Watching watchdog tonight.

They were taking Vauxhall to task over handbrake failure. They did the same to Renault last year too.

Both manufacturers stated (I believe) that you should always leave the car in gear when parked as per the highway code, thus preventing the car rolling away if the handbrake fails.

So (he says, finally getting to the point) I had it hammered in to me by my father, mother and driving instructor to ALWAYS, ALWAYS leave the car, tractor, lorry, whatever in gear 'just in case'.

Do you?????????????????????????????????????

p.s. If this has been done to death before tell me and I'll kill it, probably.

 

I do, much to the surprise of whoever gets in the vehicle next! Of course: I always depress the clutch before operating the starter too.....

 

all the time

 

Always in gear i also dip the clutch to start lol.

 

Normally as I've seen what happens when the handbrake fails. No matter who'se car I get into I always check the gearlever is in neutral before turning the key.

 

never do... even though i always dip the clutch when starting a car i would just forget and hit a lamppost or something

my memory is bad enough without having to remember something else like that... i'll end up forgetting where i live if i have to remember to take my car out of gear!

 

'Dip The clutch' I learnt the basics of driving on a tractor. You have to stand on the clutch to start them (Starter won't turn otherwise). Don't think I've ever turned the key since without my foot on the clutch.

 

I always park in gear, and always dip the clutch when starting, i do it sub- consciously. The missus doesn't though, the times in the past when after i've driven her car she's lurched forward as she's turned the key, when still in gear.
She's learnt now to check, before turning the key.

 

Never leave it in gear( on a slope I wedge a tyre into the kerb).
My dad always told me it'll f*ck your gearbox if someone rear ends it.
What is the good of a gearbox in a writeoff, he never did tell me.

 

I always leave mine in gear as i HAVE to press the clutch all the way home to start the car

 

In Spain you will fail your driving test if you fail to turn the front wheels into the curb and leave the gearbox in gear (or park if its an auto) after parking up.

Common sense really.

It's not like Vauxhall are the only cars that do this.

Old Land Rovers do it quite often after off-roading: the transmission brake gets filled with crud and stops working.

Citreon Xantias have a handbrake that works on the front disks. Use the brakes hard, the disks expand, then park on a hill: brakes cool, disks contract - car rolls down hill.

And the car doesn't have to have a fault or design flaw either: In snow or ice, I've parked cars that then slide down hills as there is not enough weight on the rear wheels to dig through the snow into the ground (my Impreza did that few times when I left it running in neutral on my drive as I went to open the garage). Lucky non were RWD cars (except for turning into the curb your kind of screwed if that happens with a RWD )

 

Its funny this post is on here, my mum told me this afternoon that she found my dads car in a hedge yesterday after she parked it on a hill not in gear, its a brand new volvo v50! Oops I said she should have left it in gear, it narrowly missed two parked cars too! Then again I've heard that any shunt even small will wreck the gearbox so I normally only leave the scoob in gear on a very steep hill otherwise just make sure the hand brake is tight.

 

i leave it in neutral so that it can Remote Start with my Clifford

 

lol ...it must be something about volvo's, I had to inform my neighbour when i found his blocking the road (cul-de-sac) as it had rolled off his drive!

& yes, a parked car left in gear can easily end up with a knacked gearbox if it get's 'bumped' ...been there, bought the t-shirt

 

I come from Norfolk.... no hills to worry about so no problem

Generally though; no, I don't leave it in gear. On the extremely rare occasion I park on a hill, I do.

 

Mine too - must be a JDM thing. But I depress clutch in any car to start it, and leave in gear when when parked. It's so simple to do, doesn't do any harm and might just save the day.

 

Always have, My parents taught me that

 

Ive driven round a corner and found a car parked across the road where the brake failed.

But have any you tried to change a rear wheel in rwd car like a bmw or mercedes? Cant leave them in gear! Im pretty sure some of them have buttons to apply the front brakes, but not all.

And i allways leave the car in gear and most automatics wont let you take the key out if the car isnt in park. If someones hits it and damages the gearbox im not worried as the cars insured.

 

Que the influx of insurance claims because people start leaving their cars in 1st when parked on flat carparks and promptly smash into the car in front.. lol

I always put my car in gear if im on a slope.. Even easier in an auto

And if someone crashes into your car hard enough to 'damage the gearbox' then I think a damanged gearbox would be the least of your worries :P

 

I had no idea, until i got in & couldn't get it out of first ...it was after a fair bit of time & head scratching that i noticed the bumper 'scuff' & even that polished out!!

 

Always leave in gear when parked on a slope and depress clutch when starting. Habit now. Took a test drive with the GF of a ITR-DC05, they wont start unless the clutch is fully depressed.

Had a customer at the unit who started her car (new Clio 172 sport) whilst standing with drivers door open!! shame mechanic had left it in gear as he always does. car shot back and folded drivers door the wrong way aginst the car it was parked next too. Think she tried to blame us for damage due to leaving car in gear.

 

I was wondering that too? I also have to press the clutch all the way in. I wasn't sure whether it was a JDM thing or the aftermarket security fitted?

 

To be fair there was probalby something wrong with your gearbox in the first place.. Just think if you ever had to bump start the car you would have probably killed your gear box then

 

I think he ment thats what he normally does, to be safe..

Not sure why your car would REQUIRE you to push the clutch?

 

Require it does. I think it's supposed to be some sort of anti-hijack device.

 

Leaving you car in gear also makes it harder to steal. Getting under a car and cutting the handbrake cable then hauling it onto the back of a low loader is quite easy. Doesn't normally trigger the alarm either!

Can't get it out of gear easily though without getting into the car, which will usually involve breaking a window, setting off the alarm etc.

Me, always left in gear, in neutral and foot on the clutch to start. Puts less load on the starter motor, battery etc. so means it doesn't wear out so quick.

 

Always in gear, car won't start without depressing clutch anyhow.

 

Well, i always leave it in neutral. Handbrake on.

I have this discussion with the wifey all the time, because being a scandy they are taught to leave it in gear and leave the handbrake off! In case it freezes.

 

Aye, the only way a bump can damage a gearbox is if its a VERY heavy bump (i.e the car is hit so hard its a write off).

Or if its an automatic - although the damage to them is just limited to the parking pawl that locks the gearbox, no biggy - It;ll still drive, just Park doesn't work that well afterwards (so its more likely to roll down a hill ).

 

Always in gear car wont start unless dip clutch - it even tells you on the display !
but rarely remember to use the handbrake !
Richard