SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
Mole wrote:
... It seems to know when it's on a slope and applies it a bit harder (the tone of the motor gets a bit louder and it runs for longer). Personally, I'd prefer a traditional one (less to go wrong) but from a safety point of view, I've no issues. I can't even do a handbrake turn any more - that's how safe it is! My only other criticsm of it came when I (stupidly) stalled pulling out into a main road. I then turned the ignition off and back to crank it again, while the car was rolling, and, of course, as I turned the ignition off, the damned handbrake applied itself - much to the bemusement of the driver who was heading towards me)!
Hummm but that sounds like an issue to me ... I have not tried it but for that reason alone I'd not want it ... no that I plan to stall every time I pull out, nor (as I am sure you do too), to have other vehicles approaching with no or little safety margins either ...
But when we make a closer action that perhaps is ideal is it not sods law that that is when something unexpected also may happen ? - Just like you describe ... this can be the reality and when a handbrake is programmed to do 'it's pre-assigned' job which is not smart enough to previously imagine this problem happening it tells me (surely) that it has simply not been designed well enough in the first place !
I can really relate to the desire to be in total control all the time and if I really messed up on the road and needed to pull the handbrake and stop immediately I'd really want a handle never a button !
In fairness to "it", they HAD thought of that situation! On many cars, if you stall, you can't move the key direct from the "run" position to the "crank" position once the key has been released from the crank position. That's been common for years, and is to stop people inadvertently trying to operate the starter when the engine is running (which makes expensive noises)! I just assumed that this car would work the same way (given that this all had to happen in a very short time!) so I instinctively moved the key to the "off" position and back, so that I could restart it. Unfortunately, it thought I was turning the engine off and whenever you do that, it applies its handbrake!
I subsequently tried a few deliberate stalls (well away from T junctions this time!) and found that it WAS possible to crank the engine from the "run" position without having to go to "off" first. So they had thought of it, they just hadn't told me! (...or maybe they had - must remember to read the handbook one day)!
What I DIDN'T try, was cranking the engine while it was running (didn't really want to risk breaking it)! I assume that it probably is NOT posisble and that there is a smarter way of doing it, rather than the simple mechanical interlock on the ignition barrel.
SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
Do I assume that this whole system runs hand in hand too with ABS and so on so a controlled induced sidewards slide is impossible to create ? (or over-steer) ...
Yes indeed. ANY kind of sideways slide (controlled or otherwise!) is impossible!
If you press the switch that acts as the handbrake when the car is going at more than walking pace, it just ignores you and doesn't do anything. There is, however, an "emergency stop" facility so if you need to use the handbrake for an emergency top, you just press and hold the switch for a second or so. (just leave aside, for the moment, any comments you might have about having to wait a second in the sort of situation where you might be wanting to use the handbrake as an emergency stop)! Anyway, once it realises you're serious, it will use the handbrake (and whatever it can from the footbrake system) to stop the car as quicly as possible. IF it gets out of line, the ESC sorts it all out for you (quite effectively too, in my limited trials)!