Automatic Handbrake? Or not…

[SAC1]

“Before you switch off the engine jab the brakes so Hold shows on the MFD, handbrake is now engaged.

You can turn off engine and exit the vehicle.”


As someone who is a prospective buyer and used to auto hold, this doesn’t sound too bad to get used to. After all, your foot is already on the brake to put the car in park.

When you come to rest / stop, then you need to take your foot off the foot brake and quickly give the pedal a separate jab to engage Hold.

[MikeM]

Personally prefer to not have automatic handbrake function when switching off. If parked up for a few days or longer the pads just adhere to the disc.

[Tim92gts]

I thought the handbrake was virtually redundant now.

On my other automatic the handbrake is a common fail as it seizes up from lack of use.

[Bluesnose1812]

Isn't it amazing how much a bunch of nerds we are when we can spend time debating how to avoid spending two seconds flicking a small lever when we park the car

[PaulR]

Judging by the number of cars I see stopped (e.g. at traffic lights) with their brake lights on, the vast majority of drivers don't know how to use their handbrake. As soon as we stop, we should engage our handbrake and take our foot off the brake pedal. This is for two reasons:

1. The car is properly secured. If anyone bumps into you, the car will not roll. In comparison, if your foot's on the brake pedal, it will slip off and the car will roll.
2. The highway code states you should do this to avoid blinding the person behind you, especially at night.

The problem - I imagine - is that most people are lazy drivers.

Every time I come to a stop I put the handbrake on. It's a flick of a switch. The Macan has the added benefit that it will automatically release when you press the accelarator to drive off.

As others have described above, the Macan has a hill hold function. This is not the same as properly engaging the handbrake.

[andreas]

Judging by the number of cars I see stopped (e.g. at traffic lights) with their brake lights on, the vast majority of drivers don't know how to use their handbrake. As soon as we stop, we should engage our handbrake and take our foot off the brake pedal. This is for two reasons:

1. The car is properly secured. If anyone bumps into you, the car will not roll. In comparison, if your foot's on the brake pedal, it will slip off and the car will roll.
2. The highway code states you should do this to avoid blinding the person behind you, especially at night.

The problem - I imagine - is that most people are lazy drivers.

Every time I come to a stop I put the handbrake on. It's a flick of a switch. The Macan has the added benefit that it will automatically release when you press the accelarator to drive off.

As others have described above, the Macan has a hill hold function. This is not the same as properly engaging the handbrake.

Surely the Hold function is even easier than applying the handbrake? It still turns the brake lights off.

[AllanG]

Surely the Hold function is even easier than applying the handbrake? It still turns the brake lights off.

On my Macan, when the Hold function is activated, the brake lights stay on.

[PaulR]

Hill hold is just the same as keeping your foot on the brake. Brake lights remain on; handbrake is not engaged. The point of it is to stop your car rolling backwards when moving your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. It's not really supposed to be used for anything more than a second or two.

[andreas]

Surely the Hold function is even easier than applying the handbrake? It still turns the brake lights off.

On my Macan, when the Hold function is activated, the brake lights stay on.

I must get out and look at the lights!

[Tracky]

Ours stay ok too and therefore defeat the object as far as I’m concerned .