Electric handbrakes. Did anyone ever ask for an electric handbrake I very much doubt it.
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rtcosic
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No2 son works for JLR.
He called earlier in the week with a 2026 model-year SWB Defender he was testing.
He was waiting for it to be dark and for his usual light testing route to be clear of school run/commuter traffic.
He proudly showed me a button on the steering wheel.
Officially: a Programmable Driver Preference button or somesuch nonsense name.
Reality: allows any or all the selectable 'driver aids'* to be selected as 'off', so one button press instead of about 6. Without exception, all the JLR users he knows have programmed everything as 'off'.
It is a JLR USP!
I have the adaptable speed limiter on, lane departure off, stop-start in default as it rarely engages in my driving pattern, aircon in ECO and the transmission in default.
Incidently none of the staff entitled to company cars have opted for a SWB Defender twice!
*EU legislation mandates that every time the ignition is switched off they must reset to 'on'.
He called earlier in the week with a 2026 model-year SWB Defender he was testing.
He was waiting for it to be dark and for his usual light testing route to be clear of school run/commuter traffic.
He proudly showed me a button on the steering wheel.
Officially: a Programmable Driver Preference button or somesuch nonsense name.
Reality: allows any or all the selectable 'driver aids'* to be selected as 'off', so one button press instead of about 6. Without exception, all the JLR users he knows have programmed everything as 'off'.
It is a JLR USP!
I have the adaptable speed limiter on, lane departure off, stop-start in default as it rarely engages in my driving pattern, aircon in ECO and the transmission in default.
Incidently none of the staff entitled to company cars have opted for a SWB Defender twice!
*EU legislation mandates that every time the ignition is switched off they must reset to 'on'.
rtcosic
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It was originally for disk braked vehicles for the USA market. Little girls sit so far forward they cannot pull a handbrake hard enough. Additionally, many people struggle to do a hill start so the auto disengage is necessary.
dobbslc
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But but but...
Morrisman
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Friend of mine has a company E5 VW electric monstrosity. A few weeks ago all the windows decided to go on strike and open and close when they wanted, culminating in a 70 mile motorway trip home with one window right down, and -1° on the temp gauge.
The company gave him a rental Mercedes, real sleek thing. And diesel too. He came to the cafe last week and showed us, the light show is world class. When parked, with doors unlocked, a 18” diameter trirotor light thing is projected on the floor outside each door. There’s 3 main touch screens, there lines of lights around everything, that flash and dim and wow, and a hundred different buttons to touch. It’s quite frankly an exercise in over complication and extravagance. But he loved it.
Unfortunately they managed to fix the E5 quite easily and he had to give the Merc back.
The company gave him a rental Mercedes, real sleek thing. And diesel too. He came to the cafe last week and showed us, the light show is world class. When parked, with doors unlocked, a 18” diameter trirotor light thing is projected on the floor outside each door. There’s 3 main touch screens, there lines of lights around everything, that flash and dim and wow, and a hundred different buttons to touch. It’s quite frankly an exercise in over complication and extravagance. But he loved it.
Unfortunately they managed to fix the E5 quite easily and he had to give the Merc back.
Barking Mat
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Having got used to four years of an electric handbrake, so good to have a normal handbrake on the beeping Kangoo, but, I keep forgetting to use it.
julianthegypsy
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It took me ages to get used to but I quite like it now. The hill start I really like, but the rest you can keep!
Morrisman
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I rented a car some years ago, which turned out to have an electric handbrake. I hated it, it was a ball ache. I managed to stall the car pulling into a busy line of moving cars….
But then I googled it and learned how to use it, and it became pretty darn good. It came on automatically when you stopped. It let you do simple hill starts. You touched a button to put it on etc.
Now my body is failing me I’ve found I don’t have the strength in my left thumb to press the button on my Mondeo handbrake, but I can do it easily with my forefinger….. At the moment. So maybe an electric handbrake in an electric car might figure in my future some time.
I don't think I've used the handbrake for a hill start since 1983 when I passed my test.
Barking Mat
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Electric handbrakes honestly, what's so wrong with a traditional cable, so much more to go wrong...
redlig
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By "Old Codgers" do you mean folk who have been there and seen most of it and can separate the B/S from the essentials ?Should this not be in the codgers corner thread
redlig
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But a cable handbrake is Soo yesterday . Where is the jaw dropping excitement in that.
Barking Mat
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redlig
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That is one of the main reasons for all this carp. Don't educate the driver just redesign the car to avoid the problem and ignore the fact that a large % can drive properly but are stuck with unwanted garbage that slowly takes over the skills. Has anyone here actually been asked what gizmo's they would think essential ?
How about a theme of What essentials do you want to be on your next car ? I dread to imagine the answers.
Pigeon_Droppings2
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Its the same on the Dacia...user specified button...all be it a cheaper button for sure
...when the speed limiter beeps it reminds me to hit the button to shut it all up!
JOEPRO
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I didn't say old, where did you get that from
New tec isn't all bad. It is human nature to not like change, but technology moves on and we should be open minded to try it.
Alot of these driver alert systems can be turned off if you wish in most cars.
Used correctly alot of them are useful too.
But if people prefer a 1998 diesel etc, then go for it
For me I like classic cars, modern classics and newer tec cars too.I don't think I've used a hand brake in a US rental this century - all been foot operated.
My manual Dodge here in the UK has a foot operated parking brake. Did require some getting used to - in an auto Challenger, you simply keep your foot on the brake and shove the person down with the left. Did that in my manual version a couple of times at first . . . Problem being I'd missed the step of taking it out of gear before I shoved the parking brake down
I think my Caterham has close to all the options you require. Four wheels, two seats, an IC engine, stop and go pedals. And something in front of the driver to control the angle of dangle of the rear around corners. And not much else.
Winscreen, heater, and even paint, were optional extras. Side screens and a hood certainly were.
