The cable gets stretched out if you regularly pull the handbrake too tight. Usually 4 clicks is too stiff if you're parked on somewhat level ground. 3 clicks is fine. If you need more than that, park it in gear instead and let the transmission hold the car. It's a bad habit to rely on the handbrake when you're parking on a hill anyway because if you park the brakes hot, many times they let go once they cool down. You should also always turn the wheels when you park on a hill so that if the car rolls back, the tire will hit the curb and stop it. Be gentle with your hand brake and you can prevent this from happening. The same goes with the clutch and engine. Gear changes at 2,500 will make the engine last longer. Don't hold the clutch in at stoplights, shift to neutral. When you begin moving from a dead stop feather the clutch, not the throttle. Once the clutch is engaged, then press the accelerator more. Don't let the clutch up at the same time you put the accelerator down or else you'll burn your clutch out quicker.
