Before I grind my new clutch to shreds...

...let me ask a question.

I park the t-cab in an underground public garage. My spot (yes, it's assigned) is back against a wall and it's a "lock-up" spot so I personally park it, lock it, and take the key.

Getting in and out of the spot typically requires the garage people to move 3 cars out of my way, after which I have to carefully nav around 3 concrete pillars and 2 or 3 other cars. To do this, I have to very gently engage the clutch on and off for up to 2 minutes sometimes. I basically don't touch the throttle; it's just steering and light clutch and the brake and I slowly work myself out. It's quite the nerve racking experience doing the same thing in reverse gear coming back in.

Am I destroying my clutch? I know that riding the clutch mid-engagement whilst hitting the throttle is bad, but this is lightweight stuff.

 

No you're not destroying your cluth since you are not applying on the gas pedal, there is no way you're grinding it as long as you maintain a low rpm, should be ok.

 

If you smell it, you're in trouble.

 

I would be worried about more than just clutch wear if you garage and drive your car in NYC. I assume that you're the one who parks it. Don't sweat the small the small stuff, as they say.

I would recommend that you change the hydraulic clutch fluid more often even without bleeding the system. You can do this by simply sucking out the fluid in the reservoir and replenishing it with fresh fluid (Brake fluid). Use a rubber suction bulb to do this, but be careful not to get any of the fluid on the paintwork.