The last “new” car question - hopefully!

[hrbrar]

Electric handbrake with manual transmission.

I’ve seen this a lot when looking at different models of cars. It scares me!

Please can you tell me your honest experiences. It’s hills I’m thinking might be tricky.

Am I fretting over nothing?

[FeFe]

I’ve got an electric handbrake but an automatic car but I also have hill start assist which holds the car for a few seconds to allow you to take off, if you know what I mean. In fact I had that in my manual car before this too with automatic handbreak. I’ve had 2 Renault scenics, one grand 7 seater (manual) And the 5 seater I have now

I don’t find any issues with it all, in fact look for automatic handbrake/Hill start assist in any cars I look to buy

[Melanie R]

I love mine! I got used to it very quickly and hills are not an issue at all - there is a very short “lag” when you take it off to give you time to balance your clutch without any rollback
My only issue is that it automatically applies itself when you switch off the engine - I’m so used to this that I tend to forget to put the manual handbrake on when I drive any other car!

[Pino_Spetzberg]

Originally Posted by hrbrar

Am I fretting over nothing?

See more...

We have Vauxhall Grand Insignias at work with electric handbrakes.
Driving them is fine.
Before that we had VW Passats which had problems with the handbrake not releasing.

If only keeping for less than three years it wouldn't bother me.

[RachaelC]

I had an electric handbrake on my VW Tiguan which was manual.

There was an “auto hold” button which kept it steady on hills and automatically removed it when you started going. It was easier than the standard style handbrake.

[ROBBOTOO]

I had one on both my last two cars, both manual and now on my new automatic one. No problems at all. I have auto hold on the new one, so actually don't use the manual handbrake that much while driving.

[mickey house]

I had one on a volvo and no problem at all.

[Guest]

I have electric handbrake with manual transmission.

Absolutely love it and would recommend it. With hills its fine. You can either just sit with foot on brake or and give extra push on brake and it locks the wheels and when u release the brake it gives you that extra time to get biting point. wife was weary about it as she hates driving but since getting car she loves driving it.

We have had 3 cars with electric handbrake and seriously wouldn't want go back to pulling handbrake.

[Guest]

oh and these have been all with vauxhalls. One was an astra latest two are Insignias.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Don't forget to take them off though!

I got back from the shops the other day and thought what's that smell? Oh yes handbrake still on.