Hi all,

Just curious if you find the parking brake annoying because of its placement and how you have to have your foot on the brake to engage - disengage it?

Would you have preferred it to be more like the older Porsches in placement and engagement?

Thank you all in advance!

Steve

PS: sorry to leave the PDK crowd out of this discussion...

 

I prefer to have a traditional manual parking brake. But most new cars now have the electronic ones.

 

Same here, but I've gotten used to it. Also, I'm pretty sure you can just drive off even with the parking brake engaged and it disengages automatically when you give it gas. I've always made a habit of stepping on the brake pedal and releasing the parking brake because I find the start off a bit jerky if I don't release the parking brake first.

 

I do not mind it being electronic, but I wish the lever was in its traditional spot. It is such an awkward motion to set it or disengage it under the steering column. I also wish it would auto-set when turning the car off.

I must say I like the hill hold (after the recent software update) that comes with an electronic parking brake.

 

Personally I loathe the electronic brake and almost never use it when parked.
But when I do, I simply drive off (with the seat belt on) and it disengages automatically, BUT only if I apply the gas pedal AND release the clutch.
Releasing the clutch alone will not disengage the brake.

My main gripes are the idiotic location of the lever and the inability to regulate its release on a slope. I suppose that explains the wonderful introduction of Hill assist (which in my opinion should have an override function).

Couldn't they have placed a brake button in one of the three empty spaces in the center console?

 

I don't mind it, but I do find the engagement/disengagement of it somewhat awkward, especially since I have to reach down low and grab it.

Slightly off-topic, but what sometimes throws me off is the fact that the brake is either engaged (or disengaged) when I think it shouldn't (or should) be. I must have read about it in the manual, but I don't remember what process ensures an automatic application of the e-brake after turning the car off and walking away from it.

 

Only aspect of the car I do not like

 

Full disclosure...it was probably the main reason I ended up getting a 997.2. I just couldn't wrap my head around a sports car with an electronic parking brake...kind of goes along with a bunch of other things that shouldn't be on a sports car that ended up on the 991.

But, if you look at is as more of a GT car and less as a sports car, then it's all good! In some ways maybe I should have bought one, but I still love all the "retro" aspects of my 997...

 

Love your 997.2, but I'm curious... was the e-brake really that big of an issue to sway you away from the 991? Do you occasionally drift and screw around, and/or use it often for hill assists?

 

The 997.2 has hill assist...I would love to be able to turn it off at times. And no, I never "drift"...and yes, it was a big issue.

My point is more philosophical then actual practical application. There are a bunch of new ( for lack of a better word) conveniences that I feel don't belong on a sports car.

Call me a Luddite, actually call me anything you want ( this is the internet, right) but I still feel it takes away from the whole drama, theatre, experience of driving a sports car.

But, I do love how quiet the 991 is. I am thinking of having the Bose upgraded ( better speakers and amps) and at the same time having Sound Mat installed in the doors, etc to quiet the tire noise down a bunch.

Flame on...

 

I've gotten used to using the electric parking brake but not the incredibly obnoxious noise it makes when applied.

 

Gotcha. Not flaming at all. I feel the same way about certain things... especially when it comes to PDK-only high-end sports cars. I just didn't think an electronic e-brake would have the same effect on an enthusiast, but I can understand your point.


This. I get a stare or two every day. It's pretty loud.

 

I have a manual Boxster S and the electric brake doesn't bother me at all.

 

The Electric brake will also release automatically if you just pull away. I like that feature.

 

Bothered me in the beginning, mostly out of habit with the manual brake. Now I'm used to it, don't really care either way anymore. Ymmv.