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

[sentenceinterrupted]

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

I recently bought a 2013 Ford Focus and it won't let me start the car if I don't put the clutch down!

My dad always parks in gear. I don't Whenever I borrow his car I immediately bounce forward and stall because I'm not used to it!

My 11 year old Renault has to have the clutch down or it won't start.

And my driving instructor taught me clutch down always before starting the engine. I passed my test 3 years ago.

Won’t be long before you get in the habit of putting the clutch down though @honeycrumpet

Kind of a shame you’ve never got into the habit of checking a car is in neutral before starting it but I guess you can’t have everything.

I always leave car in gear regardless of where it's parked.

Always in gear, regardless of level or slope. Learn to do it automatically whenever you park.

Who'd have thought it would be so controversial hey @sentenceinterrupted? So where do you stand on this issue seen as you're the one who started the debate?!

Always in gear whether on a slope or not. Always start a car with the clutch in.

I don't understand how the car leaps forward if you have it in gear when you start? If your foot is on the clutch, nothing will happen. If your foot isn't on the clutch, the car may try to leap forward but would stall AND the hand break should still be on so would stop the car moving forward?

I was taught always park in gear, always have clutch pressed in.

Thanks @SlightAggrandising

I've been driving 4 years and never parked in gear! I didn't even know this was a thing

@auntlydia, I park in gear ... evenings there’s a 50% chance I’ve reversed to park on a slope with a wall behind the car (and the car in reverse). DP lurches the car back towards the wall when he forgets to put in the clutch on starting ...

Hey, you’re welcome. You never know, it could save you some money or heartache one day.

RedPandaMama definitely read this. It explains it well. And is tragic. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-1605077

I park in gear if on a slope. A friend of mine didn't and because of this the insurance company wouldn't pay up when her car rolled down the slope (into another car).

I don't understand how the car leaps forward if you have it in gear when you start? If your foot is on the clutch, nothing will happen. If your foot isn't on the clutch, the car may try to leap forward but would stall AND the hand break should still be on so would stop the car moving forward?

Try it. It’ll jump forward. The handbrake is not strong enough to prevent it (generally speaking).

I park in gear if on a slope. A friend of mine didn't and because of this the insurance company wouldn't pay up when her car rolled down the slope (into another car).

That didn’t happen.

I don't understand how the car leaps forward if you have it in gear when you start? If your foot is on the clutch, nothing will happen. If your foot isn't on the clutch, the car may try to leap forward but would stall AND the hand break should still be on so would stop the car moving forward?

Easily. If it's in gear, but the clutch isn't pushed down, it jumps forward because it's essentially stalling.

If your foot isn't on the clutch, the car may try to leap forward but would stall

The starter motor is powerful enough to move the car forward.

And the handbrake isn't strong enough to stop it jerking. It won't roll, but if someone is parked close to you, it could easily cause minor damage.

Okay, I see what you mean about it jerking. I've started the car in gear once or twice and had that. still not convinced about "leaping forward" but I take your point. But car in gear, clutch in when starting, hand break on are all my basic assumptions.

Never parked in gear. Only time i have had an issue is collecting it from MOT garage and kangarooing!
I learned to drive in the '70s and was taught yo always leave the car in neutral. I suspect advice alternates through the years, but my car(s) have never rolled when parked up.

In gear as I'm old school which is why I hate not having a stick handbrake on my lease Astra - just a stupid button/switch and end up rolling back.

Counting months until I can revert back to a stick.

Why the button/levers????

In gear every time.
A car in our staff car park had its breaks fail and roll forwards a few years ago. It didn’t look like a slope but it was enough for the car to roll.

And I always start with my foot on the clutch. I have another one of these mystical cars that won’t start without it.

Slight, wheels away from the kerb when facing up a hill. Because car is going to go backwards when it rolls.

Always in gear.

I live on a big hill and have seen many a car not left in gear roll away!

My dad taught me to always leave car in gear.