They're not the same ratio, and it's not going to wear out the gear, the car's not even moving.

 

Yes it is..2012 Honda Fit - Specifications - Official Site

Gear Ratios: 1st: 3.308, 2nd: 1.870, 3rd: 1.303, 4th: 0.949, 5th: 0.727, Reverse: 3.308, Final Drive: 4.625

Most high end cars have a reverse lock out which requires it to be reverse to get the key out.

I never said you could not use first but its the most abused gear in the trans.

 

+rep to you for starting an interesting discussion.

You've seen that there's a lot of opinion.

I have always shifted all my cars [MT/AT] into the proper gear before turning the engine off.
It's how I learned and it's how I do it.
It's a habit that leaves me worry less.

Reverse is a good choice.

K_C_

 

One school of thought pertains to accidental engagement of the gear. So if your car is parked with the nose facing downhill, put the car in reverse. If the nose is facing uphill, put the car in 1st. If the street is flat and there is a Bentley in front of you and an Olds Delta 88 behind you, put it in reverse.

That way accidental engagement of the gear, with the engine running, causes the least damage.

 

I've never heard of this and a google search turned up nothing. I used to work as a valet and have driven everything from Ford GT's to Porsche GT3RS's and have never encountered this.

Reverse lockout as I know it is there to prevent you from shifting from fifth into reverse on our cars and most other cars won't let you shift into reverse unless your almost at a dead stop

 

Touche. I thought we were talking about GD3s.

 

I was not making it up but maybe its a option that can be turned off or on. I am not sure what the real name is but I call it reverse lock out because you have to lock it in reverse to get the key out and the steering wheel locked too. It was kinda annoying at times but it was a security feature too.

I remember my sons BMW having it too.