I always leave any stick in gear when parked. Once in a while I don't, but rare.

 

Always leave it in gear. The parking brake cable can snap, and if you are not in gear, well, guess what. Also, if you ever track the car (or drive like some of the wild Texans here), never put the parking brake on between sessions or you will warp the rear rotors.

 

I leave it in gear just in case the emergency break fails. But I always push in the clutch after the break is up so that any weight is off the transmission and on the break.

 

The manual says put it in reverse on occasions. I've never done this.

On all of my previous cars, i've put it in first gear when I park, unless i'm on an incline/decline and I put it in gear and pull the e-brake too.

 

BTW - a driving instructor told me not to put the e-brake on after hard driving ( ie track time ). Doing so may cause the rotors to warp.

-- Tom

 

On my last car the e-brake wasn't working and being a student, I couldn't afford to get it fixed. I left it gear when I parked and after about 15K miles my transmission felt like crap. Getting on and off the gas was very jerky and occasionally the gear would pop out of gear! I guess leaving it in gear w/ the parking brake would be better but guess what. On another one of my previous cars, I did just that and my car was hit by a drunk driver in a parking lot. My car was moved about 6 feet and it messed up the transmission. I guess I just had bad luck but I won't put the car in gear, ebrake only unless on a very steep hill. On most hills, I just turn the wheel into the curb or out depending on where I'm facing.

 

once on a drive in los padres park, Davepk left his car with e-brake only. while we were taking pictures, his car started to roll down the mountain!!! he had to run and jump in to catch it

 

Always in 1st + ebrake. 1 backs up other. Don't use ebrake after the car's been washed. Makes it easier to break the slight "rust seize" next time out.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Type R 1090
[B]On level ground, I just pull the e-brake and leave it in neutral.

 

YES MAKE IT A HABIT TO LEAVE IT IN GEAR AND PULL YOUR HAND BRAKE TIGHT! Sorry for the all caps. I have had my car slide and hit another car when I first got my Lude. There was only a very very slight slope in the my school's parking lot and I left it in neutral and perhaps didn't pull the hand brake hard enough.