my question is regarding the use of the parking brake.

Are you only supposed to engage it on a hill? When I dont use it on a flat surface and take my foot off the brake pedal to get out of the car, the car moves forward and back. Will this wear out the gears over time? when the parking brake is engaged there is no movement whatsoever.

I've always wondered which was better. thanks

 

Typically you only need to engage it on a hill. If you stop on a level surface, as long as you are completely stopped there should be little to no motion once you let off the brakes, and Park will hold your car in place.

 

I have always had the habit of setting the parking brake, letting off the brakes, then put it in gear or in park. No matter where I park, hill or flat.

 

Well since the G is RWD, shouldn't putting the engine in Park already lock the wheels in place and it can't rotate? Wouldn't that make the parking brake a redundancy?

 

+1, better safe then sorry. Doesn't hurt anything to engage it. It is a separate brake system from the disc so no significant wear and tear.

 

The transmission is not a kickstand. USE the parking brake, its there for a reason

 

Use your parking brake... I usually put the car in N engage the parking brake, then take my foot off the brake pedal and put the car in park. Especially when you are not on level. Try it out yourself, when parking brake is not engaged and if there's even a slight incline you will feel your car pop out of Park very rough. I'd use it.

 

i wish auto gs had handbrakes -_-