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Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 4:39 pm
by gottanS
Can you guys post some opinions on the electric hand brake, I have tried several VAG cars with this and personally detest it completely. Unfortunately it does seem to be appearing on the complete VAG line up so I am wondering if I could ever accept a vehicle with it or does anyone know of a manual conversion for it?
Thanks
Pete
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 6:38 pm
by HYFR
I like it
I think its really good
You do know you can just drive off without having to disengage it
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 7:10 pm
by gottanS
dk, you can indeed which is great for a 4wd vehicle but 2wd on grass does not grip enough to trigger the disengage hence it drags is arse around like a dog with an ichy backside.
Anyway is your S4 a manual? How does it deal with hill starts if you move forward a bit say to get a better view, does it disengage so you need to hold it on the clutch until you put it back on? I'm really interested as I'm worried my B7 S4 might be my last Audi/VAG because of the handbrake design..
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 7:35 pm
by gdavison
Never use mine .. Just drop the gearbox into park
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:00 pm
by HYFR
gottanS wrote:dk, you can indeed which is great for a 4wd vehicle but 2wd on grass does not grip enough to trigger the disengage hence it drags is arse around like a dog with an ichy backside.
Anyway is your S4 a manual? How does it deal with hill starts if you move forward a bit say to get a better view, does it disengage so you need to hold it on the clutch until you put it back on? I'm really interested as I'm worried my B7 S4 might be my last Audi/VAG because of the handbrake design..
yes its a manual
iv got auto hill hold assist so not a problem on hills
theres your solution, just spec auto hill hold, its really cheap option
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 9:28 pm
by Scotty
I had Hill Hold Assist and never had an issue. My current 2.0T means you can't have HHA.
Fortunately I live in a flat part of the country. When I do stray then it's not something that comes naturally.
If you have the choice then spec the HHA.
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 2:22 pm
by PJC
Had a courtesy car with electric handbrake, very handy.
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:17 pm
by bye bye
aka_dk wrote:gottanS wrote:dk, you can indeed which is great for a 4wd vehicle but 2wd on grass does not grip enough to trigger the disengage hence it drags is arse around like a dog with an ichy backside.
Anyway is your S4 a manual? How does it deal with hill starts if you move forward a bit say to get a better view, does it disengage so you need to hold it on the clutch until you put it back on? I'm really interested as I'm worried my B7 S4 might be my last Audi/VAG because of the handbrake design..
yes its a manual
iv got auto hill hold assist so not a problem on hills
theres your solution, just spec auto hill hold, its really cheap option
A £65 option...genius. Pull up, handbrake applied automatically, hit accerlerator and you are off.......dunno how I could live without it. Hope the C2S has a similar option....

Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:56 am
by Tigger88
It's def very handy the electric handbrake, I have the hill assist option too but never use I find it actually hinders you when trying to set off but I do have the S-tronic so will probably be more useful in an manual car...
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:19 am
by RichRS6
Hate them.
I've driven a lot of cars with them (VAG and other makes) and although its something you get used to I think its just another thing waiting to go wrong.
I prefer the feel of pulling the handbrake on to the idea of an ECU and couple of motors deciding when to do it and how hard to apply it.
Having said that both my current VAG cars are Auto or DSG boxes so the Handbrake isn't used too often anyway.
Re: Electric Handbrake - opinions please..
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:14 pm
by gottanS
Interesting comments both for and against, personally I just find it too slow and just not enough finess. Its either on or off and nothing in between. I have tried to get used to it but can't so how does one stop Audi sending me marketing stuff for their new/used cars that I will never buy because of the handbrake.
Anyway when they do break they make a lot of noise and cost a fortune to fix, must be progress for someone.