I just know it's going to happen. wham! I back into a parking spot and because of the position of Reverse, I sometimes forget to move the shifter to 1st as I get out of the car. When I come out of work to go home, 9 hours later, once or twice I've forgotten I was in reverse, and hit the gas. Not exactly the direction I was expecting to go!

I'm trying to train myself, really. I just know I'm going to scrape a bumper like this one day.

So is anyone here willing to admit you've hit something because of it? That's if you've gotten your pride back yet.

 

I haven't done that one, but I /have/ accidently grabbed Reverse instead of 1st...usually after sitting at a long light and getting distracted. Look up and realize the light's green, throw it in first fast ...and find reverse instead.

First time I did it the poor lady in the minivan behind me nearly had a heart attack! I've always managed to catch it before I moved /to/ far...that sudden jolt of the head in the wrong direction is a pretty good giveaway...

 

Whenever I go to start the car I always shift into neutral to prevent me from doing anything stupid like releasing the clutch and going in a direction I didn't want to go.

I have however thought I put the car in reverse only to find out I was in 1st. Of course I only went a few inches before I stopped so I didn't hit/damage anything.

 

Worst part about hitting Reverse unexpectedly, is not only your head bobbing, but if it's fast enough, the force and momentum of the car, sends your foot more into the pedal than your expecting, so you accelerate even harder than you really wanted to in the wrong direction!

 

I too make sure the car is in neutral before starting the car. Kind of hard to mistake reverse with the 5 speed.

But I have tried to get going with the parking brake still on, then you just go nowhere fast

 

warm up the car after you get outta work. this will make u take it out of gear and put it into neutral as you wait.

 

Seeing as though I back into everything so I can make the easier/quicker exit, (the firefighter in me), I always put the tranny into 1st gear before shutting down.

 

Once, when I was a wee lad, I saw a teenage girl think she was going backward but actually was going forward from a parking spot, jump the curb, and smack straight into the plate glass window of grocery store. Needless to say it was LOUD. No one hurt but kind of amusing.:smile:

 

A MINI does not need to sit and warm-up. It will get to operating temps. faster if you just get going, hold the revs down for a minute or so.

I will let it sit at -40 to let the tranny fluid get flowing, but never longer than till the heated seats kick in. Maybe 2 minutes.

 

Funny, because this has happened to me mostly in automatic cars


I always leave my MCS in 1st gear to prevent this.

 

when in doubt, put the car in N and jiggle the shifter left/right. then you know you are in N. then put her in gear.

 

I parked in the garage last night...yes I said last night.. pulled the e-brake. Came inside. Hours later I get back in my car clutch in and.....GRrrrrrrrr *stall*

yeap I was in reverse and my e-brake was on... BUT thank god cuz I would have hit my fridge behind me. Total damage last night... carpet needs to be re arranged because I bunched it up at the joints.

-Josh