Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Mercedes foot operated handbrake

14 replies

BikeRunSki · 04/10/2019 09:02

DH has a Merc Vito Van as a courtesy van whilst his usual (VW) van is in for repair. It has a foot operated handbrake, and we cannot work out how to do hill starts. It’s really hilly where we live, he’s threatening not going to work for a week. Anyone familiar with this handbrake system please?

OP posts:
Original poster
BikeRunSki · 04/10/2019 09:02

It does not seem to have a “Hill hold” function.

OP posts:
Blue5238 · 04/10/2019 09:10

Do you take it off with your foot too? My volvo has a foot hand brake but you take it off with a pull lever by hand. Can't understand how you'd lift a handbrake off with your foot Confused

Dontstepinthecowpat · 04/10/2019 09:14

I’m not sure if it’s called a handbrake (but I guess that is what it is and I don’t have another handbrake) on my Mercedes you just push the brake fully until it says ‘hold’ on the dash computer. You can then sit on hill feet off pedals then pull off by pressing accelerator? I hope this makes sense!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cars & vehicles Driving & parking
Original poster
BikeRunSki · 04/10/2019 09:18

@Blue5238, ah yes, you take it off with a lever, but you also need to have your foot on the (actual) brake, so can’t see how to do any clutch control.

OP posts:
Blue5238 · 04/10/2019 09:20

Leave handbrake on, put feet on clutch and accelerator until you feel biting point, release handbrake lever.
It takes a bit of getting used to as it's all or nothing so you can't let it off gently and pull back on like a proper handbrake, so you need to be sure you have the biting point with the clutch.
Maybe practice on the flat to get used to how far to lift clutch?

Original poster
BikeRunSki · 04/10/2019 09:30

Thank you

OP posts:
Peanutbatter · 04/10/2019 09:36

Yes you will have to come up to junction and hold on biting point which will be a pain in heavy traffic.
Or stop, go into neutral, handbrake while foot on brake, then release handbrake....
Personally, I wouldn't use handbrake if not used to it as it could complicate thinking.
The handbrakes are a pain to put on when on the flat never mind wrestling with the lever to release, and half the time it doesn't release it.

Maybe have a spin in it when it's quiet, see how he gets on.

EssentialHummus · 04/10/2019 09:38

Leave handbrake on, put feet on clutch and accelerator until you feel biting point, release handbrake lever.

This. I have one of these cars. It’s 23 years old. The first time DH noticed it didn’t have a normal handbrake we were on an intersection with the south circular Grin.

Miljah · 04/10/2019 10:08

My DH has a Mazda 6 with a flicky switch as the handbrake, just behind the gear stick. I hate it.

Give me a proper Leaver handbrake every time.

Why 'fix' a problem that doesn't exist?

ChicCroissant · 04/10/2019 10:11

DH's car has this but is an automatic and just seems to hold itself on a slope! I am not a fan of the 'creep' that happens with automatics but it seems to work.

He never uses the handbrake, I do when I take his car and then have to remember where the lever is to take the handbrake off Blush

ExCwmbranDweller · 04/10/2019 10:16

It takes a bit of getting used to! I have a Vito and absolutely love driving it but the handbrake can freak me out at bit BUT it does appear to be quite forgiving, I live on a very steep hill and haven't had any problems pulling out of my parking space. Every time I have to pull out uphill it does seem like a leap of faith but it's super easy to find the biting point on the clutch and I haven't rocked back once (possibly the fact that either my or DS' car is behind me focuses the mind somewhat).

Original poster
BikeRunSki · 04/10/2019 18:05

My DH has a Mazda 6 with a flicky switch as the handbrake, just behind the gear stick. I hate

My Golf is like that, I love it. Unlike DH’s courtesy van though, it is automatic ;well DSG) and has a hill hold feature.

Well DH did go to work, hasn’t crashed the van and has not rolled backwards down any hills.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 04/10/2019 18:42

DH used to have a manual Mercedes with a foot operated 'handbrake' . I think that type of brake is designed for automatics, and they simply didn't give any thought to the fact that manual drivers don't have 3 feet. We did figure out how to do hill starts but I've forgotten the details other than 'with difficulty. Probably what blue said. This was ages ago, I'm amazed there are any still around (other than maybe ancient taxis).
'.

The VW automatic 'handbrake' is great though, I've got one. I've never used the 'flicky switch', just push firmly on the footbrake when stationary to engage, it auto releases perfectly.

TruffleShuffles · 04/10/2019 20:08

Are you trying to use the parking brake whilst driving? As in the handbrake on the dash to the left of the steering wheel? If it’s the same as my manual Mercedes you don’t use this you use the the brake pedal as @Dontstepinthecowpat and @ErrolTheDragon have described. Then you can take your foot off the brake pedal once it says hold on the dash and you just pull away in first as normal and it automatically releases.

I absolutely love this function and really hate that my husbands car doesn’t have it when I have to drive his car.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page