Long term parking my Automatic on an incline

[mdb55]

I'm after some advice please....

After 30+ years of driving manual gearbox cars, Im just about to take delivery of my first automatic. What's the best position to park up an automatic on an incline over a prolonged period, for my particular situation please?

The details:
- This car will not be my daily runner, it will sit on the driveway for at least a week at a time, in winter months this can easily extend to 6-8 weeks between runs
- The driveway is a on a slight upward incline
- On previous (manual) cars used in ths way, the main problem I had was the brakes binding to the pads. This was easily solved by parking up in first gear, and NOT applying the parking brake.
- As an additional measure I'm able to drop one of the front wheels into a 1/2 inch dip just off the front of the driveway. That simple step down alone takes most of the weight, and the car struggles to move forward or backwards on it's own as a result. But I'd rather not 100% rely on it. I also chock one of the rear wheels to give me a 3rd independent way of stopping the car rolling backwards, but again dont want to rely on the chock alone (some day, somebody will move it when they shouldn't).

So in this case, should I park up in P, N, D or R?

N seems a bad idea. I don't think D or R will be options? All the advice I've read says don't rely on the parking pawl in P (Park) mode, apply the handbrake (which I want to avoid). But I think it wll be my best/only option?

Advice welcomed.

[CABC]

mdb55 said:

I'm after some advice please....

After 30+ years of driving manual gearbox cars, Im just about to take delivery of my first automatic. What's the best position to park up an automatic on an incline over a prolonged period, for my particular situation please?

The details:
- This car will not be my daily runner, it will sit on the driveway for at least a week at a time, in winter months this can easily extend to 6-8 weeks between runs
- The driveway is a on a slight upward incline
- On previous (manual) cars used in ths way, the main problem I had was the brakes binding to the pads. This was easily solved by parking up in first gear, and NOT applying the parking brake.
- As an additional measure I'm able to drop one of the front wheels into a 1/2 inch dip just off the front of the driveway. That simple step down alone takes most of the weight, and the car struggles to move forward or backwards on it's own as a result. But I'd rather not 100% rely on it. I also chock one of the rear wheels to give me a 3rd independent way of stopping the car rolling backwards, but again dont want to rely on the chock alone (some day, somebody will move it when they shouldn't).

So in this case, should I park up in P, N, D or R?

N seems a bad idea. I don't think D or R will be options? All the advice I've read says don't rely on the parking pawl in P (Park) mode, apply the handbrake (which I want to avoid). But I think it wll be my best/only option?

Advice welcomed.

I would place the chock under the wheel with h/brake applied. then release h/brake to load up the chock and then engage P.
maybe 2 chocks to even load?

[mdb55]

Thanks CABC. Good advice, reminder to me to not load up the parking pawl initially when P is first engaged.

Luckily the wheel dip is enough to take most of the strain, so I think I can drive into the dip - into N and add parking brake - add the chock - into P - engine off - then parking brake off. Adding the 2nd chock is also easy.

Cheers.

Edited by mdb55 on Monday 23 October 21:49

[5s Alive]

If you're worried that wheel chocks could be removed you could bolt them down, or indeed bolt down one of those full width rubber buffers that limit how far in the car can be parked. Trip hazard though - more so in the snow! Don't ask...

[anonymous-user]

Every auto I have driven had to be put in P to get the key out. Surely park locks the transmission so you don't need the handbrake anyway?

[Super Sonic]

You can get plastic chocks with a long flat base that goes under the wheel, recovery firms use them to drag cars when the wheels are stuck, or you could make a couple, block of wood nailed to a piece of plank.

[mdb55]

Thanks all, appreciate the advice.

I've previously tried plastic chocks, but found them to be a bit useless, have since gone with more sturdy/weighty rubber ones. Bolting them down isn't an option for me.

And it's keyless, so no issue with key removal/placing in P (...but just a different issue in needing a faraday pouch for the key).

[sunbeam alpine]

If it's a new or reasonably modern car, won't it apply the parking brake automatically anyway?

[mdb55]

sunbeam alpine said:

If it's a new or reasonably modern car, won't it apply the parking brake automatically anyway?

Brand new. I'll tell you when it turns up, but I dont think it does apply it automatically

[waremark]

mdb55 said:

I'm after some advice please....


So in this case, should I park up in P, N, D or R?

N seems a bad idea. I don't think D or R will be options? All the advice I've read says don't rely on the parking pawl in P (Park) mode, apply the handbrake (which I want to avoid). But I think it wll be my best/only option?

Advice welcomed.

I don't think you should worry about use either of parking brake or of Park. Personally, I would use both.

I think it is common for automatic cars to change automatically to park when the ignition is switched off. In my daily and my wife's car, switching off puts the transmission into Park and applies the parking brake.

I have never heard of a parking pawl failing, has anyone else here? And that is spite of many drivers of autos using only Park and never using the parking brake.

[Wacky Racer]

Just leave it in Park with the handbrake on. (Might be automatic, might not, depending on the car)

That's all you should need to do.

[Wardy5]

What car are we talking about? Reason being that may well remove quite a lot of choice you have, in how you may want to approach this.

As has already been said, often when the engine is stopped, the vehicle will select 'park' on the transmission and apply an electric parking brake.... whether you want it to or not!

[mdb55]

Thanks. it's a Porsche 992.1. Seems to be mixed reports as to whether the parking brake is auto engaged when P selected or not, and no reports on a MY24 model yet.

[Pica-Pica]

mdb55 said:

Thanks. it's a Porsche 992.1. Seems to be mixed reports as to whether the parking brake is auto engaged when P selected or not, and no reports on a MY24 model yet.

Can’t you download the handbook, even if you haven’t taken delivery? I suspect it will engage P when you switch off (or open the drivers door, or remove drivers seat belt, all when stopped of course). I would just leave it in P and parking brake on. You may get a clunk from the brakes when left on for some time, but FFS cars are extensively tested for these events.

[Wardy5]

mdb55 said:

Thanks. it's a Porsche 992.1. Seems to be mixed reports as to whether the parking brake is auto engaged when P selected or not, and no reports on a MY24 model yet.

Electronic Parking brake will auto engage when you switch the engine off, I'm 99% sure. You can obviously test this when you take delivery. You'll hear an electrical 'whir' when you select park and then turn the engine off.

You can also test switching the engine off with the transmission in Drive or Reverse. You'll probably find it'll put it into Park for you automatically, so saving you a step

[BertBert]

CABC said:

I would place the chock under the wheel with h/brake applied. then release h/brake to load up the chock and then engage P.
maybe 2 chocks to even load?

Seriously? On a slight incline. Park will be perfectly adequate. If it puts the parking brake on for you then that'll on too, otherwise don't bother.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I think it will be fine with the P brake.

Ask dealer for a test drive for your incoming car?

[Tim Cognito]

I put mine in neutral, applying handbrake, release footbrake so the hb takes the weight and then put it in park.

Putting it in park and then applying the hb feels like the transmission takes the weight before the hb. Whether or not this is damaging long term I have no idea...

[wyson]

mdb55 said:

Brand new. I'll tell you when it turns up, but I dont think it does apply it automatically

Recently test drove Kia Sportage, Volvo XC40, Ford Galaxy and Peugeot 3008 autos. All of them had an on off button. Stopping and pushing that button put it in park and the hand brake on automatically. Actually ‘applying’ the handbrake is a thing of the past now surely, unless you are buying something super basic like a Dacia?

Edited by wyson on Friday 10th November 20:21

[wyson]

https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/articles/manual-ha...

9% of cars come with a manual handbrake now. Unless your car is in the manual handbrake list above, I’d not worry.