Depress Clutch to Start - Manual cars

[Corey_R]

This feature has been on various cars for years. An extended family member had one of the first Hyundai Excels in the (early?) 90s and that had the feature too. Of course, cars not having "MFDs" back then meant if you didn't know you had to press the clutch, it just wouldn't start...

[elephino]

This feature has been on various cars for years. An extended family member had one of the first Hyundai Excels in the (early?) 90s and that had the feature too. Of course, cars not having "MFDs" back then meant if you didn't know you had to press the clutch, it just wouldn't start...

I found the Excel one as well when I went for a test drive many years ago.

It's been a habit of mine pretty much since I started driving, so I've not had any issue with it. The only time I've ever thought it would be useful not to have it is when the car's been parked in the sun for a long time and I want to let the aircon cool the car before getting inside.

[sillywet]

The only time I've ever thought it would be useful not to have it is when the car's been parked in the sun for a long time and I want to let the aircon cool the car before getting inside.

I think in the European models (no doubt an option) there is actually an auxiliary motor that uses petrol rather than battery power to turn on the aircon (cool or heat) prior to you getting in it. I read it somewhere in the manual when I got mine and got excited before getting back in my car and realising there was black plastic where the button was meant to be...

I also hate the feature being discussed. What if you have the thing up on stands/jacks and you want to just reach in the window to kick it over. Not an option.

I am just a hater of not being given a choice. If you're a muppet and you need someone to force you to put the clutch in, then no dramas, but if you have some semblance of cerebral activity then you should be allowed to operate the thing like a normal car. Same goes with the traction control. If I turn the thing off, I want to be able to exceed the limits as decided by the computer. For anyone with an R, you'll no doubt know the frustration when you have the thing planted over a bit of a crest and it unweights and suddenly Mr Computer thinks you're about to self destruct and cuts the power. fffffaaaarrrkkkk!!

And just when you think it can't get any worse, Lambos and M Division cars are becoming auto only and Porsche changes to electronic steering. Someone build me a time machine.

[MiiLos]

Also, if you stall the car you have to turn the ignition off before it will let you restart. First time I've ever encountered that in a car.

Now that was an experience I won't forget the first time it happened to me lol!

[SMOK3Y]

Also, if you stall the car you have to turn the ignition off before it will let you restart. First time I've ever encountered that in a car.

ya thats a crap feature, but even my dunnydore had depress clutch to start.

[The_Hawk]

The key thing has been in every VW I have owned from the '70 Type 3 to the current ones. The clutch thing not in the mk1 or mk3.

That's said it's second nature to do just that anyway. I once had a friend hand me the keys of his shiny new Excel and say "bet you can't start it"... And BAM first time I kick I over and he asked how I knew about the clutch thing to which I replied "what clutch thing??"

[blutopless2]

would be surprised if it can be bypassed or switched off... surely VW see it as a safety feature and would not tamper with it.

[wai]

would be surprised if it can be bypassed or switched off... surely VW see it as a safety feature and would not tamper with it.

It is surprising what VW see as safety features. In the grand scheme of things, how many people have been killed or injured because the vehicle was started in gear. I mean, it is simply not possible to start the engine (ANY ENGINE) with the starter motor when it is in gear. Ok, so it will bunny hop but that is enough of a clue for even the dumbest driver (apologies) to realise that the car is in gear.

Contrast this with the situation where you cannot remove power from lighter/accessory sockets without getting under the bonnet and physically disconnecting the battery or trying to work out which fuse to pull out, or deadlocking someone in by default rather than having to do something extra to deadlock the car, or providing an emergency tailgate/barn door release from the inside. I mean, tackle genuine safety issues rather than create issues and then try and convince everyone that it is a MUST HAVE feature.

I am waiting for the feature that automatically turns the wheels to the kerb after parking. NO, THAT'S NOT A SUGGESTION, but if any manufacturer implements it, I will need to be paid a royalty as this is now clearly posted before ANY manufacturer has done this.

What next? Will drivers have to have the car in gear before they can remove the ignition key?

I really must stop doing this.

Putting the foil lined hat on for a moment, those cynics amongst us know that the way you control a crowd is to get them all doing the same thing (either something physical or chanting). Now they are so pre-occupied with the activity or action that they can be easily convinced to do anything :^)

[Corey_R]

It is surprising what VW see as safety features. In the grand scheme of things, how many people have been killed or injured because the vehicle was started in gear. I mean, it is simply not possible to start the engine (ANY ENGINE) with the starter motor when it is in gear. Ok, so it will bunny hop but that is enough of a clue for even the dumbest driver (apologies) to realise that the car is in gear.

You'd be surprised. A close friend of mine was working on his car in the garage. He leaned into the car through the open driver's window and turned on the car... he didn't realise it was in gear and the car went straight through the garage wall into the living room, sending his father flying.... His father was sitting on a couch against the wall the car went through. He was more shaken up than hurt. But yeah... there is definite potential for injury to happen.

Whether that potential is worth enforcing it the way that is done in modern cars is another thing...

[wai]

You'd be surprised. A close friend of mine was working on his car in the garage. He leaned into the car through the open driver's window and turned on the car... he didn't realise it was in gear and the car went straight through the garage wall into the living room, sending his father flying.... His father was sitting on a couch against the wall the car went through. He was more shaken up than hurt. But yeah... there is definite potential for injury to happen.

Whether that potential is worth enforcing it the way that is done in modern cars is another thing...

Ok, so use the other sensor that tells you the car is in neutral or in gear. But to insist that the clutch is depressed no matter what is a bit much.

But then, it is unlikely VW will do anything anyway so we have to learn to live with it.