YACT: Do you use the handbrake while driving a manual?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Let's say you're at a stoplight on an incline with a car close behind, do you use the handbrake for a small amount of time just while you start moving so you don't roll back?

I have found that is easier than quickly moving my foot over and handling the clutch quickly so the car doesn't go back to far.

 

[biffbacon]

i have never in my entire life used the handbrake while driving except to lock up my tires and be cool like those guys in the movies

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: biffbacon
i have never in my entire life used the handbrake while driving except to lock up my tires and be cool like those guys in the movies

The handbrake comes in handy on icy ND streets.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Let's say you're at a stoplight on an incline with a car close behind, do you use the handbrake for a small amount of time just while you start moving so you don't roll back?

I have found that is easier than quickly moving my foot over and handling the clutch quickly so the car doesn't go back to far.

It's great if the guy behind you has pulled up really close, or is driving a Bentley or other expensive car. Subarus do this automatically - Hill-Holder, I think they call it - but it's a good technique if you're not smooth enough on the clutchwork to do it on your own. Practice some heel-and-toe driving in a parking lot.

- M4H

 

[zoiks]

Comes in handy here in san francisco. Its bumper to bumper traffic sometimes on the steep streets and I find myself using the handbrake to stop myself from rolling back once I get the car into gear to start moving on my manual.

 

[geno]

No, I use my regular brakes for that.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Let's say you're at a stoplight on an incline with a car close behind, do you use the handbrake for a small amount of time just while you start moving so you don't roll back?

I have found that is easier than quickly moving my foot over and handling the clutch quickly so the car doesn't go back to far.

For years and years.

HOWEVER, the MOST use my handbrake gets is WHEN A COP is trying to PACE me (for speeding) and I need to slow quickly w/o stepping on the brakes (the brakelights are a 'giveaway'). SAVED me many a time.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Let's say you're at a stoplight on an incline with a car close behind, do you use the handbrake for a small amount of time just while you start moving so you don't roll back?

I have found that is easier than quickly moving my foot over and handling the clutch quickly so the car doesn't go back to far.

It's great if the guy behind you has pulled up really close, or is driving a Bentley or other expensive car. Subarus do this automatically - Hill-Holder, I think they call it - but it's a good technique if you're not smooth enough on the clutchwork to do it on your own. Practice some heel-and-toe driving in a parking lot.

- M4H

I've only been driving a manual regularly for a month and a half when I got my license so I probably need to practice more and know what RPM I'll be in when I shift to different gears from a different RPM before i can try a lot of that. I tried it a couple times, but I need to practice a ton more

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
I've only been driving a manual regularly for a month and a half when I got my license so I probably need to practice more and know what RPM I'll be in when I shift to different gears from a different RPM before i can try a lot of that. I tried it a couple times, but I need to practice a ton more

Yep. Sounds like you just need some road time. You'll get the hang of it.

- M4H

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: geno
No, I use my regular brakes for that.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Comes in handy here in san francisco. Its bumper to bumper traffic sometimes on the steep streets and I find myself using the handbrake to stop myself from rolling back once I get the car into gear to start moving on my manual.

When I lived in Marin and used to drive my Porsche into the City, an idiot would always pull up to about 2 inches from my rear bumper; the CURE was to ease (very very slowly and gently) back onto his front bumper and let HIS brakes hold both cars on those steep hills.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Nope.

 

[The Stigenator]

yes in that situation i do..

i use the hand break quite a lot.

 

[NutBucket]

Sure. When I'm waiting at a light and don't feel like keeping my foot on the brake.

 

[Ryan]

Never. After a while, you should be able to handle uphill manuvering easily.

 

[jcovercash]

No I have never used the handbrake except when I park my car.

In my mustang if someone gets right up on my ass on a hill, I just rev it up to 6k rpm and drop the clutch and floor it But I can also take off without moving back any without reving the car up to a high rpm. It is very simple once you get used to driving a manual it just comes natural after a while.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: geno
No, I use my regular brakes for that.

I use the parking brake just for parking.

 

[Lola]

No, but there are really not that many hilly places in MI where we live.

 

[GasX]

Hand brakes are best utilized on rentals... :evil:

 

[StageLeft]

No, only newbies do that.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Hand brakes are best utilized on rentals... :evil:

Don't forget neutral drops, and practicing one's threshold braking :Q

 

[erikistired]

i put a big steel bumper on the back of my car and when idiots pull up real close i just roll back a bit and smash their cars up. i believe the police call it "following too closely" and i'm guessing after running into me (ha!) they don't do it again.

and no, using the emergency brake is a n00b driving technique.

 

[Turkish]

Just practice a bit more, you'll get used to it. I use the handbrake only for parking.

 

[Jzero]

Never used the handbrake.
Of course, I learned to drive on a Sundance and it had a foot-operated parking brake so it wasn't even an option

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Let's say you're at a stoplight on an incline with a car close behind, do you use the handbrake for a small amount of time just while you start moving so you don't roll back?

I have found that is easier than quickly moving my foot over and handling the clutch quickly so the car doesn't go back to far.

Absolutely, yes. It saves wear-and-tear on the clutch and makes it really easy to move off without rolling back. If you're taught in the UK, that's how you're told to do it.