Clutch down, engine on?

Always done it. Less strain on the starter motor is always better.

Scooby manual actually advises to do it this way too.
 
I always do this when starting my truck, the voltage drop when turning the engine over with the clutch in is a lot less than with it out as such.

I sometimes try to do this with my automatic 328i...... :o
 
Jonny69 said:
Nope, never bother. Can't see the point. So what if it lunges forward if it's in gear by mistake? I do it about once a year or less, big deal. Oh no I looked like a ****. Worse things to worry about to be honest, like what's going on at sea.
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Remind me never to park in front of you :D
 
I've never bothered (always put it ino neutral though!) - guess it's because I'm a new driver so have never had cars with old weak starters.

Though dads BMW requires the clutch down to start, so that might get me into a habit of doing it.
 
miniyazz said:
Remind me never to park in front of you :D
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snowdog said:
Exactly :eek:, I don't live in a place where there's enough space to jump forwards or backwards with my car, if I do any of the 2 I hit something, space is scarce...
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It moves less than a foot when it happens. I don't get it, what are you people unable to stop cranking or something? OMG NOOOOE *CRUNKCH* :D
 
Because after 1 turn it moves forward quite a lot.

At least, that used to be the case in the corolla we had bout half a year ago when I had a go :p. I haven't tried in the Volvo.
 
my old escort had an auto clutch which depressing the clutch engaged. Also my new Alfa needs it to start (or the brake) as a safety feature)
 
I find neutral then start the car, put on my belt then dip the clutch when I actually want to set off. If I think I'm gonna be sat in traffic I drop the car in to neutral rather than sit there on the clutch too. I get paranoid that something may go wrong while it's in gear.
 
Jonny69 said:
It moves less than a foot when it happens. I don't get it, what are you people unable to stop cranking or something? OMG NOOOOE *CRUNKCH* :D
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I'm normally parked less than a foot away from the car in front. One has to make the most of the space available, there's not a lot to go around!

Ricochet J said:
I never do this. I just make sure the car is in neutral before I start up. What's the difficulty?
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I would suggest that there's more difficulty in checking it's in neutral.. which can take quite a gearstick wobble to be sure.. or alternatively, you could just press down on the clutch, considerably quicker and easier and has the additional benefit of double-checking your seat's in the right position. Plus you have to do that anyway when you put it in gear. GeX's theory aside.
 
I learned to drive in a megane where the clutch was needed to start, have always done it since. And since my handbrake is dodgy, I always leave my car in gear when parking, saves any mistakes.
 
PardonTheWait said:
I've not had a bike that needed the clutch in, but when I test rode an SV650 it took me about two minutes to work out why it wouldn't start :D
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I did that with my first bike. Got started at the dealership when I picked it up to warm it up etc, rode it home, parked it up, proud as anything. Came to a few hours later when I'm standing there wondering why it won't start as I'm trying to show it to family members lol.
 
I've done it from the day I started driving and my current and previous car wouldn't and won't let you start the engine unless the clutch is dipped to the floor.
 
Always done it, think it's something my dad taught me to do.

As for not parking in gear, daft not to really.
 
miniyazz said:
I would suggest that there's more difficulty in checking it's in neutral.. which can take quite a gearstick wobble to be sure..
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My mind is simply unable to grasp the enormity of this task.

Silly thread anyway, I don't really care if some people decide to start the car with their foot on the clutch rather than checking for neutral first. Just as long as they realise it's wrong ;)
 
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Always do it since I nearly took my dads knees out and I nearly always leave my car in gear as it sits for weeks at a time without being used.
 
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