Leave in gear, or not ?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by IT

Regardless of that, would you press the clutch in before starting ?

This, always have and always will. Was taught that way. (Though I no longer have a manual.)
And I'd put my foot on the brake and wiggle the gear lever into neutral AND put my seatbelt on too, all before starting.

Plenty of hills/slopes round here so I "probably" leave a manual in gear more often than not, but to be honest it's not a conscious choice.
And I'll turn the steering to an appropriate position too.

[HPsauce]

Funnily enough a few days ago we found a car sitting across the side road that runs up the side of our back garden. It had rolled out of a sloping driveway onto the road and luckily stopped a few feet before it would have crashed through our fence!
A newish manual mini, not in gear, handbrake not on securely and steering set straight ahead.

And we have had a neighbours car, several years ago now, roll down that same side road, through our fence, and impale itself on our apple tree! Again inadequate handbrake, though it was an old Astra van. In that case it was parked on the road facing downhill.

[ainarssems]

When I was younger and driving crappier cars that had dodgy handbrakes I was always leaving them in gear. These days I do not leave in gear but always ( well almost always to be honest) check before starting that it is in neutral, never pressed clutch though. I have to admit that I have tried to start the car in gear couple of times but it's never gone anywhere, handbrake always held it stationary.

[1781cc]

I always leave the TT or the management's car in gear when I park it, she doesn't however, so I always make sure there is enough room should she lunge forward in the car. 10 years in, she still hasn't learnt, wheras I have mastered the loo seat, putting the toilet roll on the right way and how the cushions on the couch need to be "fluffed" at the end of the night... I fear the balance of power might be off...

[The_Laird]

If I'm driving a car with a manual box:

1. Always leave it in gear on an incline (have you seen some of the streets in Glasgow - they're almost vertical!)
2. Turn the steering wheel so it will run into the kerb if it does move
3. Don't usually put my foot on the clutch when starting it

[Adrian E]

Only in gear if on a hill

Generally a waggle and clutch press - in fact many modern cars won't turn over unless you press the clutch in!

That has to be the unluckiest D2 in history! Did someone stick a curse on it a few years ago?!

[Johnmed]

Only leave car in gear on a steep hill. I know I should, but I don't press the clutch when starting. Always shake the gearstick to check its in neutral before starting.

I'm mid 30s. Winds me up when I have to drive someone's car and they've left it in gear, on the flat, when their handbrake is fine. It's not the 1960s after all....

[Lee S]

I always, always leave a manual in gear whether on flat or a slope. Also pay attention to steering wheel angle when on a slope and always, always depress the clutch when starting the engine. It gives the starter and battery a much easier time without having to turn over all those cogs in that thick, cold oil as well as the engine.

In a manual my regime is get in the car, belt up, depress clutch, start engine and clutch out at same time as handbrake off. Parking up is reverse. Pull up, depress clutch, select first gear, handbrake on, engine off, release clutch and unbuckle. Just how I was taught by my Dad. Never failed me yet, but I have never had a handbrake cable go on me, but I have owned some cars with dodgy handbrakes that barely worked over the years, which is why I always park up in gear.

Don't understand why it's a hassle to depress the clutch to start the engine when you've got to do it anyway to select first gear to pull off. If it's already in first gear when you parked it's one less thing to do.

[The_Laird]

Originally Posted by Lee S

my regime is get in the car, belt up, depress clutch, start engine and clutch out at same time as handbrake off.

Now, as I park in a garage, this wouldn't work! It would have a few steps added:

get in the car, belt up, depress clutch, start engine and clutch out at same time as handbrake off...reverse out of garage, stop, put handbrake on, take seat belt off, get out to close garage door.... get in the car, belt up, depress clutch, start engine and clutch out at same time as handbrake off. Realise that you're now late for work......

[Professor Peach]

Originally Posted by The_Laird

Now, as I park in a garage, this wouldn't work! It would have a few steps added:

get in the car, belt up, depress clutch, start engine and clutch out at same time as handbrake off...reverse out of garage, stop, put handbrake on, take seat belt off, get out to close garage door.... get in the car, belt up, depress clutch, start engine and clutch out at same time as handbrake off. Realise that you're now late for work......

Similar for me, get in car, belt up, foot on brake, start car, select reverse, release handbrake, reverse out of garage, press 'close garage door' button, drive off! So much easier

I do however always leave the wife's car out of gear as I know she never uses such a ritual although she main learn as her current vehicle, you can't start without the clutch fully pressed in!

Where we used to live, we did have a 'parked car' try to get through the wall of our house, but fortunately a 150yr old house was much much stronger than an old Citroen (aren't most things).