Parking in gear or in neutral
Discussion
I am old school, always in gear. Drove my SiL's car recently and parked it up. A few days later I learned that he ran over my daughter's foot. He started the car as she was putting their son in his car seat. The car lurched forward and rear tyre rolled over her foot. SiL uses handbrake only! Further reason to always depress the clutch when starting so this can't happen. No lasting damage thankfully!
Hol said:
HTP99 said:
Never leave my car in gear when parked up and never been taught too, I always assumed it was more of an older generation thing; my dad did it.
I think you are right.Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.
mrtwisty said:
Hol said:
HTP99 said:
Never leave my car in gear when parked up and never been taught too, I always assumed it was more of an older generation thing; my dad did it.
I think you are right.Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.
I do however select neutral before starting - but I check that its in neutral even if it is already, so no time is lost.
There are no reasons not to - it's safer and there are no downsides. If someone crashes into it hard enough to damage the drivetrain, chances are its uneconomic to repair anyway.
ChasW said:
I am old school, always in gear. Drove my SiL's car recently and parked it up. A few days later I learned that he ran over my daughter's foot. He started the car as she was putting their son in his car seat. The car lurched forward and rear tyre rolled over her foot. SiL uses handbrake only! Further reason to always depress the clutch when starting so this can't happen. No lasting damage thankfully!
I would never start a car if someone is stood at an open door. I'll wait until they're in and door shut, or stepped away.Ed/L152 said:
ChasW said:
I am old school, always in gear. Drove my SiL's car recently and parked it up. A few days later I learned that he ran over my daughter's foot. He started the car as she was putting their son in his car seat. The car lurched forward and rear tyre rolled over her foot. SiL uses handbrake only! Further reason to always depress the clutch when starting so this can't happen. No lasting damage thankfully!
I would never start a car if someone is stood at an open door. I'll wait until they're in and door shut, or stepped away.Dave. said:
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.
Other way round if the wheels are driving the engine, 1st is the 'highest' gear.I have had an addendum to my cars handbook from Ford, informing us that we need to park manual cars in reverse, or 1st with wheels pointing towards appropriate kerb and to make sure autos are in Park.
Apparently there have been several instances of cars with rear disc brakes rolling away when the brakes have cooled.
Apparently there have been several instances of cars with rear disc brakes rolling away when the brakes have cooled.
So, in summary, as usual:
"my way is best, anecdata says so!"
"no, your way is unnecessary, MY anecdata trumps yours"
"erm, highway code"
"old fashioned"
"bloke down the pub said..."
"blah blah blah..."
In conclusion: OK, then, thanks for playing (everyone carries on doing what they've always done)
"my way is best, anecdata says so!"
"no, your way is unnecessary, MY anecdata trumps yours"
"erm, highway code"
"old fashioned"
"bloke down the pub said..."
"blah blah blah..."
In conclusion: OK, then, thanks for playing (everyone carries on doing what they've always done)
technobob said:
I have had an addendum to my cars handbook from Ford, informing us that we need to park manual cars in reverse, or 1st with wheels pointing towards appropriate kerb and to make sure autos are in Park.
Apparently there have been several instances of cars with rear disc brakes rolling away when the brakes have cooled.
In San Francisco (known for its steep hills) you risk getting a ticket if you leave your car parked up without turning the wheels to the kerb.Apparently there have been several instances of cars with rear disc brakes rolling away when the brakes have cooled.
Matthen said:
mrtwisty said:
Hol said:
HTP99 said:
Never leave my car in gear when parked up and never been taught too, I always assumed it was more of an older generation thing; my dad did it.
I think you are right.Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.
I do however select neutral before starting - but I check that its in neutral even if it is already, so no time is lost.
There are no reasons not to - it's safer and there are no downsides. If someone crashes into it hard enough to damage the drivetrain, chances are its uneconomic to repair anyway.
Always leave in gear and always have. it just doesn't feel "safe" enough to me without living in the Pennines! When I learnt in 2006 though was always told to leave in neutral, which a lot of my mates still do and won't be told otherwise
I've had Audi's for the last 8 years, and on all of them you need to fully depress the clutch to start the engine, so there's no danger of lurching forward, and no negative risks to leaving in gear either
Handbrakes never fail? Plenty of stories of auto ones failing, and who can honestly say they haven't noticed manual handbrakes deteriorate over time? it's a common advisory on the MOT. I certainty wouldn't trust the handbrake on my girlfriends 2003 Micra on a steep hill, any less than being on the top ratchet it creeps slightly
I've had Audi's for the last 8 years, and on all of them you need to fully depress the clutch to start the engine, so there's no danger of lurching forward, and no negative risks to leaving in gear either
Handbrakes never fail? Plenty of stories of auto ones failing, and who can honestly say they haven't noticed manual handbrakes deteriorate over time? it's a common advisory on the MOT. I certainty wouldn't trust the handbrake on my girlfriends 2003 Micra on a steep hill, any less than being on the top ratchet it creeps slightly
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