If you do leave it in gear always set the brake!!

If your car gets hit (your lucky day) there is a lot more potential to chip the gear it is in if the brake is not set. Of course a first time owner of a stick I don't know that the off chance of getting hit and chipping a gear tooth should be your transmissions biggest concern.

 

I usually dont put my car in gear unless its on a hill. primarily because i have the remote starter. my buddies car ended up going down a hill in reverse because he didnt put it in gear so i learned my lesson.

 

Just make sure you apply the handbrake whatever you do.

The most common practice is:
1st - up hill
R - down hill

 

The trouble with the states... Sticks seem far too rare!

 

+1. Amen.

 

WEll for me i never really trust the ebrake because i had bad experience before...but on flat surface i just pulled the ebrake up, but on uphills i leave on 1st gear + ebrake just too be safe and downhill reverse + ebrake.....

 

This whole 1st vs reverse thing makes no sense. You people are making me crazy.

 

actually.. i just rest my car on the car behind me if im facing up hill.. that way it cant roll!!!!

 

yup as some people have said just leave it in first gear
doesnt mather uphill or downhill
just use your handbrake for those occassions also

hell our driveway goes uphill a bit and i never used the handbrake for it just let in first gear and thats it
never had any issues and i always drove a manual never did it any other way

 

heinz your pic looks like a coot.