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 !

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.

Not all cars, no. The one I did my test in was "keyless" with no ignition. To start it, you had to press the start button, but that did bugger all unless your foot was on the clutch. You had to have the clutch pressed to go anywhere.

In neutral. A friend told me to park in gear on a slope once, and that is the only accident I have ever had - the car leapt forward when I started the engine, just as AuntLydia described. Utterly terrifying.

And yes, most new cars require you to depress the clutch to start. Super annoying the first time I had a hire car like that, couldn't get the bloody thing to start and no idea why not.

Both of my cars require you to fully press the clutch pedal down before they’ll start... one is a keyless Ford, other one an Audi with regular ignition but still won’t turn over unless clutch engaged....

I always park in gear even on flat just a habit. and always 1st fear when facing uphill and reverse when facing downhill.

When I had a key ignition I just put it into neutral when starting but it doesn’t matter if the clutch is down when starting. I now have a push button ignition and the clutch has to be down.

In gear. Drives my husband insane.

other one an Audi with regular ignition but still won’t turn over unless clutch engaged....

that's disengaged

I have never driven a car that you needed to press the clutch to start it. Are you sure?

I have never driven a car that you needed to press the clutch to start it

They're increasingly common. After all, it's been standard for the last twenty-odd years that on an auto you have to depress the brake to move between park/neutral and drive.

To see where this is taking us:

www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a27010/the-newest-manual-transmissions-are-barely-manual-transmission/

Do you really think people are lying about this?!?

My last car (a Volvo) required the clutch to be down to start. My current car does not. HTH.

I'm pretty sure people know how to start their cars!

I have never driven a car that you needed to press the clutch to start it. Are you sure?

of course I'm blooming well sure!!!

Have you driven a car manufactured in the last 3/4 years?

@crunchymint

For example: www.ford.co.uk/shop/research/technology/comfort-and-convenience/ford-keyfree-system

And, although this might have changed, when I did it you'd fail your motorbike test for starting a bike other than in neutral confirmed by rocking the bike forward and back

Just asked DP, who passed his bike test in 1977, and he is positive he didn't have to do that. He also said you'd have a bit of trouble rocking a Gold Wing forward and back ..

Have you driven a car manufactured in the last 3/4 years?

Actually it's not even all that recent - Chrysler PT cruisers were fitted with the clutch starter interlock - and they came out in 2001!

He also said you'd have a bit of trouble rocking a Gold Wing forward and back ..

You wouldn't be taking your test on one, either...

A friend told me to park in gear on a slope once, and that is the only accident I have ever had - the car leapt forward when I started the engine, just as AuntLydia described. Utterly terrifying And utterly avoidable if you check properly before you start your engine. It’s only a little jump too, so ‘utterly terrifying’ seems an over-reaction.
Jumping forward - avoidable by checking before starting car.
Rolling down slope when handbrake fails - unavoidable if it happens.
It’s a no brainier, really.

Actually it's not even all that recent - Chrysler PT cruisers were fitted with the clutch starter interlock

American cars, innit?

I've never had such an active thread! I'm normally a ninja ..

Ah it is a recent thing in cars? Fine. Our car is about 6 years old.

Thanks for that insight, cardibach.

The point is I was never taught to park in gear, so obviously wasn't in the habit of taking it out of gear before starting the engine. I take it out of gear when the engine goes off. Leaped forward largely because it was on a slope, and straight into the van parked next to me. Glass everywhere and yes it is terrifying to be so out of control!

As I say, that's the only accident I've ever had and I cover an awful lot of miles for work, so...

American cars, innit?

The ones we got here were made in Austria

@crunchymint are you for real? Just because your car doesn’t require it, no other car in existence requires it? Mine does (VW), works cars do (peugeots) but no, according to crunchymint everyone’s a liar. FFS.

Also whoever keeps saying when you’re facing uphill you turn the wheels away from the kerb... engage your brain as well as a gear. Away from the kerb going backwards or forwards means rolling... away from the kerb.

Me? Always in gear. Wheels towards the kerb.

Is that ok crunchy?

Mine was a 2010 Volvo. So not a new thing. Not an American thing. Just a some cats thing.

In gear. I never trust the handbrake

Or even cars.