Funny that you should say that... if you are of the folks that "understand," then why did you not realize that shutting off an engine in gear would cause a car to "lurch" to a screeching halt? That you didn't connect the fact you were pressing the clutch in an MT, but not think about what you might need to do in an AT to "replicate" that clutch action?

 

I recommend that you leave the car in gear instead of neutral when parked on an incline.

 

Just a question been a while since I've been driving a stick, but if you're parked, in gear, and get towed, and they tow lifting the back of the car, wouldn't that really ruin the transmission?

Then again, I imagine its just as bad for an AT in park.

 

Unless the the tow operator is an idiot, they would know to hook up the drive wheels, and the car would roll on the free spinning wheels, otherwise if they do that, they're gonna be on the hook for damages. Hence why you see full time all wheel drive vehicles either flat bed towed or the drag wheels on dolly wheels.

 

Now I'm even a bit more perplexed, with your 18 yr. driving experience under your belt. I think all the posts here put together answers your questions - daily-driver, on the ground level, experience-based answers. I don't think this is the place if you're looking for "Theory of Operation"-type answers.

I beg to differ with you. Many posters here are car enthusiasts, meaning, they know a bit more about cars than just daily driving and putting gas in the tank. We all express ourselves differently, just like you.

FYI, I drive both an MT and AT, know a bit about cars, take care of my cars, don't have subject-matter-expert credentials on the combustion engine nor a PhD in English. But I do know that in order to respond properly, the question must be understood and a background of perspective as a reference point helps. So please, we're just trying to help... for what it's worth to you.

Happy motoring... but not in Park, please.

 

Everyone wants to get from point A to point B, NOT everyone wants to try to coast the last few feet into their driveway with an automatic transmission.

I wouldn't make a blanket judgement about AT drivers "understanding" when YOU are the one concievably asking questions and looking for understanding.

I trust the many posts in response have broadened your horizons of understanding?

 

how about you shift into neutral, then shut off the engine to coast into your garage, through your garage wall, into your living room, into your back yard, into your pool?

you can shift into neutral on a AT as you did with your MT car with no lurching.