ahhh also if the car is facing up hill turn the wheel all the way to the right so if all fails thecars rear tires will roll into the curb instead of carreening into traffic or hitting cars parked behind you... like wise if the car is facing down hill, turn/point the front wheels facing into the curb. for the same reasons.


other than that i got a lol thatu had to google how to use a parking prake.... just put in park, keep right foot on brake use left foot to press on parking brake pedal/ or pull up on hand lever. release brake pedal and take foot off parking brake.
its rrally simple

 

Looks like I fail at hand brake usage!

I only use it on snowy days like today - to whip my ass-end around in turns.

 

Spoken like a true man.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2

 

Yup, you're spot on. Good for you for making the change to using it!

I'll add:
- find empty, snowy parking lot
- turn wheel
- apply parking brake, keep thumb on button
- release parking brake
- apply throttle
- countersteer as need to maintain smile

[]

 

Beat me to it

Tom

 

Thanks guys. I'll have to try the snowy parking lot suggestions when I'm visiting the in laws or my parents. Don't get a lot of snow here in Victoria.

 

There are places in Canada that dont get much snow? [:0] I had to map where Victoria is, you practically live in Washington lol...

Yes, hand brake use is like a right of passage for front wheel drives in the winter! It'll make you a better driver to play around in a deserted snow covered parking lot. Should you ever actually spin/slide out on accident, you will have more experience with steering through it and how to react []

 

Snowy parking lots are great for first snow to remind oneself about how the car reacts..
Also.. being a manual user parking brake is always used..
Some dealer folks comment when I use it in an auto.. They mention they can tell a tried and true manual driver by the use of parking brake.

One point about turning the wheels.. If you are in a parking lot, keep the wheels straight!! If they are way out one side, and another car bumps your wheel. the other driver may bend your steering parts all to hell. And they nor you will know it even happened.. Just your steering is suddenly screwed up.
Happend to me. Had to pay for bent parts to be replaced [???]

 

... If you are in a parking lot, keep the wheels straight!! If they are way out one side, and another car bumps your wheel. the other driver may bend your steering parts all to hell. And they nor you will know it even happened.. Just your steering is suddenly screwed up.
Happend to me. Had to pay for bent parts to be replaced [???]

I've been driving for over 50 years and I had never thought of that -- great point. Too bad you had to learn it the hard way, but thanks for sharing it so we won't have to. I have always parked cars with a manual trans in neutral, though, to avoid gearbox/clutch damage if run into. That requires always keeping the parking brake travel adjusted to allow full engagement so there'll be no doubt it'll hold without help from engine braking.

Living around hilly areas ever since I learned to drive, I've always cranked the wheel one way or the other when parking to avoid a runaway if the parking brake failed. Out of habit I'd do it even when not on a hill. (With RWD it also seemed like it might make it harder to steal, as long as the ignition/steering wheel lock is set.) Usually if I park in a public lot it's way off in a far corner and up against a curb or wall, so I guess that's helped me avoid that problem of a turned tire being run into. (Parking farther out also helps avoid door dings, and the longer walk is a good chance to get a bit of fresh air and a clearer mind.)