If you want to start uphill, in autos, you disengage the parking brake and car will creep forward.
In normal manual (with handbrake), you release clutch and disengage handbrake at same time so car will crawl forward.
How will you do this in an auto where parking is brake is operated by left foot?
PS: For autos, I think foot operated parking brake is a good thing as left foot is no longer decommissioned :)
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How will you do this in an auto where parking is brake is operated by left foot?
It may be applied by left foot, but it's (in a Merc at least..) released by an under-dash pull - a bit like a bonnet release in fact.
It's awkward: engage gear, slowly engage clutch till it's biting (and will hold the car) - release handbrake with right hand. The only problem is that you can't moderate/modulate the release as you can with a ratchet type handbrake - it's all or nothing.
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How will you do this in an auto where parking is brake is operated by left foot? It may be applied by left foot but it's (in a Merc at least..) released by an under-dash pull - a bit like a bonnet release in fact. It's awkward: engage gear slowly engage clutch till it's biting (and will hold the car) - release handbrake with right hand. The only problem is that you can't moderate/modulate the release as you can with a ratchet type handbrake - it's all or nothing.
Same on a Citroen XM ... not the car's best feature.
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How will you do this
Spec hill start assist :-P
I can't believe you can buy foot-parking-brake equiped manual cars! Slightly mad.
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Many lorries have a system where the handbrake is pulled on by hand but released just by pressing a button.Same procedure as on a Merc.Just hold vehicle on clutch and push button.I've driven autos where the foot operated handbrake comes off automatically as you move from "N" into "D or R".
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Nahh, just juggle the brake and accelerator quickly, so you don't roll back. Handbrakes/footbrakes are for wimps!
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Nahh just juggle the brake and accelerator quickly so you don't roll back. >>
Or buy a Toyota - the accelerator'll stick on full!
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Why do they fit these awkward parking brakes? Are they cheaper than rachet type handbrakes or just because they can make more money by fixing them when they go wrong?
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Legend has it that M-B, at least, fitted them primarily for the American market, where most (if not all) their cars were sold as autos. Presumably this means many/most American cars had or have foot-operated parking brakes as well & M-B wanted to 'compete' on a level playing field - which is what you'll need if you've got a manual with a foot parking brake(!)
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I looked at an M-B diesel before discounting them on reliability and build standard grounds (MY early '00s).
As I prefer manual transmission the foot handbrake is a real joke, designed for people with 3 legs. I'm afraid that a handbrake is an analogue device requiring modulation in conjunction with the clutch in order to achieve an acceptable hill start without abusing the clutch.
My spec. was for a diesel towcar. With the M-B handbrake, the vehicle was in my view inadequately controllable when attempting a hill start with a fully loaded trailer. M-B should have made this clear to potential users of these cars in this mode.
In view of the servicability and durability of these cars of this vintage, I'm very glad I don't own one.
659.
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IIRC, Kia Carens also has this foot operated parking brake feature!
What on earth the engineers were thinking whey the idea came to their mind??
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Very wise 659FBE - or can I call you 659? ;)
Slight thread creep but..
My poor old next door neighbour has a W124 320 - manual! It was donated by his son I believe. It must be a pig to drive (esp. in stop-go) on anything but the flat & his driveway is sloped too.
My experiences with 2 Mercs - a W124 coupe & a W203 C-class diesel (2003) echo & amplify your concerns. I've never had cars go 'properly' wrong in any other make I've owned - and I've had my share of older less 'prestigious' cars too.
I'm not fussy about minor irritations - a squeak here or errant trim there - my concern are the integrity/design/construction of the major oily bits - things that become car killers eventually.
Another aspect is the v. poor attitude & competence of Merc. franchised dealers of my experience. I'm not concerned in the slightest about how good the 'yes sir, of course sir' CRM bit is or them making a bit on services with spurious items - as long as they demonstrate good diagnostic skills & mechanical skill/adeptness - which they haven't in my case.
Incidentally, I had a Skoda Superb - a 130pd engined jobby like yours - and regret selling it to get my current Merc diesel. I got shot of the Superb because I'd made a mistake in getting the Elegance with 17inch (225x45 tyres) wheels & tiptronic box - which neither suited the suspension, nor the engine characteristics in my view. A manual in Comfort spec. with a 130pd engine would have been, in retrospect, ideal. You live & learn.
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In the mid 90's I had a C class manual. Managed OK with the foot handbrake 95% +time.
Only real issue was queuing on a hill in Glasgow ( A Drumlin Hill- very steep) - brake held OK - traffic moved off, so did I BUT then stopped after a few yards - at this point a 3rd leg would have been handy - also wearing a brown trousers would have been advisable.
In the 2 years I had it SWMBO drove it 3 miles and then encountered a hill start and never drove it again.
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