Motoring Discussion > I left a note. Miscellaneous
Thread Author: R.P. Replies: 9
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New Sat 21 May 11 22:56 
 I left a note. - R.P.
Two of us out on Census work this morning, walking along a quite busy High Street and crossing a junction, I became aware of a newish Astra reversing slowly towards me, things that flashed through my mind in no particular order. "why are there no reversing lights ?" "why is it silent ? - must be a hybrid jobbie" "why is there no driver ?" the latter was altogether more worrying and I instinctively lunged for the driver's door handle (it was locked) and my colleague put his weight behind the car. The car was locked...re-reassuringly the alarm went off, which drew attention to our plight and helpful onlookers found some rocks/slates to jam behind the wheel. Peering through the window I could see that the car had a silly electronic parking brake and clearly the plonker that had parked it (illegally) hadn't left it in gear. Could have been nasty. I left a snotty note on a Census appointment card.

Never ceases to amaze me how quickly the brain processes data in situations like this all in milliseconds, but consciously exploring and dismissing options as events unfold...I remember thinking it can't be a hybrid as there is no Astra hybrid (afiK) and then went on to re-process what I the data. Amazing that the brain was tasking itself to look for an audio as well as visual feed and unconsciously combing and processing the data...
Last edited by: Pugugly on Sat 21 May 11 at 23:00
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New Sat 21 May 11 22:58 
 I left a note. - Zero
>> Never ceases to amaze me how quickly the brain processes data in situations like this
>> all in milliseconds, but consciously exploring and dismissing options as events unfold...I remember thinking it

I would have reached for the iphone video camera...
Last edited by: Zero on Sat 21 May 11 at 22:58
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:00 
 I left a note. - R.P.
My brain also processed the fact that I'd left my phone in the car !
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:08 
 I left a note. - ....
Pah ! Vauxhalls eh !
Most cars will alarm you to deafness if you have an automated manual with electronic handbarke.

Maybe a pensioner mobile...
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:23 
 I left a note. - R.P.
I think it was a hire car (no dealer ad in the back window, little e symbol on the bumper) - there were some Spaniards in town for a triathlon event tomorrow.
Last edited by: Pugugly on Sat 21 May 11 at 23:24
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:26 
 I left a note. - ....
You tourist you, and the rest of us on the edge of the world...
If you're still around try enterprise in the morning.
Last edited by: gmac on Sat 21 May 11 at 23:29
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:40 
 I left a note. - R.P.
I had a hire car from them once (with work) which had some other hirer's photocard licence in the glove box and a disabled tax !
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:42 
 I left a note. - VxFan
>> I could see that the car had a silly electronic parking brake and clearly the plonker that had parked it (illegally) hadn't left it in gear.

Probably didn't apply the electronic parking brake either. I kept making that mistake when I test drove some of them at Millbrook a couple of years ago. You;d have thought with all the cars electronics these days they could programme the handbrake to automatically come on once the ignition switch had been turned off.
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New Sat 21 May 11 23:47 
 I left a note. - R.P.
I wondered afterwards if it was a hire car the driver might not be that familiar with a electronic parking brake....maybe I saved him his CDW...!
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New Sun 22 May 11 00:08 
 I left a note. - rtj70
I got my first drive of a car with an electronic parking brake when I got a hire car. It was a very ugly Pug 3008.

I asked about the arrangement:

1. Did the parking brake automatically disengage and if not what do you follow as procedure
2. Did the car have hill control

They didn't know but summoned a driver. So I asked again. He didn't know (despite being a delivery driver!) so went to try it. And then mentioned it holds for a few seconds on a hill but to move off you need to manually disengage the parking brake and had to press the brake pedal first! So what foot was on the gas and which other food was on the clutch???

Turns out it disengaged automatically when I tried it - not as well as a VW. Hill control was for a few seconds - VW seems to work for as long as needed. Had more chance to try out my VW CC though.

And both engaged the parking brake when the ignition was turned off. Although the VW auto break assist will only work when the seat belt is on - to move off without a seatbelt you need to do manually on the VWs.

And PU - you probably saved the hirer some money there!
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