View Poll Results: when you park (on a level surface) do you.....
leave it in gear (1st) w/out parking brake
7
16.28%
leave it in neutral w/ parking brake
7
16.28%
leave it in gear (1st) w/ parking brake
29
67.44%
Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll
when you park (on a level surface) do you.....
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 0
From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
when you park (on a level surface) do you.....
just wondering what everyone does
sorry, this is only for manual cars obviously.
sorry, this is only for manual cars obviously.
Last edited by truelove; Dec 4, 2002 at 11:50 AM.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Its a good habit to leave it in gear and use the parking brake. A parking brake cable can fail, or you can not have the brake set fully. And, its possible to think you have it in gear, but it not really be in gear. Or it accidently pops out. Doing both is a good redundancy.
I usually leave it in first OR reverse, depending on how I am parked. If I am in a spot where I am going to use reverse to get out of the spot, I use reverse. If I am going to go forward when I leave, I use first. That way, if I accidently start the car in gear (no starter cutout), or my foot slips off the clutch, or the clutch MC goes out, etc., and the car lurches, it will at least lurch in the direction I am going, which should be clear.
Manual transmission cars are really about muscle memory and habit. Its a good habit to develop to use both the brake and the gears. After a while, you do it without even thinking about it, just like shifting.
I usually leave it in first OR reverse, depending on how I am parked. If I am in a spot where I am going to use reverse to get out of the spot, I use reverse. If I am going to go forward when I leave, I use first. That way, if I accidently start the car in gear (no starter cutout), or my foot slips off the clutch, or the clutch MC goes out, etc., and the car lurches, it will at least lurch in the direction I am going, which should be clear.
Manual transmission cars are really about muscle memory and habit. Its a good habit to develop to use both the brake and the gears. After a while, you do it without even thinking about it, just like shifting.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Unlike the midwest, most streets by me (So Cal) have some sort of incline even if you can't tell. Also someone can bump you while parked (In NY people push you out of the way to make a parking spot). So I do both as a safety measure, habit, don't even think about it. If it's an incline I turn the wheels so the car would naturally go against the curb if all else failed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,737
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
i set the brake and leave it gear. i also leave it gear in the direction i will be leaving once i return to the car, 1st or R, which ever applies for the specific situation.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
I also use the p-brake and leave it in gear. Here's a related comment: I don't mind the parking brake being a foot pedal except for one thing -- and after a year I've gotten used to it. When parking, I used to be able to leave the trans in 1st (clutch in, of course), hit the regular brake to stop, and set the parking brake by hand. Now I have to first shift to neutral so I can take my left foot of the regular brake to set the p-brake, then re-engage the clutch and go into 1st. A little more cumbersome...
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 0
From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
here's what i do, it's pretty easy.
come to a stop with the clutch and brake pedal in (obviously). put it in gear, turn off car, release clutch and brake pedal, push in p-brake, get out.
come to a stop with the clutch and brake pedal in (obviously). put it in gear, turn off car, release clutch and brake pedal, push in p-brake, get out.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad GallardoGuest
Posts: n/a
I agree with MacPhisto, its all about habit. I drove my Camry like hell and developped a lot of bad habits, which I tried for a month to fix before picking up my C230K. If you do something constantly for 29 days (I think tht's the saying, but not sure) you'll develop a habit of doing it always.
As for me, brake, neutral, set parking brake, turn car off, put into reverse, get out. Opposite is, get in, neutral (you can tell if it is in reverse, shifter is in an ackward position to grip it), brake, start car, release parking brake, release brake and drive away.
I've got one question, is it better to leave it in reverse when parked on an incline, or in first? and vice versa when parked on a decline?
As for me, brake, neutral, set parking brake, turn car off, put into reverse, get out. Opposite is, get in, neutral (you can tell if it is in reverse, shifter is in an ackward position to grip it), brake, start car, release parking brake, release brake and drive away.
I've got one question, is it better to leave it in reverse when parked on an incline, or in first? and vice versa when parked on a decline?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by truelove79
here's what i do, it's pretty easy.
come to a stop with the clutch and brake pedal in (obviously). put it in gear, turn off car, release clutch and brake pedal, push in p-brake, get out.
here's what i do, it's pretty easy.
come to a stop with the clutch and brake pedal in (obviously). put it in gear, turn off car, release clutch and brake pedal, push in p-brake, get out.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 0
From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
MarkL,
ah yes, i didn't even think of that. that is a good idea, especially on a hill. i will start doing that. i haven't formed any habits yet since i've only had the car since monday.
ah yes, i didn't even think of that. that is a good idea, especially on a hill. i will start doing that. i haven't formed any habits yet since i've only had the car since monday.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Originally posted by taylor192
I've got one question, is it better to leave it in reverse when parked on an incline, or in first? and vice versa when parked on a decline?
I've got one question, is it better to leave it in reverse when parked on an incline, or in first? and vice versa when parked on a decline?
Then again, on an incline, you really should turn the wheels so that the curb holds the car in place as a last resort.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
Originally posted by MarkL
That will work, but I prefer to have the p-brake take most of the effort of holding the car instead of the trans. So that's why I engage the p-brake first, release normal brake, re-clutch and engage 1st. Just a habit...
That will work, but I prefer to have the p-brake take most of the effort of holding the car instead of the trans. So that's why I engage the p-brake first, release normal brake, re-clutch and engage 1st. Just a habit...
Super Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 844
Likes: 1
From: SF South Bay
2002 C230 Coupe
Originally posted by Lynn
In that case, use truelove's method, but press the parking brake with you left foot before releasing the brake with you right foot.
In that case, use truelove's method, but press the parking brake with you left foot before releasing the brake with you right foot.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by Lynn
In that case, use truelove's method, but press the parking brake with you left foot before releasing the brake with you right foot.
In that case, use truelove's method, but press the parking brake with you left foot before releasing the brake with you right foot.
1. Come to a stop with normal brake, clutch in.
2. Go to neutral, still holding regular brake w/ right foot, let clutch out
3. Engage p-brake with left foot.
4. Release normal brake to let p-brake "hold"
5. Clutch in, gear in 1st (or reverse -- whatever)
6. Done!
Last edited by MarkL; Dec 4, 2002 at 05:13 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,145
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Originally posted by MarkL
I think that's what I originally said:
1. Come to a stop with normal brake, clutch in.
2. Go to neutral, still holding regular brake w/ right foot, let clutch out
3. Engage p-brake with left foot.
4. Release normal brake to let p-brake "hold"
5. Clutch in, gear in 1st (or reverse -- whatever)
6. Done!
I think that's what I originally said:
1. Come to a stop with normal brake, clutch in.
2. Go to neutral, still holding regular brake w/ right foot, let clutch out
3. Engage p-brake with left foot.
4. Release normal brake to let p-brake "hold"
5. Clutch in, gear in 1st (or reverse -- whatever)
6. Done!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
Originally posted by Matt230K
I think he's saying that you can leave it in gear, come to a stop, turn off the car, then when you let the clutch out, keep your foot on the brake, then press the p-brake, and then let out normal brake. Then you don't have to go to neutral then back to gear.
I think he's saying that you can leave it in gear, come to a stop, turn off the car, then when you let the clutch out, keep your foot on the brake, then press the p-brake, and then let out normal brake. Then you don't have to go to neutral then back to gear.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,145
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Originally posted by Lynn
That is what I meant.
That is what I meant.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by Matt230K
I can't tell whether you are confirming that that is what you meant or telling me. In any case, I don't think he got it. It should be easy enough to understand now.
I can't tell whether you are confirming that that is what you meant or telling me. In any case, I don't think he got it. It should be easy enough to understand now.
.
