What gear should you leave a Ferrari in when parked and the engine is off

That's what I have done on every single car I have ever owned.

 

If you use the Hill Engineering transmission lock then you need to place the car into reverse before engaging the locking mechanism. I guess you could reverse the locking plate by 180 degrees & place the car into 5th, but no reason to.

 

Congrats on finally getting that F-car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

First, or reverse, depending on slope. As mentioned earlier, the Hill lock only allows reverse.

 

Inside, outside?

In my garage the car is in neutral secured with a wheel block.

Anywhere else in first gear.


Kai

 

If you don't know about it, think about joining the Ferrari Club of the country you're in.
There are a lot of great events and people to meet.
Cheers!

 

If the various components of your handbrake are in good condition (cables, shoes, rear discs/drums) and adjusted properly, then the handbrake should be plenty adequate to hold the car in postition on flat surfaces and low to medium slopes. Personally, I never parked my 348 on major slopes, so I never left it in gear, just in neutral.

 

I own a 355, 6 speed. I never leave it in gear, parking brake is just fine. If I were to park on a hill I would probably leave it in gear.

 

I always put mine in reverse. Maybe just habit from my muscle car days where you had to put the manual tranny in reverse to get the key out of the ignition.

 

First gear here. Thats what I have been told.

 

The F1 owners manual says to leave it in 1st with the engine off. It will even alarm if you turn it off in neutral, but I always leave in in neutral with the handbrake. That's what I've always done with all my cars, except if I'm parking on a steep hill.

 

Leave mine in 1st.

 

+1

If the car is pointing down hill, put it in first.
If the car is pointing up hill, put it in reverse.

It is best to always have the engine rotate in the "Normal" direction. Some motors, and I dont know if Ferrari is one but Cosworth motors are, dont like rotate backwards. Backwards makes cam chains/belts tensioner , cams ramp potentially bind/break.

When in doubt, spin the motor in the correct direction.

 

1st

 

My parking brake let go on my sloped driveway. I've also had the car roll with it just it in gear. (Time for a new house )

So it's always in 1st gear with the parking brake and if there's a curb, wheels turned into it.

With an automatic, it's park & parking brake.

 

this is what I do...... part of my brain says its a myth.....the other half says "hey no harm can be done, so go on with it"....... sounds a bit dubious but apparently in the 348, the synchros or something get aligned or improve or some "rubbish" like that if its left at 1st when parking and then......wait, the story gets better....... get it back to neutral when starting and then put it into 1st and straight into reverse in one motion.....let the car role back a little and then proceed with your journey........ we asians love superstitions, so hey, i'v been giving it a go for a bit.....not sure if it's really happening or if it's just psychological, but my 2nd gear shifts seems to be getting better!

 

First gear. Why would you NOT do this? There is no wear or strain on anything.

 

I was told whether you face uphill or downhill still use first gear. I use to use reverse if I was facing downhill in other cars. I really do not think it matters too much??

 

This is correct with any car, first or reverse. The uphill downhill thing is ideal, but not terribly critical. Its better not to rely on the parking brake only.

 

If I am on a flat surface, it stays in neutral,handbrake on. On any slope its in the gear that keeps it from rolling.

 

Neutral, handbrake on ...