Your thoughts on floor handbrake?

[400ixl]

Got used to it over time, but lets face it, its a contraption from designing around the American need for a bench seat in their pickups.

Do you really want to admit the yanks got automotive design right

 

[Alex240]

I always use left foot braking in an automatic. It just seems the natural thing to do; 2 pedals, one for each foot.

As for applying the electronic parking brake when moving, that may do something on a manual, but on an automatic they are so ineffective I doubt you would be aware it was on.

Are you serious? You drive an automatic car like a go-kart. I can't imagine doing that, it'd be entirely unnatural for me, not to mention uncomfortable.

 

[Peter G]

Are you serious? You drive an automatic car like a go-kart. I can't imagine doing that, it'd be entirely unnatural for me, not to mention uncomfortable.

Perfectly serious, and, I have to say, it's completely natural.

The first time I drove an automatic was on my first visit to the US in the 80s. I was presented with a large Buick sedan rental car which only had 2 pedals. I tried driving with my right foot but the pedal layout was such that, everytime I switched from accelerator to brake, my foot went behind the brake pedal.

After a few near misses I decided this was a bad idea so tried left foot braking. After kangarooing round the hotel parking lot for a while I got the hang of it, and never looked back.

You should try it. It's much more convenient than only using one foot.

 

[EmilysDad]

Are you serious? You drive an automatic car like a go-kart. I can't imagine doing that, it'd be entirely unnatural for me, not to mention uncomfortable.

Like Pete & as per post #48, I left foot brake, a habit picked up off my Dad. .... I think it must be hereditary as I catch Emily left foot brake too when manoeuvring

Every now & then I try to right foot brake but am aware that I have to move the heal of my right foot when swapping pedals .... something you don't need to do when left foot braking ..... but after a very short time my left foot subconsciously takes over again.

 

[Ken_R]

+1 for left foot braking. It also improves your clutch control when then going back to a manual car.

I think it only ever caught me out once, and that was with a hired manual car in Spain. A couple of times I depressed the clutch pedal and expected the vehicle to reduce speed.:evil: Then again, I was also putting my left hand into the door pocket and expecting to find the gear lever.:smile:

I never had any problem going from an automatic (car) to HGV (manual), but that may have had something to do with the more upright seating position and the 'brain' just flipped from one mode to the other.

 

[EmilysDad]

.... A couple of times I depressed the clutch pedal and expected the vehicle to reduce speed. ....

I've done that too ..... :mrgreen:

 

[silestanix]

It's not the starting off on a hill that's a problem, it's the stopping on a hill that's more troublesome. Pull up on a hill, one foot on clutch and the other on the brake, take car out of gear, release clutch and then apply foot/handbrake. Then shift both feet across to get ready for hill start. Just more foot shuffling needed.

This... I explained my view badly lol, this covers it!

 

[silestanix]

I'm quite light sensitive and I find the modern overly bright brake lights hard work in traffic. So much so that I will often leave a large gap between me and the car in front, and use my sun visor.

I'm exactly the same, I have to use my sun visor at night as I also find the new LED brake lights hard work after a 12 hour shift.

 

[davemercedes]

+1 more for left foot braking. I think I started using it when "creeping" in tight spaces but now I do it all the time. Like you guys I have no problem getting back into a manual (but I'd never buy another one) but I've also expected the car to slow down when I've leant on the clutch.

The only real problem I have when using a manual - usually a holiday "cheapie" - is forgetting to change gear (especially down) and then when it feels strange I remember "Oh, manual. How quaint!"

 

[Peter G]

+1 more for left foot braking. I think I started using it when "creeping" in tight spaces but now I do it all the time. Like you guys I have no problem getting back into a manual (but I'd never buy another one) but I've also expected the car to slow down when I've leant on the clutch.

The only real problem I have when using a manual - usually a holiday "cheapie" - is forgetting to change gear (especially down) and then when it feels strange I remember "Oh, manual. How quaint!"

I've done that, particularly on LHD vehicles. I usually end up going everywhere in 3rd!

I don't have a problem with pedals when switching fron auto to manual. The thing that catches me out is, when driving my Hilux pickup, the indicator/washer stalks are reversed, so I wash the windows a lot and don't indicate as much as I should!!

 

[LostKiwi]

+1 more for left foot braking. Just feels so much more natural though the 129 doesn't encourage it due to the offset pedal location.

I never have an issue going back to a manual but have had the odd occasion where I've gone to dip the 'clutch' in an auto.....

 

[turbopete]

It's not the starting off on a hill that's a problem, it's the stopping on a hill that's more troublesome. Pull up on a hill, one foot on clutch and the other on the brake, take car out of gear, release clutch and then apply foot/handbrake. Then shift both feet across to get ready for hill start. Just more foot shuffling needed.

maybe so, but its little, if any more hassle than doing the same thing with a conventional hand operated item. the only difference is you are shuffling arms instead of feet. I had 2 manual 202s and a manual 203 and in all honesty I never even THOUGHT about the so called 'troubles' as once you have done it a few times, it becomes second nature, or at least it did for me. right up to the point where I still occasionally lift my left foot up to apply the parking brake when I park the car up (and the Mondeo has a 'proper' handbrake)

 

[Alex M Grieve]

maybe so, but its little, if any more hassle than doing the same thing with a conventional hand operated item. the only difference is you are shuffling arms instead of feet. I had 2 manual 202s and a manual 203 and in all honesty I never even THOUGHT about the so called 'troubles' as once you have done it a few times, it becomes second nature, or at least it did for me. right up to the point where I still occasionally lift my left foot up to apply the parking brake when I park the car up (and the Mondeo has a 'proper' handbrake)

As you say Pete, for the competent driver the foot parking brake on a manual transmission car does not present a problem.

 

[Naraic]

As you say Pete, for the competent driver the foot parking brake on a manual transmission car does not present a problem.

I know you are saying that tongue in cheek Alex...but it's the truth. Why all the fuss?

 

[EmilysDad]

I know you are saying that tongue in cheek Alex...but it's the truth. Why all the fuss?

I don't have the need to be able to do a 'hill start' these day, my cars all have some kind of hill start assist & as above I have a left foot, but when I last had a manual car (a diseasal Astra G a few of years ago purely for commuting), I found that (once I'd got used to the extra pedal) I rarely, if ever needed to do one. Once you've found the bite, it only takes you nono seconds to get from the middle pedal to the throttle, and the car never rolled back ever.

 

[turbopete]

I don't have the need to be able to do a 'hill start' these day, my cars all have some kind of hill start assist & as above I have a left foot, but when I last had a manual car (a diseasal Astra G a few of years ago purely for commuting), I found that (once I'd got used to the extra pedal) I rarely, if ever needed to do one. Once you've found the bite, it only takes you nono seconds to get from the middle pedal to the throttle, and the car never rolled back ever.

very true, but as the thread was about using the foot operated parking brake, I never went into that. if you have found the real biting point, the car shouldn't roll anyhow (assuming facing uphill)

 

[EmilysDad]

very true, but as the thread was about using the foot operated parking brake, I never went into that. if you have found the real biting point, the car shouldn't roll anyhow (assuming facing uphill)

no harm in a thread digressing ....

 

[silestanix]

Everyone is different...

 

[EmilysDad]

Everyone is different...

Yes .... we're all individual

 

[star]

maybe so, but its little, if any more hassle than doing the same thing with a conventional hand operated item. the only difference is you are shuffling arms instead of feet. I had 2 manual 202s and a manual 203 and in all honesty I never even THOUGHT about the so called 'troubles' as once you have done it a few times, it becomes second nature, or at least it did for me. right up to the point where I still occasionally lift my left foot up to apply the parking brake when I park the car up (and the Mondeo has a 'proper' handbrake)

It doesn't bother me at all, it just foot shuffling. Rather then leaving them where they are are and using an arm. This all refers to earlier cars without hill assist and I also left foot brake.