To all the manual drivers...

[Dave2013M3]

Brake then 2nd gear.

Sponsored

 

[Pony2015]

I love these kinds of questions. Here is what I do (and reason why):

1. Set parking brake and put in gear after turning engine off. Why? Because if parking brake does not hold (fails, or not set tight enough), having the car also in gear will make it much harder for it to roll, and if it does roll, much more slowly than it would in neutral.
2. What gear? Either 1st gear or reverse. Why? Because the lowest gear makes it harder for the wheels to turn the engine -- with a low gear, one revolution of the wheel will equal multiple revolutions of the engine crankshaft).
3. 1st gear or reverse? Depends. Turning the engine backwards can damage the coyote engine (ie, rotating the crankshaft backwards without oil pressure can impact phasers, timing chain, or even valve to piston contact for modified or high compression engines) -- although it would need to roll several feet for that to happen. So we pick the gear to prevent possibility of engine turning backwards. Facing forward up a hill, put in reverse, as gravity will pull the car backward. Facing downhill, put in 1st, as gravity will pull the car forward. Of note, for my car (2017 mustang GT PP), 1st gear ratio is 3.66:1 and Reverse is 3.32:1, so both forward and reverse will give about the same resistance to rolling.
4. What about semi level ground? Put it either 1st or reverse depending on which direction you want the car to go if some idiot starts it up and dumps the clutch (so in reverse if on the carport, aimed away from the house!).
5. When starting, always clutch in, shift to neutral, then hit the start button (in case I'm the idiot that starts the engine, gets distracted, and dumps the clutch . . . ).

Always welcome suggestions and corrections, and I'll update the response accordingly!

 

[Nightmonkey]

5. When starting, always clutch in, shift to neutral, then hit the start button (in case I'm the idiot that starts the engine, gets distracted, and dumps the clutch . . . ).

That sound like a US only problem?
MT is rather unusual in your country, as rumor has it over here.
Here in Germany, there is even a reduced driver's license with which you can only drive AT vehicles, so someone is not allowed by law to drive MT unless they take a small test and have it changed on their license.
MT is the standard here, everyone learns to drive with MT not AT (except the aforementioned AT license exception, presumably only relevant for physically impaired).

 

[ice445]

Brake then 2nd gear.

Why second? Not that it matters much, just curious lol

 

[brfdrums]

That sound like a US only problem?
MT is rather unusual in your country, as rumor has it over here.
Here in Germany, there is even a reduced driver's license with which you can only drive AT vehicles, so someone is not allowed by law to drive MT unless they take a small test and have it changed on their license.
MT is the standard here, everyone learns to drive with MT not AT (except the aforementioned AT license exception, presumably only relevant for physically impaired).

I have heard your drivers education is a lot better than here in the US.(by multiple sources) Also heard that's why the Autobahn is safer than our interstates...doesn't seem like many people here understand the "drive right" concept.

 

[Nightmonkey]

I have your driving education is a lot better than here in the US.

That may be the case, but the proportion of those who don't make it through the test at the first attempt is also increasing from year to year.
Maybe we're just better at keeping the incompetent away from the wheel.
But when I see what's going on on our streets, I don't think we're doing too well either.

orange = porportion of failed theory exam
red = porportion of failed driving exam

 

[brfdrums]

That may be the case, but the proportion of those who don't make it through the test at the first attempt is also increasing from year to year.
Maybe we're just better at keeping the incompetent away from the wheel.
But when I see what's going on on our streets, I don't think we're doing too well either.

orange = porportion of failed theory exam
red = porportion of failed driving exam

We could be exporting our bad drivers to you...

 

[petronix]

I had a 1976 Cosworth Vega with 5 speed. It had a safety interlock from the factory, in order to rotate the key for removal, the transmission had to be in gear. This also meant to take it out of gear the key had to be in and rotated. I believe camaros had the same, as did some other cars. So the factory wanted parking in gear for safety. You are taking an unnecessary chance of roll away by not parking in gear. I have seen several cars roll because parking brake was to loose or not set.

 

[ezracer]

If I’m on level ground just the emergency brake. On any kind of incline I put the transmission in 1st gear AFTER I engage the e-brake

 

[Garfy]

This should be an easy discussion...For those driving manual transmissions, when you park, do leave in gear and pull the brake of leave in neutral with the E brake? I have driven manuals most of my like and when parking, I put the car in first and pulled the brake. Now I have seen that doing that could damage the transmission. Makes sense. Now I'm curious if I am not alone with my parking habits...if needed can I change them...that is the big question...

I wonder why parking it on a level ground in gear would "damage" the tranny? If that little bit of load can damage it, I have no idea how the tranny can handle the power of even the stock 5.0L.

 

[SteelJones]

This should be an easy discussion...For those driving manual transmissions, when you park, do leave in gear and pull the brake of leave in neutral with the E brake? I have driven manuals most of my like and when parking, I put the car in first and pulled the brake. Now I have seen that doing that could damage the transmission. Makes sense. Now I'm curious if I am not alone with my parking habits...if needed can I change them...that is the big question...

Always in 1st gear with brake pulled

 

[SteelJones]

I learned to drive a manual transmission in 1970 on my dad's old "three-on-the-tree" Ford pick-up. I was taught to put it in gear, set the parking brake and point the front wheels toward the curb.
It's what I was taught and it's what I do to this day when driving a stick, with the exception of not being as diligent about turning the front wheels.

Same here...my father taught me this in the mid-80s! I lost my father in February of 2024 and everytime I shift my BULLITT I smile and I'm thankful that he taught me how to drive a manual.

 

[ORRadtech]

Same here...my father taught me this in the mid-80s! I lost my father in February of 2024 and everytime I shift my BULLITT I smile and I'm thankful that he taught me how to drive a manual.

It's a great memory. I've taught both of my children to drive a stick shift and, if I live long enough, I'll teach my grandkids too. More great memories there and hopefully more to come.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Why second? Not that it matters much, just curious lol

Habit

 

[Nightmonkey]

I wonder why parking it on a level ground in gear would "damage" the tranny? If that little bit of load can damage it, I have no idea how the tranny can handle the power of even the stock 5.0L.

This is only a AT thing!
Regular ATs (with torque converter) have a pin, which locks the gearbox in P.
This pin is not made for holding a car on a slope.
If you park a car with AT without ebrake on a slope, in the long run it will damage or even brake that pin.
So you should not park a car with AT without ebrake if there is only the slightest gradient.


With MT it is different, there is no such pin.
A manual transmission has self-locking generated by the friction and the ratio in the transmission.
Added to this is the even greater locking caused by the engine on the gearbox.
Anyone who has ever tried to push start a car in first gear knows that you push start in 3rd or 4th gear because there is less resistance.
With the MT, there is nothing to stop you parking in gear only (the lowest possible).
The only reason why you should apply the ebrake on a gradient is that there may be not sufficient locking in the drivetrain for that slope. If this is the case, the downhill force is sufficient to turn the gearbox and motor, once it turns (breakaway torque) then it rolls downhill until there is an obstacle.

Habit

There are objective reasons to get used to the first gear.

Sponsored