The Handbrake

**Miro** · #1: 03-10-2011, 03:53 PM

I never realized until reading C&D's article that the new Legacy does not have a proper handbrake. How come people aren't waving their pitchforks and lighting their torches? Not having a handbrake in a manual-equipped car is ludicrous!

My current ride is a manual, and I use the handbrake every single day. It keeps the car from rolling away, keeps the cops at bay (used for that silent slow-down), and it keeps my car from rolling backwards when I'm starting to move on a super-steep hill.

Is nobody else concerned? Do the 5th Gen LGTs have some kind of hill-assist that negates the need for a proper handbrake?

This is almost a deal-breaker for me. Almost.

**seiyafan** · #2: 03-10-2011, 03:55 PM

well, it's something we already bitched about it a long time ago. LOL

**helicooper** · #3: 03-10-2011, 03:56 PM

It has an electronic handbrake that will do everything you listed above. The only problem is breaking the back end loose in the snow easily.

**stupidaznmunkey** · #4: 03-10-2011, 03:57 PM

there is a hill assist as well as the electronic hand brake

**GravityGear** · #5: 03-10-2011, 04:08 PM

so i'm assuming that you hate the new bmws and mercedes for having the electronic PARKING brake as well right? cuz those companys NEVER do anything right...

**Peaty** · #6: 03-10-2011, 04:27 PM

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthrea....html?t=124889

**f1anatic** · #7: 03-10-2011, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miro

I never realized until reading C&D's article that the new Legacy does not have a proper handbrake. How come people aren't waving their pitchforks and lighting their torches? Not having a handbrake in a manual-equipped car is ludicrous!

My current ride is a manual, and I use the handbrake every single day. It keeps the car from rolling away, keeps the cops at bay (used for that silent slow-down), and it keeps my car from rolling backwards when I'm starting to move on a super-steep hill.

Is nobody else concerned? Do the 5th Gen LGTs have some kind of hill-assist that negates the need for a proper handbrake?

This is almost a deal-breaker for me. Almost.

That would be even funnier if we learned that your 98 Accord has rear drum brakes.

The 2010+ Legacy does have a hand brake. What it does not have is an emergency brake because it is (1) counter-intuitive to reach lower by your left knee to pull a tab (3) when the gear lever to engage neutral is in between the seats, regardless of the transmission, if you have to perform an emergency stop to switcch into neutral/lower gear AND engage the hand brake, you must either release the steering wheel OR switch hands which takes time ; (3) cannot be accessed by a passenger, such as when daddy teaches 16 year old to drive or your fiance is not that sharp to gauge distances

But that's THEIR fight. As far as I am concerned, it would be a deal breaker for me. Not discussing the merits of a cable driven system vs the new one. It just isn't an emergency brake anymore.

**MikeNH** · #8: 03-10-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miro

I never realized until reading C&D's article that the new Legacy does not have a proper handbrake. How come people aren't waving their pitchforks and lighting their torches? Not having a handbrake in a manual-equipped car is ludicrous!

My current ride is a manual, and I use the handbrake every single day. It keeps the car from rolling away, keeps the cops at bay (used for that silent slow-down), and it keeps my car from rolling backwards when I'm starting to move on a super-steep hill.

Is nobody else concerned? Do the 5th Gen LGTs have some kind of hill-assist that negates the need for a proper handbrake?

This is almost a deal-breaker for me. Almost.

The car has it, it's just electronically controlled. I've driven several cars with electronic e-brakes and they work fine. The writer of that article, and anyone else who manages to be befuddled by this system after more than one drive needs their license taken away, it's not complicated at all.

**hobber** · #9: 03-10-2011, 05:15 PM

The new electronic brake is good.

It autoreleases when all the criteria are met, has hill hold etc.

In 23 years of driving I have NEVER had to pull on a 'handbrake' or known anyone to have to pull on a handbrake in an emergency.

And I would suggest the ABS, VDC and EBD are much better for emergency braking and avoidance than yanking a handbrake. If you are seriously saying your solution to an emergency is to yank the handbrake, especially in the middle of a gear change, I'm glad you are driving in another country.

**ChasWG** · #**10:** 03-10-2011, 05:53 PM

I'm with hobber, there is no need to pull a brake lever while trying to down shift in an emergency situation. The ABS is a much better way of stopping than yanking a lever to pull a cable and hope it helps stop the car. More than likely, pulling the e-brake lever like that would cause the car to become even more unstable in an emergency situation.

How would you do that same thing if there was a brake lever between the seats? Reach across your body with the other hand, taking your left hand off the wheel? The same argument applies to having a brake lever between the seats as does to having an E-e-brake.

You guys are just wanting that old style lever so that when it's wet or snowy that you can have fun with it.

**StringFellow** · #**11:** 03-10-2011, 06:38 PM

I have tried (as an experiment) an emergency brake (handle version with cable) at a decent rate of speed and I would say that it makes the car VERY unstable. It is very hard to use a cable based emergency brake and keep the car stable.

The electronic one on the newer subbies does the job it needs to do, ie. holds the car still on a hill when parked (without putting strain on the tranny - manually the automatic) and allows you to slow the car in an emergency.

Not buying a car because it doesn't have a manual emergency brake (handle version) doesn't make a lot of sense

. You will miss out on some awesome cars (including the Subaru's).

-S

**penndotpal** · #**12:** 03-10-2011, 06:43 PM

I LOVE THE Electronic Handbrake!

Hill Assist, awesome, and automatic disengage...awesome!

now I just need to find a homelink auto dimming mirror..the last 'manual' item on my car...minus the transmission. Perfect!

**Kad** · #**13:** 03-10-2011, 06:45 PM

On my old STi, I actually did use the emergency brake for emergencies. For some reason the brakes always froze up really bad in the winter, and I'd be cruising along and tap the brake pedal and nothing happened. Would have to use the handbrake to keep from crashing through intersections til the regular brakes un..melted or whatever. Luckily the legacy doesn't have that problem, and while I wish it had a handbrake for fun, it's not a deal breaker for me either.

**Drift Motion** · #**14:** 03-10-2011, 06:46 PM

you guys are missing the point of OP

if you are going slightly faster than you should and a cop is behind you, and you slam on the brakes

those red lights are a big sign to tell the cops "i am speeding!!!" where as pulling the handbrake slightly will slow down the car without lighting up the rear brake lights

**Sydtron** · #**15:** 03-10-2011, 06:51 PM

I'm pretty sure if a cop is behind you he can figure out if you're speeding regardless of whether you hit the brakes or not.