Prius Parking Footbrake

[blue verso 56]

I know this may seem a stupid question but the foot parking brake on the prius seems to be an awkward affair similar to the Mercedes parking brake !! do Prius owners use this or can you just put it in park mode on the automatic gear stick as with most automatics

thanks

[ian rooke]

I know this may seem a stupid question but the foot parking brake on the prius seems to be an awkward affair similar to the Mercedes parking brake !! do Prius owners use this or can you just put it in park mode on the automatic gear stick as with most automatics

thanks

I prefer the foot parking brake you should still use it when parking it becomes second nature very quickly I don't use it when stopped at lights etc just use foot brake, it frees up a lot of room in car

[pa_sound_man]

I know this may seem a stupid question but the foot parking brake on the prius seems to be an awkward affair similar to the Mercedes parking brake !! do Prius owners use this or can you just put it in park mode on the automatic gear stick as with most automatics

thanks

I prefer the foot parking brake you should still use it when parking it becomes second nature very quickly I don't use it when stopped at lights etc just use foot brake, it frees up a lot of room in car

Also on the new Prius it has something I think they call "hill start assist"; if you come to a stop and hold the footbrake on hard a symbol flashes up that indicates that the car will keep the brake on until you press on the accelerator pedal thus allowing you to move your foot from brake to accelerator pedal without rolling back. Neat little feature.

[timberwolf]

Yes. I apply the parking brake each time I park. I like to use it for two reasons.

One is habit, if you learn to use it, then as Ian Rooke said it becomes second nature to apply it and more importantly to disengage it before setting off. If you only apply it occasionally, there is a stronger likihood that you'll forget that it is on and drive away with the parking brake still applied.

Two it is a belt and braces approach, it is a parking brake, so it's meant to be applied when you park.

Three, I feel that it takes some pressure off the parking pawl, which is a separate mechanism that locks with a gear in the Hybrid System Drive, and engages when the Park button is pressed. The parking pawl is the reason that a powered off Prius can not pushed or towed with the front wheels on the ground.

[Fujisan]

it frees up a lot of room in car

Certainly does!

Also on the new Prius it has something I think they call "hill start assist";

And it works very well!

Two it is a belt and braces approach, it is a parking brake, so it's meant to be applied when you park.

If you've ever drive in the States, on holiday or whatever, you'll know that within days it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it anymore.

[blue verso 56]

Many thanks for your replies !!!

I have been thinking about it over the weekend and the reduction in the length of warranty from 8 years /100,000 miles to 5 years/60,000 on the Prius is a strange one

Will it affect resale values ?? if they expect claims to be minimal why remove it ?? its probably me just being over cautious I know some of the problems with DMF failures and auto boxes can be expensive but will the general car buying public be more concerned with a new technology

[Fujisan]

See this thread, for all the discussion about the warranty.

[blue verso 56]

See this thread, for all the discussion about the warranty.

Thanks Fujisan I did see the post and that is what brought it to my attention