Date:         Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:23:20 -0800
Reply-To:     Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: women and standard gearbox
In-Reply-To:  <002001c72aaf$d3f71fe0$8c2ba742@your4dacd0ea75>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

The problem with never leaving automatics in park is that most modern
vehicles made in the past decade (possibly longer) require the vehicle to be
placed in "Park" in order to remove the key from the ignition switch/lock
(not an issue of course on my RWD 84 Westy which is automatic).  Hand brake
on the more common front-wheel-drive vehicles does not help much because if
used, it only locks the rear wheels and the fronts will still rotate if
"tapped".

Solution - I try to park in areas where "tapping" is at it's lowest
potential.

If parking on a hill with my automatic Westy or my fwd Kia Spectra, I
usually set the hand brake first, place it neutral, turn the key off, then
place it in "Park", then remove the key.  When starting the Westy on said
hill, I usually place in "Neutral" first, then fire it up.

Frankly, I got tired of "rowing in traffic" with stick shift VWs and other
makes, which can be very common in the Southern California area where "Rush
Hour" is practically 24 hours a day.  Granted, I might be getting lazy, but
I prefer automatics these days, except when I wanna off-road of course.
--
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt" (Auto)
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise" (Stick)
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug" (Auto)
04 Kia Spectra EX (Auto)
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
*Have a Happy & SAFE Holiday*
**********************************
On 12/28/06, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> I leave standard trannies in gear - usually 1st or reverse.  Never use a
> parking brake unless I'm in SanFran.
>
> Won't drive an automatic unless it's a rental.  Been told never to leave
> an
> automatic parked in park, since the slightest tap will break the parking
> pawls.  Don't own one, so it doesn't much matter.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> joel walker
> Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 11:00 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: women and standard gearbox
>
> > Strange.  I've been leaving all my manual vehicles in 1st or reverse
> > when parked and have been doing so without problems since the mid
> > '50s.
>
> i've always been taught to NOT leave it in gear, cause it puts strain
> on the transmission (if parked on a hill) AND if some moron bumps your
> car while getting in or out of the next parking space behind/before
> you, it can seriously damage your transmission.
>
> but then, i've also been taught to pull up the parking brake BEFORE
> putting an automatic transmission into Park. :)
>
> unca joel