[QUOTE 4756508, member: 9609"]fourthly - it is supposed to be your emergency brake, so what are you supposed to do press the button lock the wheels and go further out of control
fifthly - if you brake down the brake comes on and you can't push or pull the car off the road. (I come across a woman in a prevoke that had broke down half way round a fast bend, me and another bloke tried to push her out of the way, but no chance with the parking brake on) seh had to get a break down truck with a lift.[/QUOTE]
I tried to put it on when the car was moving earlier to see what it did. It makes the noise like it's putting it on, and then doesn't - so as you say, that's not ideal. I've had to use the handbrake to stop a car when the brake line burst - it was a 2001 car, so not exactly a different era of motoring. With this car you can't.
The Golf I had it on (the previous hire car) did at least have a brake release - you pulled the small switch up for on, and pressed it for off. This (Vauxhall) version also has a switch that pulls up and pushes down but the push down bit does nothing. I expect they've just used a power window switch to save money, because Vauxhall are cheap like that. In this implementation you have to try and move off with the brake on, which is I expect no good for the brakes, clutch or tyres. Plus I've stalled it twice on steep hills. The VW version also came on automatically if you let the car roll backwards. The Vauxhall does not.
I fail to see what the advantage is supposed to be. Is it something to do with start-stop?