electronic handbrake - people use auto-off mostly?

I was initially a doubting Thomas as regards the electronic handbrake, mainly because I had never tried it before and partly because we as humans are always weary of anything new. Well, now I can't be happier, Infact I am so spoilt now that I am afraid that I may never again want a car without this feature.
This is how I have noticed it works.
1. You can at anytime activate or deactivate the handbrake manually using the push/pull button .
2. The handbrake activates automatically whenever you come to a halt, shut off the ignition and pull out the key.
3 it does not activate automatically in a traffic stop unless you manually activate it if you want to rest your leg from the brake pedal but you do not need to remember to release it again as it does this automatically as soon as you attempt to start moving with force from the engine.
4. No need for the old practice to use your handbrake manually if you are on a steep slope as the 'hill assist function ' takes over and ensures you do not roll freely during the short interval before setoff.

Edited by Kenobi - 03 Apr 2014 at 9:46am

keefnet wrote: So the question is this; stop at lights, apply brake, then when pulling away, just pull away and the hand brake disengages automatically - is this the expected normal way of using it, or is that going to cause excessive wear in something,

SplanK wrote: Not sure on this myself, I actually find when I set off with the handbrake on and wait for it to auto disengage I end up nearly or stalling the car because of it because it takes too long to disengage, but that's my driving style, I'm quite aggressive with the clutch!

Could you not just release the handbrake yourself by pressing the button as you would with a normal handbrake instead of waiting for the auto release?

LightningMat wrote: SplanK wrote: I also find the hill hold slightly annoying for the same reason, I find it holds onto the brakes for too long for me. I am convinced that the hill start assist feature is a "granny feature" - i.e. it is aimed at those people who just cannot do hill starts, who always roll back 2 feet before pulling off (which tends to always be old granny's, who are totally oblivious to what they just did!).  I think for the majority of people (who don't have a problem with hill starts), this feature should just be turned off!

I think its more to do with the fact they have introduced the electronic handbrake, it makes hill starts a little more tricky and with the requirement to apply the footbrake before you take off the handbrake is just a non starter really for hill starts!

RayBanJockey wrote: Why on earth would one use hand break at traffic lights :p

I use the handbrake any time I'm stopped for more than a few seconds especially at night so I'm not shining brake lights into someone's eyes behind.

Having just returned from a long journey, I noticed the hill-assist for the first time - I really enjoyed the feature. My other car is an auto, so it feels quite natural for me to be "held" in place before applying the throttle. It is a little disconcerting not knowing if it will or won't hold you though - today I noticed it and the handbrake was applied automatically too at one point. I'm sure if I did the sensible thing and read the manual I'd understand when and where to expect it.

Im with you on this one Tiff. Im not a granny although Im old enough to be. I also don't roll back on an incline and I don't need a Tekna to do my parking for me either as Im quite capable of doing that myself.

My last 3 cars have had electronic hand brakes and I think they're just fine and I do sit with my foot brake on at traffic lights as I drive an automatic.

Non-granny Gill

RayBanJockey wrote: Yeah hill assist completely owns, especially with a manual. It eliminates the single most annoying aspect of driving cars in my opinion. Knowing I won't roll backwards adds a whole extra level of comfort, and I'd wager the guy behind me would agree 100%  Electronic handbreak, well I don't care either way really except it frees up more space in the cabin and I don't do much rally anyway. Feels a bit more modern I guess! Not that I have QQ at all at the moment, but my current car has them and when/if I go back to a Qashqai I'd be happy to still have these functions.

Have to agree .... Cabin looks much nicer without that monstrosity by your side
Tiff

Haha, thought my comment might cause some backlash!... But couldn't resist posting it anyway!

wrote: I do sit with my foot brake on at traffic lights as I drive an automatic.

Could someone please explain why (not) using the handbrake in an automatic is different to a manual when stopped in traffic?
At night or fog the brake lights are a real problem for those following?

I lived with a auto handbrake for 4 years on my C4 Picasso before I bought the Qashqai. I have to say that it was one I really missed not having.

Sorry for starting something on this
It is interesting, at lest knowing that others feel the pain as well -- sitting behind bright red lights when educated drivers would invariably use their hand brake
That said, I drive a lot in the US and just accept it as mostly the cars there are auto's, so the lights don't bother me there -- weird, eh!
But driving an auto is somewhat different -- you run in drive mostly, unless actually parking up, so taking your foot off the brake requires you to put in in park (normally) and it'll roll a little if on an incline after removing your foot off the brake, then you have to apply the brake to then take out of park and put into drive before then heading off -- all a bit of a faff when normal driving you don't touch the stick so I accept that normally driving would be foot down on the brake whenever stopped but not parking up. When in an auto I never ever use the handbrake anyway - park seems good enough, at least all the rentals I had in the US.
I expect that applies to auto drivers in UK too.
My wife has an auto Peugeot 107 - that works a little different as you can apply the handbrake, as I do, and just take your foot off the brake i.e. don't put in in park - doesn't seem to mind that. She once turned the engine off when like that and couldn't then figure out how to start it -- I had to drive 10 miles to work out how to get back into park before then being able to start it -- not saying she was thick or anything, as I love her to bits, but that was so funny -- took me 5 seconds to figure out how to sort it.
Anyway - sorry for the rant but hope my explanation of why automatic drivers would typically not use the handbrake was OK.


Edited by keefnet - 04 Apr 2014 at 1:02pm

Good advice on turning wheels in when parking on incline -- I wouldn't do that on my driveway otherwise the car would have ended up in an old stone wall
Also good advice on why it's probably not a good idea to buy a used automatic that was used for rental. I'll probably still avoid the handbrake when in the US though

moved and unlocked :) , enjoy 

Hill Assist? I really should get the manual out 

Edited by mudds - 04 Apr 2014 at 7:08pm

Reading this thread makes me glad I cancelled my order for the 2014 model.

Taking this point a little further.............the next Qashqai Model that will have auto start, auto drive, auto steer, auto stop, auto navigate etc...........will I be able to drink and eat at the wheel?