Depress Clutch to Start - Manual cars

[MiiLos]

Also, if you stall the car you have to turn the ignition off before it will let you restart. First time I've ever encountered that in a car.

Now that was an experience I won't forget the first time it happened to me lol!

[gareth_oau]

my RS4 has the same clutch process, with a starter button on the centre console near the handbrake

[SMOK3Y]

Also, if you stall the car you have to turn the ignition off before it will let you restart. First time I've ever encountered that in a car.

ya thats a crap feature, but even my dunnydore had depress clutch to start.

[The_Hawk]

The key thing has been in every VW I have owned from the '70 Type 3 to the current ones. The clutch thing not in the mk1 or mk3.

That's said it's second nature to do just that anyway. I once had a friend hand me the keys of his shiny new Excel and say "bet you can't start it"... And BAM first time I kick I over and he asked how I knew about the clutch thing to which I replied "what clutch thing??"

[blutopless2]

would be surprised if it can be bypassed or switched off... surely VW see it as a safety feature and would not tamper with it.

[rayray086]

The Mk4s and 8L A3s don't have this feature, but the manual does say to do this as it places unnecessary load on the engine when it starts if the clutch is engaged (albeit in neutral).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.

[Ideo]

I was taught to always start with clutch in so no drama from me.

Just an added bit of security.

Big shoutout to the 5percenters.

[wai]

would be surprised if it can be bypassed or switched off... surely VW see it as a safety feature and would not tamper with it.

It is surprising what VW see as safety features. In the grand scheme of things, how many people have been killed or injured because the vehicle was started in gear. I mean, it is simply not possible to start the engine (ANY ENGINE) with the starter motor when it is in gear. Ok, so it will bunny hop but that is enough of a clue for even the dumbest driver (apologies) to realise that the car is in gear.

Contrast this with the situation where you cannot remove power from lighter/accessory sockets without getting under the bonnet and physically disconnecting the battery or trying to work out which fuse to pull out, or deadlocking someone in by default rather than having to do something extra to deadlock the car, or providing an emergency tailgate/barn door release from the inside. I mean, tackle genuine safety issues rather than create issues and then try and convince everyone that it is a MUST HAVE feature.

I am waiting for the feature that automatically turns the wheels to the kerb after parking. NO, THAT'S NOT A SUGGESTION, but if any manufacturer implements it, I will need to be paid a royalty as this is now clearly posted before ANY manufacturer has done this.

What next? Will drivers have to have the car in gear before they can remove the ignition key?

I really must stop doing this.

Putting the foil lined hat on for a moment, those cynics amongst us know that the way you control a crowd is to get them all doing the same thing (either something physical or chanting). Now they are so pre-occupied with the activity or action that they can be easily convinced to do anything :^)

[wai]

I was taught to always start with clutch in so no drama from me.

I was taught to make sure the car was in neutral (or Park for an automatic).

[Corey_R]

It is surprising what VW see as safety features. In the grand scheme of things, how many people have been killed or injured because the vehicle was started in gear. I mean, it is simply not possible to start the engine (ANY ENGINE) with the starter motor when it is in gear. Ok, so it will bunny hop but that is enough of a clue for even the dumbest driver (apologies) to realise that the car is in gear.

You'd be surprised. A close friend of mine was working on his car in the garage. He leaned into the car through the open driver's window and turned on the car... he didn't realise it was in gear and the car went straight through the garage wall into the living room, sending his father flying.... His father was sitting on a couch against the wall the car went through. He was more shaken up than hurt. But yeah... there is definite potential for injury to happen.

Whether that potential is worth enforcing it the way that is done in modern cars is another thing...