Well, I have a remote start hooked up to my alarm, so I have to leave it in neutral with the park brake up.

One time just after I had the remote start installed, I forgot to take the car out of first gear. I was parked nose to nose with a '97 Taurus. Well, I engaged the remote start and my car proceeded to jump forward into the Taurus!!! it pushed the Taurus back about a foot!

I thought that I'd wrecked my car! No damage to the Taurus, and surprisingly, no damage to my car!!! I had a tiny abrasion on the tow hook cover, which I easily polished out. No deformity to the bumper either. How lucky! (I guess it was fortunate that both our cars had painted fascias and it was very low speed).

Now, I am SUPER careful about making sure that the car is in neutral. It has never happened since!

I will use a gear to park with if I am on a hill - but since Detroit is pretty hill-less, I don't really have to make that decision.

Oh, being a frequenter of the racetrack, I also support the posts earlier regarding correct cool down of the braking system and even then parking with the brake off. Use a wheel chock if you need to if you are paranoid of the car rolling off.

Cheers,