Honda Car Forum

reverse is the lowest ratio gearing .

It doesn't really matter which gear you leave it in, but I would recommend using the hand brake anyway. Manual transmissions have a way of rolling away from you.

For safety,if u parked at a horizontal road,u can just using hand brake.if u parked at a not horizontal road(one up and one down) and your car head is toward the upper one then i think you should leave it in 1st and hand brake.if it toward the lower one,you should leave it in reverse and hand brake.(But make sure you free the gear first before you start the car !!!)

get the habit of using the handbrake whenever you park your car on whatever grade of road since it helps to be safe than sorry, putting it in reverse also helps with the friction. but if the gears slip w/o the handbrake engaged...bye-bye baby...

I have driven a stick for the last 10 years and only park my car in gear when I'm on a steep hill. I use the parking brake (hand brake) - that's what it's for.

I always just shut the car off and coast into the parking spot and I'll keep it in the gear that I shut the car off on, usually 1st or 2nd or reverse, and I always set the parking brake, just for extra protection. Simply just leave it in gear and set the parking brake. Good luck!

It is a good idea to get in the habit of using the handbrake when parking. Your handbrake operates brake cables (also referred to as an "e-brake" or "parking brake"). When you pull the handbrake up, the cables tighten, causing your brake pads / shoes to clamp the disc / drum, locking the rear brakes. So, provided your rear brakes are functioning properly; there is no need to gear the transmission when on level ground, you only need the handbrake. The handbrake technically, is designed to be used when the hydraulic braking system fails; allowing a driver to stop a vehicle without properly functioning brakes. FYI - If a parked vehicle is struck by moving vehicle; and the parked vehicle's transmission is geared, that vehicle will suffer more damage than a parked vehicle struck where the transmission was not geared.You only need to engage a gear ring when parking on incline / decline. Gear the transmission in first when parking with the car facing uphill. Gear the transmission in reverse when parking the car facing downhill. You should only gear the transmission in first or reverse; because first and reverse have the smallest gear rings. Smaller gear rings inhibit increasing vehicle speed. You should always turn your wheels towards the curb when parking on hill. Some states require by law, the use of engaging both the handbrake, as well as gearing the transmission when parked. Remember, always engage the handbrake when parking a car equipped with a manual transmission. Hope this helps...

i usually put it in 1st gear and the hand brake up