I felt old last night

"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
01/05/2017 at 14:00 • Filed to: Tech

We were short a guy installing the Mazda booth at the San Jose Auto Show, so I was helping in ways I am not usually working. I usually do rigging and things, but I had to help position the cars later on and hook up the power, remove horn fuses etc... BUT I had to start the cars and all that, I have never owned a car with no key or push button E brake.... I can’t say I like this. Well I had to put the car in N to move the wheel as we jacked them up so the Mazda emblem on the wheel was straight, then lower it on a plexiglass square. I just didn’t like how I had to start it and how many things had to be a certain way for the car to do anything. I don’t know how I feel about a push button E brake on an SF hill, I can’t really tell what it’s doing. I have a 2006 CRV but it just has the door lock remote. I think the Mazda MX3 or something still had the regular e brake. Also the Miata had no gas flap release, you just push down on it and it opens! We have to put tape on the gas cap for the fire marshal. Rant over.

DISCUSSION (14)

Spaceball-Two > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 14:04

The first day we got my wife’s CX-5 I ran to the store and got out while it was still running because the push button start was odd to me. I fumble with the fob all the time in trying to get the doors open. Makes me feel old.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Spaceball-Two
01/05/2017 at 14:06

Yeah, the guy who travels with the show said they had trouble with the guys who bring cars into the hall, they can’t figure it out sometimes. Some new cars are not synched or something he said, I had to touch the fob to the button.

Spaceball-Two > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 14:12

Yup. Also the ebrake while on if you press the brake pedal and lightly accelerate the ebrake will disengage. Seems like that’s defeating the whole purpose of an ebrake.

Textured Soy Protein > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 14:26

It’s been a while since I had a car with a gas flap release, so I’m very much used to going out to the cap and opening it. My 335xi for example, locks the flap with the doors. But my wife’s Impreza has a release inside the car. So if we’re on a road trip with her car, without fail when I go to fill up the tank, I get out of the car, go to put the nozzle in the tank, then remember I have to hit the release inside the car.

Both of our cars have the wireless key push button start etc. though.

AndyG_UK > Spaceball-Two
01/05/2017 at 14:26

The purpose of an E-brake (or parking brake to use it’s correct name) is to set it when the car is parked so it doesn’t roll away. In modern cars, with hill start assist and electronic parking brakes that disengage when you pull away, it is really all it should ever be needed for (unless you need to use it stop the car in an emergency situation and an electronic one will still do that).

deekster_caddy > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 14:34

In my Volt (pushbutton start) I can put it in ‘accessory’ mode by pressing the Start button without my foot on the brake and holding the button for a couple seconds. Then I can treat it like a ‘regular’ car with the key forward but no power - shift to neutral, run the windows, etc.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > AndyG_UK
01/05/2017 at 14:38

I just don’t like relying on a motor to do it’s thing if I need it, I like the control of the cable.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Textured Soy Protein
01/05/2017 at 14:40

Yeah my W123 Merc has a pin that closes with the door, I’m ok with that. Maybe people don’t go around putting things in or taking fuel out of cars so I shouldn’t be alarmed, but I just like to know it was locked. Can always get a lock cap.

Sam > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 15:04

I don’t know why more manufacturers didn’t do the same. My E34 BMW also has a pin that locks the fuel door when you lock the car. Otherwise, it’s a usual pull-open type door.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 15:43

Wait does it actually force you to be in neutral to start a manual car? I’ve driven a few push button manual cars (VW’s mainly) but they weren’t mine so I always put them in neutral to be nice. But my own car I start in 1 or R all the time. I’d hate to have that taken away.

E90M3 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/05/2017 at 16:15

You have to push the clutch in on mine to start it. Not sure if it can be in gear while you start it, but since the clutch is depressed, I see no reason why you couldn’t start it in 1 or R. I’ll have to try sometime.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
01/05/2017 at 16:53

I think so, the door had to be closed too, clutch in and on the brake or nothing. These manuals weren’t push button, they have a real stick, but the other nanny features come into it. I like a real E brake for a manual so I can control my roll, someone mentioned the E brake may release when you start to drive, I have no idea.

Under_Score > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/05/2017 at 16:58

I have push button and smart key. I don’t think I’ve ever pushed the button on the key to unlock my car.

Tazio, Count Fouroff > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/06/2017 at 04:23

Agreed!!

Better to depend completely on technology only to do that which it’s impossible to accomplish otherwise — like IFR landings in zero visibility

Letting oneself rely blindly on technology because of laziness or just because that technology is available ultimately paves the same path as good intentions (or the path to the RMS Titanic gangplank), you know?

*here endeth the rant*