Auto Hold/Parking Brake

[Gryzor]

I've also noticed that the stop start is pretty clever. It doesn't work if the car is cold, still warming up. Neither does it work if the air con is on full blast and the cabin is still roasting.... I.e.  it needs the engine power to run the aircon. Then the car may start up again while you are still sitting at the lights, just to keep up with the air con for example. All pretty clever and so quiet and smooth you'd hardly notice.

Yup, that's all pretty-much standard fare with any car that has auto stop-start.  My mates Focus has it, and being a petrol the stopping and starting is really smooth.  Just waiting for the time he puts his foot on the clutch and the thing doesn't start! 

[Bill_the_Bear]

Good explanation Joe.

Yeah, does seem like walking away from a GTI parked on a slope is gonna feel... uncomfortable!  Say it did fail and end up with body damage, this would be repaired by warranty right?  The T&Cs state that they will replace the part that failed and any part also damaged directly due to the failure.

[JoeGTI]

I've been inclined to leave the car in gear while parked for this reason. I work with software and computers, so I know better than anyone that it can go wrong 

[Gryzor]

I've been inclined to leave the car in gear while parked for this reason. I work with software and computers, so I know better than anyone that it can go wrong 

Very smart move, along with turning the wheel slightly so that any rollback (or forwards) will just nudge the tyre into the kerb.

[AlanH]

It's brilliantly simple. A feature I thought I'd hate, it's genius.

Get in car. Put seatbelt on. Foot on clutch, first gear, go to move away and the handbrake/hold disengages seamlessly. You barely feel the sensation of it disengaging.

Stop at traffic lights and put your foot on brake. Now you can actually take your foot off the foot brake pedal and you'll notice that the handbrake on warning light comes on but it's green rather than red. This is the auto hold. Even the rear brake lights remain lit while this is engaged.

Now put car in first gear,go to move off and hold disengages. Smooth as you like.

Park car, unbuckle seatbelt and the handbrake engages.

Basically you set it once when you collect the car and you never need to touch it again.

Great description - just what I was looking for to help understand how it all works!

[monkeyhanger]

Good explanation Joe.

Yeah, does seem like walking away from a GTI parked on a slope is gonna feel... uncomfortable!  Say it did fail and end up with body damage, this would be repaired by warranty right?  The T&Cs state that they will replace the part that failed and any part also damaged directly due to the failure.

I bet they'd weasel out of it somehow and compel you to use your own insurance. Might carry a set of airplane chocks everywhere I drive! 

[Gryzor]

Might carry a set of airplane chocks everywhere I drive! 

Brilliant! 

Edit: To be fair, my cousin has a CC, and he's never mentioned any issues at all with the e-brake on his, and he just leaves it in auto all the time.   Hopefully it'll just work as advertised!

[JoeGTI]

It really does do exactly as it says on the tin.
I was skeptical. What's the point, what was wrong with a regular handbrake... Etc...

But I'm pleasantly surprised. Great feature.

[Running Man]

Great stuff Joe, all the best buddy

[matchboy]

Thanks Joe!  Top description!

My only concern is that my driveway is on a hill, and its steep so I'd take out a few houses if it rolled back and gained speed!  But I'm guessing that when I pull up, foot on brake then turn the ignition off, the parking brake goes on straight away.  I always leave my car in gear anyway so that'll be the failsafe.

I'm guessing it will take me at least a month before I stop reaching for the handbrake