Aston Martin DB9 and V8 vantage - why are the ebrakes in a weird location?

edkwon · April 14th, 2007, 02:42 AM

I noticed this on the LHD and RHD versions of the V8 vantage and just to doublecheck its also the same way on the DB9

V8 vantage

http://www.youvox.com/youvoxmotors/mondial2006/V8%20Vantage%20Interior%20(1).jpg

DB9

http://www.edge-inc.net/images/cars/CRW_4009_JFR.jpg

Vanquish

so the ebrake is always located between the drivers door and drivers seat, what is up with that? im guessing aston tradition, but can someone give a mechanical/engineering reason?

No Boss · April 14th, 2007, 02:58 AM

Jaguar XK's are located there as well (surprise,surprise), at least on the ones before the 2007 redesign.

Somthing I always wondered as well.

thedguy · April 14th, 2007, 03:22 AM

I don't think there is a scientific reason for it, other than preference. Perhaps since it is an "emergency brake" it's so the mostly right handed world can keep their right hands on the steering wheel, and use the left for the brake.

Or because they can hide it, and keep the interior clean. Plus when the cable stretches and the owner can't be bothered to have it adjusted, it'll just get in their way upon entering the car.

CEMTEX · April 14th, 2007, 04:23 AM

Pontiac Fieros have it there. it has a high potential for being there when the seat is closer to the floor of the car. It also is an opprotunity to open up the center partition a little more.

watto · April 14th, 2007, 04:29 AM

The Porsche 944 has it there too. I guess it's so it doesn't get in the way of the centre console.

Redliner · April 14th, 2007, 04:44 AM

If I remember correctly, Diablos also have the hand brake there. Maybe the center console is too cramped? images/smilies/dunno.gif

Steve Levin · April 14th, 2007, 05:24 AM

I'm not sure what the theory is -- but it's also true on the Ferrari 355 and 360.

Steve

Peter3hg · April 14th, 2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedguy

Plus when the cable stretches and the owner can't be bothered to have it adjusted, it'll just get in their way upon entering the car.

They are not like normal handbrakes, they have some strange ratchet system that lets the handle drop back down to the floor, even when it is applied.

zeoniks · April 14th, 2007, 05:22 PM

I personally think it's there for aesthetic reasons. The hand brakes sticking out the center console looks like a pimple on Scarlett Johansson face.

Samir · April 14th, 2007, 07:32 PM

Damn... I use the e-brake to stop/go on hills when driving manual... (I know, it's the wussy way....)

Guess I'll have to exclude Astons from my list when I buy my next car images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Aston Martin · April 14th, 2007, 10:58 PM

Merc's have those twist hand and foot release ones, and Laguna has electronic button ones.

-Cpt. J.- · April 14th, 2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samir

Damn... I use the e-brake to stop/go on hills when driving manual... (I know, it's the wussy way....)

Guess I'll have to exclude Astons from my list when I buy my next car images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I never even bothered to learn to use ebrake for hill starts... it's too complicated for my mind or something... I use my feet images/smilies/smile.gif

the other hand is right where it belongs, ready to select next gear. =D

Asian · April 15th, 2007, 03:33 AM

An e-brake on the center console of the DB9 would be one of the worst things I can think of in a car. Even worse than Jeremy's S-Class redesign.

Samir · April 15th, 2007, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Cpt. J.-

I never even bothered to learn to use ebrake for hill starts... it's too complicated for my mind or something... I use my feet images/smilies/smile.gif

the other hand is right where it belongs, ready to select next gear. =D

Sadly, I have never done this with my feet. How would you go about doing it? I guess you heel toe so that as soon as you're off the brake the car is going forward? Otherwise it will roll back...

superchevy · April 15th, 2007, 05:42 AM

i've never noticed that in any car before. i like it!

^ you just gotta feather the pedals. you should be able to keep the car stopped on a hill just by balancing the clutch and throttle.

NecroJoe · April 15th, 2007, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchevy

i've never noticed that in any car before. i like it!

^ you just gotta feather the pedals. you should be able to keep the car stopped on a hill just by balancing the clutch and throttle.

When you are stuck on an up-hill either at a light, or a stop sign, that's quite a bit of wear on the clutch.

I was behind someone in San Francisco one time who wasn't 100% profficient at this, and burned-clutch smoke started barreling out from under his car.

That's a sucky thing about this area...where I grew up, everyone had manual trucks. When you stopped on a hill, people stopped behind you and gave you enough room in case you rolled back a little. Here, people all have automatics, and they don't even think about it. They pull right up like they're trying to kiss your license plate.

Some of the hills here are so steep, that they built a ski jump this past winter. Plus, I mean...you've all seen Bullit...

Some San Francisco Pics:

http://robertdfeinman.com/panoramic_horizontal/sanfrancisco/images/sf_hill_street.jpg

http://www.stephenandlinda.net/images/image120.jpg

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/fillmoreLap3_0404.jpg

http://leblog.exuberance.com/images/22nd%20&%20Carolina,%20Potrero%20Hill,%20San%20Francisco%202006-07-07%20031.jpg

http://www.bigfoto.com/Sites/galery/san-francisco/san_francisco_53_russian_hill.jpg

http://gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/places-and-sights/_more2001/_more04/US-CA-San-Francisco-Diamond-St-steep-hill-bright-sunshine-spectacular-views-well-apointed-wooden-houses-overhead-wires-1-DHD.jpg

http://leblog.exuberance.com/images/VW-DeHaroStreet-SanFrancisco-tm.jpg

Asian · April 15th, 2007, 06:37 AM

I can barely reverse up a hill with an automatic. With the incline of the hill/road, my body position and sliding into the footwell slightly (well my weight) as a result, I almost always end up nailing the throttle. images/smilies/blush.gif

NecroJoe · April 15th, 2007, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asian

I can barely reverse up a hill with an automatic. With the incline of the hill/road, my body position and sliding into the footwell slightly (well my weight) as a result, I almost always end up nailing the throttle. images/smilies/blush.gif

You just need to crank that seatbelt a little tighter, that's all. images/smilies/lol.gif

Brother Michael · April 15th, 2007, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchevy

i've never noticed that in any car before. i like it!

^ you just gotta feather the pedals. you should be able to keep the car stopped on a hill just by balancing the clutch and throttle.

Exactly. I never use the hand-/emergencybrake when stopped in hill. I simply get the clutch right at the point where it starts to bite in and then very quickly move my right foot from brake to throttle. In otherwords I basically hold the car steady with the clutch pedal alone for the tiny amount of time it takes to move my foot from brake to throttle. I don't see it being difficult at all and my car doesn't roll an inch if I concentrate even a little bit.

If I am at a stoplight where I know the rhytmn of the lights, then I'll take my foot off the brake earlier and hold the car steady with the clutch and throttle so when the light actually changes I'm ready to go instantly. I never wait long times like this because that would just burn the clutch up instantly, especially in my case since the Mondeo's clutch starts to burn really easilly.

IceBone · April 15th, 2007, 05:19 PM

Getting back on topic: What about left hand drive astons?

April 14th, 2007, 02:42 AM	#1
edkwon Joined: Nov 21st, 2006 Last Online: 06:51 AM Location: Lil Osaka Posts: 2,353 Car: Legacy GT Spec B '07 Rep Power: 22	Aston Martin DB9 and V8 vantage - why are the ebrakes in a weird location? I noticed this on the LHD and RHD versions of the V8 vantage and just to doublecheck its also the same way on the DB9 V8 vantage DB9 Vanquish so the ebrake is always located between the drivers door and drivers seat, what is up with that? im guessing aston tradition, but can someone give a mechanical/engineering reason?

April 14th, 2007, 02:58 AM	#2
No Boss Neener, neener, I banned your title! Joined: Oct 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: 'mericuh, someday the UK. Age: 23 Posts: 6,704 Car: 2005 Volvo S60 R Rep Power: 74	Jaguar XK's are located there as well (surprise,surprise), at least on the ones before the 2007 redesign. Somthing I always wondered as well. __________________

April 14th, 2007, 03:22 AM	#3
thedguy ^ will bore you to death Joined: Jun 18th, 2004 Last Online: 10:41 PM Location: Under the Counter at McD's Posts: 5,903 Car: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Rep Power: 75	I don't think there is a scientific reason for it, other than preference. Perhaps since it is an "emergency brake" it's so the mostly right handed world can keep their right hands on the steering wheel, and use the left for the brake. Or because they can hide it, and keep the interior clean. Plus when the cable stretches and the owner can't be bothered to have it adjusted, it'll just get in their way upon entering the car. __________________

April 14th, 2007, 04:23 AM	#4
CEMTEX Joined: Jun 22nd, 2006 Last Online: April 19th, 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12 Car: first gen GM W body Rep Power: 0	ummm some cars just do that? Pontiac Fieros have it there. it has a high potential for being there when the seat is closer to the floor of the car. It also is an opprotunity to open up the center partition a little more. __________________

April 15th, 2007, 05:19 PM	#20
IceBone Gulf Livery Rules Joined: Jan 14th, 2007 Last Online: 10:35 PM Location: Slovenistan Age: 24 Posts: 6,892 Car: Mitsubishi Carisma GDI Rep Power: 74	Getting back on topic: What about left hand drive astons? __________________ The Mitsubishop of Natural Aspiraton

April 14th, 2007, 04:29 AM	#5
watto Unloved and lacking a title Joined: Jun 13th, 2005 Last Online: January 7th, 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 5,412 Car: 1997 VW Golf MkIII CL, Giant OCR 3 Rep Power: 58	The Porsche 944 has it there too. I guess it's so it doesn't get in the way of the centre console.

April 14th, 2007, 04:44 AM	#6
Redliner Joined: May 19th, 2005 Last Online: 02:26 PM Location: Canoas, Brazil Age: 29 Posts: 3,573 Car: Fiat Palio 1.6 16v Rep Power: 40	If I remember correctly, Diablos also have the hand brake there. Maybe the center console is too cramped?

April 14th, 2007, 05:24 AM	#7
Steve Levin VIP Joined: Jun 7th, 2006 Last Online: 04:48 AM Location: Sunnyvale, California Posts: 783 Car: Spec Racer Ford! Rep Power: 22	I'm not sure what the theory is -- but it's also true on the Ferrari 355 and 360. Steve

April 14th, 2007, 05:22 PM	#9
zeoniks Joined: Aug 19th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 622 Car: 2007 Nissan Murano Rep Power: 14	I personally think it's there for aesthetic reasons. The hand brakes sticking out the center console looks like a pimple on Scarlett Johansson face.

April 14th, 2007, 07:32 PM	#10
Samir Joined: Aug 29th, 2006 Last Online: December 23rd, 2008 Posts: 372 Car: 2005 Honda Accord EX-L, 2002 Ford Mustang LX Rep Power: 10	Damn... I use the e-brake to stop/go on hills when driving manual... (I know, it's the wussy way....) Guess I'll have to exclude Astons from my list when I buy my next car

April 14th, 2007, 10:58 PM	#11
Aston Martin Joined: Sep 20th, 2006 Last Online: 01:27 PM Location: Hull, England Posts: 1,188 Rep Power: 20	Merc's have those twist hand and foot release ones, and Laguna has electronic button ones.

April 15th, 2007, 03:33 AM	#13
Asian Joined: Feb 13th, 2007 Last Online: August 12th, 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 66 Car: 2002 Mercedes ML320 Rep Power: 0	An e-brake on the center console of the DB9 would be one of the worst things I can think of in a car. Even worse than Jeremy's S-Class redesign.

April 15th, 2007, 05:42 AM	#15
superchevy Joined: Jan 6th, 2005 Last Online: December 30th, 2008 Location: raleigh & fayetteville, north carolina Age: 25 Posts: 604 Car: '97 jeep grand cherokee limited - up country Rep Power: 23	i've never noticed that in any car before. i like it! ^ you just gotta feather the pedals. you should be able to keep the car stopped on a hill just by balancing the clutch and throttle.

April 15th, 2007, 06:37 AM	#17
Asian Joined: Feb 13th, 2007 Last Online: August 12th, 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 66 Car: 2002 Mercedes ML320 Rep Power: 0	I can barely reverse up a hill with an automatic. With the incline of the hill/road, my body position and sliding into the footwell slightly (well my weight) as a result, I almost always end up nailing the throttle.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search