Yes you can start the car without having the clutch peddle down. Most of the cars I've had I've taken out of gear before starting as that is a little easier, but leaving the car in a gear, usually 1st or reverse, when starting with the clutch down makes selecting 1st or reverse a doddle compared to the occassions when the gearbox simply refuses! When I first test drove the car I thought "uh oh, clutch has gone, or gearbox is kaput". Then I read this forum and had the garage check everything and realised it was just the way of the Crossfire. A small price to pay for a stunning set of wheels