
Depends if you're on a slope or not, no? Flat ground, just the handbrake for me. On an incline, I'll leave it in gear.
Auto these days, so it's held by the box anyway once it's in "P".
Agree with this.Auto these days, so it's held by the box anyway once it's in "P".
If on the level I just leave the handbrake on. Seen too many people start their car when in gear and lurch forward. On the level that is more of a risk than it rolling away so: On level handbrake only. On shallow hill handbrake + leave in gear. On very steep hill handbrake + in gear + point wheels at kerb.
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