XC90 Manul - HandBrake Concern?

gapquinn · Jul 4th, 2010, 09:38

I'm about to purchase an xc90 D5 Active Manual, as my wife likes what she's used too. The car looks brilliant and will be great for our 4 kids but what about that foot brake (handbrake) and taking off you have to pull something under/beside the wheel?

Is this standard and is it easy to get used too? Does the xc90 manual come with a push handbrake like a Passat?

Cheers

scrambler · Jul 4th, 2010, 09:56

In my opinion the handbrake is a joke. I can't imagine anyone on earth likes it. I got a geartronic so I will almost never have to use it. My advise would be to get your wife to try the geartronic, most would consider it to be the best transmission for the XC90 anyway. Sorry to all you manual lovers, but you are part of a very small minority.

gapquinn · Jul 4th, 2010, 10:04

It is a joke and seems very 3rd world! I ordered 3months ago, paid £500 and may now pull out and get an automatic, unbelievable, still can't believe it!

pdrvolvo · Jul 4th, 2010, 10:29

the xc90 geartronic is a great vehicle.you cant beat an auto box. but i agree the handbrake set up is awful and is the only thing i dont like about the car.mind you i rarely use it,like most drivers of auto,s i just put it in park and leave it at that.

peter.

Bathurst · Jul 4th, 2010, 10:47

Its not a big issue, it will take you a day to get use to it, mercedes also have a very similar handbrake set up if you have ever driven one.

T.

gapquinn · Jul 4th, 2010, 10:51

No, this is my first semi-expensive car! Does the xc90 provide a more up-to-date system, like a push button, like the passat?

RoyMacDonald · Jul 4th, 2010, 13:41

Seems to be standard on Mercs. I didn't like it at first by nowdays I never even think about it. The D5 pulls like a train. If you're on a hill just drive off with it on and pull the handle when convienent.

wagga · Jul 4th, 2010, 14:57

I just got used to it ................

Clan · Jul 4th, 2010, 16:28

This parking brake was demanded by the american market so we had to have it too .
Those with auto's that never use the parking brake will find it fails at MOT time due to rust build up on the parking brake drums .
Another point , if you put the car in P the front axle isnt locked , Just the crown wheel is which means both front wheels are still free to rotate in opposite directions .
A scenario of you parking on a steep hill and say the inner wheel is in the gutter where there is a lot of ice or snow or slippery leaves or mud , the car could roll down the hill with the wheel in the gutter rotating the opposite way assuming the other wheel has full grip on the tarmac . The accident investigators will find the car without the parking brake applied ! Hopefully you wont have killed anyone in the process ...

Zoidy · Jul 5th, 2010, 08:38

Got a manual here for the same reasons and I too was really worried but like another poster here I got used to it within a day, although after a month I was still reaching for a hand brake! It's fine now. Hill starts are trickier than hand brake but easy when you know how, same process as hand brake. I just find the bite is not so obvious in the XC90 as it was I'm my previous car.

The wife didn't have a single problem with the brake and loves the car.

Jul 4th, 2010, 09:38	#1
gapquinn New Member Last Online: Jul 5th, 2010 16:06 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dungannon	XC90 Manul - HandBrake Concern? I'm about to purchase an xc90 D5 Active Manual, as my wife likes what she's used too. The car looks brilliant and will be great for our 4 kids but what about that foot brake (handbrake) and taking off you have to pull something under/beside the wheel? Is this standard and is it easy to get used too? Does the xc90 manual come with a push handbrake like a Passat? Cheers

Jul 4th, 2010, 10:29	#4
pdrvolvo Master Member Last Online: Oct 4th, 2012 19:08 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: middlewich	the xc90 geartronic is a great vehicle.you cant beat an auto box. but i agree the handbrake set up is awful and is the only thing i dont like about the car.mind you i rarely use it,like most drivers of auto,s i just put it in park and leave it at that. peter. __________________ 244DL-1976/244DL-1983/740GL-1986/940GL-1992/850GLT-1995/V70-1998/S8O-2000/V70-2005/XC90T6 Exec.-2004.

Jul 4th, 2010, 13:41	#7
RoyMacDonald VOC Member Last Online: Feb 1st, 2023 11:27 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rye, East Sussex View Photos By: RoyMacDonald	Seems to be standard on Mercs. I didn't like it at first by nowdays I never even think about it. The D5 pulls like a train. If you're on a hill just drive off with it on and pull the handle when convienent. __________________ 1984 245 SE 1986 345 SE Auto 1991 940 TD Auto 2003 XC90 D5 SE AWD Geartronic2002 V70 D5 SE Auto 2014 V40 D2 SE Tiptronic Cross Country 2017 V40 D2 Cross Country Geartronic Pro 2015 XC60 D5 Polestar SE Lux Nav AWD Geartronic

Jul 4th, 2010, 14:57	#8
wagga Member Last Online: Jan 19th, 2013 23:41 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Perth	I just got used to it ................ __________________ 2009 XC90 AWD 3.2

Jul 4th, 2010, 16:28	#9
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 16:48 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	This parking brake was demanded by the american market so we had to have it too . Those with auto's that never use the parking brake will find it fails at MOT time due to rust build up on the parking brake drums . Another point , if you put the car in P the front axle isnt locked , Just the crown wheel is which means both front wheels are still free to rotate in opposite directions . A scenario of you parking on a steep hill and say the inner wheel is in the gutter where there is a lot of ice or snow or slippery leaves or mud , the car could roll down the hill with the wheel in the gutter rotating the opposite way assuming the other wheel has full grip on the tarmac . The accident investigators will find the car without the parking brake applied ! Hopefully you wont have killed anyone in the process ... __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Jul 4th, 2010, 09:56	#2
scrambler Junior Member Last Online: May 6th, 2015 18:47 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Leicester	In my opinion the handbrake is a joke. I can't imagine anyone on earth likes it. I got a geartronic so I will almost never have to use it. My advise would be to get your wife to try the geartronic, most would consider it to be the best transmission for the XC90 anyway. Sorry to all you manual lovers, but you are part of a very small minority.

Jul 4th, 2010, 10:04	#3
gapquinn New Member Last Online: Jul 5th, 2010 16:06 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dungannon	It is a joke and seems very 3rd world! I ordered 3months ago, paid £500 and may now pull out and get an automatic, unbelievable, still can't believe it!

Jul 4th, 2010, 10:47	#5
Bathurst Junior Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2016 13:58 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Berkshire	Its not a big issue, it will take you a day to get use to it, mercedes also have a very similar handbrake set up if you have ever driven one. T.

Jul 4th, 2010, 10:51	#6
gapquinn New Member Last Online: Jul 5th, 2010 16:06 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dungannon	No, this is my first semi-expensive car! Does the xc90 provide a more up-to-date system, like a push button, like the passat?

Jul 5th, 2010, 08:38	#10
Zoidy Junior Member Last Online: Dec 8th, 2015 18:54 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surrey	Got a manual here for the same reasons and I too was really worried but like another poster here I got used to it within a day, although after a month I was still reaching for a hand brake! It's fine now. Hill starts are trickier than hand brake but easy when you know how, same process as hand brake. I just find the bite is not so obvious in the XC90 as it was I'm my previous car. The wife didn't have a single problem with the brake and loves the car. __________________ XC90 SE Premium manual in Silver with Situla 18", Rear Camera, Winter Pack and Privacy Glass. Born April 2010.

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