Sometimes I park my (manual) car and find that while I’m well aligned , I’m either too far into the spot (don’t always want to bait someone with my smol car) or not far in enough.

Assuming I’m on level ground (ie in a multi storey carpark), is it OK to put my car into neutral, let down the handbrake and push it a little? As opposed to firing up the ignition and driving it 50 centimeres?

  • JarJarAwakens@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Should be fine. The wheels aren’t connected to the engine or other transmission gears in neutral.

  • maranelloboy18@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I do this all the time in the garage with my S2000. Way way easier to just reach in and drop the handbrake and move it where I need it, don’t even need to open the door 😂

  • KG8893@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    let down the handbrake and push it a little? As opposed to firing up the ignition and driving it 50 centimeres?

    You say that like the first is easier than the second option… Just start the car and move it…

    Here’s a really crazy idea, don’t turn the car off before you check your parking job

    Is this bait?

  • BrosenkranzKeef@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    It’s fine.

    But also, you need to get better at parking. Once you get your car in a good place, get back in the car and study the sight picture. What does it look like? Where is the curb compared to your mirrors? How close is the wall? Make a mental note of what it looks like.

    And then make it look like that every time. Boom, perfect park job every time.

  • davvehall@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    In the old days when you had a small car with a jumpy clutch one used to open the door put one leg out the door and push a little forward or back!!

  • time_to_reset@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I do this all the time, no problem. I have seen people push dents into their cars when pushing though, but other than that you should be fine.

  • kmuruges@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    This is absolutely not worth the risk. The one time things could go wrong and it could be catastrophic.

  • broken_cogwheel@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    As others have said it won’t damage your car’s mechanicals to move it slightly in neutral.

    That said, here’s what you should do: Do not turn the car off immediately after pulling into a parking spot. Pull the parking brake, put it in neutral, get out of your car and inspect your alignment & position. If you’re happy, turn off the car. If you want to move, you have power and can adjust normally while it’s still running.

  • 383throwawayV2@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I mean yes, but I’m having a hard time understanding how this would be even remotely quicker or easier than just turning the car on and adjusting it normally.

  • ShowUsYourTips@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I move my car with my foot all the time on level ground. If the car isn’t where I want it after I shut it off, I put it in neutral, open the door, and use my foot to move the car forward or back.