I'm the same, except I get in, take it out of gear, then start

Steve

I have a Fabia 2, used to own a Fabia Vrs.

In the manual for the Fabia 2 it acually instructs the driver to depress the clutch when starting the engine.

So did my old Mazda 2 as well.

It wasn't something i ever thought about until i got these cars.

The Gen2 Mini has this as part of the start procedure, as it has button start. So you don't go anywhere unless you toe the line and press the clutch down as you hit the button

Steve

I have always started my cars with the clutch depressed, puts less stress on the engine as I was told when I learnt to drive. Also I make sure things like heater, radio, aircon, fan etc is all off as apparently that keeps the stress off the alternator/battery also.

I dont know if any of the above is correct but thats what I do, just a habit really.

I've always started cars with the clutch pressed in. It's just a habit I picked up from my driving instructor.

wasn't aware that it helped anything though!

Less drag on the starter. I never bother though.

My driving instructor taught me to do this, to save his and i still do it to this day after (ahem) quite a number of years driving

Same for myself , my father who was an aero engineer taught me that way .obviously been driving too long .

Same for myself , my father who was an aero engineer taught me that way .obviously been driving too long .

Same for me too (new driver warning...).

From the manual for the MK I it says it reduces wear/strain on the starter motor (I think - it was definitely something).

I always start mine with the clutch depressed, as I always leave the car in gear. I have always done it, so to me its normal.

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

However after reading this thread I did a comparison and the engine seems to start and stop with much less of a "BANG" if you do it with the clutch depressed.

My Fabia's in the shop having the rear end repaired..

I've got an Insignia as a courtesy car.. Took me about 10 minutes faffing to actually look at the screen message telling me to press the clutch... up until then I'd had nooo idea why the thing wouldn't start .. lol! The handbrake on these is a switch not to dis similar to the window switches on the Fabia.. up for on, down for off!

I dont like electric handbrakes, has anyone ever tried one in a passat whilst driving? Stops you super quick!

New Passat handbrake - why fix something that isn't broken?! Had one in a hire car that didn't work properly - wouldn't hold the car. Apparently an issue with early models. I didn't think it would work while driving actually - as a 'safety' measure. Wish I'd tried it now

Steve

New Passat handbrake - why fix something that isn't broken?! Had one in a hire car that didn't work properly - wouldn't hold the car. Apparently an issue with early models. I didn't think it would work while driving actually - as a 'safety' measure. Wish I'd tried it now

Steve

Better than the one we test drove, or tried to test drive. The handbrake wouldn't realese, leaving the car blocking several parking spaces on the forecourt. Needless to say, we didn't buy it.

Nearly the exact reverse of our situation, in the works carpark - which is on a slope...

Amusing sight of the Hertz drop-off man beating a hasty retreat

Think most manufacturers tell you to press the clutch in when you start it. Told my dad to do this when he drove mine but he pressed the accelerator instead when starting it, queue lots of angry exchanges lol.

Regarding the new Passat electronic handbrake. Apparently all cars should be able to slow from 70mph using the handbrake alone (EU law I think) in case of brake failure. In the Passat if you press the handbrake button while driving it quickly engages and releases it to slow the car. God knows what happens if there is a failure of the electrics as it wouldnt work.

Regarding the new Passat electronic handbrake. Apparently all cars should be able to slow from 70mph using the handbrake alone (EU law I think) in case of brake failure.

Aren't all (new) cars required to have dual-circuit brakes anyway, making it rather unlikely that you'd have to resort to that? :confused:

Aren't all (new) cars required to have dual-circuit brakes anyway, making it rather unlikely that you'd have to resort to that? :confused:

It's still possible that you could lose all braking through a catastrophic failure of the brake pedal hinge or metal fatigue of the pedal/mechanism. Happened to me on a 1967 Ford Anglia, pedal shaft snapped at the end:eek: - luckily there was still enough to apply the brakes, but not with enough force to stop me punting the car in front onto the roundabout I was approaching:thumbdwn:

Ouch! That sounds like fun, Woolfy! :( I just remember from my theory test books being told it's very unlikely that the breaks will totally fail, but if it does, use the gears to stop, don't ever touch the handbrake (and yeah, I know, theory and practice )...

I have always depressed the clutch. You had to in DC5 otherwise it wouldn't start. Then again I always park in gear, old habbit from my Dad

i always dip my clutch when starting any vehicle dont know wether its stuck in gear etc

i always dip my clutch when starting any vehicle dont know wether its stuck in gear etc

LOL, I remember moving someones at work and I parked it it in gear. She nearly ran into the wall when it jumped forward

I dont like electric handbrakes, has anyone ever tried one in a passat whilst driving? Stops you super quick!

I had one as a loan car while I got a new rear bumper cover fitted, after the "biscuit tin" clang noise when shutting the boot, the handbrake was the next thing I hated about that car. The delivery driver boasted about the fun you can have with the handbrake! A few weeks later, we were at a National Trust place in North England, and I was aware of a new Passat that was parked, on a slope, near a wooden ranch style fence, after a few failed attempts to reverse away without stalling - which was why I noticed this car, the next 3 or 4 attempts ended up with the car hitting the fence quite hard it sounded like each time - I knew right away what the problem was (poor woman!). Now over a year later, a friend at work's mate's boss has just lost the use of his new company Passat for a while - it seems that it ran away - and ran away quite far - oh dear! I've just starting reading the latest VW Driver it looks like it investigates the safety benefits of this newish system?!?

Aren't all (new) cars required to have dual-circuit brakes anyway, making it rather unlikely that you'd have to resort to that? :confused:

I'd support that comment as I think that the required handbrake efficiency for passing MOT is lower than it used to be.

As far as I remember, you need to press the brake pedal while pressing the handbrake switch to apply it and to remove it - so I'd doubt if only pressing the button by its self would activate the system - though I'd expect that VAG has progressed through (from horrible experiences) a few changes to make life easier. I'd reckon it would work better with the hill start option.

Agreed that brake failure is not likely but the last paragraph in this link explains the Passats handbrake: Volkswagen Passat (2005-) | Car Review | Road Test | 4car | Channel 4.

Agreed that brake failure is not likely but the last paragraph in this link explains the Passats handbrake: Volkswagen Passat (2005-) | Car Review | Road Test | 4car | Channel 4.

Yes so I see, I'm a VW sort of person (!) and as usual part of that press quote was wrong - hill hold function was part of an "extras" list of bits - though I'd think that including it in the car spec would be essential for any prospective buyer - looks like I'll need to move to buying second hand Audis instead of new Passat as its really just a swollen Golf. I'll wait until the CC gets revised or VW dump this Passat model.