Hello,

A question for those with experience of Fabia DSG autos-

I pull up at traffic lights, apply handbrake, take my foot off the brake pedal, and after a second or two the car tries to move forwards.

Even with the handbrake on tight, it will start to move, unless the handle is up really tight, and even then it's still wearing out the clutch ☹️ (Note: it has recently had new rear shoes and handbrake cables, and it was doing this feature before).

Whereas, if I keep my foot gently on the brake pedal, it doesn't try to move.

Odd, because the car knows the handbrake is on (the light comes on the dash) but it doesn't stop trying unless it knows the footbrake is on.

I know I could either (1) sit there with my foot on the brake, or (2) select neutral, but I shouldn't have to do either of those. It's the first car I've had which does this - even a Golf diesel DSG lease car I was driving for a while didn't do this.

Seems to me the car should recognise the handbrake and not try to move until it's released, just as it does with the footbrake?

Does anyone's Fabia do the same, or different for that matter?

Same. 2011 Fabia DSG.

And same with the handbrake not being very powerful.

When the handbrake is newly adjusted and on very tight it'll disengage the clutch after it has had a good attempt at driving off!.

On 29/03/2026 at 23:12, FreddyHeadey said:

Same. 2011 Fabia DSG.

And same with the handbrake not being very powerful.

When the handbrake is newly adjusted and on very tight it'll disengage the clutch after it has had a good attempt at driving off!.

Yes, you're right. But only after it's spent a good 3 seconds wearing out the odd-shaft clutch.

And, if it's managed to move the car even 1 inch, it carries on trying and doesn't back off!

This surely isn't right. The DSG has been around for 20 years, and been tweaked over the years, yet this bug was still there in 2014 .... I wonder does the mark 3 (with the 1.0 3-cylinder) do the same?

Simple. Put your foot on the brake pedal with this generation of DQ200 does the same as any generation of dry or wet clutch DSG. It disengages drive. Leave in D with hand brake in D or more in S with the higher RPM it wants to go. Put in N while stopped since there is no stop / start. Hand Brake so no Brake lights annoying people at longer stops. If you have no Hill Hold Assist then your DQ200 is as simple as it gets. PS. DSG / Semi-Automated as Skoda / VW call them.

Edited 5 April5 Apr by Evolution13