Farewell Passat!

[buckspassat]

After 2 years, I have just sold the Passat (1.9TidSE). It drove faultlessly for nearly 30,000 miles, but the wife just couldn't get on with it!. The main problem was the electronic handbrake, which I also disliked intensely. Pretty awkward to use, bordering dangerous, a totally pointless piece of muppetry in my opinion. If they offered an option of a proper handbrake I may have purchesed another..
So I PX'd it for a 6 month old Skoda Octavia Vrs estate, 170Bhp diesel. This has the familiar VX switchgear, feels well bolted togeter, practical & goes pretty well!
All the best..

[kodkod.84]

I like the electronic handbrake in the Audi A4 and A6 it is near the gearstick. Am I right in saying the passat handbrake is near the headlight switch- pretty dumb place to put it if it is and I can see how that annoys you.

[daveyboy467]

yes i agree. over on the right hand side is a dumb place to put a dumb piece of equipment.

it should be designed as an analogue piece of equipment in my mind.

[ledburyloafer]

got to say with the dsg, and autohold, i think it's a great bit of kit, but can imagine without either it would be a bind.

[gamichea]

got to say with the dsg, and autohold, i think it's a great bit of kit, but can imagine without either it would be a bind.

I have neither DSG nor Autohold and really like it. You have to work with it; there's no other way. It's actually something I'd miss if I moved to another car. Find myself reaching for it in the 'Sud and the wife's Qashqai :Blush:. More cars are being so equipped or offering it as an option so I think it'll become more and more difficult to avoid.

I've got used to it on the right, not sure I'd want it near the gear lever but could readjust, I'm sure.

[dunkley201]

I have to agree with ledburyloafer, with autohold and DSG it is a dream. Pity the Autohold dosen't "auto on" tho' (and it is on the "wrong" side of the gear selector). As with gamichea, no problem with the button being on the right - I remember my old '62 Rapier IIIa had a r/h handbrake - now that car was a dream! (We've moved on a bit since then however....)

[damo140]

I've had both manual and DSG, never had a problem with the parking brake on either, so much more simpler IMHO

[Stuart W]

yes i agree. over on the right hand side is a dumb place to put a dumb piece of equipment.


Perhaps it's on the right to reduce the likelihood of passengers pressing the button by accident while on the move?

As a taxi driver I've had passengers grab the steering wheel, for example, so if the handbrake button was in the middle pressing it accidentally or even deliberately doesn't seem out of the question.