spike

That's some good advice and seems to be exactly my problem. I'll check that. Thanks! I just assumed that since the car came that way that the e-brake was just a bad design.

Boomer

Gear/P-Brake
ANything less is asking for trouble.

Worrying about damage to your tranny from someone hitting you... you have bigger things to worry about at that point.

Kluski

I park in gear and e-brake everytime. Even on flat surfaces, I still put it in gear - usually the direction I will head when leaving.

Of course, I live in Pittsburgh, so there are not many flat surfaces. On hills, it is in gear in the opposite direction of downhill.

theedge67

Rev 3.53 :1 __ 3.38 :1

BrianB

Above 32 degrees - Neutral with parking brake
Below 32 degrees - 1st gear without brake (had freezing issue fixec but, just paranoid)
Steep incline - 1st gear and brake, uphill wheels turned away from curb, downhill wheels turned towards curb

DarkFireGT

Definitely some mixed opinions. It's very interesting to see all the opinions. Keep them coming. Sounds like there's ups and downs to everything.

Vermillion06

I always park it in 1st gear with the parking brake on, just out of habit/paranoia, I guess. Before I start it, the first thing I do out of habit is put in neutral.

Little Black Pony

3rd gear no brake.

This is from the track. The last thing you ever do when participating at a road racing track event is set your parking brake. If you've just come off of a 30 minute session your brakes a red hot. Setting the p-brake will warp the hell out of your rear rotors. I've just learned not to do it unless it is entirely necessary. The reason I put it in 3rd gear is so the syncros in first don't get over used or worn. I'd rather have 3rd fail on me then 1st any day.

Only time I use the parking brake is when on an incline or parked on city streets.

aircare84

Use the parking brake except when the temp is above freezing & going below overnight. Then I park in first & use a brick. Had the cable freeze up on me a few times.

bob

E-brake with the trans in 1st/Rev depending on the situation.

Rapture

Me too+

silvergt

In neutral with parking brake unless I am on a steep incline, then also in gear.

GottaHaveIt

I usually turn the wheel/tire to the curb 1st gear and Break on hard If anyone were to tow it away I wanna make them work so I may have time to catch them. or I always park where I'd never get smucked & if I did I'd know it web cam equipted.

Treadhead

In gear and brake on always.

mot250

[quote=aircare84;1063714] Then I park in first & use a brick. quote]

Ah, the infamous parking brick! I used ta carry one of them in my '66(broken cable).

If not on a steep incline, I'll use 3rd gear (less pressure on the shifter springs than 1st or rev.) and the E-brake if not too cold. I, too, never use the E-brake at the track or if I think my brakes are hot.

GPStang06

+1

Been the habit since driving trucks in my 20's.

Boomer

I'm amazed at how many people don't do this!!!
One of the first things you learn in driving class

And worried about someone starting your car in gear and letting go?
Who doesn't check what gear the car is in before you start it? Seriously...
If you don't, thats a bad bad habit and your own fault

FiaCobra

I park it in gear with brake on (sometimes)....depends on the angle or roadway.

I like the 3rd gear theory. Makes sense to me.

elcaminoguy

I put in gear and the E-brake. Mostly because I want to make it tougher on anyone who would try to tow it away from the front. That's one of the new things they do out here now is just pick up and tow the whole car with an old wrecker. If the car is in reverse they're going to have to fight it and the E-brake.

This all assumes they don't break the window and pull it out of gear of course.

Nobody pays attention to the blaring alarm or flashing lights as it gets towed away either. People just think it's a repo or illegal parking and ignore it.