Can I ask a question without fear of ridicule?

the clutch down is a safety feature with cars that have a keyless igntion - stops a child from whacking random buttons on the dash and having the car fire up...

 

Cars with a keyed ignition have the same feature

 

Yes I know. As I mentioned, my daughter has this on her one series BMW.

 

I have a 5 series auto
you put your foot on the brake
To start
Also if you open the door it flicks out of drive

 

When I was learning to drive they told me to always start a car with the clutch pressed, something that I do naturally now.

There is no reason I can see why doing so would be a problem.

 

Fifty..
@Merlin Cat told me she does..

 

Yup me too..

Most modern cars have a switch on the clutch peddle , to tell the ecu what's happening, with cruise control and starting up

 

Daughter's Mini has the BMW clutch depress start system but does have a key of sorts. My departed but not forgotten, Alfa 156 (Selespeed) needed the brake pedal depressed and prayers to several of your favourite Gods before that wonderful 2 litre would fire. Unlike Clarkson I liked the flappy paddles (and sequential, manual gear lever) but he's from Yorkshire and thinks Whitby Jet is coal, so what does he know.

 

why would anybody buy such a god damn awful car is beyond me ...reminds me of a fiat multipla another Marmite car ....infact all French cars are Marmite

 

Is that your opinion or a proven fact?

 

Fiat's are Italian , still marmite !!

 

When I learned to drive (52 years ago) in the days of carbon clutch thrust bearings, I was taught to check you were in neutral, and NOT to push the clutch down, as doing this loaded up the crankshaft thrust bearing and caused more friction which the puny 6v starter motor could do without.
You also did not sit in gear at the lights or a junction with your foot on the clutch, or you would be changing carbon bearings every few months.
This obviously put me in good stead, as I have never had to replace a clutch on any of my cars over the years.
Tony

 

I always give the stick a wiggle before starting. Regardless of what or who's car/van I am driving. Even if I was the last driver.

 

Always wiggle your stick! I can't believe people don't do this.

My Golf won't start without the clutch down. Older cars, as above, putting the clutch down does take some of the gearbox load off the starter if your battery's a bit dicky.

 

What?

 

Not you. Do you wiggle your stick?

 

Bit personal!

 

true ... the French are quite good making a car look good but Christ they are crap mechanically and cheap ....all IMHO

 

I must be lucky. I'm on my 10th (I think) Citroen, some new, some used. Never had any more problems than I would with any other car.