What Do You Do At Lights?

[Parrot of Doom]

I've always left my cars in D and applied the parking brake, to save the night vision of whoever happens to be behind me. This also saves wear and tear on the gearbox by not continually moving it in and out of drive (there's no wear on a gearbox by holding it in D while not moving). But in the RX400h, doing so means the electric motors keep trying to move the car, draining the Battery and reducing mpg. Keeping my foot on the brake pedal means the engine and motors are off, but at the cost of having the brake lights illuminated.

I'm somewhat surprised the car doesn't know the parking brake is applied while automatically removing all drive. Is there another way to achieve this?

[stevet]

I always just leave my foot on the brake.

[javadude]

I always just leave my foot on the brake.

Arrgh my eyes!

Neutral and parking brake for me.

[stevet]

I always just leave my foot on the brake.

Arrgh my eyes!

Neutral and parking brake for me.

But in neutral the batteries don't get charged.

[nelmo]

Arrgh my eyes!

Really?!

I've been behind loads of other auto's and never even noticed the brake lights on, let alone been dazzled by them...

[Boxbrownie]

Lifes to short............

[Stuno1]

Lifes to short............

HA! So true...pretty sure it wont wear the gearbox if its in drive and your foot on the brake. As for the drivers behind you...they'll be ok....

[DanD]

You should never leave the car in Neutral: as stated above, the Battery will stop charging.

Seems to me that, whether people drive an auto or a manual, they sit at lights with their foot on the brake. I have never thought of that as being an issue

[Stuno1]

You should never leave the car in Neutral: as stated above, the battery will stop charging.

Seems to me that, whether people drive an auto or a manual, they sit at lights with their foot on the brake. I have never thought of that as being an issue

Really? Is this the same for manual cars? I was under the impression that if the engine was running the Battery will charge.

[stevet]

Really? Is this the same for manual cars? I was under the impression that if the engine was running the battery will charge.

The hybrid batteries. The ISF does not have any but I wish it did sometimes :)

[Stuno1]

Ohhhhh! makes sense now. Ta.

Don't ever say that again! Dirty a 5L V8 with hybrid technology...unless its the new Mclaren or Porsche!

[IHgs300]

I always leave it in park, saves losing concentraion while i'm reading the paper.. :)