What are the correct steps to start and park the eighth-generation Golf?

[AlinaDella]

Press the engine-start button. In summer, you can shift gears and drive immediately, but it's recommended to warm up the car for about a minute before driving. After stopping the vehicle, if on level ground, shift to P gear, engage the handbrake, and press the engine-start button once to turn off the engine. Check whether the air conditioning and audio system are turned off.

[OJesse]

Before driving, check that the gear is in P (Park), press the one-touch start button while keeping your foot on the brake, and the dashboard will light up—that’s it. Before turning off the engine, shift to P (Park) and note that the electronic parking brake will automatically engage, indicated by a red light—this car’s anti-rollaway feature is very reliable. If parked on a slope, make sure you hear a click when shifting to P (Park), confirming the locking mechanism is engaged. Always turn off the AC and headlights before shutting down the engine to reduce battery load on the next start. The electronic parking brake doesn’t require manual operation—it activates automatically in P (Park), making it hassle-free.

[LaLeilani]

After getting the key and sitting in the car, don't rush to start the engine. Press the brake pedal all the way down, make sure the gear is in P position, then press that white button next to the steering wheel to start the engine. When parking, first stop the car completely, shift to N gear and engage the electronic parking brake, then finally shift to P gear and turn off the engine - this N gear buffering step is particularly good for transmission protection. Recently discovered the keyless entry function is very convenient - just touch the indentation on the door handle to unlock. When exiting parking lots and encountering slopes, if the AUTOHOLD green light on the dashboard is on during startup, the car won't roll back. After getting familiar with this feature, driving in traffic becomes much more comfortable for your feet.

[AthenaRose]

I'm used to pressing the start button twice without stepping on the brake to power on the self-check, waiting for all dashboard warning lights to go off, then pressing the start button while holding the brake. Pay attention to the parking sequence: after the car stops, shift to N gear, engage the electronic parking brake, release the brake to let the car come to a complete stop, then shift to P gear and turn off the engine. This prevents stress on the transmission pawl. Remember to check if windows and AC are off before shutting down - in summer, pre-cooling via mobile app is especially handy. After getting familiar with the electronic shifter, gear changes feel quite satisfying. Always check if automatic headlights turn off after shutdown.