will my 2004 megane have an electric handbrake?

[edward2]

will my 2004 megane have an electric handbrake ?

[joeishmather]

No...

[joeishmather]

No...Why do you ask?

[davelowe]

Both are good questions!

I've heard nothing but bad reviews about these latest gadgets. Some French cars have them, but never heard of one on a Megane. That said, the throttle style hand brake is not without its own faults. A triumph of style over design perhaps?

[morganjake1544]

The Scenic (often referred to as the Megane Scenic - it was previously badged as that) has an electronic parking brake. I presume that is where the confusion may have arisen.

[ikhan]

My brother's Passat has an electronic handbrake. If you're a new driver and need to use the handbrake for hill starts etc., then electronic parking brakes won't inspire you with much confidence as you need to have your foot on the footbrake to release the elctronic brake (so you'll be juggling between your biting point / slipping the clutch, and pressing the footbrake whilst trying to release the electronic brake.

On the plus side though, if you attempt to drive off with the parking brake on, it will auto-release on both the Scenic and the Passat.

[davelowe]

The Scenic (often referred to as the Megane Scenic - it was previously badged as that) has an electronic parking brake. I presume that is where the confusion may have arisen.

Ah! Did not know that!

[morganjake1544]

On the plus side though, if you attempt to drive off with the parking brake on, it will auto-release on both the Scenic and the Passat.

That's exactly what it's designed to do - release automatically when you reach the biting point of the clutch. So hill starts in a Scenic are actually a doddle. Just drive off! You've got two free hands as opposed to one holding the handbrake lever. It does feel a bit weird for the first hour or so but I find them better than a standard handbrake.

The other advantage of the electronic parking brake is that it is either 100% on, or 100% off. So no creep on hills. Also, when you stop the engine with the start/stop button the parking brake is automatically applied - you can't forget it.

[ikhan]

Also, when you stop the engine with the start/stop button the parking brake is automatically applied - you can't forget it.

I remember that on a friend's Scenic, but I'm not quite so sure the same is true on the Passat though. Mind you, the Passat one can be programmed (after a certain circuit is added) to "auto-hold" when you're stopped...

[morganjake1544]

I wonder if these new fangled cars with the fuel saving engine cut out when you're stopped devices have any contingency re braking.

If you stop at an uphill set of traffic lights and your engine stops you must lose servo pressure on the brake pedal and have to 'catch it' or 'anticipate it' with the handbrake. !?