Handbrake Use With Automatics!

mjt · 31 Aug 2016 at 22:51

Usually no, as I always leave the car in gear.
However, my A6 has an electronic handbrake and I tend to use it a lot more than I do traditional ones.

The amount of people who leave manuals in neutral with just the handbrake on is crazy. When the handbrake cable fails - world of pain!

*edit - just noticed it's about Autos but whatever

shifty_uk · 31 Aug 2016 at 23:28

Blackhawk47 said:
Worth noting I think you need to use it on a car with dsg. Mine will roll if I only leave it in park.

Don't believe you do :confused:

I only applied the handbrake about 30% of the time in my old S tronic, same with my current car.

Pyscho_Si · 1 Sep 2016 at 00:23

Lexus has an automatic one .... Comes on as soon ask put the car in 'park'.

Skidder · 1 Sep 2016 at 00:27

I always flick it on before turning off. Habit. Never thought about it.

xs2man · 1 Sep 2016 at 00:37

Sagalout said:
I always use mine - just habit I guess

Always used it, as above. Never crossed my mind not to.

adolf hamster · 1 Sep 2016 at 00:38

i use it from force of habit, even if it is useless and the parking gear is doing all of the work anyway.

does anyone bother using it+neutral when driving? say at traffic lights, or do you do what i assume every auto driver does and hold it on the footbrake?

xs2man · 1 Sep 2016 at 00:52

Sometimes. If I know it'll be a while.

Dandle · 1 Sep 2016 at 00:58

[TW]Fox;29959939 said:
I use Auto Hold, so my handbrake is automatically applied whenever I stop.

That's one feature I have never got on with, I don't like the feeling of the brakes biting while driving off or applying before quite fully stopped. Seems to wear the rear brakes out very early too on the 5 series.

Dr Who · 1 Sep 2016 at 01:27

Park is a rachet, I always use Handbrake when parking, a good knock and the car will roll freely in park.

Raymond Lin · 1 Sep 2016 at 01:35

Handbrake when parked, always.

Never knew some people don't!

Unluckyalf · 1 Sep 2016 at 04:25

I only use the handbrake on steep hills. Not because it dont trust the Auto box but because it takes the load off the transmission when you are trying to get it back into D again.
Foot-brake then Handbrake and then into Park. Other than that i never use it

Joe T · 1 Sep 2016 at 07:52

Yep I always apply it. Always a good idea to have two ways of stopping the car moving. On the Astra it's a simple flick of a switch (so why not?). On the Evoque it comes on automatically. On the Firebird it's foot operated.

Firestar_3x · 1 Sep 2016 at 07:59

Car does it for me, so yes.

[TW]Fox · 1 Sep 2016 at 07:59

Raymond Lin said:
Handbrake when parked, always.

Never knew some people don't!

Thought yours was manual?

Firestar_3x · 1 Sep 2016 at 08:05

Blackhawk47 said:
Worth noting I think you need to use it on a car with dsg. Mine will roll if I only leave it in park.

You sure? Mine won't shift if only left in Park.

Jamesyboyjim · 1 Sep 2016 at 08:25

Only ever driven a few auto vans, Always put the handbrake on out of habit, I notice lots of people don't though.

Howard · 1 Sep 2016 at 08:27

adolf hamster said:
i use it from force of habit, even if it is useless and the parking gear is doing all of the work anyway.

does anyone bother using it+neutral when driving? say at traffic lights, or do you do what i assume every auto driver does and hold it on the footbrake?

I pop mine in neutral if I'm not moving off imminently.

Jez · 1 Sep 2016 at 08:37

Do you guys wait for the vehicle to be stationary before shifting from say R to D?

I always seem to, not sure why, mechanical sympathy perhaps, but i notice that my partner doesnt. She just blasts back in R and shifts to D while still going (slowly) backwards. Doesnt seem to have blown a box up yet

Jamesyboyjim · 1 Sep 2016 at 08:39

Jez said:
Do you guys wait for the vehicle to be stationary before shifting from say R to D?

I always seem to, not sure why, mechanical sympathy perhaps, but i notice that my partner doesnt. She just blasts back in R and shifts to D while still going (slowly) backwards. Doesnt seem to have blown a box up yet

I'm the same as you, I wouldn't fancy repeatedly putting any car into drive while still moving backwards! Whether or not it causes any real harm I don't know!

MarkeR · 1 Sep 2016 at 09:19

Jez said:
Do you guys wait for the vehicle to be stationary before shifting from say R to D?

I always seem to, not sure why, mechanical sympathy perhaps, but i notice that my partner doesnt. She just blasts back in R and shifts to D while still going (slowly) backwards. Doesnt seem to have blown a box up yet

Yeah, always wait until I am completely staionary before swapping gears.. Don't fancy those tiny tiny slithers of metal floating around my transmission!