Thread Number: 72833  /  Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Yet more "I'm getting too old"
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 962330   10/13/2017 at 17:25 (2,357 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA)        

Does anyone have a vehicle with 'Electronic Parking Brake'? I'm not sure I understand how it works. Will it set/unset if the battery is dead? How 'hard' does it hold? I'm assuming you can't use it in an emergency(?) Does it have anything to do with the hydro system for the regular brakes? And in a totally other realm; we had a '61 New Yorker with the fabboo globe like driver cluster and great lighting that had the turn signal lever mounted below the push button tranny selector. How did it cancel after a turn? And rambling on; saw a Perry Mason rerun the other night where the bad guy drilled a hole in the master cylinder and caused the Lincoln Continental to crash. I'd forgotten about 'single circuit' brakes.





Post# 962335 , Reply# 1   10/13/2017 at 17:58 (2,357 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
"I'm getting too old"

No, you're not.

Never trust gimmicky gadgets!

I have driven a car with one of these 'electric window flip switches' instead of the dedicated handbrake lever between the seats. I did not feel safe driving that car (I think it was a Vauxhall). Apparently, an electric motor (surprise, surprise) reels in the brake cable and releases it accordingly. Hill starts: supposedly there is a second or two of grace before the electro hand brake releases. I still didn't trust it.

I was told by a mechanic, of a different system on one of the Volkswagen cars (maybe the Passat?) which had an electric motor on each brake caliper. If a caliper seized on, the whole caliper had to be replaced at great expense. Motors alone were not available as spare parts.

Absolute nuts. We're employing solutions where there's no problem in the first place.


Post# 962339 , Reply# 2   10/13/2017 at 18:16 (2,357 days old) by MrAlex (London, UK)        

mralex's profile picture
My Audi has an electric handbrake, I don’t really know how it works.. I know how to use the functions in my car but that’s pretty much it lol

Post# 962341 , Reply# 3   10/13/2017 at 18:24 (2,357 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

Well, my e brake works by placing your left foot on it and pressing down.

Post# 962346 , Reply# 4   10/13/2017 at 18:54 (2,357 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
MrAlex

This might explain it a little...

I can see the point in terms of computer controlled emergency braking.

However, having both the footbrake and the handbrake going through the same electronic systems, sounds suspiciously like placing all of your eggs in one basket.

I'll stick to separate distinct systems thank you.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Rolls_rapide's LINK


Post# 962348 , Reply# 5   10/13/2017 at 19:02 (2,357 days old) by agiflow2 ()        

My current Chevy Malibu has that little button for the emergency brake. So much easier with a proper pull up hand brake.

Post# 962350 , Reply# 6   10/13/2017 at 19:19 (2,357 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
I remember my old Subarus having a "Hill-Holder" clutch. That was something I loved. Touch screens, push button this or that crap on newer vehicles, GO AWAY. I have to drive thru traffic not figure out this excessive crap in a nano second.

Post# 962361 , Reply# 7   10/13/2017 at 20:09 (2,357 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
More foolishness to

Break down and give trouble...Chrysler had the BEST parking brake ever up until 1962, they had a brake drum behind the transmission that locked up the whole rear end!

Post# 962371 , Reply# 8   10/13/2017 at 20:59 (2,357 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
first of all remember, anything electrical in a vehicle, something like a sensor, or mainly a FUSE blows out, THERE IS NO BRAKE!!!...regular or emergency....and if your battery dies, well then it sucks to be you.....

I had a 1993 Taurus SHO, the master cylinder had a sensor underneath that blew out on me, as with any nightmare, the second I was over the hump of Rt40 Summit Mountain, steep incline downhill, went to push the brake, and it went to the floor......lucky for this vehicle, the emergency foot brake operates like a regular brake pedal.....scary and rough, but made it to the bottom safely.....nothing will scare you more than pushing on the brake, and nothing happens.....

any vehicle with pedals that adjust for the driver are electrically controlled.....again, you blow a fuse, and no accelerator or brake....

fortunate for my SUV's, they all have a cable driven hand brake....


Post# 962375 , Reply# 9   10/13/2017 at 21:11 (2,357 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
old Chrysler brake

No doubt that the Mopar brake that locked up the driveline was great for parking but it couldn't be used as an emergency brake. My parents were Pontiac people for 30 years back then, but I had relatives who swore by Mopar. One aunt and uncle had an early 60's New Yorker with that 'Astra Dome' dash with 'panelescent' lighting and the turn signal on the dashboard. That was back when all the cars weren't so cookie-cutter.

Post# 962382 , Reply# 10   10/13/2017 at 22:30 (2,357 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
Yes Martin, I had a similar Taurus experience with a company car in the 80's that the brakes gave out on I-95. Coming up to the Maine toll booth they went out and my fellow worker said to shove it into Park, its not our car. It was recalled right after that and I hope that POS went to the crusher.

Post# 962392 , Reply# 11   10/14/2017 at 01:11 (2,357 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
I never liked the idea of a electronic parking brake! If that button were to break, you wouldn't be able to use the parking brake! A prime example of why I prefer older cars, they don't have as many electronics to brake down.

Post# 962398 , Reply# 12   10/14/2017 at 05:16 (2,357 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
I love the creature comforts of my 2014 Ford Fusion, but have to agree that the electronic "parking brake" (no mention of its usefulness in emergency situations) is a bit unsettling.

In college, the brakes went out on my 1969 Olds Delta 88. I drove it around Moorhead, MN for two weeks using only the emergency brake. I could make 3 or 4 in-city stops with it, then had to pull over and let the brake recover for a couple of minutes before continuing on. Drove it home the same way (140 miles) so my stepfather could fix it.

Insanely unsafe, I know; but typical behavior for a 19-year old male with perceived invincibility who thinks, "Oh, this will work just fine until it can be repaired!"


Post# 962442 , Reply# 13   10/14/2017 at 09:13 (2,357 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
I never set the parking brake.

Had too many freeze up.
My '95 Taurus had rear disk brakes and I didn't even re connect it when I replaced the rotors and one caliper.
Some 70's full size Ford, Mercury, and Lincolns had no parking brake release. Were these the push to release pedal, or just a simple solenoid release?
I seem to recall my Colony Park company car in about 1990 not having one. It would hiss about two seconds when I put it in park.


Post# 962448 , Reply# 14   10/14/2017 at 09:28 (2,357 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

The Emergency Brake in an old Cadillac could not be locked in place with the car out of Park and the engine running. So It was a TRUE Emergency Brake you could use just like the regular brake pedal. I thought that was a great feature.

Post# 962455 , Reply# 15   10/14/2017 at 10:05 (2,357 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

2016.5 Mazda CX-5, with electronic parking brake. Seems to work fine, minus a battery failure or switch wearing out.



This post was last edited 10/14/2017 at 10:29
Post# 962457 , Reply# 16   10/14/2017 at 10:07 (2,357 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
that true emergency brake was a great feature on the SHO....never seen one like it on any other car....

in PARK, you would press/set the emergency brake pedal.....you could manually release it with the hand pull, or shift into DRIVE, and it would release automatically....and while in DRIVE, it would operate just like a regular brake pedal....

yes, I had my rear brakes lock in place during a winter storm, so I wouldn't set it during the winter months, it was a 5speed manual, so I would leave it in gear, and turn the wheels toward the curb....

but in reality, manual shift or Automatic, you should set your emergency brake while parked.....and it should be applied while your foot is on the brake, just after you shifted to park......it relieves the lock on the transmission....

too many cars, especially Front Wheel Drive vehicles, parked on an incline, people find it hard to shift out of park while the vehicle is putting pressure on the drive train.....many times a tow truck had to pull the car backwards about 2 inches in order to shift it out of PARK....

I have seen people break their shift lever off trying to move it....


Post# 962460 , Reply# 17   10/14/2017 at 10:14 (2,357 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose)        
Parking Brake - Not Emergency Brake

philcobendixduo's profile picture
In the "old days" before dual circuit hydraulic braking systems, the cable actuated brake COULD actually be used to stop the car in the event the hydraulic system failed - hence the name "emergency brake".

With the advent of dual circuit hydraulic braking systems, the cable actuated brake became the "parking brake" and was really only good for ensuring the car didn't roll away when parked. Automatic transmission equipped cars had the additional safety of locking up the transmission with the "parking pawl" (when transmission was shifted to the PARK position) but the parking brake was still additional insurance against the car rolling away on steep inclines when parked.

Electrically actuated parking brakes cannot even be activated when the car is in motion.
Most are automatically released when the accelerator is pressed.
My 2011 Nissan Leaf has one and it's never given me any troubles. There is a manual release in the cargo area in the event the electric actuator fails or cannot be used due to a dead battery or the like.

I am one that ALWAYS sets the parking brake when parking. Your vehicle is actually LESS likely to have a "parking brake freeze up" if the parking brake is used regularly.

SO - don't say "E-brake" or "emergency brake" in regards to modern cars. The "now" term is "parking brake".


Post# 962483 , Reply# 18   10/14/2017 at 13:24 (2,357 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

I've always used parking brakes, and my parents did, too, starting in the 1970s. I think they started due to news stories about automatics slipping out of park or something like that.

 

In my case, I have had to use the brake for parking most of the cars I've had, since they have all (but one) been manual transmission cars.

 

Never had any problem with the brake acting up.

 

They pushed parking brakes in driver's training as well, even going as far as telling us to first shift into Drive, and then take the brake off.


Post# 962489 , Reply# 19   10/14/2017 at 14:05 (2,357 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

I refuse to talk about those brakes...

I even HATE automatic transmission.

Among all the people I personally know here in the USA, only one individual (Kevin) knows how to drive a "proper" car with a "decent" manual transmission.

When i went to DMV in Santa Monica to get my DL, i had to take the driving test again. The inspector that tested me simply "heard" about manual transmissions but never saw a car with one. What? A DMV inspector!!!

My car is automatic because I simply couldn't find any manual car here in the US. (Except super expensive sports models completely out of my budget) I dream about driving a decent car again. Almost 2 years driving cars made for handicapped people.

My mom was a defensive and evasive driving instructor, teaching for years at the police academy and at a company that made armored cards for civilians (In Brazil is normal for upper middle class people to drive armored cars because of the violence, all my cars since late 90's were armored and I know what is somebody shooting at my window trying to steal my car or "flash kidnap" me to take me to an ATM and drain my account. I'd have a bullet in my brain if my car wasn't armored).

How can a driver do a drift or whatever other emergency maneuver (drifts are emergency maneuvers to save your life, not for kids show off) if the driver doesn't have full control of clutch, transmission or parking brake?

Second question: How can we apply the emergency brake it it's only a button? how to control the pressure and release it in a fraction of second? Does this electronic crap allow applying at high speed? If yes, isn't it much more dangerous being just a button?

I was involved in an minor accident years ago that I could have used an evasive maneuver to avoid but I couldn't because the emergency brake was on the foot (4th pedal, Ford Explorer).

To make me hate automatics even more, now they have a joystick or a dial like a washing machine (P, N, R, D, Rinse, Spin)


A bit over a month ago Darryl and I suffered a serious accident on the freeway. I was driving darryl's Rav4.

The parking brake allowed me to regain control over the car after being hit on the rear by a BMW at more than 100 miles per hour, then hitting the median, being hit again by the same BMW near my door, spinning like floor polisher and stop the car just inches before falling from the freeway. Without the "hand brake" we would be dead now.


Post# 962493 , Reply# 20   10/14/2017 at 14:28 (2,357 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

My car is automatic because I simply couldn't find any manual car here in the US. (Except super expensive sports models completely out of my budget)

 

I think manual transmissions are still technically available on something other than super expensive cars. Recently, a grocery store here had a Ford Fiesta on display as part of a promotion, and I noted that car had a manual shift. I've looked up info on other cars, and note that a manual transmission is available on them, too.

 

The problem may just be dealer willingness to carry cars with a manual transmission. My father bought a Honda Civic with a manual transmission 15 years ago or so. He said it was the only--only--manual transmission Civic on the dealer's lot. One assumes it would be like that at other dealers. If he'd been in the least bit particular, he might well have had a long, frustrating ordeal to get that Honda...




This post was last edited 10/14/2017 at 14:44
Post# 962496 , Reply# 21   10/14/2017 at 14:37 (2,357 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Do they still make Ford Festivas? WOW!

Post# 962498 , Reply# 22   10/14/2017 at 14:45 (2,357 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

Do they still make Ford Festivas? WOW!

 

Sorry--I should have said "Fiesta" not "Festiva". It's been fixed now...

 

I guess cheap Fords aren't important enough for me to actually keep them straight. LOL


Post# 962499 , Reply# 23   10/14/2017 at 14:47 (2,357 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

hahahah

Anyway, I like fords.... and the Fiesta is not bad...

If they have manuals, great!

Thank you for letting me know.


Post# 962504 , Reply# 24   10/14/2017 at 14:55 (2,357 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

I have to say I was impressed by the Fiesta I saw. It gave me the impression of being cheap in price...but not being like one of those cheap cars that's just plain cheap in every imaginable sense. I can't say I'd like the car--I only saw it--but that impression was a lot better than a new (complete with temporary paper license plate) econo box I saw yesterday.


Post# 962566 , Reply# 25   10/14/2017 at 17:44 (2,356 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA)        

FoMoCo used a vacuum release system on the bigger cars (and maybe Cadillac). It was a great idea, it let the ebrake be used like the regular brake pedal. The Aztec uses a 'push to set, push to release' setup that's pretty handy. The rear drum brakes do a good job of holding the car, the Cruze not so much with rear discs.


Post# 962568 , Reply# 26   10/14/2017 at 17:59 (2,356 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
My BRAKE is always on--and my eBrake is as close to a foot-operated (Emergency? Parking?) as it will get--when I'm parked... I think it's nice to pull a little knob & push it back, as opposed to the clumsy, cumbersome, space-intruding lever between the front bucket seats...


-- Dave


Post# 962585 , Reply# 27   10/14/2017 at 19:19 (2,356 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose)        
My 2003 Passat GLX Wagon....

philcobendixduo's profile picture
....has a 5 speed MANUAL transmission. It also has the "pull up the handle" parking brake.
I had to special order the VW as the dealer had 99% automatics in stock and the 2 manual transmission equipped Passats were not in colors that I cared for.

I have driven manual transmission cars since my first car in 1974 (1974 Honda Civic 4 speed).
That was followed by a 1980 Honda Accord LX hatchback 5 speed.
I had a 1985 Lincoln Mark VII LSC that only came with a 4 speed automatic -but it was a FUN car to drive!
Then, a 1992 Chevy S10 Tahoe pickup with a 5 speed manual and 2.8 V6.
Then, the 2003 Passat also with a 5 speed manual and 2.8 V6.
The Nissan Leaf (all electric) has no transmission so no shifting required.

I'm a "control freak" so LOVE shifting the gears myself!

It is true that those who know how to drive a "standard" (stick shift) transmission are a vanishing breed.



Post# 962587 , Reply# 28   10/14/2017 at 19:50 (2,356 days old) by Imperial70 (MA USA)        

"We're employing solutions where there's no problem in the first place. "

Actually, it is part of the autonomous automobile (in the grand scheme of things).That electric e-brake can be applied by the on-board computer. Probably not enabled in the software right now. But it will be someday....


Post# 962589 , Reply# 29   10/14/2017 at 19:52 (2,356 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Manual shift availability.....and many today are 6 speeds

Many Subaru's come with a stick.....

Dodge--
Challenger
Charger
Caliber, and Turbocharged

Ford--
Focus SST....I have my nephews right now, feels good to jump into a stick again....this one is FWD with a EcoBoost Turbo.....a very very powerful car...

I know Mustang and Camaros are available with a stick....

I got plenty of Driver Training while dating a State Trooper....and your right, that emergency brake was a crucial part of defensive driving and control...


Post# 962609 , Reply# 30   10/14/2017 at 21:39 (2,356 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
stick shift

I love sticks. My Corolla has a stick right now. Even though a spinal infection crippled me up somewhat a few years ago, I still prefer shifting. I like the control. When I lived in Houston and worked downtown, and was constantly in heavy traffic, automatics were nice. But otherwise, I prefer a stick.

I looked at getting a pickup to replace the Corolla last summer. Can't even buy a pickup truck now with a stick! Kept the Toyota for now, it's working perfectly.

Does anyone else on here enjoy column shifters? They were so desirable in the late 30's and then, by the 60's, people were wanting stick shifts again. I had a '61 Chevy Biscayne in college with a three-on-the-tree and it was a joy to use and I could carry three people in the front seat.

I always wondered what happened to that Renault automatic from the Dauphine and R-8 days. It didn't have a torque converter and used ferrous dust and an electromagnet for clutching...


Post# 962610 , Reply# 31   10/14/2017 at 21:56 (2,356 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
3 on the tree Ford Galaxie, Fairlane and more sticks, Vega, Celica, 280Z, S-10 pickup, Blazer and others on the floor. After a major breaking of my left ankle, sticks and left braking was over for me.

Post# 962619 , Reply# 32   10/14/2017 at 23:18 (2,356 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
for 'wayupnorth'

Did you ever drive one of those cars with the solenoid clutch? An uncle of mine had a '63 Rambler with what they called the "E-stick". It was a regular stick shift but there was a solenoid actuated by the shift lever that would operate the clutch. It seemed pretty useless unless someone literally couldn't coordinate the clutch pedal. I dated a girl in college who had one of those VW Beetles with the automatic stick shift, sort of worked on the same principle. The solenoid was always acting up on hers.

Post# 962632 , Reply# 33   10/15/2017 at 00:50 (2,356 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Toyota: NEVER again in my life after not even one airbag deployed when i most needed, weeks ago.

And there's no excuse to say "the impact wasn't high enough to deploy the airbags". The computer registered ALL the airbags deployed, but none of them inflated.

Darryl was always very responsible with the maintenance, always at the official Toyota dealer even for a silly oil change.

Not to add: Coincidentally, a few months ago the airbags were replaced on a recall.


About 1 month before the rav 4 crash, i suffered a minor crash (driver cut my front and hit my side, not a big deal.) I was driving my Honda Fit.

Side and curtain airbags deployed, in a crash under 30 mph with minor damages to the car body.

My next car has to be AMERICAN, or a Volvo. MY life is more important than anything else. I don't care about powerful engines or high tech features. It has to be as safe as possible.

But honestly, I'm still afraid to drive and postponing as much as I can.

Well, now i can't drive because of injuries because the rav4 didn't protect me.


Post# 962643 , Reply# 34   10/15/2017 at 03:17 (2,356 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Electric parking brake

Haveing my drivers license for a year and 2 weeks now, I actually never learned to use the parking brake in an emergency.
I did my lessons and test in a Audi A3 with an electric parking brake and 6 speed manual transmission.

In case of break failure, I was tought to activate my hazards lights, getting to the farthest right lane if possible, quickly shift down, gear by gear, using the motor friction to slow down, pulling onto the side strip (where applicable) only once my speed was low enough that I could stop within visibility range.
If a turn I can't take was coming up I was supposed to stear into the side bariers or of the road where most safely.

The self-release feature of that Audi was actually quite handy. It basicly just released itself once you started driving, no matter if the street was even or steep, you started forward or backwards.
Made uphill starts pretty easy.
BTW, one of the worse things I had to do during my lessons: Parking my car backwards on a hill with my front facing downwards. Reversing hill up is hell on earth for me.

I am driving a somewhat old VW Golf IV 99-edition 5-speed manual (the old car of my mum) and from time to time my mums new Skoda Fabia Sport Version 6-speed manual.
Both have a manual parking break.

For parking on a manual, you are tought to engange the first gear on even roads and if you car is facing hill up or the reverse gear if you car is facing hill down. Then you engage the parking break, and only then you turn off the motor. Pull your key where applicable, and turn the stearing wheel until it locks.
For keyless ignitions, the stearing wheel usually locks automaticly.

But, quite honestly, with our TÜV system here in Germany, I rarely heared of any break failures.
Some verry steep Autobahnen however have lanes you can exit onto that lead into a steep hill to slow you down.

My mums Skoda has a distance control system with distance alarm and automatic break priming. A radar sensor checks for the distance to the car in front of you, shows a warning in the board computer display for driving to close, and if the car in front of you gets far to close or suddenly decelarates, it sounds an alarm and primes the breaks to apply the biggest possible breaking force as soon as possible.
I had an encounter with that while takeing a route around a traffic jam near Hamburg on the way back home from our holiday. A car in front of me suddenly pulled over into my lane a few meters from a red light and stopped. I was driving about 20km\h and was about 15m away. I was looking to the right at a trafic sign. As the alarm sounded, I just pushed the break and clutch padle all the way by reflex. The car came to a stop basicly immediatley.

These systems are avaible as self breaking systems as well, which can prevent collisions 100% independently up to a speed of 20 or 30km\h.


On the topic of touchscreens:
Some features are useless.
However, some basics are really nice on some touchscreens.
My mum has a fully speced entertainment system in her car, just without a build in navigation system.
Calling via bluetooth handsfree speakerphone is really easy. Hit the phone button and the picture of the contact you wanna call.
Choosing a different radio station is hard though as that menu has a scroll function that us somewhat touchy. That is better done via steering wheel remote and the board computer display.
And, most usefull: You can hookup your phone via USB and have Google Maps or simmilar show your navigation on the big main screen. No long looking at the small phone anymore.


thomasortega:

I'm verry soory to hear about your misfortune, I hope you get better soon.
I heared of absurdley many recals of a lot of Asian manufactured cars. My grandma drives a Hyundai ix20, which had a recall because of a parking break which could randomly stick while driving and thus cause accidents.

But with your case, and wihout suggesting that often at all, I think you'd have a verry good chance with a lawsuit against the manufacturer, the shop that executed the recall repair or the manufacturer of the airbags.
The airbag system is a cruical part of a cars safety system, and if the system clearly malfunctioned without any issue on your side, you most likely will have the right to a compensation for your pain and the loss of revenue by you.

I'm not one to talk bad about manufacturers much, but as soon as they compromise on saftey standards without any way of knowing about it, I get REALLY pissed of.



Edit: I just remembered why you never were supposed to use the parking break for eergency stops.
As that system usually uses a cable to activate the breaks, the ABS is bypassed, potentially blocking your cars wheels, thus makeing it possible to loose control and spin out.
Even if 3 of your wheels don't have any breaking power anymore, you can stop your care safely as the stability control and ABS can compensate for that. It will be a long breaking distance, but you'll stay in controll.




This post was last edited 10/15/2017 at 03:32
Post# 962646 , Reply# 35   10/15/2017 at 03:37 (2,356 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
Skoda

I've read the British 'Car' magazine for decades. I always found those Soviet-era Skodas to be fascinating. I'm sure you know that they were based on the Renault Dauphine, restyled and refined over a bunch of years. They were still prone to wagging their tails, but at least in the UK, offered a lot of car for a decent price. Of course, they never came here to the US.

You know what I'd try to find if I lived in Germany today? One of those 'little stinkers', the Trabant. Testament to German ingenuity in light of the deprivation of the East Germans for so many years.

My second car, here in Texas and in high school, was a 1957 BMW Isetta, all white. I loved being able to step through that front door! It's amazing how much good examples go for now. I got rid of it when I went to the Univ. of Texas in Austin because it would've never made the hills. We never got the cool Isetta 600 like you have in Europe. Would I drive one now? Even in the small city in which I live now, I'd be awfully nervous having my legs being the 'crumple zone'...


Post# 962655 , Reply# 36   10/15/2017 at 07:36 (2,356 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Trabants

Nah. 2-stroke engine that is uber inefficent and tops out just above 100km\h. And not even seat belts in th back.


The real pinacle of german car design in my opinion is the VW Golf and Polo and all cars based on those (like the Skoda Fabia).
Verry compact yet you can comfortably drive huge distances, incredibly easy to drive, verry safe, quite efficent, can be bought in basicly any configuration, from verry basic and cheap up to verry well equipped high power car, and most of all verry durable (for the most part).


Post# 962670 , Reply# 37   10/15/2017 at 09:25 (2,356 days old) by kenwashesmonday (Carlstadt, NJ)        

johnrk wrote:
"Did you ever drive one of those cars with the solenoid clutch? An uncle of mine had a '63 Rambler with what they called the "E-stick". It was a regular stick shift but there was a solenoid actuated by the shift lever that would operate the clutch. It seemed pretty useless unless someone literally couldn't coordinate the clutch pedal. I dated a girl in college who had one of those VW Beetles with the automatic stick shift, sort of worked on the same principle."

The VW semi-automatic used a sort of torque converter or fluid coupling, but the Rambler E-stick was pretty off the wall. The engine had an extra large oil pump, and as the oil pressure rose above idle, it was oil pressure that engaged the dry clutch. A crazy system, but it did get the same MPG as a standard shift car.


Post# 962679 , Reply# 38   10/15/2017 at 10:46 (2,356 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
Johnrk, My first car was a 63 Rambler but it was automatic. I have the brochure of the 63 models and it shows the twin stick transmission but I never saw one in real life.

Post# 962683 , Reply# 39   10/15/2017 at 10:59 (2,356 days old) by kenwashesmonday (Carlstadt, NJ)        

The twin stick was pretty cool. It was the same old Borg Warner 3-speed overdrive unit, but set up in a sporty way giving you 5 forward speeds. I never had one, but I've seen quite a few at Rambler meets over the years.





  View Full Size
Post# 962695 , Reply# 40   10/15/2017 at 12:27 (2,356 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
Brake failure

About fifteen years ago, I heard of a customer leaving the car showroom in a brand new Volvo. They went to apply the brakes - they crashed.

Apparently the brake system was faulty. I don't know if the brake fluid system was leaking, or if something had been left disconnected.


Post# 962700 , Reply# 41   10/15/2017 at 13:05 (2,356 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
The Ford Festiva

was built in Korea by Kia.

Post# 962729 , Reply# 42   10/15/2017 at 16:41 (2,355 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Henene4

You're absolutely right.

The parking brake should be used when you intentionally want to "loose control".

I mean, a drift, for example, is actually an intentional and controlled lost of control. You pull the brake at it's full and steer the wheels.

A trained driver, for example, can use a drift to reverse a car much faster by doing a 180° turn or a reverse 180° turn During training with my mom, the example scenario for 180° evasion was the attacker/hijacker in other car suddenly blocking the way right in front of you. The driver has less than 2 seconds to decide between a front or reverse extraction and needs to do two different evasive maneuvers in a few seconds. The easiest, if you have speed and distance enough is do the front evasion, which is simply accelerate and drift 180°. But in many cases you're so closer to the attacker or at so low speed that it's impossible to do, so the 180° reverse evasion is the second alternative. First is deactivate whatever electronic stability system, step deep on the brake, pull the parking brake in a way you can engage the reverse with the car still moving. then control the reverse acceleration on the clutch and parking brake. You will have the car moving forward but the wheels moving on reverse (and hopefully lots of smoke to help distracting the attacker.

Then you reverse at full speed and drift (pull the brake and steer at the same time you accelerate or simply step on the clutch, don't brake at all and steer). The car will spin around it's own radius, making it possible to change direction in the same lane. (this maneuver is considering a very narrow street, the perfect place for an attack)

To complete the extraction, you engage the 2nd before the car stops completely (never the first or the engine will die) or even the third, depending on the car you have.

During the test, the driver must complete the extraction in less than 6 seconds.

it's impressive how everything we learn in training is deeply recorded in our memory. I used to go to the training twice a year, as recommended by LCBlin (the company that armored my car). The last time i trained was more than 2 years ago, when I sold my armored Ford Focus and kept only the Renault Clio, already preparing to move to the US.


During the crash, i had less than one second to evaluate the situation and decide what to do.

When the bmw hit us i was at 65 and the other car at more than 100 mph. instantly i lost control, my car was thrown to the left, i hit the median (front left corner) and started to spin counter clockwise. the same car hit me again front left side, making me spin out of control clockwise. It i just step deep on the brake, as whatever driver would instinctively do, a rollover would start at that moment.

I pulled the brake and steered to the right, using the centrifugal force to put the car back. It worked but not 100% because the front left wheel broke when we were hit. I ended the manouver moving straight but facing the shoulder at a 45° angle, but again out of control because of the missing wheel.

Other split second decision. If i hit the guard rail straight at 45°, it would brake and we would simply fall from the freeway (about 20 meters slant fall).
So i did a throw slalom to change the angle. i hit the guard rail almost parallel to it. When i felt the guard rail, then i finally stepped deep in the brake and pulled the parking brake to make the wheels "dive" in the fluffy soil.


We stopped with the front right wheel already out of the road, at an angle the passenger door could open just enough for Darryl to get out. (that wasn't planned)

Everything lasted less than 10 seconds, but every time i remember the scene it's like a slow motion movie that lasted forever. It's scary, I don't want that even for my worst enemy.
At the same time it's impressive how our brain automatically works so fast to register everything and make the decisions. I remember clearly describing to Darryl what was going to happen. I first screamed "he's going to hit us" when i saw the headlight on the mirror and I even remember aligning my head with the headrest to wait for the impact and stepping deep on the gas to minimize the impact. It took forever in slow motion. "he is going to hit us again", and saying loud my actions. brake, release, steer, slalom, brake. Honey, are you ok? wait. don't release the belt yet (we waited maybe 5 seconds until i had time to evaluate the surroundings in the dark.) Honey, open your door.

Of course I'm going to sue Toyota. When i hit the median, the front and knee airbags should have deployed, eventually the side ones. but half second later a side impact that was enough to break the wheel and change the car direction should definitely have deployed the side airbags.

Well, they all deployed (according to the car's computer), but none of them inflated.

One thing that deployed and worked very well was the safety belt pre-tensioners. They retracted the safety belt enough to keep me tight in position. Without my body "locked" a proper position, tight against the seat, I'd never be able to do the emergency maneuvers.







Post# 962732 , Reply# 43   10/15/2017 at 17:02 (2,355 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

Another opportunity to feel old came to me in this article about a 16 year old who didn't know how to start a car with a key.

 

Quote:

 

It's commonly discussed that the manual-rolling window is an automotive feature that has more or less died, but have you considered the key? The key is rapidly going the way of the dodo, as it's being replaced by fobs and push-button starts. Many future kids may not have any clue how to start a car with one -- and, in fact, this is already happening.

 

www.autotrader.com/car-ne...


Post# 962733 , Reply# 44   10/15/2017 at 17:08 (2,355 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

This throws us back to another thread, but with the same issue...

Millennials!


Post# 962741 , Reply# 45   10/15/2017 at 19:10 (2,355 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Millennials?....puh-leeze.....with everything available to them for knowledge at a fingertips grasp on the internet, will ask some of the most bizarre, no check that, stupidest questions ever.....

I didn't have this stuff growing up, the internet wasn't around....and I had more intelligence...better yet, common sense.....


our twins are 17, just got their permits.....


everything is why?, why?, why?....

Day one.....

gear shift positions...P..R..N..D......and forget if it has a 2..1...or worst an L

why P for Park if I am standing still, shouldn't that be H for Hold, or S for SetStill or Stay....

if R is for Reverse....should the D actually be an F for Forward....


trust me, they don't understand the 10 and 2 hand position, because the clock is digital.....

it was time to re-take Drivers Ed 101.......because they didn't learn a thing.....


when I learned how to drive...way before my permit.....and it was with a stick shift to boot....you didn't question things, you familiarized yourself with the vehicle.....then proceeded, push in clutch, shift to first, release the brake, apply a little gas, and slowly ease up on the clutch, as you 'felt' the grip, both feet moved in sequence, and you were off.....next was clutch, shift, gas!....easy as pie....

oh, and to be truthful, I bunny hopped and stalled the first time.....I didn't ask why.....started it again, moved both feet back and forth a few times, got used to the vibrations...OK, OK, I got this....here we go....

whats more funny.....drive a stick shift for 15+ years, then get into an automatic.....force of habit at 50mph, to jam down the brake and pull the shifter down to low....as everyone is kissing the dashboard....



Post# 962746 , Reply# 46   10/15/2017 at 19:55 (2,355 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
My uncle got flustered with us kids in the back seat, drove up the street and instinctively slammed the power brake with his left foot and shifted the automatic into park. I do miss the simplicity of older vehicles, like the newer reliability but hate having to go boing, boing to turn up or down the heat or a/c, etc.etc. I want to just drive, not frig with a touch screen and watch the road. I have had my licence 48 years and only one chargeable accident way back in 1969.

Post# 962807 , Reply# 47   10/16/2017 at 00:38 (2,355 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

"whats more funny.....drive a stick shift for 15+ years, then get into an automatic.....force of habit at 50mph, to jam down the brake and pull the shifter down to low....as everyone is kissing the dashboard.... "

LOL


Until today i do that sometimes... almost 2 years driving only the automatic crap and until today I couldn't get used to it.


Post# 962814 , Reply# 48   10/16/2017 at 04:06 (2,355 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

askolover's profile picture

These days, having a straight-shift car is pretty good theft protection because young crooks don't know how to drive one!





Post# 962898 , Reply# 49   10/16/2017 at 16:07 (2,354 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

LOL!


Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy