My 6 speed CLS is the first manual tranmission I have owned. Up to a few weeks ago I haven't had to worry about this, but my new home has a steep grade before reaching the garage. I don't feel as though it's good for the car to just engage the parking brake, so is it safe to leave the car in gear? Are there any negative side effects over time by doing this daily?

As long as I beat the wife home from work I claim the prime garage spot but every now and then she'll surprise me

 

Yes, it's OK to keep your car in gear when you park. Some always do this as a matter of fact. In general I don't, as I don't want to use my transmission to hold the car. I just use the brake and have been doing so for over 20 years without a problem.

Of course if I had to park on a hill I might like the added insurance of keeping the car in gear.

 

I don't know what's "right", but like Mr. Slimey, I don't like to have the transmission hold the car either.

I leave the car in 1st when parked, but I put the parking brake on first, take my foot off the brake pedal so the car will set (roll back or forth a little), and then release the clutch pedal.

They way it was explained to me, having the car held by the parking break is better for the transmission

 

That's the way to do it.

Never depend on just the transmission to hold the car - ALWAYS use the e-brake. And if i owned a 6 speed i'd leave it in first as well, just in case the ebrake decides to go.

 

I first use the e-brake and then engage first gear as an additional safety precaution.

 

I do the same thing as Greenmonster. I also turn the front wheel toward the curb. (just in case both fail, which is highly unlikely)

 

Do it just like an auto.

Manual - Engage the parking brake first, put in 1st gear, then let out the clutch.
Auto - Engage the parking brake, then put car in park

You always want the weight to be on the brakes, not the tranny.

 

I always uses reverse when parking a manual.

 

When I do park in gear, I use reverse... but only on a hill or incline. Actually that's not true sometimes I put it in 1st.

 

I usually put it in whatever gear I'm going to use first when I pull out of the parking spot. No real reason - I often put it into N for a minute anyway before driving, just a habit. Of course, it's E-brake first, then put it in that gear.

 

I always put the parking brake on first....then I leave the car in gear. Usually, if parked on an incline with the front up higher, I would put it in 1st so it wouldn't roll backwards if the e-brake failed. If the rear was higher on the incline, then I would put the car in reverse gear so it won't roll forward if the e-brake failed. Oh yeah, if there's a curb on the incline, I turn the wheel so the car would roll into the curb should anything fail.

Maybe I'm wrong...but have been doing that for my CLS as well as before when I had my GSR.

 

I also used the parking break, then stick the car in 2nd gear. I have done this with all manual's. Although my parking break doesn't hold well, it needs to be adjusted.

 

Parking brake first then put into 2nd gear. So, the brake is holding the car. Over time, you will need to keep the brake adjusted.

It's the way to go!

 

Just a little clarification on why first or reverse is mentioned so often versus fifth or sixth gear. This is not a question of weather or not to leave it in gear, it is a matter of which gear.

Find a steep grade in a secluded area. Stop the car. Apply the parking brake and then leave the car in first gear. Now release the parking brake. The car should hold if your compression in the cylinders are good.

Now, do the same thing using sixth gear instead. Chances are the car will start to roll backwards, rotating the motor with it, rotating the motor backwards (it will do no harm.)

The reason for this is thus: The highest gear, 6th, requires the car to be at a reasonable speed to be useful, and is also the reason the car will die if you try to start out in sixth gear. The mechanical multiplacation that works through the gearbox and final drive is exactly what will work against you when parking on a hill. First and reverse have the highest potential of holding the car at rest, but I agree with the rest. Use the parking brake first AND leave it in gear. It is like having two parking brakes.

On the down side, leaving your car in gear (only, no parking brake applied), will spin the motor up big time if your parked car gets rear ended at, say, 40 mph. But, then again, I think you would have other, bigger things to worry about if that happens, which I hope is never.

 

never knew that defreder, thanks....

 

having a car in gear when parks is long time standard proceedure. I agree with most here that you should set the parking brake first. the car in gear is a safeguard, not what should hold your car. I use 2nd myself unless the car will roll backwards then i use reverse.