How do you use a manual transmission uphill without a brake handle?

[y_p_w]

Thinking of getting a new car, and the Honda Civic Si Sedan looks pretty nice. But the manual transmission cars I've driven have always had a parking brake handle that could be used to prevent backsliding. I've been tailgated going uphill before, so I would sometimes use the brake to keep in place while I brought up the revs before moving.

It looks like many of the newer cars have electronic parking brake controls. I rented a car with one (also a knob selector) once. Can you kind of use that control the way I used to use the brake handle? I know it's not going to allow modulating the brake to just sort of hold it and gently release while the clutch slips a bit and engages, but can it be used at all to prevent sliding?

I remember hearing that this might be a problem with a vehicle (Hummer H3) with a manual transmission and a floor-mounted parking brake pedal. Obviously it's not possible to use the brake pedal at the same time as the clutch pedal.

 

[SZR48207]

I thought even modern manual transmission cars still have a traditional parking brake? For the exact reason you mentioned.

 

[dishdude]

Most have a hill hold now. GTI in my signature does.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted by Reddy45
I thought even modern manual transmission cars still have a traditional parking brake? For the exact reason you mentioned.
A friend of mine has a 2018 Si and he specifically mentioned the lack of a handbrake as a negative. He didn't mention anything about a hill hold but I never asked.

I assume they would not make such oversights when designing the car.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted by maxdustington
Originally Posted by Reddy45
I thought even modern manual transmission cars still have a traditional parking brake? For the exact reason you mentioned.
A friend of mine has a 2018 Si and he specifically mentioned the lack of a handbrake as a negative. He didn't mention anything about a hill hold but I never asked.

I assume they would not make such oversights when designing the car.

OK. Found something called Hill Start Assist. I tried finding instructions, but all I could find was something about it disengaging as soon as one hits the gas pedal. Also said the car should be in D or N, so I'm still not sure how it applies to the manual transmission versions.

https://hondanews.com/honda-automob...s/honda-civic-si-comfort-and-convenience

My issue is that I drive on a lot of steep hills and for some reason the guy behind me thinks that stopping a foot behind me is safe. Backsliding two feet isn't a problem if I'm not being followed, but I can't usually pick and choose who is behind me.

 

[555]

Here's a thought. Have you heard about heel-and-toeing when you downshift? A variation on that. Come to stoplight, put on e-brake adjust right foot so ball of right foot on corner of brake pedal and right side of right foot can touch gas pedal if you flex your ankle. Now release e-brake while holding car with brake pedal, when light turns green give it some gas and start releasing clutch(should have mentioned that you are holding clutch down the entire time, sorry) as you release clutch star feedings in more gas as necessary and slide foot across to gas pedal when brake is not needed anymore. I apologize for haphazard manner in which I wrote this, have to go to a meeting but will revisit. Used to take Gough over to Haight to drink beers at the Toranado and that one Stop sign at the top always made my clutch stink(2.0 liter WRX) .
SAVE THE MANUALS!!!!

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Originally Posted by Reddy45
I thought even modern manual transmission cars still have a traditional parking brake? For the exact reason you mentioned.

The 2019 Jetta no longer has a traditional parking brake, first year of it being electric. However, they do come with Hill Assist. Which the car automatically holds the brake (when you are on a hill), for a couple seconds once you let off. Volkswagen has had this since at least 2012.

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Also OP, do you still live in the bay area? I would think a manual transmission would be the last car I would even think of in that area.

 

[skyactiv]

My wifes Audi is a stick and has no parking brake handle. It has an electric parking brake.
My VW is also a stick but has a parking brake handle. I prefer a parking brake handle.

Both cars have hill assist but it never has worked very good in my GTI, so I disabled it on the VW using VCDS.

My wife and I have no issues with hills in either car and do not use the handbrake in the GTI to aid in driving.
You just gotta be quicker with your feet and give it more gas. It's kinda of an art, but every stick driver should be able to learn it.

The Civic Si is a nice car btw! Not everyone knows it, but the Si is not available with an automatic.

 

[Lubener]

As you get better, you shouldn't need the brake for that. On any hill, I never had to use the park brake or ride the clutch on a hill.

 

[MrHorspwer]

You are making this way too difficult.

Apply the parking brake when you stop. It will hold you. Begin to let the clutch up and apply throttle when you want to move again. The parking brake will allow a little torque to build, then release. It's super easy and works exactly how you'd expect. You don't roll backwards, you don't have to play three-pedal-shuffle on hills, and you don't stall the car.

From the owner's manual:

Quote
...release by lightly pressing the accelerator pedal (and release the clutch pedal for manual transmission) while the vehicle is in gear.

 

[demarpaint]

I think the last time I used the parking brake on a hill was in 1975 when I first started driving a stick.
Originally Posted by Lubener
As you get better, you shouldn't need the brake for that. On any hill, I never had to use the park brake or ride the clutch on a hill.

Exactly. I think the last time I used the parking brake on a hill was in 1975 when I first started driving a stick. IIRC many of these newer cars have hill assist, or something along those lines making driving a stick a lot easier to get going on a hill than when I learned.

Bottom line, don't worry about it, you'll learn the tricks real fast.

 

[Andrew1972]

I have never in 30 years driving used a parking brake for roll back. It can be used however the brake and clutch work well if you learn that method. Btw our clutches last the lifetime of our ownership of vehicles for my wife and I which is about 240k before we sell with a working clutch.

 

[Delta]

I think once you get more experience and used to the car it should be a non-issue. I honestly think if you get in a bind you could still use the parking brake trick albeit electronic, I'll be it will let you do it. I have hill assist in the GTI, and while it's nice it'll goof me up (stalling) every once in a while. The truck I've never had to use the parking brake trick even with the worn out clutch. Got stuck on the steepest part of the mountain the other day due to an accident and after a dozen hill starts I never rolled too far back. Although the driver behind me was smart and figured out I was driving stick and left me a car length. I do doubt you'll get that courtesy in SF though, lol. You just have to balance everything out perfect.

 

[parshisa]

it will hold the brakes for you on the hill, you won't need to engage the parking brake. easy peasy

 

[badtlc]

1) I had a 6spd MTX that i loved dearly. You'll be able to stop on steep grades and get going without rollback and NOT using the parking break very quickly. For any moderately skilled driver, it should be a week at most if not just a day or 2.
2) many modern vehicles have hill start assist on MTX vehicles. This holds the brakes for you after coming to a stop. It will hold the brakes and prevent rolling back until you start moving forward.

 

[tc1446]

Our '48 Studebaker had a hill holder...............

 

[Number_35]

OP, good topic! This takes me back to my first car, an ancient and very rusty old '63 Biscayne with a three-on-the-tree and a foot-actuated parking brake. And of course I lived in a hillier city then.

The procedure was a bit demanding for a new driver, thus:

1. Come to a stop on the uphill grade, pushing in the clutch pedal with the L foot, while braking with the R foot.

2. Shift into N.

3. Take L foot off the clutch pedal, and depress the parking brake pedal (to the L of the clutch pedal) with the L foot.

4. Wait for the light to change/traffic in front to start moving again. While waiting, transmission is in N, R foot is on the brake pedal, L foot is not on a pedal.

5. To start without rolling back, push in the clutch pedal with the L foot, and shift into 1. Move R foot from brake pedal to accelerator pedal.

6. Feed in a bit of gas with the R foot while letting the clutch pedal out slowly with the L foot.

7 . As the clutch starts to engage, use L hand to pull the parking brake release lever.

8. There ya go! Easy peasy as long as you don't stall. (Not too bad with the torque-at-low-RPMs inline 6.)

 

[Chris142]

You just learn how to take off without rolling back. Eventually it will become 2nd nature and you won't even realize your doing it.

My driveway is very steep and I have been teaching my 13 yr old cousin how to start on a hill.

 

[Gasbuggy]

If you really can drive stick well this is of no use to you. I had a newer WRX for a while and I felt hill hold was inhibiting me.