In or out?

[Phutters]

When applying the handbrake of your car, do you depress the release button first, thereby ensuring a smooth, silent operation, or do you heave that sucker out of the floor as if your very life depended on it, oblivious to the deafening clatter of abused components?

There are those who consider that the way you answer this seminal question exposes your own worth as a man, and is as good a measure of mechanical empathy as anything devised by legions of pasty-faced, clipboard-wielding scientists with beards and no moustaches.

It is important to tell the truth. Following the trend of any replies simply to be in the best gang just isn't cricket, and the only person you'll be deluding is yourself.

For what it's worth, I'm an 'in' man.

My dad, God rest his soul, taught me to do it that way, and I couldn't even contemplate the alternative. I've taught my daughter to do it that way too, and I'll do the same with my son. There is a noble tradition to be passed on, after all, and standards to be maintained.

Clearly this question does not apply to the feeble owners of cars which have an energy-saving electromechanical device, and neither does it apply to those who took leave of their senses and bought a Mercedes-Benz with a foot-operated parking brake.

[SammoVWT]

I always use the button, I'm sure its better for it in general

[fourringsrus]

Press the button, it literally grinds on me to hear people snatch the lever up and take a few more thou off the teeth.
I also was taught how and why as a youngster learning to drive one of Dads old jems, and have passed this on to everybody that I've taught to drive

PRESS THE BLUUDY BUTTON

[Guest 2]

When you were learning to drive you were told to push the button while applying the handbrake! (well I was all those years ago!) Also I think it's better for it aswell.

[phil miller]

by taking it up click at a time you have more leverage and more chance of snapping a cable or pulling the lever from the floor (had to repair that many times lol)

always button pull up and then release the button, i was always told he who presses the buttons gets the prize lol

[kodkod.84]

First driving lesson I was told to press the button in when applying the handbrake as the clackety sound drove the instructor mad- that tip has stayed with me ever since!

[Ben]

When applying the handbrake of your car, do you depress the release button first, thereby ensuring a smooth, silent operation, or do you heave that sucker out of the floor as if your very life depended on it, oblivious to the deafening clatter of abused components?

There are those who consider that the way you answer this seminal question exposes your own worth as a man, and is as good a measure of mechanical empathy as anything devised by legions of pasty-faced, clipboard-wielding scientists with beards and no moustaches.

It is important to tell the truth. Following the trend of any replies simply to be in the best gang just isn't cricket, and the only person you'll be deluding is yourself.

For what it's worth, I'm an 'in' man.

My dad, God rest his soul, taught me to do it that way, and I couldn't even contemplate the alternative. I've taught my daughter to do it that way too, and I'll do the same with my son. There is a noble tradition to be passed on, after all, and standards to be maintained.

Clearly this question does not apply to the feeble owners of cars which have an energy-saving electromechanical device, and neither does it apply to those who took leave of their senses and bought a Mercedes-Benz with a foot-operated parking brake.

:biglaugh::biglaugh:
That ^^ my friend is the best worded and phrased question / post that i've read in an awful long time. It had me in stitches.

I hope you post up more gems like this.

[Buzzoff]

Always press the button:D

[e6m6a6]

Im an out woman

Too much effort pushing in that little button everytime because unlike alot people on the road i actualy use my hand brake on a regular basis and dont sit at traffic lights, in traffic jams, drive-thu's ect with my foot brake on, that has to be a pet hate for me :/

But if im feeling a little annoyed i found myself more then once applying the handbrake too soon and having the back of the drop down...it feels better!

[JON76]

Button in for me. But in the owner's manual for one of my previous cars (think it might have been the civic) it instructed you to only use the button when releasing the handbrake:confused:

[Phutters]

Button in for me. But in the owner's manual for one of my previous cars (think it might have been the civic) it instructed you to only use the button when releasing the handbrake:confused:Rather sadly, the Audi instruction book fares no better. In my case, at least.

Here is an extract from the relevant page of the Allroad manual:

Applying the handbrake

- Pull the handbrake lever up all the way.


And that's it. No mention of buttons whatsoever, let alone depressing it to avoid a clattering cacophony.

It does mention pressing the button when releasing the handbrake, but that's no consolation because as every fool knows, you can't disengage the ratchet without pressing the button in.

On a more positive note, perhaps it's just as well that the Germans aren't blessed with more mechanical sympathy.

Had they been, the war may have taken a very different course, and then where would we be?

[STEWY L]

i always press the button in to prevent wear on the ratchet teeth,
however,
has anyone ever known anyone who had to replace their handbrake
lever because of a worn ratchet?
regards,
stewy.

[Phutters]

...has anyone ever known anyone who had to replace their handbrake lever because of a worn ratchet?No, but that's missing the point (a bit).

I don't know anyone who ever had to replace a car door because it was repeatedly shut harder than was necessary.

Anyone with mechanical sympathy will never slam a car door unless it needs to be slammed for the catch to operate correctly. Not even immediately after the barney to end all barneys with her indoors.

People who slam car doors - especially those of cars not belonging to them - are in the same category as the furtive-looking types whose eyes are too close together.

Untrustworthy.

[elvismiggell]

I was a button in man.

But now I have no lever.

So now I'm a complete button man...

[JON76]

i always press the button in to prevent wear on the ratchet teeth,
however,
has anyone ever known anyone who had to replace their handbrake
lever because of a worn ratchet?
regards,
stewy.


I seem to remember a bit of an issue a few years ago with handbrakes on Vauxhall Vectras and Signums, it was on Watchdog and everything. Can't remember if it was to do with ratchets wearing prematurely or just a design fault. Anyway it resulted in a runaway Vectra rolling down the hill where my dad lives and crashing into his garden wall. Luckily it's a sleepy crescent in rural Yorkshire so no small children got caught in the crossfire