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Post by ChrisM on Feb 22, 2019 20:33:00 GMT
Not much to write about here. Took younger daughter's car in for its annual service and MoT and was loaned an A3 petrol 30 or 35, not sure which now that the badging/naming system is all mixed up. Last month she had a puncture and had to get a new front tyre as a result, they found a nail in one of the rear tyres but wouldn't repair it, as they don't do that. It passed the MoT like this, I called into a tyre place on my way home to be shown the tyre and told that it was made in 2013, it's perishing and cracking so they will not attempt a repair even though it's less than half worn. Nobody around has any in stock so younger daughter will have to get 2 new rear tyres sorted out once she returns home at the week-0end.
Anyway, the A3...
68-plate petrol engine, manual 6-speed 5-door in black with a dull (mainly black) interior and an electric handbrake with an operating lever so far back that it was almost hidden by the front central armrest. I only did 6 or 7 miles in it, and it appeared to have done only about 720 miles since new. Yes it felt well put together and quite solid, accelerated reasonably quickly and had excellent brakes but it was short on character and had a very small, shallow boot. It was somewhat unappealing to me, so goodness knows how it sells in reasonable numbers. I prefer my Fiesta both to this A3 and daughter's A1 !
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2019 23:53:01 GMT
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Post by Roadsterstu on Feb 23, 2019 9:48:08 GMT
I can't get along with the idea of fitting just one new tyre, unless the rest are fairly new and it is the same tyre. I'd fit a pair anyway, especially if the rubber is perishing.
As for A3, I presume it has a hill hold function, negating the need for a handbrake 99% of the time.
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 23, 2019 11:58:16 GMT
It was the same make/model of tyre (a Conti of some sort), about a year old and with little wear.
I've told her to get both rear tyres changes this time round.
The A3 was a bit like a larger A1. Like the Kuga, the handbrake self-released if you pulled away using a bit of accelerator movement, but did not release if you just gently released the clutch pedal. It didn't apply automatically when the car came to rest either. At least the switch for tha handbrake falls readily to hand in the Kuga, the Audi's... I had to look down to find it every time as it was so far back and almost hidden
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Post by Martin on Feb 23, 2019 12:12:06 GMT
Auto hold is essential on an electric handbrake, would be but of a pain without it. With it, I can’t think of a single benefit of having a manual handbrake. Well, not one you’d ever really use.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 12:15:54 GMT
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Post by Martin on Feb 23, 2019 12:52:35 GMT
Does the handbrake come on automatically when you turn the engine off? It also holds the car in traffic, at the lights etc so you don’t have to sit with your foot on the brake.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 13:16:43 GMT
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Audi A3
Feb 23, 2019 13:23:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by Roadrunner on Feb 23, 2019 13:23:47 GMT
The A4 has two switches from what I could see during my test sit yesterday. One a 'conventional' electronic handbrake and another to switch on the hill hold function. I could be wrong though...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 13:44:03 GMT
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Post by Roadsterstu on Feb 23, 2019 13:47:47 GMT
It's a bit odd that Skoda retained a manual handbrake rather than go electric lkke the Golf. I don't mind either way, really and as it has hill hold I don't find it an issue. The OBDeleven app can be used to adjust the hill hold times. I think mine is 3 sec, which is fine.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 13:52:00 GMT
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Post by Alex on Feb 23, 2019 13:54:32 GMT
The Golf has auto hold as standard and it does mean you just leave the whole hand brake set up alone and it does everything for you. I never touch either button, it’s much better than th3 Insignia which only had a manual operation and didn’t even engage when the ignition was turned off. I would have thought all the Audi systems would be the same.
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Post by Martin on Feb 23, 2019 14:57:27 GMT
The Golf has auto hold as standard and it does mean you just leave the whole hand brake set up alone and it does everything for you. I never touch either button, it’s much better than th3 Insignia which only had a manual operation and didn’t even engage when the ignition was turned off. I would have thought all the Audi systems would be the same. Yes, same with Audi and BMW, they remember that you have auto hold on. You can then switch it off if you want to, which can be useful negotiating at very low speeds. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Feb 23, 2019 17:29:05 GMT
It's a bit odd that Skoda retained a manual handbrake rather than go electric lkke the Golf. I don't mind either way, really and as it has hill hold I don't find it an issue. The OBDeleven app can be used to adjust the hill hold times. I think mine is 3 sec, which is fine. I wouldn't swear to it, but I think I can adjust the hill hold duration in one of the sub-sub menus. |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Feb 26, 2019 15:21:58 GMT
It's a bit odd that Skoda retained a manual handbrake rather than go electric lkke the Golf. I don't mind either way, really and as it has hill hold I don't find it an issue. The OBDeleven app can be used to adjust the hill hold times. I think mine is 3 sec, which is fine. I wouldn't swear to it, but I think I can adjust the hill hold duration in one of the sub-sub menus. I've not seen it, and have no need to change it, but let me know if you find it. I can do it through OBDeleven if I really want to and it's definitely not in the menus. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2019 18:25:52 GMT
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Post by Boxer6 on Feb 26, 2019 21:58:23 GMT
I wouldn't swear to it, but I think I can adjust the hill hold duration in one of the sub-sub menus. I've not seen it, and have no need to change it, but let me know if you find it. I can do it through OBDeleven if I really want to and it's definitely not in the menus. Some stuff can be added to the menu by ticking the right box. Maybe Ian's car has had that done at some point? If I remember, I'll try and find it tomorrow. |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Feb 27, 2019 8:25:08 GMT
There was some talk on the Skoda forums where someone was complaining that the 3 sec hill hold duration was useless and nowhere near long enough. I suspect they see it as a handbrake alternative when it is actually a "bridgeing point" between releasing the brake and finding the biting point/enough throttle to get moving. Personally I can't see why anyone needs more than 3 seconds.
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Post by Martin on Feb 27, 2019 9:03:01 GMT
Yep, 3 seconds is plenty for hill hold
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 27, 2019 9:38:54 GMT
3 seconds seems a bit long to me - I think the Qashqai is 2 and that's plenty.
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Post by Boxer6 on Feb 27, 2019 19:02:42 GMT
I've not seen it, and have no need to change it, but let me know if you find it. I can do it through OBDeleven if I really want to and it's definitely not in the menus. Some stuff can be added to the menu by ticking the right box. Maybe Ian's car has had that done at some point? If I remember, I'll try and find it tomorrow. There was some talk on the Skoda forums where someone was complaining that the 3 sec hill hold duration was useless and nowhere near long enough. I suspect they see it as a handbrake alternative when it is actually a "bridgeing point" between releasing the brake and finding the biting point/enough throttle to get moving. Personally I can't see why anyone needs more than 3 seconds. Well I had a pretty good look for this today and can't find it. I suspect my old age has me confusing it with the follow-me-home light duration, which you can change, in addition to what doors open etc. I agree that 3 seconds for hill-hold is quite sufficient. |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Mar 8, 2019 9:57:18 GMT
3 seconds seems a bit long to me - I think the Qashqai is 2 and that's plenty. Well it's as long as you need up to 3 seconds and, if used correctly, it really only needs to be the time it takes to move foot from brake to accelerator and find the biting point/start moving. I can only assume some people think it is some kind of auto parking brake. |
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Audi A3
Mar 8, 2019 17:58:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by bryan on Mar 8, 2019 17:58:03 GMT
In the Merc if you press the brake pedal firmly it activates a hold/anti creep function until you press the accelerator. Very useful feature at junctions etc
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Post by PG on Apr 3, 2019 8:47:57 GMT
In the Merc if you press the brake pedal firmly it activates a hold/anti creep function until you press the accelerator. Very useful feature at junctions etc I thought that was an excellent feature on the Merc loaner I had a few years ago. I wish more cars had it. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 3, 2019 9:10:29 GMT
In the Merc if you press the brake pedal firmly it activates a hold/anti creep function until you press the accelerator. Very useful feature at junctions etc I thought that was an excellent feature on the Merc loaner I had a few years ago. I wish more cars had it. My A4 does that. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 3, 2019 9:52:57 GMT
I thought that was an excellent feature on the Merc loaner I had a few years ago. I wish more cars had it. My A4 does that. It is a good feature but I always like to either have my handbrake on, or foot firmly on the brake pedal, at junctions incase some dozy twat rear ends me and shunts me out into traffic. |
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Audi A3
Apr 3, 2019 15:50:11 GMT
via mobile
Post by bryan on Apr 3, 2019 15:50:11 GMT
I didn't notice the feature on the A4 loaner I had but not sure I tried.....I only found out about the Merc by accident!
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Audi A3
Apr 3, 2019 16:42:29 GMT
via mobile
Post by Roadrunner on Apr 3, 2019 16:42:29 GMT
I didn't notice the feature on the A4 loaner I had but not sure I tried.....I only found out about the Merc by accident! There is an auto hold button next to electric handbrake switch. The hold function automatically works when it is switched on, which is all the time in my car. |
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Audi A3
Apr 3, 2019 19:02:58 GMT
via mobile
Post by bryan on Apr 3, 2019 19:02:58 GMT
Oh that's what the A button did!! Pressed it and nothing happened but was stationary!
How are you getting on with park being on the gear selector? I found it weird
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