Park car in gear (against slope) or in neutral?

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That's it really, DP and I disagree. Do you park the car in gear or in neutral? Vote needed please !

Yes in gear in a manual car. (obv not in an automatic or electric vehicle).

During the ice a few weeks ago, DS's car rolled off his sloped drive because he had parked it in neutral. Fortunately, there was no damage. There was a very tragic news story the same week, about a car sliding into a river.

It doesn't matter if it's a new car, it doesn't matter that it's 2018. I don't believe it's worth the risk.

My car doesn't start without the clutch down.

In gear. DH once left the handbrake off on a slight incline. It was all fine until there was a hailstorm and the car rolled 300 yards and went through a hedge. By some miracle no one was harmed and the only damage was to the hedge and our car. We are very belts and braces now.

Lots of people seem to have had rolling issues .... I suspect part of my 'in gear' belief was learning decades ago while living in a hill with a car either a not very good handbrake (ie you had to pull it so hard to get it to work I couldn't always get it off again)...

Always park in gear or in park. Once the engine is off apply handbrake (if it’s a cable brake, if it’s electronic doesn’t matter when). On an incline or decline ensure wheels are pointed at the kerb. On a flat surface doesn’t really matter which way the wheels face.

If you do these things then if your brakes fail, your cars gearbox will hold the car. If the gearbox fails the car will roll into the kerb and stay there. Of course as PP have said it’s a rare thing for them to fail, but it can happen.

What advantage is there to parking in neutral?

Christ no you don't start the car with the clutch down. You would fail your test.

Nonsense. I passed my test six months ago and started my car with the clutch down, the same as I do every single time I get in the car!

Christ no you don't start the car with the clutch down. You would fail your test.
What?? It's over 20 years since I took my test but I don't recall this.

In any event, as others have said, the only way to start my car is with the clutch engaged, keyless push button start.

Christ no you don't start the car with the clutch down. You would fail your test

Hahaha, I would definitely fail the test in my car if I attempted to start it without the clutch down. I wouldn't be able to go anywhere without the engine running...

Pedant alert: you'll fail your driving test for starting a car with your foot on the clutch,

No, you won't. I passed six months ago and the car wouldn't start without your foot on the clutch.

I was taught to put the car into neutral when parking whatever the situation. In fact the key won't release from the ignition unless it's in either neutral or reverse.

Adaline Do you live in Britain?

Yes, I do. The car I took my test in wouldn't start without the pressing the clutch down, so I wouldn't have gotten very far if I had to start it in neutral!

Always in gear in a manual car - I used to leave it in neutral as advised by my driving instructor - until my car rolled away following a handbrake failure back in 1993 (no-one injured thankfully - the car stopped once it rolled up a kerb onto a flower bed).
Just in case.

*start it without pressing the clutch, I mean.

In neutral unless on a very steep slope or with a handbrake I really don't trust. Wheels always turned in.

Taught to park in neutral by my instructor. DH was taught to always park in gear. Thankfully we have separate cars as I’ve had a couple of shocks starting his and having it bounce forward and stall.

My car is a button start which requires you to depress the clutch to start the car.

Threads like this always make me wonder when and why the official advice changed!

In gear, but I know it’s stupid really, every time I do it I think why am I doing this! I think it stems from when I was younger and had shit cars! Modern day new cars just aren’t going to need to be left in gear.

Also those of you saying reverse if parked downhill!?! There’s no difference between in gear and reverse in this situation.

I think it depends when and where you learnt to drive. I was taught to park in neutral even on hills. DH always parks in gear.

adaline That sounds like a special situation then. Most cars in Britain start without putting the clutch down.

That sounds like a special situation then. Most cars in Britain start without putting the clutch down.

That may well be the case with older cars, however in every car I have driven recently that has been manufactured in the past 3-4 years you need to engage the clutch to start.

In gear.

This was learnt at a young age when my parents returned home to find a Volvo in the front of our house.

Also, 3 of ours cars won't start unless you have the clutch depressed. It says this on the display screen. Does this mean you couldn't use them to do your driving test? 🙄

Christ no you don't start the car with the clutch down. You would fail your test

Umm No! a lot of cars these days and for somewhile you have to put the clutch right in as the blinking engine won't start and if you can't get the car started then not that much chance of a test!

Handbrake?, on the level; then yes and a slight slope all the same.

A more steeper slope then wheels into the kerb if your pointing DOWN hill wheels away from the kerb if your pointing UP hill.

You can, if you want, to leave it in gear but these days a well maintained modern car the handbrake is a much better and that should hold the car even on steep slopes. Course it you parked on snow then the wheels into/ away from the kerb good idea:)

That sounds like a special situation then. Most cars in Britain start without putting the clutch down.

That might be the case for older cars, but most newer cars won't start unless you push the clutch down - especially keyless ones. It's hardly a unique situation.

You don't have to start the car with the clutch down, surely. You 'prep' the car before you start it by putting it back in neutral, checking the mirrors etc. Then start.