Oh thank the deity... I steer clear of these electronic handbrake things - sorry, but hate them with a passion. Yep - it would strike a car straight off my "list".

You'll end up with a very small list of cars unfortunately, within the next 5 years.

What's so bad about an electronic handbrake? I've never used one, so it's a genuine question.

Apart from being another electrical component to fail, they can also be a bit inflexible. Using one with a manual gearbox and a steep hill start, for example.

I have used an electronic handbrake for the last 3 3/4 years and think it is fine. It goes on when you pull up a lever and it goes off when you use the accelerator and clutch in the usual way - but without you having to disengage the handbrake yourself, though of course you can do so manually if you wish. I would not argue against anyone that says that it isn't necessary and that a traditional handbrake works perfectly well, but I do wonder why some people hate them so much. As I said, for me, it's fine.

If someone said I that for no difference in cost, my next car could have either a traditional handbrake or one that works the way my Audi does - I would have electronic.

Using one with a manual gearbox and a steep hill start, for example.

Manual gearbox and steep hill start? Accelerator down, clutch up - handbrake disengages - Simples.

Yes, I understand the process, I've driven countless cars with them fitted. The current Passat where they first fitted one 7 years ago was good, where it wouldn't always engage. That was useful on hills.

There's a particular junction near me, where that process you describe with an electronic handbrake is a lot more frustrating. Mainly where you're having to crawl forward a few feet, uphill, and the electronic handbrake takes a second to engage. I've just stepped out of an Insignia hire car with one fitted today in fact....

You'd want Park Assist Chris? Thought you'd value the finish on your alloys too much

I managed to get an Elegance upto a similar price on the configurator without too much trouble either. Big money, however you look at it.

I was talking about the options generally..Probably not Park assist

Auto hold and electronic handbrake on my R36, not a problem at all, only thing I would change if I could is the DSG gearbox, I still prefer manual. Peanuts to insure though

DSG is simply brilliant...Youre getting 'Old' Alan

Electronic handbrakes are horrible

Still no DSG option for the Octavia III in Ireland. What's going on there? Hope this changes soon..!

We had a sit in one at the Geneva Motor Show last week. Weren't as impressed by interior quality as the current car. Air vents in particular feel very naff in comparison because they operate in a different way. Not entirely sold on the looks of the hatch either, doesn't quite have that Octavia character. Estate looks good though. Will reserve final judgement when we properly experience a UK one at a dealer (and on a test drive!).

Had a drive in a 1.6 elegance yesterday. Really nice drive. After being in a superb for nearly 5 years I wouldn't be dissaointed to drive one. Dut in not ,the father in law is taking it out today for a couple of hours.

Only experience of electric/electronic handbrake has been in an A6 (a while back), a Discovery (where it didn't always disengage irrespective of what you did) and a Merc B180 which didn't disengage when you set off automatically. Maybe you get used to it and the time delay? Granted, if one chooses DSG (as I will if I can) then its not an issue - Park works more than fine in 99% of cases and Hill Hold for the other 1%..

Perhaps 22 years of driving with a proper handbrake lever will take some "converting"...

We had a sit in one at the Geneva Motor Show last week. Weren't as impressed by interior quality as the current car.

Really? One of the biggest improvements to my eyes is the quality of the materials and actual build quality both internal and external. Panel gap is so much better than the Mk2 and the soft touch feel to the dash, solidity of internal panels, felt lined door pockets right back to the felt on the inside of the hatch panel are all nice little touches that give a great cabin ambience and feel of quality imo.

I had an electronic handbrake on a 2004 Scenic and had no problems in 40k miles, worked as it should, although I do remember it causing some confusion in a tyre shop when they asked me to leave the handbrake off (It came on automatically when cutting the ignition)

Popped into the dealer in Galway tues to have a look, very nice car indeed,looks bigger in every way,they had 2 elegance models grey and white,they also had a basic model race blue.

Race blue does not suit the base model at all.

Interior is nice and very new passat looking.its also great they have made proper door cards this time , very vw looking!

My parents will be buying an elegance and trading in there 11 reg elegance,ill wait to see the Vrs as ill be ready to change my 07 Vrs soon.or I'll buy a 2 year old Vrs ether.

One thing ill miss and that the accelerator peddle :( there gone back to a standard one.

Colour was one thing I was a bit disappointed about, looking at the available shades online.

Not really that many that grab me - and Race Blue looks wrong on a non-vRS IMO.

I tend to like pale metallic colours. I showed my wife the brochure and she picked "Cappuccino Beige"! (This is not binding). Anyone know what this is like in the metal? I like the look of the Estate in the brochure - linked by Yeti-man here. I assume that is Steel Grey. Denim Blue any good? It is so hard to tell from the brochure. Need to wander round a dealer forecourt I guess.

Cappuccino *should* be the same as it was on the Mk2. I quite like it, but not sure I'd pick it myself. Colours have to be the most personal thing on a car though! Just not sure there's enough choice to cover everyone's tastes really.

Certainly are! Most of my friends think I am mad having two kids and always going for pale interiors, but I spend most of the time in the car on my own and pale cheers me up more than dark :sun:

DSG is simply brilliant...Youre getting 'Old' Alan

Electronic handbrakes are horrible

I might be getting old, as are everyone, but you are old, and when have you experienced an electronic handbrake, you also said once I had driven a DSG for a while I would love it, still hate it and use paddles to overide when it wants me to change all the time, its ok for stop start, thats it.

Very surprised at that.......I guess we'll never agree

BUT

Youre the only person Ive come across thats said they hate it

I tend to like pale metallic colours. I showed my wife the brochure and she picked "Cappuccino Beige"! (This is not binding). Anyone know what this is like in the metal? I like the look of the Estate in the brochure - linked by Yeti-man here. I assume that is Steel Grey. Denim Blue any good? It is so hard to tell from the brochure. Need to wander round a dealer forecourt I guess.

The estate in the link is metallic silver. Very smart IMO.

Have a look at Baker21's Superb - that's cappucino beige unless I'm mistaken

I've just collected a denim blue, mk3 combo. It was my fourth choice colour, done from a sampler. It's great - I positively like it rather than 'will just put up with it'. I'll post some pics in a day or so when I've worked out where best to fit the Aga and how to programme the 'Infotainment system' for 'slow simmer'.