Parking with MT - Neutral or first?

[s4tress]

For the MT B8, is it recommended to leave in first gear when parking? Or neutral, with parking brake? Or first with parking brake? I used to own a MT years ago, and always left it in neutral, but I've heard a lot of differing opinions on this. Would love to hear a technical explanation of why one way is better than the other?

Thanks!

[Jv218]

Back when I had my wrx anyway I would use handbrake and leave it in 1st especially if I was on a slope


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[bhvrdr]

I always use 1st gear and parking brake (unless it is a track day...then NEVER use parking brake, only 1st gear). Parking brake should hold it but I put it in gear just in case. The car isnt going anywhere with it in 1st gear.

mike

[collins4]

parking break and 1st gear every time over here as well!

[schirm]

I typically use just the E-Brake. If I am parked in a spot the concerns me I will put it in 1st gear.

[pdqgp]

I would suggest once you arrive at your parking space, to keep your foot on the brake and clutch, set the parking brake then put your car in first gear and turn the car off. Just be sure the engine stops completely before removing your foot from the clutch.

This will insure any stress from gravity is on the brake not the transmission and allow for a redundancy in safety in terms of potential vehicle movement.

[Audibot]

Always use the parking brake if you can. If you're sloped to potentially roll forward, park it in reverse. If you're sloped to roll backwards, park it in 1st.

[bakedziti]

Just first or reverse, unless I am on a slope, and then I use the parking brake. My old car had issues with a sticky cable, so I have been weary ever since. The electric parking brake seems like it's susceptible to getting stuck.

[LINDW4LL]

Always 1st Gear with parking brake, out of habit. It's an extra layer of security (versus leaving it in neutral) and takes no effort.

[jokingjimmy]

I typically use just the E-Brake. If I am parked in a spot the concerns me I will put it in 1st gear.

I pretty much do this.

[Dr GP]

First gear OR reverse BUT ALWAYS with the parking brake. With car in gear, engine would have to turn over for car to move. Parking brake only locks rear brakes. Either one SHOULD be adequate by itself. But both gives you a fail safe situation

[rjpiselli]

I've never used the pbrake. always left in first in every manual car I've ever owned. Isnt going to hurt anything, and car wont go anywhere.

*edit: in regards to applying parking brake, I've heard from a variety of sources that there is a chance of the brake freezing in the cold weather, particularly when there is moisture. This has been my primary reason for not utilizing it in conjunction with first gear. Now since I've never used the pbrake, I don't have first hand experience of this occurring, but in my opinion if there's a 1 in 100 chance of my brake being locked up and there's no need to use it anyway, what's the point.

[torinalth]

always parking brake. if I'm on a hill I put it in 3rd, if flat its in neutral. I have more faith in the parking brake now that it has a motor driven vs cable since the motor will not stretch like my previous cars have.

[kdfwagen]

What about DSG? I tend to just leave mine in PARK with the ebrake disengaged, unless im on a hill.

[A.C.]

1st gear only unless on a slope then I will engage the parking brake as well.

Sent from my mind

[pdqgp]

What about DSG? I tend to just leave mine in PARK with the ebrake disengaged, unless im on a hill.

I still set the brake first, then put the car in Park and turn the ignition off. Habit. I notice if I leave my car running and put it in park in the driveway, it will engage the brake automatically.

[dzasta]

parking brake only. 1st/reverse on really steep hills which is once in a blue moon.

[fitzydude]

A couple of times, before my clutch job, I left the car in 1st or 2nd on the driveway and went inside. When I came back out an hour or so later it had creeped down the drive, half way into the street! I thought it was happening because boosted motors typically have lower compression. Then you combine the weight of our cars with a slope and I assumed it was causing the motor to turn. Looking at the compression ratio it wasn't that, turns out it was just my failing stock clutch/pressure plate. It hasn't happened since the new clutch was put in.

[Jeff Van]

Manual car...I always use E-brake only. Here is my story, Violation parking car got tow at the back thank god gear on Neutral. If I put into 1st gear then I need Brand new transmission.

[s4tress]

Manual car...I always use E-brake only. Here is my story, Violation parking car got tow at the back thank god gear on Neutral. If I put into 1st gear then I need Brand new transmission.

Wow. Never thought of that. What would happen if you get towed with the parking brake on though?

[ABanT]

Always 1st gear and handbrake.

Park car
Handbrake
Release the brake pedal so the weight of the car shifts and the parking brake is doing the work.
Turn car off
Take foot off clutch with it in 1st

I do this because way back I only used handbrake. One time, a buddy of mine was sitting on my hood and with his weight the car started rolling back. It was gradual so we didn't notice until it really started to move.

[ABanT]

Manual car...I always use E-brake only. Here is my story, Violation parking car got tow at the back thank god gear on Neutral. If I put into 1st gear then I need Brand new transmission.

I'd imagine most of the cars here are Quattro anyways so it should be flat bedded anyways.

[SouthernBoy]

Transmission in first gear with parking brake engaged.

[collins4]

My own .02 here, but i think a POLL for this thread would be nice!

[s4tress]

My own .02 here, but i think a POLL for this thread would be nice!

Anyone know if it's possible to change the post to a poll once it's already been created? Can't seem to do it. If a MOD can do it, great...or I can start a new thread too.

NM...I figured out how to add it.

[sittinlow]

I just use the Parking brake only. 1st or reverse if I'm on a steep hill, which is rarely.

[PitchS4]

I just use the Parking brake only. 1st or reverse if I'm on a steep hill, which is rarely.

This for me too. We must be newschool.

[garott]

Back when I had a B3 90Q I once forgot to set my parking brake at home. Came out the next morning to find my car across the street, having passed 4 cars along the way, but having hit nothing, including a phone pole that was inches away. To say I was amazed and shocked is an understatement and I've been parking in gear with the brake on ever since.

And yes, set the brake before letting your foot off the clutch. I've mastered the brake-on-engine-off with one flick motion in my B8. Just have to remember to hit the homelink button first.

[dizzlesizzle]

i normally just put the parking brake on then turn the car off with it in neutral, once car is off i then put it in 1st.

[emnahum]

Back when I had a B3 90Q I once forgot to set my parking brake at home. Came out the next morning to find my car across the street, having passed 4 cars along the way, but having hit nothing, including a phone pole that was inches away. To say I was amazed and shocked is an understatement and I've been parking in gear with the brake on ever since.

I had a similar but less happy result. I left my 4000 CS Sport Quattro parked on an incline in front of my parents garage using the hand brake only. The brake failed and the car rolled into the garage door. So it's been both ever since.

[ABanT]

So what I gather from this thread is that people who have had the parking brake fail on them put it in gear. The ones who haven't probably will once they experience it. BUT these cars now have the electromechanical parking brake so I feel like there would be less of a chance it would fail.

[jimrobbington]

I've never used the pbrake. always left in first in every manual car I've ever owned. Isnt going to hurt anything, and car wont go anywhere.

*edit: in regards to applying parking brake, I've heard from a variety of sources that there is a chance of the brake freezing in the cold weather, particularly when there is moisture. This has been my primary reason for not utilizing it in conjunction with first gear. Now since I've never used the pbrake, I don't have first hand experience of this occurring, but in my opinion if there's a 1 in 100 chance of my brake being locked up and there's no need to use it anyway, what's the point.

This, always just 1st. Brake only in inclines. I had the parking brake seize in the cold on my b7 a4.

[Jeff Van]

I'd imagine most of the cars here are Quattro anyways so it should be flat bedded anyways.

If you put on neutral then front wheel is free gear is not engage.

[Jeff Van]

Wow. Never thought of that. What would happen if you get towed with the parking brake on though?

They jack up your car from the rear is fine as long as gear on neutral, so the front wheel is free.

[LINDW4LL]

If you put on neutral then front wheel is free gear is not engage.

No. The front and rear wheels are always mechanically linked through the center differential. Putting the car in neutral does not change that.

While you may be able to get away with it for a few miles at low speed, towing from two wheels in any other scenario WILL damage/destroy the center diff.

[Triska]

I am either in 1st or reverse with handbrake on.

[doug97gxe]

in gear is the proper way.. but i park in neutral

[SportVier]

Wheel chocks here. Downhill axle.

[jsh139]

First gear, parking brake on. Been doing this for 18 years.

[NPuter]

Almost always brake and neutral, in gear with brake when on a slope, and in gear only in my garage which is completely flat (to reduce wear on the brake motor)