Push button electronic handbrakes

Unread post by **Frank Manning** » 27 Jan 2014, 15:22

FoLLowing on from 'Do I need this gizmo'. I had a drive in a new Mercedes A class recently, andI am still puzzled about these P/B handbrakes. I am a bit concerned that if there is an electronics failure the hand brake will be unable to be released so that the car can be moved. Additionally, being someone who does handbrake starts in traffic on steep hills, I dont want to have to lean forward and locate a button lower right dashboard thus taking my right hand off the wheel, and as it happened I also had to take my eyes off the road to find the thing.

I like my handy left hand, hand brake, 'if it 'aint broke, dont fix it!'

27 Jan 2014, 19:00

Dear Frank,

I have an electric push button hand brake on my Avensis and it's fine, never let me down. As far as the hill starts go it automatically disengages as you drive the car forward.

Regards
Rob

Unread post by **Boris+** » 27 Jan 2014, 19:37

We had a similar thing on our Jaguars - smooth as silk and always reliable.

Em

Unread post by **The Tinker** » 27 Jan 2014, 21:07

I have one on my Vauxhall Astra - love it. Yes it took a few days to get used to but now would not be without it.
Mine has an automatic release - so foot on accelerator and off you go. Also if you tap the footbrake twice - it locks so makes parking safe or when on a hill.

Unread post by **Quizzical Bob** » 27 Jan 2014, 21:27

My Mercedes has a foot handbrake, if you know what I mean, with a manual release under the dashboard. It's an automatic which makes hill starts a doddle.

Unread post by **Kendhni** » 28 Jan 2014, 06:19

It takes a little while getting used to but I have got to like mine.
I actually have two buttons, one that engages or releases the handbrake and a second one that once pressed means every time I bring the car to stop it holds the brakes on automatically.

Don't worry about hill starts the car does all the hard work for you ... just do not double clutch !

Unread post by **Boris+** » 28 Jan 2014, 09:30

I think we are all so very lucky to be driving and enjoying vehicles with all these modern advances. I can remember double declutching, correct use of the choke, and yes - cars without power steering, heating and a radio!

Then we had the years of heated rear windscreens being a luxury - and everybody seemed to head for Halfords to buy stick on ones!

Best of all though - the first car I properly learned to drive on (on the public highway) had a starting handle!

Great fun - but I wouldn't volunteer to drive a vehicle without power steering nowadays!

Em

Unread post by **royalprincess** » 28 Jan 2014, 10:22

I am about to change the car and am finding it very difficult to chose one with all new fangled gadgets, stop/start, electronic handbrakes etc etc. I just want it to go from A to B as cheaply as possible. Should be simple but it isn't.

Unread post by **jay-ell71** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:01

No heaters, radios or power steering and manual chokes, yes did all that, but double de-clutching? surely you are too young for that
Em?

My car has an electric brake, and it is automatic, and it turns its engine off when stopped at the traffic lights (quite disconcerting initially) It tells me when when I am too close to something, even tells me when the car behind me is too close to me! It reminds me to take my phone with me, reminds me that the indicator is still on when I leave the car, It says the windscreen solution is running out, and more and more. Sometimes, I wonder if my presence is required, perhaps I should stay at home, and let the car do the shopping.
But I love it!!!!!!!!!!

Unread post by **haveabeer** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:22

My car has rear camera for parking thought at first it was a gadget i could do without but its become a must have love it when parking and someone is sitting in the car behind there face can be a picture as i reverse back seemingly not looking in mirror i have it down to a fine art now can reverse within a couple inches of the car behind
Our new car will have all round cameras and loads of other gadgets i love them

Unread post by **barney** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:44

One down side to the gadgets is that you get so reliant on them

My Mercedes has so many sensors that when I park, I hardly look, just relying on the digital readout and the bleeps.

On holiday in Malta recently, I hired a dinky little 107.
Well, the trouble I had parking anywhere was nobody's business because I couldn't figure out where the bonnet & boot stopped.
Bearing in mind that this car was the size of a shoe box, I felt a proper idiot.

Gadgets, yes please

Unread post by **Onelife** » 28 Jan 2014, 15:42

I have a gaget in my car that can be a real pain in the a*se....it makes you aware of every bl**dy conceivable hazzard going.....apart from that l love my wife dearly.

Regards

OL

Unread post by **jay-ell71** » 28 Jan 2014, 16:07

Naughty..OL

Unread post by **Frank Manning** » 28 Jan 2014, 17:41

Thanks for all your interesting replies. It must be just me...my own Merc is 4 years old now and still has the pull on lever, but it does have the parking sensors front and back, and I too find them really useful when parking. It also has self parking, but I do not use it (well only once when I collected it new). i have to admit I am chicken!! I have this dread of it hitting something, and get an urge to grab the wheel.

Unread post by **Boris+** » 28 Jan 2014, 17:49

I used to think that cars were confectionery in metal. Now with all the bells and whistles available to select from I tend to think of them as confectionery in metal with sprinkles on

Em

Unread post by **Capt Black** » 28 Jan 2014, 19:33

It's never taken me long to get used to a push button parking brake on the occasion that I've driven cars, but I do still prefer a good old big lever. Also prefer manual gearboxes, and I still during the summer, drive a car that has neither power steering nor ABS. Ahhh....the smell of petrol and leather.

Unread post by **Frank Manning** » 29 Jan 2014, 09:38

Onelife wrote:
I have a gaget in my car that can be a real pain in the a*se....it makes you aware of every bl**dy conceivable hazzard going.....apart from that l love my wife dearly.

Regards

OL

I can identify with that sentiment.

Worse still, despite being a good driver, Sue refuses point blank to drive.

Unread post by **Onelife** » 29 Jan 2014, 14:16

Tell me about it Frank...Apparently my wife can see round corners 5 miles ahead...

A typical conversation in our car consists of me say “What”!!!.... Followed by... “The dogs on a lead for gawd’s sake”!!

Regards

Keith

Unread post by **Frank Manning** » 29 Jan 2014, 14:41

Have you noticed that they think there is a foot brake on their side of the car?

Unread post by **Dancing Queen** » 29 Jan 2014, 14:50

Frank Manning wrote:
Have you noticed that they think there is a foot brake on their side of the car?

Ohhh believe me Frank on occasion we need a foot brake on our side of the car

Speaking as a passenger of course and not when I'm driving

Unread post by **jay-ell71** » 29 Jan 2014, 15:47

There is a foot brake on my side of the car, but unfortunately it doesn't work.

Unread post by **Quizzical Bob** » 29 Jan 2014, 18:34

jay-ell71 wrote:
There is a foot brake on my side of the car, but unfortunately it doesn't work.

Cut a hole in the floor and use your foot.
HTH

Unread post by **jay-ell71** » 30 Jan 2014, 10:02

…………………...

Unread post by **Mervyn and Trish** » 30 Jan 2014, 12:19

A couple of years back we had a VW Tiguan as a loan car while ours was at the menders and that had an electronic handbrake. You could use a switch to set and release it or you could put it in automatic mode. In that setting it put itself on when the car stopped and released itself when you tried to drive away. It worked wonderfully, did perfect hill starts and was a joy in slow moving stop-start traffic on a slight incline.

Unread post by **Silver_Shiney** » 30 Jan 2014, 13:09

jay-ell71 wrote:
No heaters, radios or power steering and manual chokes, yes did all that, but double de-clutching? surely you are too young for that
Em?

My car has an electric brake, and it is automatic, and it turns its engine off when stopped at the traffic lights (quite disconcerting initially) It tells me when when I am too close to something, even tells me when the car behind me is too close to me! It reminds me to take my phone with me, reminds me that the indicator is still on when I leave the car, It says the windscreen solution is running out, and more and more. Sometimes, I wonder if my presence is required, perhaps I should stay at home, and let the car do the shopping.
But I love it!!!!!!!!!!

It shouldn't be telling you that the car behind is too close, it should be telling the idiot to back off to a safe distance!

Your key is in the ignition

- I know, I just put it there.

Your seatbelt is undone

- I know, I've just got in the car.

Your seatbelt is undone

- I know, I am about to get out of the car.

Your door is open

- You'd rather I'd climb through the window?

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