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[Paul M]

.....
You consider that a good thing?!? The car I hired in the US last summer had the "hand" brake on the floor, what a complete PITA that thing was. I certainly would not buy a car with such a crappy design. Maybe I'm in the minority these days in that I actually use the handbrake at traffic lights etc rather than sitting with the footbrake pressed, cooking the pads onto the discs after a spirited run? Same goes for that crappy electric handbrake fitted to the new Passat.... the old design has worked perfectly for far longer than I've been alive, why break something that "just works"?

Can't see myself considering a Mercedes any time soon anyway, most of them are very old man. They may be RWD but few of them are much fun to drive IMO. I've not yet tried the new A4 but I bet that would be more enjoyable (with quattro of course) than a C class. Still much rather have a 330 than either of them, properly enjoyable to drive. Screw the image, the Omega isn't exactly a desirable car, and TBH round here the image of your average Mercedes repmobile driver is just as bad as BMW, only older.

You will struggle when you insist on using 3 pedals.   The rest of us have evolved to be able to use just the 2 in which case the parking brake can be used just for that.  

So you only ever use the "handbrake" for parking? I'm glad I never evolved such a simplistic trait, the more sophisticated drivers amongst us use the handbrake when we come to a stop that is likely to last more than a few seconds. Aside from reducing the glare that drivers behind you have to endure, it also gives the discs a chance to cool without the pads being clamped onto them, resulting in material transfer and ultimately ruining the discs. So either you always drive like a grandad and never get the discs hot enough for this to happen, or you get through discs rather quickly.

Next you'll be telling us it shouldn't even be used for parking, only in emergencies, like most people in the US seem to believe . (Yes, they do actually call it the emergency brake over there!)

Frankly, I'm more than glad I haven't evolved the inability to use more than two foot controls or one hand control in the process of driving

[Paul M]

....... the old design has worked perfectly for far longer than I've been alive, why break something that "just works"?
.....

You're right!! I'm off to buy a horse! That was aound for a very very very long time before even I was born!
When you fitting the carb to your car? That was around for a very long time before you or I were born too. Things progress, and when you're designing a car that will predominantly have an auto box in, why bother with a hand operated hand brake? A lot of cars used to have column gear change & umberella hand brakes so that they could fit a front bench seat, but because manufacturers all want to be the same and not be different, so we now have the situation where they all fit the same kind of extras or gimmicks.

I can see why you believe a horse is an evolution of the car, going by your other thoughts of evolution.

What exactly does putting the hand brake onto the floor achieve, other than saving a little space in the centre console? Personally I'd rather have the space in the footwell for a footrest in case I have to do a boring M-way run. I can't really see how it improves the driving experience or performance in any way. Similarly, the only thing the electronic handbrake in the Passat seems to have achieved is turning a previously reliable device into an unreliable one... brilliant evolution that .

Oh and things like fuel injection initially came about because they could offer higher performance without sacrificing drivability throughout the rev range, hence why they were only fitted to high spec cars. Eventually it became standard due to emissions requirements that simply couldn't be met using carbs. So the advantage here is less pollution, particularly the nasty stuff caused by incomplete combustion. I hardly see a foot operated handbrake being on anywhere near the same scale.

[Martin_1962]

Have been in a few is200s but they feel very cramped and plasticky compared to an Omega. Correct wheels driven perhaps but didn't really float my boat.

Certainly would need the 3 litre engine [smiley=evil.gif]

Kevin

IS200s are slow, I know - I flew past when one was accelerating hard

[MaxV6]

So you only ever use the "handbrake" for parking? I'm glad I never evolved such a simplistic trait, the more sophisticated drivers amongst us use the handbrake when we come to a stop that is likely to last more than a few seconds. Aside from reducing the glare that drivers behind you have to endure, it also gives the discs a chance to cool without the pads being clamped onto them, resulting in material transfer and ultimately ruining the discs. So either you always drive like a grandad and never get the discs hot enough for this to happen, or you get through discs rather quickly.

Next you'll be telling us it shouldn't even be used for parking, only in emergencies, like most people in the US seem to believe . (Yes, they do actually call it the emergency brake over there!)

could i just point out that in fact the Handbrake is in fact an extension of the steering wheel, and not meant for such mundane things at all....

[Golfbuddy]

This thread has grown bigger than I expected it might.

Poll Added.  

[Andy B]

.......
What exactly does putting the hand brake onto the floor achieve, other than saving a little space in the centre console? Personally I'd rather have the space in the footwell for a footrest in case I have to do a boring M-way run. I can't really see how it improves the driving experience or performance in any way.......

You just put the parking brake above the foot rest ala Merc C180 and the release infront of your right knee.  :-/

My centre mounted hand brake does nothing for my driving experience.  :-?  

[philayl]

Hi all, on the subject of moving on from the Omega, I find myself, at the age of 60, in the fortunate(or unfortunate, depending on your viewpoint) position of being able to, for the first time in my life, purchase a new car. The unfortunate part is that I can only do this because both my parents passed away last year. Anyway, on to the matter in hand, this will probably be the last car I will buy, so depreciation is not a consideration as I will be keeping it for a long time. I am considering either a Mondeo Ghia Diesel Auto, with extras to take it to my exact specification, or a Volkswagen Passat SEL Diesel Auto, the jury is out on both of these at the moment. I would appreciate any comments on the above if anyone has any experience of either, they both get a good write up.

[tunnie]

Hi all, on the subject of moving on from the Omega, I find myself, at the age of 60, in the fortunate(or unfortunate, depending on your viewpoint) position of being able to, for the first time in my life, purchase a new car. The unfortunate part is that I can only do this because both my parents passed away last year. Anyway, on to the matter in hand, this will probably be the last car I will buy, so depreciation is not a consideration as I will be keeping it for a long time. I am considering either a Mondeo Ghia Diesel Auto, with extras to take it to my exact specification, or a Volkswagen Passat SEL Diesel Auto, the jury is out on both of these at the moment. I would appreciate any comments on the above if anyone has any experience of either, they both get a good write up.

do not buy brand new!

Get one thats at least 18 months old.

[Golfbuddy]

Hi all, on the subject of moving on from the Omega, I find myself, at the age of 60, in the fortunate(or unfortunate, depending on your viewpoint) position of being able to, for the first time in my life, purchase a new car. The unfortunate part is that I can only do this because both my parents passed away last year. Anyway, on to the matter in hand, this will probably be the last car I will buy, so depreciation is not a consideration as I will be keeping it for a long time. I am considering either a Mondeo Ghia Diesel Auto, with extras to take it to my exact specification, or a Volkswagen Passat SEL Diesel Auto, the jury is out on both of these at the moment. I would appreciate any comments on the above if anyone has any experience of either, they both get a good write up.

do not buy brand new!

Get one thats at least 18 months old.

Tunnie is, of course, spot on. And, unless you know something to the contrary, you have at least 20 - 25 years to go so it would have to be a great car to outlast you.  

My Dad did the same thing when he retired and got a nice lump sum from British Rail. He now has a 9 year old Audi A4 and he wants a replacement. I wonder if he fancies a nice Omega??  

[tunnie]

Mondeo diesels i found quite nice.... ride is harder than the vectra. If you go for the TDCi make sure its the 130bhp, not the 115bhp version.

If i was after a smaller saloon with some punch i would be tempted by a Mondeo ST220 even though its fwd!

I have been in a VeccyC and its just a bit gloomy in there, and not a comfy place to be.

Although the VeccyC does have the bigger 3.0 diesel.....

[Darth Loo-knee]

I like the Audi A4 Estate, or even the older Honda Civic Type R.

They would be my choice

[STMO123]

Mondeo diesels i found quite nice.... ride is harder than the vectra. If you go for the TDCi make sure its the 130bhp, not the 115bhp version.

If i was after a smaller saloon with some punch i would be tempted by a Mondeo ST220 even though its fwd!

I have been in a VeccyC and its just a bit gloomy in there, and not a comfy place to be.

Although the VeccyC does have the bigger 3.0 diesel.....

150bhp is the one to get.

[philayl]

Hi all, on the subject of moving on from the Omega, I find myself, at the age of 60, in the fortunate(or unfortunate, depending on your viewpoint) position of being able to, for the first time in my life, purchase a new car. The unfortunate part is that I can only do this because both my parents passed away last year. Anyway, on to the matter in hand, this will probably be the last car I will buy, so depreciation is not a consideration as I will be keeping it for a long time. I am considering either a Mondeo Ghia Diesel Auto, with extras to take it to my exact specification, or a Volkswagen Passat SEL Diesel Auto, the jury is out on both of these at the moment. I would appreciate any comments on the above if anyone has any experience of either, they both get a good write up.

do not buy brand new!

Get one thats at least 18 months old.

Only problem buying second hand is that I will not be able to buy the exact spec I want, and boy have I waited a long time to get it. And I have no intention of driving into my eighties, I've seen the antics out of them! I must admit I am leaning towards the Mondeo, good MPG, comfy (as long as you don't go for the sports suspension) and only group 9 insurance, economical to run on a pension

[tunnie]

Mondeo diesels i found quite nice.... ride is harder than the vectra. If you go for the TDCi make sure its the 130bhp, not the 115bhp version.

If i was after a smaller saloon with some punch i would be tempted by a Mondeo ST220 even though its fwd!

I have been in a VeccyC and its just a bit gloomy in there, and not a comfy place to be.

Although the VeccyC does have the bigger 3.0 diesel.....

150bhp is the one to get.

Thats only in the ST-TDCI

[Vamps]

....... the old design has worked perfectly for far longer than I've been alive, why break something that "just works"?
.....

You're right!! I'm off to buy a horse! That was aound for a very very very long time before even I was born!
When you fitting the carb to your car? That was around for a very long time before you or I were born too. Things progress, and when you're designing a car that will predominantly have an auto box in, why bother with a hand operated hand brake? A lot of cars used to have column gear change & umberella hand brakes so that they could fit a front bench seat, but because manufacturers all want to be the same and not be different, so we now have the situation where they all fit the same kind of extras or gimmicks.

My daily car has a column change, only about 6 inches long, if that. It has paddles, for the gears if you want manual, no idea why anyone would,l but I don't use them.
The handbreak is a switch in the middle of the dash, it will even swich itself off as you drive away.