Hah, I do the same too, except I clear the little rocks from the parking space before driving in, don't want to stress the tires by having rocks pressing into the rubber under the car's weight.

Get used to leaving it in gear. When you go to the track the last thing you wan't to do after coming back off the track is park your car and pull the handbrake...

I had a MT truck, 4 banger, that the ebreak only worked very little. To keep it from rolling down the hill I had to put in gear. Most of the time the faulty ebreak and in gear would do, but sometimes the truck would slide down the hill a bit before finally stopping.

The compression of the engine wasn't enough. Some neighbors would freak out that the car started moving after I got inside the house.

I can't tell if Imrac and GNS are being sarcastic?!

<link>
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
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Caution: Happy Fun Ball may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds.

The only issue with leaving in gear on flat surface would be an accident with the FR-S parked in gear, and the ensuing damage to the trans/clutch when moved/pushed/shoved in gear, not running.

Unless I am missing something?? (Perhaps this is the origin of the post to begin with) ;)

Eric G

Are you implying that if the vehicle was forcibly moved while in gear that components would be damaged?

If so, consider that to damage the transmission the tires would have to retain traction while being moved (causing the driveshaft to rotate against it's will) and the engine would have to resist turning over (because if it did, the force is relieved and no harm done, engines are meant to turn over), if that happens (tires roll, not slide, and the engine refuses to turn over) then yes there may be damage to the transmission/clutch.

I'm pretty sure the tires would slide before any significant damage would occur due to the vehicle being in gear.

This is a lot of food for thought and thanks to everyone who dropped some knowledge on me. I live in a very flat area and I basically never have to park on inclines. The car is new and I'm going to continue parking in neutral. If the handbrake fails then a ill be shocked and angry and b I'll take action against Toyota buy highly doubt that will happen. From now on tho if I park on an incline I will leave it in gear. And for those who asked my last vehicle was at and I Always parked in neutral with the parking brake then turned the car off and would put it in park. Never had any issues with anything 150k miles deep. I think a sub 3k weight brand new car will be fine in neutral lol.

Agreed, this would be so slight, more damage to linkage or bushings, perhaps.

Then what would be the purpose of leaving out of gear on flat surfaces, as suggested by the manual? That was the only reason I could think of.

btw, have had damage to trannies when parked and hit, manual and auto. One major, others minor, as you describe.

Eric G

And here I thought first gear WAS the parking brake and that the parking brake was the drift initiator.

I like your train of thought!

Problem is, what you think is perfectly flat often is not.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U-gVZyvIsw"]Car rolls away from gas station - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBEXtJIEjrw"]Police - Parking Brake - YouTube[/ame]

^^ This, or close to it. Stop the car in the parking spot, foot on clutch and brake. Pull the parking brake. Ease off the foot brake to make sure the parking brake is holding the car. Put it in 1st or reverse if it isn't already. Shut off the ignition. Let your foot off the clutch pedal. No stress at all on the transmission since you made sure that the parking brake was actually holding the weight of the car. Transmission and engine compression is a backup in case the parking brake breaks. On a hill also turn your steering wheel into the curb for downhill parking and away from the curb for uphill parking for an additional backup.

Personally, on a flat surface, I put my car up on jack stands so it doesn't roll away. I also remove the wheels and tires and put them in the car so they won't get stolen. On a hill, I take out my 3-foot steel stake, pound it through the asphalt with my sledge hammer, and attach it with a chain to a tow hook so the car does't roll downhill just in case everything else breaks.

Don't leave it in gear while illegally backed-into a space.