So I drove a car with an automatic/electronic parking brake yesterday...

"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock) 04/17/2014 at 12:09 • Filed to: rant

1

11

I'm not sure if it was my unfamiliarity with the system but it seemed like complete pain in the arse. In this particular car it will easily move at idle just by lifting the clutch, this makes parking nice and precise as you can maneuver slowly into a tight space. But for some reason it wouldn't disengage the parking brake unless i used the accelerator, even if i attempted to release it with the switch on the dash. This meant randomly tapping the accelerator to park the car, which happened a lot when parallel parking in a tight space as when I switched from 1st to reverse and vice versa it automatically activated.

In short, please manufacturers just give me a lever. I like the lever.

jkm7680 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/17/2014 at 12:11

3

I prefer the Parking brake lever, and actual keys instead of buttons to start the car.

thebigbossyboss > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/17/2014 at 12:11

2

Also in my opinion...there is no way to know when the parking brake is broken, unless your car rolls into something. When you have the lever it is very obvious when the cable has snapped.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > jkm7680 04/17/2014 at 12:13

1

Yeah this had keyless entry too, was a strange feeling to me as the car I drive the most is my girlfriends nissan which doesn't even have central locking. It just felt like I was missing a few steps as to stop and get out of the car I only had to put it in neutral switch off the engine and get out. Keyless entry is something I could learn to live with quite easily though, the parking brake not so much.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > thebigbossyboss 04/17/2014 at 12:15

0

That's one thing that was okay in this car, I could hear the motor that tensions the cable under load every time the parking brake activated. In a more refined car though you're right there'd be no way of knowing.

jkm7680 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/17/2014 at 12:16

0

Yeah, I don't know. I guess I'm not a big fan of that kind of thing. Gps, Yeah Ok. That's useful. Reverse Camera? I should be able to get out of a parking space myself.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/17/2014 at 12:17

0

Reminder - the Ford S-Max has one of the most amazing handbrakes I've ever seen.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 04/17/2014 at 12:19

0

I forgot about that lever, I went away with my GF and her parents a while back and we rented one of these. Always thought it looked cool. My moms megane had a similar one although being a renault it was flimsy and poorly made.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > jkm7680 04/17/2014 at 12:22

1

Yeah there are certain features i understand and some I don't. For example I know someone who had a reverse camera retrofitted to her car because she reversed into a parked van claiming she "didn't see it". She drives one of these...

How the hell she managed to not be able to see out of such a tiny car with such big windows I have no idea. I assume it was just a cover for bad driving.

offroadkarter > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/17/2014 at 12:43

0

I really don't get why this became a trend, are people to lazy/stupid to work a level or press a pedal?

I'm not one to say this but this is really something simple being made complex that will fail and be annoying to fix.

offroadkarter > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 04/17/2014 at 12:43

0

I have never seen a horseshoe handle E brake lever but that is ridiculously cool

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > offroadkarter 04/17/2014 at 13:08

0

Yup a large heavy electric motor and associated electronics in place of a small lever...