Small auto cars with hill hold/hill assist

sonypc100

Hi

My 70 year old Mum has had an auto megane for years and been generally happy with it but it was time for a change and her only requirements were "small, simple automatic"

So I got her a Skoda Citigo. Really basic, old simple dials for air con and the most basic of radio's - perfect so far.

However it doesnt have hill hold like her Megane did and she just cant get used to it. You have to either put the hand brake on or get your bite on a hill or it will roll back and she's not confident in it.

I'm selling the Citigo for her but need suggestions please of small auto's that have hill assist as standard, so I dont make the same mistake again.

Thanks


Rich

PS budget is around 5k for a second hand 2010 onwards petrol car

Frozen_up_north

Many of the later VW group autos will have hill hold. Not sure about those in the £5K price bracket though. My current auto Seat Leon (automatic push button/lever style handbrake) has a feature where the handbrake can be set to automatically come on when you brake and the car is stationary, it releases when you touch the throttle pedal.

The last one (also an auto DSG gearbox) of mid 2013 vintage also had hill hold.

I think it’s simply a matter of asking a dealer, but it might be hard to find one for £5K.

barbiedoll

Have a look at a Kia Picanto? I found an auto, 12 plate with hill start/assist, at £5995....(a bit over budget, I know) on the Kia used car site.

forgotmyname

Get the bite in an automatic??

Not confident on releasing the handbrake and pressing the throttle?

sonypc100

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

Many of the later VW group autos will have hill hold. Not sure about those in the £5K price bracket though. My current auto Seat Leon (automatic push button/lever style handbrake) has a feature where the handbrake can be set to automatically come on when you brake and the car is stationary, it releases when you touch the throttle pedal.

The last one (also an auto DSG gearbox) of mid 2013 vintage also had hill hold.

I think it’s simply a matter of asking a dealer, but it might be hard to find one for £5K.

This is a 2014 Citigo with the DSG box but sadly doesnt have a hill assist or feature where the handbrake can be set to automatically come on. I could speak to them to see if its possible to retro fit but I'd doubt it.

sonypc100

barbiedoll wrote: »

Have a look at a Kia Picanto? I found an auto, 12 plate with hill start/assist, at £5995....(a bit over budget, I know) on the Kia used car site.

Thanks, budget is 5k upwards so yes something like this might be good.

neilmcl

Are hill starts with automatics really that difficult, is using your handbrake such a pain?

I'd be inclined to take your mum for a few drives and to show her how easy it is and try and build up her confidence.

facade

I'd have thought most of the new breed of "automatic" have an anti-roll back feature, given that drivers of "proper" torque converter automatics have relied for years on the creep to keep them still, or simply keep their left foot on the brake. (to the annoyance of the car behind, as that high level brake light shines in their eyes).

(I stopped doing this when I got the woeful Renault Nee-San, as the slightest contamination on the front discs from holding the brake on a warm disc causes the steering to oscillate violently under braking, and costs a new pair of brake discs every few thousand miles. Now I just pull the handbrake on to stop it crashing into the car in front- it never rolls back.)

rach_k

Would it be worth spending a few hours with a driving instructor, in her car, to give her confidence and offer a few tips? It sounds cheaper than buying a new car and, honestly, she should be able to do it herself anyway.

sonypc100

neilmcl wrote: »

Are hill starts with automatics really that difficult, is using your handbrake such a pain?

I'd be inclined to take your mum for a few drives and to show her how easy it is and try and build up her confidence.

Its easy for me and maybe its easy for you but its not for her.

sonypc100

facade wrote: »

I'd have thought most of the new breed of "automatic" have an anti-roll back feature, given that drivers of "proper" torque converter automatics have relied for years on the creep to keep them still, or simply keep their left foot on the brake. (to the annoyance of the car behind, as that high level brake light shines in their eyes).

(I stopped doing this when I got the woeful Renault Nee-San, as the slightest contamination on the front discs from holding the brake on a warm disc causes the steering to oscillate violently under braking, and costs a new pair of brake discs every few thousand miles. Now I just pull the handbrake on to stop it crashing into the car in front- it never rolls back.)

Its not even a new breed thing, even auto's in the 70's had hill assist, if anything they have gone backwards by removing it.

This is a 2014 model and VW have omitted it.