RE: PH Origins: Electronic parking brakes
Discussion
Ares said:
Dale487 said:
Andy20vt said:
Technology for technology's sake!
It strikes me as designer not engineer driven - makes the interior cleaner looking. And then throws up problems that weren't even with a normal handbrake, the need for a hill start function - VAG which on some cars they charge extra for (c£60) even though the EPB is standard.Still maintain it solves more problems that it causes - and hill start functionality was around before EPB.
culpz said:
Harris_I said:
culpz said:
Unless you're the kind of person who likes doing cheeky handbrake turns everywhere, i'm not sure why you'd miss it.
Because I use the "Balboni method" of reverse parking (leaning out of the driver's door looking at the curb alongside and posts behind, especially in cars with poor visibility). EPBs usually slam on the brakes the moment the driver's door is opened. Not a fan.
280E said:
grahamep said:
Not for me. As I understand it with electronic parking brakes you need an hookup to the on-board computer if you want to change your own rear pads. Don't mind putting my car into the garage for occasional repairs but I like to think I have a choice.
Not for me, either. Seems like the classic 'solution to a problem that doesn't exist'.MG CHRIS said:
The other design is handbrake motor bolted too the caliper vw group, Merc etc these needs too be put into a service mode too replace the rear pads.
Still prefer a regular lever (if only to goof around on a snowy parkinglot 
) but the EPB stuff is unavoidable it seems. Current Golf has it, and at least it self cancels on driving off. The need for a diagnostic tool to put the things in service mode is IMO not a problem, at least on VAG stuff. VCDS or similar is so useful while relatively affordable it needs to be part of the toolkit anyway.Edit: really like the 'Origins' articles. Thanks for that!
Ph said:
Simplicity and safety, that said, has always been one of the key motivations behind the concept of EPBs
Because an EPB is sooo much simpler and safer than a lever and a cable. What could possibly go wrong with with a complex electromechanical system living in harsh conditions? The article also seems to be missing the stats to show how many lives have been saved through replacing the complicated and dangerous mechanical parking brakes.Harris_I said:
culpz said:
Harris_I said:
culpz said:
Unless you're the kind of person who likes doing cheeky handbrake turns everywhere, i'm not sure why you'd miss it.
Because I use the "Balboni method" of reverse parking (leaning out of the driver's door looking at the curb alongside and posts behind, especially in cars with poor visibility). EPBs usually slam on the brakes the moment the driver's door is opened. Not a fan.I'll be honest, the rear parking sensors in my previous A4 were pretty shocking. You just got the standard beeping, which ended up being too apprehensive. The one's i've got on my Scriocco, front and rear, now gives me a physical layout on my infotainment screen. It, too, is a bit apprehensive, but at least the little camera-like screen shows exactly how close i am to whatever is in front/behind me, even if the beeping is a bit off.
Why not give it a go? It seems fairly daft to have it and not use it, especially when you're clearly struggling to park without looking like a pillock.
Saw a tv program which followed the workers on a motorway, a new Range Rover had broken down (or had a minor shunt) instead of pushing it onto the hard shoulder they had to get a recovery and winch it as the electronic handbrake had kicked in and locked the wheels.
EPB's have also been responsible for quite a few incidents where the handbrake disengages whether due to user error or malfunction, couple of tragic ones that spring to mind are the couple whose car rolled into a river recently with their child on board and also the Star Trek actor who was crushed to death by his own car.
EPB's have also been responsible for quite a few incidents where the handbrake disengages whether due to user error or malfunction, couple of tragic ones that spring to mind are the couple whose car rolled into a river recently with their child on board and also the Star Trek actor who was crushed to death by his own car.
Gad-Westy said:
You can handbrake turn in a car with EPB. Or so I'm *ahem* told.
I'm pretty sure if you press it whilst in motion it locks all four wheels.culpz said:
So, you buy a car with all this modern technology, which actually helps you in such scenarios, but you prefer not to use them?
I'll be honest, the rear parking sensors in my previous A4 were pretty shocking. You just got the standard beeping, which ended up being too apprehensive. The one's i've got on my Scriocco, front and rear, now gives me a physical layout on my infotainment screen. It, too, is a bit apprehensive, but at least the little camera-like screen shows exactly how close i am to whatever is in front/behind me, even if the beeping is a bit off.
Why not give it a go? It seems fairly daft to have it and not use it, especially when you're clearly struggling to park without looking like a pillock.
Yes, you're right. Balboni was a pillock. Thanks for reinforcing my view that reasonable people do not post in General Gassing or P&P as all they will encounter is unnecessary rudeness.I'll be honest, the rear parking sensors in my previous A4 were pretty shocking. You just got the standard beeping, which ended up being too apprehensive. The one's i've got on my Scriocco, front and rear, now gives me a physical layout on my infotainment screen. It, too, is a bit apprehensive, but at least the little camera-like screen shows exactly how close i am to whatever is in front/behind me, even if the beeping is a bit off.
Why not give it a go? It seems fairly daft to have it and not use it, especially when you're clearly struggling to park without looking like a pillock.
And yes, I prefer not to use modern tech that does not help me. If people need lane departure and blind spot warnings to help them, maybe we need more stringent criteria for deciding who should and should not hold a driving licence. I don't use cruise control as I find it encourages people to switch off mentally. The list of stuff I don't need goes on. But I don't want to have to maintain another 20 year old car, and a modern family car is cheap to own and run with high passive safety, and a powerful, efficient and reliable engine.
Harris_I said:
Yes, you're right. Balboni was a pillock. Thanks for reinforcing my view that reasonable people do not post in General Gassing or P&P as all they will encounter is unnecessary rudeness.
Oh stop being so soft, will ya! You just appear to be making something quite simple very awkward, by complaining about the technology that is there to help with being able to maneuver the car. I was saying that you'd look like a bit of pillock while doing so.Harris_I said:
And yes, I prefer not to use modern tech that does not help me. If people need lane departure and blind spot warnings to help them, maybe we need more stringent criteria for deciding who should and should not hold a driving licence . I don't use cruise control as I find it encourages people to switch off mentally. The list of stuff I don't need goes on. But I don't want to have to maintain another 20 year old car, and a modern family car is cheap to own and run with high passive safety, and a powerful, efficient and reliable engine.
The irony impairment on this forum knows no bounds. Especially since you've advised that you cannot reverse park your car without opening your door. You certainly wouldn't pass your driving test if you did that, put it that way.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff