I have always left my cars in second when I park with the parking brake on obviously. I notice some folks use first. I think my rationale for second was that it is a higher ratio than first and would provide more resistance to rolling than first.
What gear do you leave your car in when parked?
Tigeo
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First. It's the shortest gear. Not sure why anyone wouldn't leave it in gear...who cares if the road is flat, what happens if someone hits your car? One extra precaution in place to keep it from moving, and to slow it's movement if it does start moving.
Why not leave it gear? For the same reason you don't start an automatic car in "Drive"... you don't want the car moving forward or backward until you're good and ready, and usually people don't move their car the split second they've started the car.
To me, it's much more dangerous to start a car that will immediately move forward or backward, than having it start in neutral, and move when you're ready and making sure no one will be in the way of the car when you go.
And it's much more probable that you or someone starting the manual could inadvertently lurch the car forward and hit something or someone, than the car being hit while parked and rolling out of control. Most people will have the parking brake engaged... and if the car is in gear, you could damage the tranny from the car being hit in addition to the body damage. Much cheaper and easier to replace brake pads than to replace a tranny.
It's the lesser of two evils, imho.
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Does the Focus start without the clutch pressed in? Haven't been a car that actually started without the clutch pressed...
I guess if having the car move inadvertently after starting is an issue, perhaps you should stick to driving an auto [???
]
I guess if having the car move inadvertently after starting is an issue, perhaps you should stick to driving an auto [???
]Yes you have to press in the clutch, but you also have to remember to move it to neutral... two movements rather than one. If you forget to move it to neutral, it lurches forward the moment you release the clutch...Does the Focus start without the clutch pressed in? Haven't been a car that actually started without the clutch pressed...
I guess if having the car move inadvertently after starting is an issue, perhaps you should stick to driving an auto [???
Me, I'd rather err on the side of the car not moving, than to have it move if you're pre-occupied and have it potentially damage something or hurt someone. Make it simpler, not more complex. The simpler something is, the less chances for mistake. Don't over-complicate it, my motto. We're all humans and we are all prone to mistakes, this approach reduces the potential for serious damage or injury. Sorry if we're not all perfect like maybe folks like you?
Just because some people choose to park a car in neutral, with e-brake fully engaged, means they should drive an auto instead??? [scratch]
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obviously. wow. I feel like rip van winkle. kids these days
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lol!does the focus start without the clutch pressed in? haven't been a car that actually started without the clutch pressed...
i guess if having the car move inadvertently after starting is an issue, perhaps you should stick to driving an auto [???
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huh? why are you releasing the clutch if you aren't taking off? I guess they don't teach manual in driver's ed these days?
Like most people, when I start the car, I'm letting the car warm up a bit, put on my seat belts, check my surroundings. During this process, I like to release the clutch after starting the car and focus on the other tasks.
I then put the car in gear and move after I'm good and ready. I don't like pressing down on the clutch the entire time while I'm doing those other things. Call it laziness, whatever, but that's how I like to prep and get ready to drive.
And even if I pressed in the clutch the entire time like you suggest, having the car in neutral reduces the probability of my foot slipping off the clutch and accidentally lurching the car as I'm doing the other things, again reducing potential for serious damage or injury, especially in a crowded parking area.
Given how distracted people are in this day and age, I think this approach is the best. How comfortable would you feel, if you were asked to stand in front of 2 cars, and have 100 people start 1 car with the car in gear, and have 100 people start the 2nd car in neutral? Which one would you feel safer standing in front of??
I'm analyzing this from the probability of least likely damage or injury to others, primarily. And having the car in neutral provides the best protection from accidental car movement, similar to having an automatic in Park until the driver is good and ready to move.
If I'm at an incline however I do put the car in gear, as a pre-caution, in addition to turning the wheels against the curb. Again protection from inadvertent movements and hurting someone.
I've been driving manuals for over 20+ years, have never been in an accident or gotten a ticket. And I have never had to replace a clutch either. That's a pretty impressive record in my opinion. Using my mind to analyze all of the pros and cons and choosing the safest course of action given all potential risks.
A lot of other people seem to not give this serious consideration and do something just because other people do it, without any good justification or consideration. Teaching manual in driver's ed? Driving a manual is a dying art... 99.999% people are opting for autos...forget about any manual instructions, period.
I don't think you should think that too funny. On a friend's car, the brake / clutch sensor (switch I think) broke and he couldn't start the car. He asked the mechanic to remove / bypass the sensor rather than do an expensive replacement. Consequently he could start the car without pressing in the clutch or brake.
A lot more common than you would think, given how cheap / poor some people are.
Funny, isn't it??
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It was in my driveway..not way to put the wheels into a curb. For whatever reason, I didn't leave it in gear and sure enough..it crept down the driveway and ended up in the street!
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It doesn't need to be inclined v. much to have a car roll...gravity..
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Wow...I have driven manuals for over 20 years. Always leave it in gear w/ the parking brake on...incline or flat. I have always used second..for whatever reason..but will start to use first. Level ground. Hills. Just what you should do. As for the lurching..really? You can't start the car without the clutch in. Funny...my '92 Toyota truck had a button you pushed to allow the clutch-disable to be..disabled. This way, you could hit the starter and move the truck in first gear in case there was an issue..cool! I always set the brake first so it is holding the car and then put it in gear as to not damage the tranny.
Edit. Had an '89 Subaru wagon with a hill-holder feature...v. nice to have but not necessary...just hold the parking brake, start off, release...old school.
Double edit. I have done this so long...I can't remember what I actually do! I get in, put the key in, push the clutch in, put it in neutral, start it...this is all one motion...its just automatic at this point.
Edit. Had an '89 Subaru wagon with a hill-holder feature...v. nice to have but not necessary...just hold the parking brake, start off, release...old school.
Double edit. I have done this so long...I can't remember what I actually do! I get in, put the key in, push the clutch in, put it in neutral, start it...this is all one motion...its just automatic at this point.
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Always use 1st gear and the parking brake.
On the point of leavin gthe car in neutral to prevent it from moving if a foot was to slip off the clutch, I was taught and always verify that the car is in neutral before I start it, and then normally check again before I release the clutch if i am not going to move the car imediately.
On the point of leavin gthe car in neutral to prevent it from moving if a foot was to slip off the clutch, I was taught and always verify that the car is in neutral before I start it, and then normally check again before I release the clutch if i am not going to move the car imediately.
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I didn't realize driving a manual was this difficult or required this much argument. Stand in front of cars while random people started it? Seriously? Why would this scenario occur?
Ben and many others are correct-the shortest gear opposite incline. Also supposed to have the wheels angled to the curb (when applicable) to keep the vehicle from rolling into traffic should the situation occur. It's pretty much Manual 101.
I understand people not having been taught that or people not wanting to do it, but arguments contrary to it are pretty much useless. The point of setting the vehicle up for parking is actually for parking, not starting. If it's too many steps for you to remember when starting then I would recommend either creating a checklist that's easily accessible or buying an automatic.
Ben and many others are correct-the shortest gear opposite incline. Also supposed to have the wheels angled to the curb (when applicable) to keep the vehicle from rolling into traffic should the situation occur. It's pretty much Manual 101.
I understand people not having been taught that or people not wanting to do it, but arguments contrary to it are pretty much useless. The point of setting the vehicle up for parking is actually for parking, not starting. If it's too many steps for you to remember when starting then I would recommend either creating a checklist that's easily accessible or buying an automatic.
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Paranoia and laziness make you do odd things akin to drunkenness...
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I think he wes laughing at the fact that some people (younger generations) have never driven a manual without a clutch safety. Most older car's didn't have this, so they would all start without the clutch in.
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Can't believe this is a huge discussion. 1st or reverse with the E-Brake on has been std. since before even the oldest of us was born - nothing new as they say...
Funniest argument I've heard is "What if my car gets hit when it's parked? That could hurt the trans./engine!" Least you've got to worry about in that situation, and what about the parking pawl in an automatic?
In Gear, In Park, Brake on, any by itself may not be adequate so doubling up is std. procedure.
Funniest argument I've heard is "What if my car gets hit when it's parked? That could hurt the trans./engine!" Least you've got to worry about in that situation, and what about the parking pawl in an automatic?
In Gear, In Park, Brake on, any by itself may not be adequate so doubling up is std. procedure.
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If I am parked on an incline I use first. If I'm parked on a decline I put it in reverse.
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