...or use the emergency brake? Or both?

Are either ill-advised? I never though about until now because I've never had a brandy-new transmission. Now that I've got this gem, I think it may be time to start changing (potentially) bad habits.

bill

 

I always leave it in gear and unless I'm at the race track or have done some serious driving I'll set the E-brake too. Last thing i want s my baby to going rolling down a hill or into some pond (refrence to previous story on NAM).

 

Take it from somebody who knows... If you have a manal transmission leave it in gear AND set the e-brake.

I've had a MINI roll away once already, and it just had the e-brake set. In addition I park on a sloped driveway, the MINI is definately less secure with just the e-brake on...

And it doesn't take much of a slope to send the MINI rolling...

 

I heard that if you just got done driving hard: after the brakes cool down, they shrink enough to slip the grasp of the e-brake and the car will go rolling. doesnt take much effort to leave it in gear anyway right?

 

Except that driving real hard and setting the E-brake causes the rotor to cool unevenly as heat is trapped between the pad and and the rotor and then you end up with warped rotors.

 

Here's what I do: Once stopped, still holding car with regular brake, I apply the parking brake. Then I put it in gear. That way, hopefully the parking brake is holding the car, not the tranny. The tranny is then an emergency stopper if the parking brake fails.

 

good to know! thanks

 

I just lean mine up against a tree or big rock.

 

If I am on any bit of a hill, I will use the parking brake and leave it in gear. At work the parking lot is flat, so I will usually only use the parking brake. At home in the garage I have a curb bumper in the back, and a small hill in the front, so I will just roll into the garage in neutral and just shut the engine off and leave it. There is no way it is going anywhere.

 

We don't have hills in the Indy metro area. I just chuck MIB in reverse and hit the alarm after I shut the door!

 

I always put the car in first gear & set the E brake. If I'm on a hill I turn the wheels to the curb. If you've got your brakes hot don't set the E brake. If it's freezing out don't set the E brake. I recommend getting in the habit of using it. If it's never used it'll more than likely seize up from lack of use.

 

Why first gear? I was always told to park a manual in Reverse.

 

I was also wondering this - is first gear or reverse better?

 

on an incline i put her in gear..but usually just the e-brake.

 

Doesn't reverse gear cause the backup lights to come on? Living in Fla, I tend to just leave it in neutral and set the e-brake. If I'm on a slope, I'll put it in 1st gear. Also, I haven't looked closely at the MINI but isn't the parking brake a drum style brake on the inside of the axel? If it is, heat from the rear brake disc shouldn't have much affect on it.

 

exactly what I do

 

It depends what is infront of me. At work where I park is a wall. If I drive straight in I park with it in reverse. If I back in I'll leave if in first. This way if I accidentally pop the clutch, not thinking, I won't lurch into the wall . Not saying I have ever done that .

 

I leave it in first gear if I have backed into a spot and in reverse if I am in head first. Unless I'm parked on a slope, I don't use the parking brake. Growing up in upstate NY, I learned to not use the parking park in winter and I still only use it occasionally.

 

That's what dear old Dad taught me many years ago & I guess it's just ingrained in me. Maybe I should've said first or reverse. Remember to pull that E Brake! Dad said so.

 

I always do it in first, theoretically you want which ever ratio will let the car roll the least.

 

So I don't need to place rocks under the wheels?????
I e-brake (other than on track day) and put in first gear. In my stupid opinion, reverse should only be used when required to back up.

 

1st gear and e-brake.


.....Les

 

I put the e brake on first...then leave it in gear....always!

 

Leave it in gear. Lesson learned on a "flat" lot. Came back to find my baby nudging a concrete pillar 30 feet away. Mind the clutch when you start, though.

 

e-brake then 1st gear