[kaishang]

That seems quite dangerous. What if you have a 9yo in the passenger seat who thinks "what does this switch do?"

Everyone knows what a conventional handbrake looks like. Most people do not know what a switch operated handbrake looks like plus they are different in every car model that has them.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by kaishang

That seems quite dangerous. What if you have a 9yo in the passenger seat who thinks "what does this switch do?"...

Quite so, hence my alarm when I inadvertently pulled the wrong switch.

[misterS3]

I'll pulled it in my X5 40D It works like a normal handbrake.

But next you'll be saying what happens if you press the start/stop button while in motion (i know someone who's mate did that in their fast datsun while they were on the motorway! Not recommended, but the thread he posted about it is!)

[xenon]

Originally Posted by kaishang

That seems quite dangerous. What if you have a 9yo in the passenger seat who thinks "what does this switch do?"

Everyone knows what a conventional handbrake looks like. Most people do not know what a switch operated handbrake looks like plus they are different in every car model that has them.

I suppose, but it doesn't latch when moving - i.e. you'd have to keep the switch fully pulled up to keep the brake engaged, as soon as you release it the brakes go off unless you're stopped.

[chris_s1]

Originally Posted by kaishang

That seems quite dangerous. What if you have a 9yo in the passenger seat who thinks "what does this switch do?"

Everyone knows what a conventional handbrake looks like. Most people do not know what a switch operated handbrake looks like plus they are different in every car model that has them.

I'd actually say the electronic handbrake is safer in this respect. - The switch is usually right over on the far side of the car away from passengers and the handbrake is much easier for a child to inadvertandly yank. Or as I know from personal experience - wifes handbag strap gets caught round it and the she picks it up...........................

I've had electronic handbrakes in a couple of cars before the BM and I would definately say they are better. No worries about if you pulled it on hard enough when parking on hills.....hill starts easier.....more space around the centre console.......

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by chris_s1

The switch is usually right over on the far side of the car away from passengers...

In the F10, 12, 13 and probably other current BMW's, it's on the centre console - pretty much equidistant from driver and front passenger.

[xenon]

I still can't see accidental activation being an issue - I suppose if someone does then it's not the car for them.

[Boyd1963]

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

an 'overs forties' look to it.

How very dare you!

We don't all wear smoking jackets and hang out at the golf club!

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by misterS3

But next you'll be saying what happens if you press the start/stop button while in motion (i know someone who's mate did that in their fast datsun while they were on the motorway! Not recommended, but the thread he posted about it is!)

No problem is the answer to the stop/start switch: regular readers may know I have a private pilot licence.

In one of my more gormless moments, after take off instead of switching the electric fuel pump off (leaving a gravity feed), I accidently hit the two big red switches and turned the entire electrical system of the whole aircraft off. I blame Piper Aircraft Company for putting the switches next to eachother, but anyway.

Other gormless moments include getting irritated by my motorbike keys rattling around while biking down the North Circular, then jiggling them while on the move and accidently switching the engine off......

Anyway, moral of these stories is if the thing you accidently press doesn't cause you to come to a sudden stop, you have time to fix it. Unf full handbrake application WILL cause you to come to a sudden stop, so it's dangerous.

[xenon]

You obviously missed the bit about it not latching - if you flicked it upwards, thinking it was something else (quite what, I don't know) you'd get a potential lunge for the briefest of seconds unless you kept it held upwards against the spring pressure. If it was "dangerous" as you categorically state, I'm surpised that it was allowed under C&U regulations and that the newspapers aren't awash with tragic tales of where this accident-waiting-to-happen has happened. I've never flown a Piper but I have flown a Cessna where the electrical master switch has a spring cover to prevent accidental activation. Perhaps electric handbrakes need the same.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by xenon

I've never flown a Piper but I have flown a Cessna where the electrical master switch has a spring cover to prevent accidental activation. Perhaps electric handbrakes need the same.

That would be cool - very Top Gun . I want a plastic cover over my starter button .

[kaishang]

And I boobed by saying gravity feed for the fuel. Piper, being low wing, has an engine driven fuel pump. Cessna has a high wing and gravity feed, so you can't fly inverted

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by xenon

You obviously missed the bit about it not latching - if you flicked it upwards, thinking it was something else (quite what, I don't know)

Did you subconsciously want to eject your passenger?

[misterS3]

Originally Posted by kaishang

No problem is the answer to the stop/start switch: regular readers may know I have a private pilot licence.

Apparently not the same in the Fast Datsun! I haven't tried it myself mind!

Pilots license costs about £7.5k to get? On my by 40 list!

[misterS3]

Here's the thread.

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/130926-do...g-70-i-do.html

[mowflow]

I don't know anything about push button electric handrakes other than if they go wrong they cost a lot to put right.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by misterS3

Apparently not the same in the Fast Datsun! I haven't tried it myself mind!

Pilots license costs about £7.5k to get? On my by 40 list!

If you do it, I recommend going to somewhere like the USA and just nutting it out full time over about a month. Western Australia or South Africa would probably also be reasonable choices although the US is still probably cheapest. Should be a LOT cheaper and since you fly visual flight rules (ie you look out the window), you need to have good weather or you will get a lot of cancellations. Forget about anyone that tell you "the UK airspace is more congested so if you fly in the UK you can fly anywhere blah blah"... get the basic training where it is cheap and you don't get cancellations and worry about improving your standard and ability to handle high workload later.

Originally Posted by mowflow

I don't know anything about push button electric handrakes other than if they go wrong they cost a lot to put right.

This is pretty much my thinking too. A lever operated handbrake is pretty simple, doesn't bother anyone, facilitates that fine control necessary for a good handbrake turn, gives BMW the ability to create an extra cost M-sport ceramic handle or something and extract more money from punters. Why mess with it?

[xenon]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Why mess with it?

Simple ergonomics I guess. Sure, we've had it virtually unchanged for almost a century but when you think about it then it does take up a lot of space and is quite ugly - but you're so used to seeing it.

I prefer not to have the traditional handle in the centre tunnel, something that I noticed most of all on my Porsche and I don't know why other manufacturers didn't follow suit with that design.

The worst has to be the stupid Mercedes mechanical handbrake of the 80s / 90s that you operated with your foot... Oh, and the one on the Saab 9-3 is fcuking stupid too. The amount of times I trapped a finger on that fecking thing

[rogerxp]

Why not just ditch it all together and stick it in 1st gear. My car is always parked in 1st gear thus making the handbrake redundant (abliet a little rocking forwards and back ).

[misterS3]

Originally Posted by kaishang

If you do it, I recommend going to somewhere like the USA and just nutting it out full time over about a month. Western Australia or South Africa would probably also be reasonable choices although the US is still probably cheapest. Should be a LOT cheaper and since you fly visual flight rules (ie you look out the window), you need to have good weather or you will get a lot of cancellations. Forget about anyone that tell you "the UK airspace is more congested so if you fly in the UK you can fly anywhere blah blah"... get the basic training where it is cheap and you don't get cancellations and worry about improving your standard and ability to handle high workload later.

Thanks for the advice.....interesting Might fit in with plans!!

[kaishang]

Also you may hear you can do it in about 45 hours of flying.... 70-90 hours is more realistic, so figure that into your time and cost budget.

BTW the flap control looks just like a handbrake ha ha ha

[xenon]

Originally Posted by kaishang

BTW the flap control looks just like a handbrake ha ha ha

but if flaps were either on or off, like a handbrake, then they'd probably settle on a button