My gf has covered 60k totally reliable miles in her '07 Passat Tdi and we had a brief look at the new Skoda Superb. She refuses to drive an estate, and a hatch would be very useful in her next vehicle...company or otherwise.
The electronic parking brake is a must, she is addicted to it now!!
What other vehicles have this?
Removed make and model as not relevant for question, Rob.
Edited by rtj70 on 02/02/2009 at 12:44
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Cars I've driven with it:
A4,A6, Jag S Type, Jag XF
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Our C-Max has it (Ghia model only I believe)
I thought Mercs had had them for ages too.
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2006- Volvo S80s have it, as do 2007- V70s/XC70s. Although not on the base models, presumably to suit the many doubters still out there.
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C4 Picasso, comes on with manual intervention, or automatically when ignition turned off.
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New Citroen C5 exclusives and the C6 have electric handbrakes.
So do the higher model Vauxhall Insignias.
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Also, current Laguna (well at least the diesel estate I hired last week did).
StarGazer
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In all my years driving whenever I have applied the handbrake I have never thought, "Blimey, I wish there was an easier way of doing this".
A daft and expensive solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
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In all my years driving whenever I have applied the handbrake I have never thought "Blimey I wish there was an easier way of doing this". A daft and expensive solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Which way do these operate?
failsafe on, not nice if you need to move the car, worse if your driving at the time....
or...
failsafe off, not nice if parked on a hill.........
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There's 2 things about electric handbrakes i really dislike.
You cannot partially release as you judge the take up of clutch bite on a hill, presumably there's some sort of hill assist device as well, (i do hope so, something else to go wrong).
Secondly, as the car ages and things do deteriorate, you have a certain 'feel' when applying the normal handbrake whats happening at the business end, and you know when you have to apply a couple of extra clicks to park on that regular hill that something needs adjusting up or looking at.
You cannot have that same relationship with the electric brake, all you hear is a whirring and have to hope that all is well, and with some modern (automated manual) gearboxes that cannot be left in gear easily thats something i do not want.
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There's 2 things about electric handbrakes i really dislike. >>
No 3 - You can't do handbrake turns either!
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The Scenic II has one as well.
re gb's comments on partial release, this is unnecessary, since the handbrake releases at just the right moment for a perfect hillstart. It took me months to trust it, but it really does work well. Just pull away as normal, and as soon as the drive causes the car to squat on its rear suspension, there's a whirr, and the handbrake disengages.
My friendly mechanic greases the linkages at every service, otherwise it's needed no attention in 4 yrs / 62k
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You cannot partially release as you judge the take up of clutch bite on a hill presumably there's some sort of hill assist device as well (i do hope so something else to go wrong).
You don't need to. Hill start assist is quite common, as is electronic handbrakes that release themselves when you start to drive forward.
So hill start involves simply leaving the handbrake on and pulling forward. It works, I've tried it in a new S80 and fell in love with it.
It's not like old fashioned handbrakes were always so great, ask just about any Vectra or Signum owner...
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Why do we need them though?
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>> Which way do these operate? failsafe on not nice if you need to move the car worse if your driving at the time....>> or...>> failsafe off not nice if parked on a hill.........
Im still waiting to learn.... anyone any idea?
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Im still waiting to learn.... anyone any idea?
Dunno, but I'd ask this instead: what's the fail safe on a normal handbrake?
Perhaps we should ask all those Vectra and Signum owners whose car has rolled away with a properly applied traditional handbrake think?
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I wish I had put it as well as Robin, whose entertaining post could be sub-titled: 'An End to Handbrake Application Misery?'. How lazy do you have to be to find this an intolerable chore? On the other hand, I thought this about the electric windows in the 94 Astra, which never faltered in 14 years, and I also thought that indexed gears on cycles were un-necessary, and they're good as well. Therefore, the question is: Are these non-manual parking brakes better and why, or do they cause more problems than they solve?
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Here's one problem the electronic parking brake solves: when I apply the handbrake in SWMBOs Zafira, I do it so far up that poor Mrs Oilburner struggles to release it again.
No matter how many times she (rightly) chastises me for this, I still do it all the time.
Install an electronic handbrake and problem simply goes away.
Ta da!
I'm sure there are more benefits if I stopped to think about it.
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When I've used them one advantage is you have no doubt the handbrake has been applied properly - you can hear it applying to the rear brakes.
Hill starts are also easy and cause no fuss whatsoever, which is why at present they aren't permitted during driving tests.
You get more room between the seats and the LHD handbrake on RHD cars problem doesn't exist. This is an issue on the A3 as having the passenger seat too far forward to give my daugher room in the back means my hand fouls on the seat belt bracket mounted to the passenger seat and the handbrake can't be applied fully.
No such issue with the new A4.
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Ah yes, good point. It will also prevent accidental fondling of passengers right legs in LHD handbrake cars!
Or maybe that's not so bad after all.. :)
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When I've used them one advantage is you have no doubt the handbrake has been applied properly - you can hear it applying to the rear brakes.
The Scenic even tells you "PARKING BRAKE ON" in the computer display, along with the more traditional (P) warning lamp. It then flashes up (surprise surprise) "PARKING BRAKE OFF" when you pull away.
I will never forget the first time I test drove one, and having to do a hill start at a set of lights just 200yds from the dealer, and with a queue of cars behind me. It is the weirdest feeling in the world to place trust in something you've never even heard of before (as I hadn't until that point)
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Why do manufactures fit electronic parking brakes in the first place? Is it cheaper than conventional one?
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Why do manufactures fit electronic parking brakes in the first place? Is it cheaper than conventional one?
In the case of the Scenic, it's to free up space in the centre console area.
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Is the oddly monikered CLS Shooting Brake merely style over substance? Or a genuinely more practical version of the four-door coupe..jpg)
Stunning estate version of the CLS. Has rakish coupe-like looks combined with 'shooting brake' practicality. Available with efficient 250 CDI engine.
The Golf GTI is back and this time there's a Performance version with 230PS, uprated brakes and a front limited slip differential.
Leon range expands to include a three-door - for the first time ever.