i have a new parking garage spot and i really need to squeeze in there. it requires me to feather the clutch in and out (for about 30 seconds in and 30 seconds out every day) in order to not hit anything but have the car move slowley. will this take its toll over time 2-3 years? or is this a normal function of any car.

 

Not the best activity for it, but, as long as you do a good job of matching rpms to tire speed it should be OK.
Any chance for a better, less stressful spot?

 

You gotta do what you gotta do. The clutch will last or it won't. I have to get to work. That involves traffic, no matter when or where I drive. Detroit traffic requires you to drive like that - leave space for a Focus and an F-150 will cut you off. I've been told that it's "bad" for the clutch, but I know everyone else on the road with a manual is doing it, too.

 

You could always shut off the engine, leave it in neutral, and use good old fashioned muscles to park your car.

 

Eh, it seems that any sort of driving in general is bad for the clutch somehow. It can't be worse than driving in bumper to bumper traffic, so I say don't worry about it.

 

+1

 

whats next worrying about your tires rolling?

 

At low speeds like that on a flat surface, you should be able feather the clutch while the engine is just idling. That way you're generating a minimal amount of friction and heat so it's very easy on your clutch.

The same applies to driving in bumper to bumper traffic - don't even apply gas when starting out slowly and let the car pull you along at idle in 1st or 2nd gear when you're just moving with traffic at slow speeds. The engine management software is so good on modern engines that it's hard to stall them.

 

Here's an obvious deduction.......If the MINI fits in the parking spot doing 1 MPH. it will fit doing 50 MPH too.

 

Please record this activity on video, then post it to Youtube

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLnV9JtsEIU

 

I love our cars: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=OeqilXH4XtU