That Ford Focus which parks itself...

[robemcdonald]

I only bothered to check the first couple of links: all well thought out alternatives capable of every day use, trips to the supermarket, hauling around kids, use as hire cars (all of which he focus is designed for) using your philosophy we would all hoon around in caterhams. A nice thought but sadly unrealistic.

[Twincharged]

On a similar subject, a number of cars are now fitted with "hill start assist" which holds the brakes on for a few seconds to stop you rolling backwards when setting off on a hill.

These take away another element of skill required in the test, yet it's not outwardly obvious if a car is fitted with the system...

[daydotz]

Twincharged said:

On a similar subject, a number of cars are now fitted with "hill start assist" which holds the brakes on for a few seconds to stop you rolling backwards when setting off on a hill.

These take away another element of skill required in the test, yet it's not outwardly obvious if a car is fitted with the system...

this is mainly on autos though which can be quite helpful

[Kiltox]

Twincharged said:

On a similar subject, a number of cars are now fitted with "hill start assist" which holds the brakes on for a few seconds to stop you rolling backwards when setting off on a hill.

These take away another element of skill required in the test, yet it's not outwardly obvious if a car is fitted with the system...

I don't get the need for this when those cars usually already have an electronic handbrake - I don't think my Laguna had Hill Start Assist yet the electronic h/b in itself made hill starts a breeze.

(saying that, it liked munching rear discs

[Shaw Tarse]

hornetrider said:

Looks impressive

Meh, I'd be more impressed if it did it Russ Swift style!

[Jimmyarm]

daydotz said:

this is mainly on autos though which can be quite helpful

I've never driven an automatic that would roll backwards on a hill, the auto box will just hold it stationary as if you were balancing it on the clutch ?

[7mike]

daydotz said:

Twincharged said:

On a similar subject, a number of cars are now fitted with "hill start assist" which holds the brakes on for a few seconds to stop you rolling backwards when setting off on a hill.

These take away another element of skill required in the test, yet it's not outwardly obvious if a car is fitted with the system...

this is mainly on autos though which can be quite helpful

Much more likely on manuals; as many drivers prefer to rush the change from brake to accelerator risking a roll back, auto hold does as it says, hold the car for a few seconds. Coordinating the release of the handbrake with the move off on a hill would mean actually applying the thing in the first place. Far too much effort for most these days it seems.

[Liquid Knight]

Shaw Tarse said:

hornetrider said:

Looks impressive

Meh, I'd be more impressed if it did it Russ Swift style!

I'd be more impressed if the space was actually small.

[Liquid Knight]

Seriously if you need "Park Assist" or "Auto-Pee" to get into a space two or three metres bigger than the car you shouldn't be driving at all.

As for the the Auto-Hill start, the manual version's called a handbrake and has been doing a fine job for over seventy years.

[frosted]

Dothe self parking sensors still make it impossible for laser guns to take a reading ?

[skip_1]

Liquid Knight said:

Seriously if you need "Park Assist" or "Auto-Pee" to get into a space two or three metres bigger than the car you shouldn't be driving at all.

As for the the Auto-Hill start, the manual version's called a handbrake and has been doing a fine job for over seventy years.

I find the hill-start assist useful when in a fully loaded transit, where the handbrake bearly holds the van as it is!

[Liquid Knight]

That's tomorrows Sport front page sorted.

"Transit driver in not holding it on the clutch shocker"

[Silver Smudger]

Twincharged said:

On a similar subject, a number of cars are now fitted with "hill start assist" which holds the brakes on for a few seconds to stop you rolling backwards when setting off on a hill.

These take away another element of skill required in the test, yet it's not outwardly obvious if a car is fitted with the system...

And has been available for some time. I passed my test in '89 in a Subaru with a Hill-Holder but it was introduced in 1936!

[skip_1]

Liquid Knight said:

That's tomorrows Sport front page sorted.

"Transit driver in not holding it on the clutch shocker"

Don't you know the Sport went bust?

ETA: I didn't read the sport, unless it was just lying around and I'd take a peek of course

[Liquid Knight]

skip_1 said:

Liquid Knight said:

That's tomorrows Sport front page sorted.

"Transit driver in not holding it on the clutch shocker"

Don't you know the Sport went bust?

ETA: I didn't read the sport, unless it was just lying around and I'd take a peek of course

I didn't know that I just chose a stereotypical gutter tabloid accosiated with Transit drivers.

[Ricky_M]

skip_1 said:

I find the hill-start assist useful when in a fully loaded transit, where the handbrake bearly holds the van as it is!

I used a Transit with this for a while, didn't realise it only holds it for a short period of time.

Not advisable when parked at an uphill junction with cars behind you!

[Twincharged]

Silver Smudger said:

Twincharged said:

On a similar subject, a number of cars are now fitted with "hill start assist" which holds the brakes on for a few seconds to stop you rolling backwards when setting off on a hill.

These take away another element of skill required in the test, yet it's not outwardly obvious if a car is fitted with the system...

And has been available for some time. I passed my test in '89 in a Subaru with a Hill-Holder but it was introduced in 1936!

I didn't realise it was that old!
I suppose it's like a lot of mechanical/automotive technology; the original ideas are formed years ago but get a sudden resurgence in popularity.

[Blakewater]

The Toyota/Lexus system at least originally required you to position a box on the dashboard screen in the space you were aiming for whereas systems from VW and Ford just work. VW ran an advert for the Tiguan showing all the self parking and hill start assist technology being used to help people pass their driving tests. I'm not saying that's proof you really can though but the idea crossed the minds of the marketing people.