#Ford Taurus -- I don't hate all foot-operated parking brakes. But I dislike it when, as in the 2010 Ford Taurus, they're the push-on/push-off variety and the linkage is so stiff that this operation actually involves physical exertion. I'm up to the exertion, mind you. But setting and releasing the parking brake is something you do so often, there's no reason it needs to be such a deliberate action.
Also, the dead pedal in the Taurus isn't quite ergonomic in its design. It's set too far back in the footwell (i.e., too close to the driver seat) and the "pedal" cuts off too soon. As such, even my average-size foot hangs off the edge. In normal commuting, I might not notice, much less care about this. But after logging 2,600 miles in 3 days, I do notice and I do kind of care.
And the cashew in the footwell? It's from the trail mix I bought at Asheville's Biltmore Estate gift shop.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 2,667 miles
adavis2493 says:
05:54 AM, 06/26/09
I like the parking break in the new Audi's. It makes a cool noise when applied.
estreka says:
09:29 AM, 06/26/09
Actually, if I'm driving a luxury car or a truck, I prefer the foot brake over the hand brake. I want as much usable room as I can get.
cwc1 says:
05:13 PM, 06/26/09
I prefer a handbrake between bucket seats, and think foot operated parking brakes are totally lame. I don't take a car seriously as a driver's car if it has one, and particularly don't like the on/off type, like Ford uses.
If a vehicle has a bench seat, there's still a better way to do it. I had a 1990 Nissan pickup, and it had a hand operated parking brake at the lower edge of the dash, which was easier to operate and still left room for a bench seat.
I guess the electronic parking brakes are easier still, but I haven't sampled a car with one.