Insignia electronic handbrake

topher · 14 Jul 2017 at 22:00

Had a test drive of a 15 plate ecoflex sri today, nice inside and nice to drive but I didn't like the electronic handbrake.

I pulled up on a step hill (facing downhill) and I wanted to reverse a little, I would normally get the bite using the clutch/accelerator then release the handbrake. The problem is the handbrake gets automatically released once in gear and the accelerator pressed.

So I ended up rolling forward a bit, can the auto release be disabled?

cheers

paradigm · 15 Jul 2017 at 06:33

Even if it could, what would you do then? You'd need your foot on the brake to disengage the handbrake, leaving you in the situation of needing three feet.

The handbrake should only auto release when you've hit the biting point anyway, not just in the use of throttle. Find the biting point first (feel when the engine begins to labour) then apply throttle. The handbrake will release and you'll move backwards.

Joe T · 15 Jul 2017 at 08:24

^ This

blueboy2001 · 15 Jul 2017 at 08:30

Stamp hard on the brakes and hold for a couple of seconds, release the handbrake, lift of the brakes and use the hill hold instead.

cheesyboy · 15 Jul 2017 at 08:32

Not a fan of electronic handbrakes. Tend to turn autohold off on the Tiguan, as I find it annoying - in particular when inching forward on downhill starts.

Gives you space for an extra large cupholder, though. So that's progress, I guess.

[TW]Fox · 15 Jul 2017 at 08:36

cheesyboy said:
Not a fan of electronic handbrakes. Tend to turn autohold off on the Tiguan, as I find it annoying - in particular when inching forward on downhill starts.

Gives you space for an extra large cupholder, though. So that's progress, I guess.

The problem is manual gearboxes not electronic handbrakes.

atpbx · 15 Jul 2017 at 08:38

[TW]Fox said:
The problem is manual gearboxes not electronic handbrakes.

The one on the insignia though, is properly bad.

It takes an absolute age to disengage.

cheesyboy · 15 Jul 2017 at 08:40

[TW]Fox said:
The problem is manual gearboxes not electronic handbrakes.

How do you mean?

Rilot · 15 Jul 2017 at 09:44

He means that electronic handbrakes on automatics are absolutely fine. It's only when you add a manual gearbox in to the mix that they become problematic.
An electronic brake in a manual makes absolutely no sense at all. It does nothing to enhance the use of the car but adds plenty of issues. I've never managed to do a smooth hill-start in a manual car with an electronic handbrake.

Puzzled · 15 Jul 2017 at 10:07

The electric handbrake in the Astra was useless so I can't see the insignia being much different.

Perhaps other brands have better systems but I don't see how they can ever be as good as a manual handbrake, you just don't get that progressive feel and quick response that you have from a lever.

Orionaut · 15 Jul 2017 at 10:08

Imagine trying to reverse parallel park into a small gap on a downhill slope. Pretty much impossible.

Dumb idea really, cannoit see the point at all.

But even worse, those foot pedal/dash board release parking brakes (EG Kia Sedona)

If you are trying to manoeuvre on a hill it is almost impossible not to roll,

If you are holding the car at the biting point, you have to switch your left foot from the clutch to the parking brake in order to engage it. You cannot do this while still in gear. so first you have to quickly switch your right foot from the Gas to the foot brake without rolling or stalling the engine.

Horrible designy, I am surprised it is even legal

[TW]Fox said:
The problem is manual gearboxes not electronic handbrakes.

This is true, particularly with the kia system. (This system was always common on big autos, particularly in the US where it actually works fine. But with a manual it is horrible and positively dangerous)

So why are conventional handbrakes not standard with the manual option???

paradigm · 15 Jul 2017 at 10:43

Rilot said:
He means that electronic handbrakes on automatics are absolutely fine. It's only when you add a manual gearbox in to the mix that they become problematic.
An electronic brake in a manual makes absolutely no sense at all. It does nothing to enhance the use of the car but adds plenty of issues. I've never managed to do a smooth hill-start in a manual car with an electronic handbrake.

You must have only driven cruddy cars then, no issues at all with my A6 or A4 that both had a manual box and an automatic handbrake.

[TW]Fox · 15 Jul 2017 at 10:47

paradigm said:
You must have only driven cruddy cars then, no issues at all with my A6 or A4 that both had a manual box and an automatic handbrake.

Both fitted with hill start assist.

For reasons known only to themselves BMW omitted hill start assist from 4 cylinder Z4s so the electronic handbrake is tricky to operate for hill starts. By contrast the 6 cylinder is a breeze.

paradigm · 15 Jul 2017 at 10:48

Neither had optional hill hold assist.

[TW]Fox · 15 Jul 2017 at 11:01

paradigm said:
Neither had optional hill hold assist.

Only Audi could make a feature like that optional. Hilarious, even the Mini has it. An optional extra on an A6

paradigm · 15 Jul 2017 at 11:06

Perhaps, but it completely disproves your laughable comment about electronic handbrakes and manuals.

Clarkey · 15 Jul 2017 at 11:52

Why would you need a handbrake for hill starts anyway? You don't need it in a manual and certainly don't in an automatic.

[TW]Fox · 15 Jul 2017 at 12:08

paradigm said:
Perhaps, but it completely disproves your laughable comment about electronic handbrakes and manuals.

Not really. Without hill hold some circumstances can be a faff with a manual box and an electronic handbrake. Obviously not for a skilled driving hero such as yourself, but for most other people it can be.

paradigm · 15 Jul 2017 at 12:23

[TW]Fox said:
Not really. Without hill hold some circumstances can be a faff with a manual box and an electronic handbrake. Obviously not for a skilled driving hero such as yourself, but for most other people it can be.

Yeah those times where you need to be able to use a clutch AND a throttle are really tricky.

[TW]Fox · 15 Jul 2017 at 12:27

paradigm said:
Yeah those times where you need to be able to use a clutch AND a throttle are really tricky.

On a particularly steep hill jumping off the foot brake onto a perfectly balanced clutch can be more tricky than a flat road or a slight gradient. Especially if reverse parking. In these fairly rare circumstances most would use the analogue nature of a conventional handbrake to provide a little more control.

If this wasn't the case nobody would have bothered to invent hill start assist.

For me this is the only circumstance when the electronic handbrake can be inferior.