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taxiguy
if you need to push or pull the car (either by hand or with another vehicle), or if you want it to go freely in a slope. Or if you stop on flat ground and do not want to keep your feet on the brake (as I guess that P is for when the motor is turned off? I never drove an automatic so I am not sure)
Right. "P" applies a parking brake, in addition to (or instead of) the normal parking brake. Therefore, when in "P" you cannot push/pull the car. So they made "N" to let the car's wheels move freely.
Also, you can put the car in "P" while the motor is on (just not while it's moving, as that will wreck the transmission). In fact, it is normal procedure to put the car in "P" right before turing the ignition off.