Remember me ?

Sorry for not being around on the forums, but you have no idea how rushed I am with all sorts of things. Teaching, preparing town centre studio for sale (posters went up on Monday !!), practising for a concert at a local church which took place last week, seeing to Mother's needs (and demands!!), getting ready for a holiday (much needed) in three weeks - so don't start ringing up the local mortuary.....I'll let you know if I'm there )............ plus dealing with so much paperwork to do with recently late Aunt's estate, and preparing for another (theatre organ) concert as soon as we get back from holiday.

AND..........we have a new car on it's way in two weeks, thanks to Ma Diapason.

It has a new fangled 4th pedal which replaces the handbrake. You apply the brake with this extra pedal, and release it with a lever - some idea from USA. If the 4th pedal was in the same place as an organ crescendo pedal, I think I would be happier.

Does anyone have one of these - what's it like?...............PLEASE don't tell me it's a damn nuisance and difficult to handle

As if we could forget you!


Oh, who'd do a thing like that Sounds like you've been busy, and need the break.


Can't help there, I'm afraid, although I'm sure that GC would motoringly suggest appropriate footwear

FOUR pedals? I would have thought a gentleman of your maturity would be looking for a TWO pedal job. Ah well, all power to your left foot ! I hope the car will come equipped with general and divisional pistons, not to mention the obligatory stepper!

You'll get used to it more or less quickly depending on how sensible the design is (and some of them are really, really daft) but I prefer normal handbrakes myself.

At least you've got the release lever. In some of them you have to prod the fourth pedal to release the brake, which makes hill starts more than a little interesting. In some cars the fourth pedal can release quite abruptly, so check this early on and be prepared to keep your left shin out of the line of fire if necessary.

Yes its definitely a Mercedes !
The handbrake pedal is way over the left side, and to engage the handbrake you push you left foot right down on it to the floor.
But to release it the release handle is usually on the right hand side under the dash.
Its a ridiculous system and was enough to stop me from buying a Merc C series last time I was in the market. I test drove one for two days, and gave up in desparation !

Oh, if only it were just Mercedes.

Recent discovery: Honda has at least four quite different types of handbrake system currently in production.

We've got a foot hand brake thingy on our ancient Merc. It's fine, no problems. Works perfectly well. Enjoy your new wheels!

My car has the same system. It seems strange at first, but you soon get used to it.

Sounds like my piano!

Just HOW mature do you think I am?? Has dear Deborah over estimated my years!!!??

However, thanks for the information folks - glad to hear from some of you that it is "get used to-able"

Alas, MrB, car-wise there are no divisionals. The only divisional is likely to be the traffic officer lurking around the corner when I take it out - unaccompanied - for the first time.