Although I found his method of raising the topic irritating, I have to agree with Norstar that the description of the Off-Road Button in the early pages of the brochure (eg page 6 in June 2011 brochure)is misleading/confusing. It certainly seems to imply that Hill Hold Control is one of the functions of the ORB - although it doesn't actually use the term Hill Hold Control in that paragraph, it just says "hold the car still on a hill start". Given that HHC is listed as a separate option to the ORB on all model specs below the Elegance, there would seem to be a discrepancy or an error somewhere.

I have to say that I don't find HHC nearly as handy as the hill holder clutch on my old Impreza. That would hold the car stationary for as long as you had the clutch in whereas the Yeti's HHC only holds the brake for 2-3 seconds. IMO it's only really beneficial for those who are too lazy to do a hill start properly - the type who seem to think it entirely acceptable to roll back a couple of feet while they get their feet sorted out. I actually find it gets in the way when I am trying to park on my sloping drive: if I reverse back a little too close to the garage door and just want to edge a foot or so forward, I find that the HHC has cut in and if I'm not careful - if I forget what's holding me back - I can find myself giving it too much revs and popping out on the the road again.

When I was looking to buy my Yeti, one salesman told me that the cost of the ORB was so low because it was implemented in software. HHC costs the same and I suspect that it too is simply a software tweak. Which raises in my mind the question: could these functions be switched on with VCDS, if you only knew where to look? (A bit like the Bluetooth connection chime.)

See point 25 in this thread:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/160051-if-you-are-about-to-order-a-yeti-things-to-think-about/

And then in the linked thread there see point 20. So this point has been noted to some extent a long time ago and has been pointed out to Škoda. It is obvious they don't care about getting brochures accurate and prefer to pay out £250 for every anomaly in it that gets contested - as I got when my exterior mirrors did not electrically fold.

Volkswagen & Skoda both provide Hill Hold Control as standard with the DSG gearboxes, and I'd suggest its real function is to protect the DSG clutch during a hill start. Making it an option with manual gearboxes is then an easy addition to help less experienced drivers. I guess it could be a problem for the future if you learn to drive and pass your test in a car with HHC!

Chris

IMO it's only really beneficial for those who are too lazy to do a hill start properly.

Do me a favour! Why don't you ask Skoda to ditch your electric windows? Being able to lower them electrically obviously makes you lazy.

At the same time why don't you ask them to remove the power steering too, and the auto lights, and the auto wipers, and the remote central locking and the steering wheel controls etc. etc.

Making it an option with manual gearboxes is then an easy addition to help less experienced drivers.

I've been performing hill starts for years and it’s fair to say I have mastered the technique. This doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the benefits and enjoy the convenience offered by Hill Hold Control.

Edited 25 July, 201114 yr by silver1011