My friend has an '07 Passat, and her job necessitates her driving 45k per year.She swears that the electronic handbrake is the best thing since sliced bread, and tells me she would hate to return to a 'normal' type handbrake. Definitely sounds like a problem with your vehicle.
I recently rented a Prius whilst in the States, and without knowing whether it is a similar system to that in the Passat, found it intuitive to use. And I am someone who has been called a 'Luddite' on this site (quite pleased actually, tha knows).
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I'm sure if the Passat were my own regular car I would eventually get used to it. I find the idea that "the machines are taking over" a little worrying. The handbook, when I eventually found it, refers to a number of options including automatic distance maintenance (?), cruise control, blah blah, without actually telling me whether this car is fitted with it. Hence the problem for unfamiliar drivers - those who have to hire or borrow a *robot car* or alternate between two cars, one with and one without. I have heard so many accounts of drivers forgetting to operate handbrake, lights, even wipers... and almost coming a cropper.
The Passat has its own logic, but the Scenic and C-Max have their own, slightly different logic, too. One car automatically sets the handbrake on switching off ignition but another one doesn't. The *amazing* electronic circuits will work or not depending whether you press the clutch and/or footbrake fully down and whether the seatbelt is fastened (I prefer to make low speed manoeuvres in reverse without my seatbelt on, but the Passat dictates otherwise.)
That is lack of intelligent, consistent thinking. Lack of conformity is a problem for computer users but for a driver it can be far more serious.
It takes well over an hour to read instruction manual for Passat 3.0.12.3.2008.x...
Stop the world, I want to get off.....
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Recently had a Grand Picasso HDi EGS as a holiday hire car (been meaning to do review for last week or so) and had similar system.
Was brilliant, didn't need manual to work it (lucky as none was provided), just press button on centre of dash to switch on, automatically switched off when hit accelerator in drive modes.
Handbrake turned itself on as soon as ignition was turned off, so only needed it for hillstarts, but did use whenever was at a standstill (as I do with normal handbrake).
Absolutely loved it is as a system, and worked brilliantly with the EGS system (tried manual mode twice but found much preferred auto system.
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I have a Passat with one of these and spend 8 odd hours a day in the car.
I find it really convenient as it frees up space but can comiserate with the start up proceedure which seems to be merely a gimmick.
The trick with the electric hand brake is to never use it unless parking. Switch the thing off before you put it in gear. My auto hold thing seems to only work when it feels like it.
I had the car serviced in a Skoda dealer today and yearned for the days of better build quality and a rattle free time behind the wheel. But hey ho, only a year more to go.
I am supporting the Czech Republic this summer to apologise for "cheating" on them.
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Sorry but I do not understand what the problem is with a simple lever in the car that operates the rear brakes through 2 cables.
It gives a high level of control and if the hydraulic system fails it is there as a back up.
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And if this simple mechanical system should fail, or play up, the car can be driven to a garage . Try that when the electronic one plays up!
A gimmick for the sake of it !
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Sorry but I do not understand what the problem
The problem is that with a simple handbrake system, the dealer can't charge you £££ for fixing an electronic circuit - which you local garage can't do because they won't have the software.
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I've got used to the electronic handbrake on my Passat, but I think I'd prefer a 'normal' one. Luckily it's too hill round here so I don't need to do a lot of hill starts - I still find these a bit stressful with the electronic hanbrake.
It seems like quite a few other cars have this type of brake now. I'm not convinced they're the way forward, though the extra storage space between the seats is useful.
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It's stange that I consider that the AUTO - HOLD switch and function are probably the best feaure of the Passat! Perhaps that's because my Passat 2.0 TDI has got a DSG gearbox.
Yes, I agree that sometimes the software has a mind of its own; but in a M25 traffic jam sceanrio it works like a dream.
Will I buy another Passat? Probably not due to the poor dealers in the Thames Valley area!
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I was planning to hire a Passat in October and will be doing quite a lot of motoring.
A Passat is the size (auto) car available from Avis ( they are the flavour chosen this year) so unless I switch hirer, that has a drop off in other cities, what aggro am I in for?I do not want to waste holiday time messing about learning about clever gizmos.
Any thoughts?
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The electronic brake really isn't very complicated. You pull the button up and it engages just as any handbrake.
To pull away, you just pull away. Once the clutch bites the brake should disengage - you don't need to do anything. However, it will only do this if you have your seat belt on. If you haven't, the brake will remain on.
If you want to release it manually without your seatbelt on, put your foot on the main brake and press the button down.
At least this is how the VAG version works.
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I hired a Passat DSG auto with the electronic brake. I must say it was easy enough to use and I was very impressed with the auto box. I had never driven one before, but all you had to do was press a button to put the brake on.
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I wish Henry K the best of luck with the hired Passat. It is a terrific car; I've driven it for four days now and except for that wretched brake, it is wonderful: comfortable, quiet, smooth, light steering and controls, loads of gadgets,...
Things to remember with the automatic brake (things I wish the enormous instruction manual had told me!)
1. Keep your seatbelt fastened and set the "Auto Hold" button at the start of every journey, then things are pretty intuitive.
2. When you come to a stop in traffic, whether you're on the flat or a slope, go into NEUTRAL as soon as you can then LET CLUTCH AND FOOTBRAKE IN AGAIN and the parking brake comes on automatically and holds the car till you move off, when it releases at precisely the biting point with no rolling forwards or backwards. There is no warning light on the brake button but it'll hold you still as long as AutoHold is on. In this respect it's intuitive and brilliant.
3. If you ever want to park on a hill, switch the Auto Hold OFF and use the brake button manually. Or else it's jerk - stop - groan - jerk - move - jerk and you'll tear your hair out.
4. The parking brake does NOT automatically set when you park the car (or stall the engine!) so remember to hit that rectangular button (with clutch and footbrake pressed!) And the key/switch/Yorkie Bar *thing* has to be pressed IN to pull it OUT, which you have to do before pushing it IN again to start the car.
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The fact that it's taken Bilboman this long, despite writing in concise, clear English, makes the point admirably that this stupid gimmick is the answer to a problem nobody had.
Instructions for manual handbrake:
1 Pull it up to apply, pressing the button to save wear on the ratchet.
2 To release, press in the button, lift slightly and release (gradually for a hill start).
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If you look in the handbook for almost any car with options then you will see large sections for options you car doesn't have. Vauxhall, Ford, Citroen all do it to some degree, while premium marques such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes can take it to a whole new level due to the high number of options. Your rental company should have made it clear to you what options were in the car and how they worked, and you should familiarise yourself with the car before driving it - even if that means taking 30 minutes to do so before each drive. Any driver not competent enough to drive a vehicle should not be endangering other road users.
Incidentally, it is law in the UK you must wear a seat belt in order to operate a vehicle (this has been the case since 1983). This applies whenever you are on public roads or carparks (including Tesco's car park). If you have an accident without wearing a seatbelt, even when reversing into a space in the car park, your insurance may not cover you, especially if you have bodily injuries.
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