Which one do you use?

[escortcab]

When sitting at lights or other stop start traffic; which button do you use to not hold your foot on the brake?

1 is to press the P button which puts the car in N neutral, which disengages the drive, then engages the hydraulic emergency brake (hand brake).
2 is the hydraulic emergency brake and disengages when you attempt to accelerate.
3 or this which is the auto hold function, which when the vehicle comes to a complete stop applies some brakes until you accelerate again?

I used to use 1, but found having to tap the brake so it would engage drive again tedious.
Tried 2, but found it a but overkill and it takes a second for the hydro to do it's thing.
I'm just toying with 3, as practically its the best solution, but I find takes just a little too long to release when you want to go.

What do you use?

 

[staarek]

Auto hold function

 

[Jomarkh]

Hi,
I have never used 1, I tried 3 for a bit but normally use 2.

 

[AlexW]

Auto hold

 

[weedavemac]

Eh, think I am none of the above. I usually just press the P button.

 

[Deleted member 6627]

I am so glad somebody raised this topic. I have absolutely no idea what to do when I get my car. Why so many ways to do the same thing?

 

[escortcab]

Hahaha, deliberate mistake. I meant press P which knocks it into neutral no?
??

 

[Kithmo]

I just sit with my foot on the brake.

 

[Ian MG5]

Just the foot on the brake for me
???????

 

[biffo]

3. Auto hold - but it sometimes seems to be on when I start a journey, sometimes off. I only notice when I come to a stop, lift foot off brake and car creeps - when that happens I press the auto hold button to activate.

 

[MarkLynn]

Foot on the brake unless I know it's a long wait and on the flat then flip into neutral.

 

[smokie]

I tend towards auto hold but use all three, and sometimes foot on brake, with no rhyme nor reason.

 

[Prof1967]

Foot on the brake or park

 

[BigBear]

Definitely option three for driving around when I don't want to keep foot on brake pedal when stationary (like a standard auto trans) - when using ACC in traffic, this is the system it automatically uses when braking, coming to and holding at a standstill......
Remember, unlike a traditional auto, the transmission isn't "in gear" when stopped, i.e. there is no energy loss (unlike a torque converter etc), so nothing to be gained by putting in neutral for example. I guess it could be put like this - when your driving use the foot brake (this includes Auto Hold), hence the green (P) on the dash, when parking (stopped and going no further) use the parking brake, hence the red (P). Auto hold uses the front brakes (& proportionately the rear too just like when you push the brake pedal), parking brake uses the parking brake on the rear.

 

[CuriousIslander]

When sitting at lights or other stop start traffic; which button do you use to not hold your foot on the brake?

1 is to press the P button which puts the car in N neutral, which disengages the drive, then engages the hydraulic emergency brake (hand brake).
2 is the hydraulic emergency brake and disengages when you attempt to accelerate.
3 or this which is the auto hold function, which when the vehicle comes to a complete stop applies some brakes until you accelerate again?

I used to use 1, but found having to tap the brake so it would engage drive again tedious.
Tried 2, but found it a but overkill and it takes a second for the hydro to do it's thing.
I'm just toying with 3, as practically its the best solution, but I find takes just a little too long to release when you want to go.

What do you use?

3 Auto hold. I don't see the problem that some seem to have with it being a little slow to release. It works fine for me
Happy motoring

 

[AnonymouseDriva]

it's a (2) from me.

just a bit of background for any that aren't aware.

(1) (press the P button) is effectively putting the car into Park mode. Handy if you want to be sure that catching the accelerator won't move the car, but probably overkill otherwise.
(2) is the EPB (that's the Electronic Parking Brake). It can be used in an emergency brake, but that's not it's primary function.
(3) That's Auto-Hold. The idea is that you just switch it on and let it do it's thing. Basically, it gets rid of 'creep' once you have stopped. It uses hydraulics (or something) to hold the brake pedal down for you once you have stopped. When you press the accelerator it'll just let go and set off, same as (2). No need to turn (a) on and off as you're driving. Also, if you're stopped for too long (not sure if that's 30s or a minute) it then puts the EPB on and lets the brake pedal go, so effectively you're back at (2) anyway.

Things may have changed since I took my driving test, but I was taught to apply the parking brake and let off the foot brake when at lights or stopped in traffic. That has stayed with me regardless of electric or hand operated parking brake. As you say though, with electric ones, you don't need to find the bite point with the clutch (if you have one...) and you just go. It releases automatically. As a side note though, the switch is a bit too far back and less accessible on the MG5 than it has been on any of my previous cars.

The only thing that stops me using 3 is that it's not particularly intelligent with the brake lights. I don't like dazzling the driver behind but whilst auto hold has it held on the foot brake the lights stay on.

 

[biffo]

it's a (2) from me.

just a bit of background for any that aren't aware.

(1) (press the P button) is effectively putting the car into Park mode. Handy if you want to be sure that catching the accelerator won't move the car, but probably overkill otherwise.
(2) is the EPB (that's the Electronic Parking Brake). It can be used in an emergency brake, but that's not it's primary function.
(3) That's Auto-Hold. The idea is that you just switch it on and let it do it's thing. Basically, it gets rid of 'creep' once you have stopped. It uses hydraulics (or something) to hold the brake pedal down for you once you have stopped. When you press the accelerator it'll just let go and set off, same as (2). No need to turn (a) on and off as you're driving. Also, if you're stopped for too long (not sure if that's 30s or a minute) it then puts the EPB on and lets the brake pedal go, so effectively you're back at (2) anyway.

Things may have changed since I took my driving test, but I was taught to apply the parking brake and let off the foot brake when at lights or stopped in traffic. That has stayed with me regardless of electric or hand operated parking brake. As you say though, with electric ones, you don't need to find the bite point with the clutch (if you have one...) and you just go. It releases automatically. As a side note though, the switch is a bit too far back and less accessible on the MG5 than it has been on any of my previous cars.

The only thing that stops me using 3 is that it's not particularly intelligent with the brake lights. I don't like dazzling the driver behind but whilst auto hold has it held on the foot brake the lights stay on.

When I drove an automatic previously, I would pop into Neutral, apply the hand brake manually rather than sit with foot on brake pedal - always concerned that heat from brake pads (especially after a fast speed to zero stop) would warp the discs.

Now - I use auto-hold and don't worry. If stopping and getting out, I'll press Park or just turn the car off - that apparently moves car to Park anyway. Don't think I've ever applied the Electronic Park Brake - but as you say, it sometimes automatically happens.

 

[Gomev]

Auto-hold. Completely hands free.

 

[staarek]

In regards to auto hold, is it ok to use it all times? I'm asking as my previous electric car didn't "creep" and I'm sort of use to it, auto hold would sort of make mg5 "not creep".

 

[smokie]

I understood EVs don't naturally creep, and it has been built-in so people used to driving autos aren't disappointed.

I also heard they can go as fast backwards as forwards except they are limited.

Both seem to make sense, though I am not especially technical.