A serious question, that I have asked before.

So, can it?

ME Not being a driver who either;

(i) Routinely sits with their foot on the brake pedal at traffic lights/road ends.

(ii)Regardless of "drive" or "neutral" being selected.

And it is entirely contrary/un-natural to have to move ones resting right foot via the brake pedal to the throttle upon moving off.

Marcus

AS Mike says, Its a safety feature ...

So......... No to your question

Afraid not - I have driven other 'conventional' auto's that didn't require you to have your foot on the brake pedal to select gear and it was much better.

The only thing you can do with VCDS is witch the little foot symbol light off permanently.

Not much use really.

I asked, because I saw a reference to the MB version of the VW DSG, NOT requiring the brake pedal to be depressed to select drive.

So only a safety feature in the eyes of VW.

Anyway is pointless since if one is in the drivers seat, with the engine running, and drive was  inadverently selected, one should instinctively stab the brake, if/when the car started to move.

m

Edited 18 June, 201412 yr by dieseldogg

Anyway is pointless since if one is in the drivers seat, with the engine running, and drive was  inadverently selected, one should instinctively stab the brake, if/when the car started to move.

m

 

But what if here was nobody in the drivers seat, and passenger, child or even dog caught and moved the selector.

 

The lock cannot be disabled, its there for safety and for the reasons mentioned above. Both my current and previous Audi have the lockout, so its been in VAG group cars for at least 20 years.

 

I had some driving lessons in an Auto years ago, and advice then was to just keep the car in D and hold it on the footbrake when stationary. N or P were to be used if it looked like you were going to be stationary for a long period.

It really isn't so much of a nuisance.

 

You know you can put your foot on the brake and move the selector into D without having to press the button. So setting off just foot on the brake and flick the lever down to D and you're off.

 

Besides if you didn't need to press the brake and put it in D the car would most likely jerk forward as the brake pedal has a sensor in so it know how much your pressing the pedal to then know how much to close the clutch. With your foot completely off the brake the clutch is fully engaged.

 

As you set off by releasing the foot brake it progressively closes the clutch to smooth it out.

 

Still much less hassle than driving a manual... who can be bothered with all that clutch and gear stick business!?

 

Phil

I agree.  This is the first time I have had an auto but when commuting 45-50 miles a day its so much more relaxing and saves all that clutch action, especially in traffic.  

 

The only thing that annoys me slightly is that when stopped on a hill it does seem to roll backwards a tad before moving off, whereas I drove my dad's auto Focus 09 plate and that remained rock solid in the time it takes to move your foot from brake to accelerator.  Maybe its just my clutch though lol

I agree.  This is the first time I have had an auto but when commuting 45-50 miles a day its so much more relaxing and saves all that clutch action, especially in traffic.  

 

The only thing that annoys me slightly is that when stopped on a hill it does seem to roll backwards a tad before moving off, whereas I drove my dad's auto Focus 09 plate and that remained rock solid in the time it takes to move your foot from brake to accelerator.  Maybe its just my clutch though lol

 

That's normal for the DSG.

 

The newer ones come with hill hold.

 

You still need to use your handbrake on steep hills like you would with a manual.

 

I put the handbrake on then when ready to set off I take my foot off the brake and you will feel the car pull on the handbrake then as you're going for the throttle release the handbrake and off you go.

 

The difference with the focus will be that's a torque converter auto whereas the DSG has clutches and needs a seconds to engage the clutch.

 

Phil

Cheers for the info Phil!

Sorry,

BUT

(i) I could still, guarenteed, move away from a standstill faster with a conventional pedal operated clutch.

(ii) Why? would anyone (responsible, like the mentality that should be driving) leave a car running with the drivers seat unoccupied??

ESP

In an automatic.

ESP

If infants or dogs were withing the car.

Typical having to protect the Cognatively challenged against the result of their  own ill-considered actions.

BUT

Other mechanisms exist, like say a seat weight switch to unlock the safety mechanism, when an adult present.

Or perhaps even better(& in lieu of a clutch) put a button for the left foot to operate to allow drive to be selected.

PS

I like the DSG once moving, and can only conclude that most DSG drivers sit with their foot on the brake thereby dazzling drivers(with poor night vision like myself)sitting  behind.

Any any MB in their wisdom can make it work, the way I imagine it should work.

Cheers,

Marcus

Whilst you may not leave the car with the engine running and others inside, many people do including me. The setting is a safety feature for those of us who do, so as to avoid legal situations arising should accidents occur. VAG group have had the footbrake lock for more than 20 years.

I think dieseldogg's issue is with the N-D interlock, not the 'Park' interlock that most comments above seem to refer to.

 

Most automatics I have driven have a 'Park' interlock and that is a useful safety feature. My DSG is the first one I have driven with a 'Neutral' to 'Drive' interlock. I too find this annoying, as I always like to select N when stopped for more than a few seconds. I know some say this is unnecessary but I prefer to keep the temperature of the clutches down and I dislike holding the foot brake when stationary, especially after a high speed stop as this is a good way to warp your discs.

 

I'd disable the N-D interlock myself if it were possible as I think it's pointless and most auto's don't have it.               

Sorry,

BUT

(i) I could still, guarenteed, move away from a standstill faster with a conventional pedal operated clutch.

(ii) Why? would anyone (responsible, like the mentality that should be driving) leave a car running with the drivers seat unoccupied??

ESP

In an automatic.

ESP

If infants or dogs were withing the car.

Typical having to protect the Cognatively challenged against the result of their  own ill-considered actions.

BUT

Other mechanisms exist, like say a seat weight switch to unlock the safety mechanism, when an adult present.

Or perhaps even better(& in lieu of a clutch) put a button for the left foot to operate to allow drive to be selected.

PS

I like the DSG once moving, and can only conclude that most DSG drivers sit with their foot on the brake thereby dazzling drivers(with poor night vision like myself)sitting  behind.

Any any MB in their wisdom can make it work, the way I imagine it should work.

Cheers,

Marcus

 

No... I put it in N and put the handbrake on.

 

It's still no effort to just stick your foot on the brake nudge it into D and release the handbrake.

 

Still easier/quicker than a manual I say.

 

It can't be changed and that's that.

 

Either live with it or sell the car and buy a manual... because ALL automatic gearboxes do this!

 

Phil

I'm sure that in some manual cars you even have to put your foot on the brake in order to start the engine!These are just safety features!

 

There are enough tales of old people driving into hedges/walls/cars because they have got confused without making it even easier!

No... I put it in N and put the handbrake on.

 

It's still no effort to just stick your foot on the brake nudge it into D and release the handbrake.

 

Still easier/quicker than a manual I say.

 

It can't be changed and that's that.

 

Either live with it or sell the car and buy a manual... because ALL automatic gearboxes do this!

 

Phil

(i) Yes, should have been clear from my initial post, referring to the neutral to drive brake interlock.

(ii) sigh, re the last line in the post above WRONG!, not all automatics have this feature.

Not our 1998 "G" Wagen.

Not the latest "B" class merc either.

PS

I believe the "Honest John" article referred to this interlock feature as unnecessary and irritating.

There are various issues I disagree with HJ about, but not this one (and yes I am aware he appears to favour Ford over VW)

Cheers

m

Edited 18 June, 201412 yr by dieseldogg

Mike, quite seriously I cannot accept/believe this assertion.

(i) Where will the engine revs come from to even cause the car to creep. EVEN after being inadvertently nudged into gear.

(ii) The braking instinct is very very deeply ingrained in all drivers. And will therefore instantly negate any possible movement, bar a fraction of a wheel rotation/a few inchs.

(iii) Perhaps I tend never to sit that close to the car in front either? At 54 having gotten to be  a boring defensive driving old codger.

All points made, quiet seriously, and attempting not to be controversial or irritating or offensive.

Marcus

Edited 18 June, 201412 yr by dieseldogg

Mike,

I may be autistic(or somewhere on the spectrum), but not diagnosed.

I may suffer from mild Tourettes (bytimes only)and again not diagnosed.

I am definately dyslexic, short-sighted(hence poor/poorer night vision)and flatfooted.

However all those reasons you offer, for the necassity of the interlock, merely indicate a desire to proctect a driver who is not competent to drive, from the results of their own ill considered actions.

These particular actions only happening at zero or very low speeds, where little harm will, or is likely to result.

But would, at least flag up driver inadequacies, in as harmless a way as possible.

So you then by default would rather these drivers continue to drive incompetently, until they cause a high head-count Motorway casualty/death toll.

I work in a LA, currently doing/updating Risk Assessments, which are invariably written around "stupid", which creates a culture of non-thinking obiedience,one Must follow the proscribed work procedures, which actually makes People and Situations more hazardous BECAUSE the workforce ceases to THINK

Literally "I am a Robot".& repeat ad-nauseam.

Our particular part of the workforce is hardly ever doing the same job, in the same place in the same weateher conditions, with the same staff, 2 days in a row.

Hence the RA's are so all encompassing as to be un-readable, in a file about 3" thick.

When all is needed is "THINK".

The exact same applies to driving.

As someone famous said, a titinium spike in place of an air-bag would cause everyone to drive more carefully, exactly and simply, because it would make them aware and force them to think.

How can the driver of a recent MB retain any concentration on the Motorway with lane departure, active cruise control etc etc.

Get in the car, point her up the road and snooze off, no need to THINK.

regards,

Marcus

Edited 19 June, 201412 yr by dieseldogg

The DSG does creep forward. With your foot off the brake and in D the car creeps on tickover even on hills. This is the case with both the 6 and 7 speed DSG.

 

I just don't see the issue.

 

It just feels natural to put your foot on the brake, into D then you can start to creep by letting go of the brake and then onto the throttle.

 

Phil

oops

Mike,

I tried to reply earlier, but, yes I understood and appreciate your perspective.

Cheers,

Marcus