I know that on recent automatic cars you do not need to put the car on neutral at the red light but what about on the semi automated transmition of the V8V? Would I preserve the clutch by putting the car in neutral at the red light?
Another question since there is no parking "gear" do I need to always put the handbrake when I park the car?
This questions might sound a bit dumb to some of you but I only had either manual or fully automatic cars so I'm not sure how to deal with this type of "hybrid" gear..

 

Putting the car in neutral will not preserve the clutch that much.
Yes, use the park brake. The last thing you need is for something to go wrong and the car roll down a hill. The trans puts itself in gear with key off, and the parking brake is extra insurance.

 

Thank you :-)

 

On any ASM Aston(Vanquish to present VH platform), it is best(and recommended) to put the vehicle in neutral when stationary for a period of time, yes this will prolong the life of the clutch and release bearing.


A large percentage of clutchs that I change are from clients of ASM vehicles because of this whole not putting in neutral and sitting stationary with trans in 1st gear. It would be the same as sitting at the light in a regular manual car with the clutch pushed to the floor..the friction disc would spin on the input shaft and slip between the pressure plate and flywheel, there is nothing to actually keep the friction disc from making contact..the pressure plate is lifted away from the friction disc, but nothing brings the friction disc away from the flywheel..aka wear occurs.

When in neutral the clutch is engaged and spining with the engine, so no slipping is down.

Also the release bearing, even though it's hydraulic still faults from wear-and-tear, then a leak happens and saturates the friction disc..at this point everything needs to be replaced.

 

That's what I thought so neutral at red light it is.. Thank you.