Any cars with a clutch and a foot-operated parking brake?

[Pupik]

Stupid question, but I was wondering if any automaker ever tried a "four pedal" car with the setup of gas, brake, clutch, parking-brake?

I know it makes almost no sense, but I imagine somehow an automaker tried it.

 

[disinfected]

I used to drive a 15-pax van in the Air Force with a parking brake pedal...but I guess that didn't have a clutch, so irrelevant.

 

[Dennisch]

Stupid question, but I was wondering if any automaker ever tried a "four pedal" car with the setup of gas, brake, clutch, parking-brake?

I know it makes almost no sense, but I imagine somehow an automaker tried it.

Mercedes.

Parking brake. Clutch. Brake. Gaspedal.

Chevrolet. (At least my dads 1970 Bel Air)

 

[MatskiMonk]

Yeah, Mercedes used to have a foot operated parking brake, push with foot, pull lever on dash to lock, release foot.

 

[Dennisch]

Yeah, Mercedes used to have a foot operated parking brake, push with foot, pull lever on dash to lock, release foot.

Mom's 2006 Sportcoupe still has it.

 

[Pupik]

Yeah, Mercedes used to have a foot operated parking brake, push with foot, pull lever on dash to lock, release foot.

Which models, years (don't go Wxxx on me, either). In America, clutches on most Mercedes-Benzes are non-existent in the past 10-20 years, save for a few models.

 

[disinfected]

Yeah, Mercedes used to have a foot operated parking brake, push with foot, pull lever on dash to lock, release foot.

Most vans, box trucks, and other larger vehicles have something similar.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Which models, years (don't go Wxxx on me, either). In America, clutches on most Mercedes-Benzes are non-existent in the past 10-20 years, save for a few models.

Well, the only one I know about was a late nineties C-class estate, it was a company car until it got written of by another Mercedes, a sprinter van.

 

[aadil717]

Wouldn't that be inconvenient on say a hill with a traffic light?

 

[Joey D]

Wouldn't that be inconvenient on say a hill with a traffic light?

Why would you use parking brake on a hill with a manual? You just ease off the brake as you ease into the gas (to be simple about it).

 

[Dennisch]

Which models, years (don't go Wxxx on me, either). In America, clutches on most Mercedes-Benzes are non-existent in the past 10-20 years, save for a few models.

From let's say 1990 on, the C class, the E class. Vito, Sprinter. I think I have never seen a Benz with a handoperated parkingbrake?

 

[Kylehnat]

Why would you use parking brake on a hill with a manual? You just ease off the brake as you ease into the gas (to be simple about it).

Try that on some of the hills in Seattle. You'll roll backwards about 10 feet in a half-second.

 

[Anna+Reece]

This may sound odd, but the 2010-on Kia Sorento is available with a 6-Speed manual, and those have floor-mounted parking brakes.

 

[savage388]

Why would you use parking brake on a hill with a manual? You just ease off the brake as you ease into the gas (to be simple about it).

That doesnt always work quick enough, especially with some inconsiderate 🤬 at your bumper.
On subject, most the pickups I've seen have this setup .

 

[opelgt1969]

This is close to what my 2000 Dodge Dakota pedals look like

 

[Grayfox]

Try that on some of the hills in Seattle. You'll roll backwards about 10 feet in a half-second.

For things like this you will need my friend 9-iron.

Just use him to apply throttle, grab friction with the clutch and foot off normal brake.

 

[Azuremen]

Try that on some of the hills in Seattle. You'll roll backwards about 10 feet in a half-second.

I do it all the time in Seattle.

That is, not use the E-brake. There is no need if you are smooth with using pedals, especially if you are comfortable with heel and toe.

When I was 16 and had no clue what I was doing in a manual, I use to get a bit nervous about it, but I mean it didn't seem that hard to sort out.

 

[niky]

Many Korean crossovers and vans use the four-pedal. Absolutely irritating.

I hate having to practice heel-and-toe just to get up a hill in traffic.

 

[Juiposa]

Yep, as said above, all the Mercs have a foot operated parking brake. So if you get a C-class with a stick then you get four pedals 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

Why would you use parking brake on a hill with a manual? You just ease off the brake as you ease into the gas (to be simple about it).

So you don't have to stand on the brake at traffic lights

 

[Keef]

My dad's 1993 Ranger has the four-pedal setup. Every single manual-transmission truck or van I've ever driven has that same setup. Every bench-seat car with a manual transmission I've driven has that same setup.

Basically, pretty much every single manual-transmission car before the advent of the center console had the four-pedal design. For the most part it only still exists in pickup trucks or vans.

And Joey, as others have said, the parking brake is very helpful on steep hills so you don't roll backwards. Usually it's not an issue for me but every now and then I find a hill that is ridiculous, or a car rolls up really close behind me. The parking brake trick is easier with a hand lever but doable with a foot pedal.

 

[DQuaN]

Citroen XM. I used to drive one. Hill starts were tricky to begin with but I got the hang of it pretty quickly!

 

[Joey D]

And Joey, as others have said, the parking brake is very helpful on steep hills so you don't roll backwards. Usually it's not an issue for me but every now and then I find a hill that is ridiculous, or a car rolls up really close behind me. The parking brake trick is easier with a hand lever but doable with a foot pedal.

I don't even drive a manual and I have no problems with hill starts when I do, it can't be that hard.

 

[nobuffalo]

I guess not everyone is as skilled as you, clutches should last the life of the car and then some but that also doesn't happen.

I drove up some nasty hills in traffic in downtown San Fran in the Miata pulling a trailer with a moped on it, I didn't have any problems rolling back but I wouldn't expect everyone to be the same. Seattle has some gnarly hills too. When I first started driving I used the e-brake to take off from some hills till I got used to it.

Only vehicles I can recall with the 4 pedals is a Ranger and a F350 work truck I used to drive but I haven't driven a large variety.

 

[land sea air]

From let's say 1990 on, the C class, the E class. Vito, Sprinter. I think I have never seen a Benz with a handoperated parkingbrake?

SLKs have a hand brake. I believe the old 190e was also a handbrake

Why would you use parking brake on a hill with a manual? You just ease off the brake as you ease into the gas (to be simple about it).

Many people use the hand brake to make it easier to get going on steep hills or in tight situations where you don't want the car to move at all while transitioning from brake to gas.


As for the original question, the only vehicle where I noticed 4 pedals and thought it odd was a CTS.

 

[Joey D]

I guess not everyone is as skilled as you, clutches should last the life of the car and then some but that also doesn't happen.

Thing is, I'm not skilled at all, in fact I'm pretty bad at driving a manual since I don't do it that often. If you rode with me you'd probably shake your head with how not smooth I am.

 

[nobuffalo]

If you rode with me you'd probably shake your head with how not smooth I am.

Only if you were in my car.

 

[niky]

I don't even drive a manual and I have no problems with hill starts when I do, it can't be that hard.

Which means you've never had to pay for the damage clumsy hill starts do to the clutch.

Not every car has 1,000,000 foot pounds of torque and can start to climb just off-idle.

That said, I have no problems with hill starts... but my mechanical sympathy twinges whenever I have to do them in a car with dodgy clutch take-up and a weedy torque curve.

 

[Keef]

a weedy torque curve.

Not to mention old cars that don't have clutch dampers that allow you to drop trou without your passengers even noticing, while stabbing an electronic throttle with molasses-at-best response.

I can feather the clutch and gas simultaneously while pulling away to make for a perfectly smooth transition, but it's simply impossible to not roll backwards without the hand brake.

 

[savage388]

Which means you've never had to pay for the damage clumsy hill starts do to the clutch.

Not every car has 1,000,000 foot pounds of torque and can start to climb just off-idle.

That said, I have no problems with hill starts... but my mechanical sympathy twinges whenever I have to do them in a car with dodgy clutch take-up and a weedy torque curve.

Having to really rev a 1.6 liter wagon while knowingly burning clutch and not being able to do anything about it sucks but thats how I learned and it teaches lessons, plenty of them.

Not to mention old cars that don't have clutch dampers that allow you to drop trou without your passengers even noticing, while stabbing an electronic throttle with molasses-at-best response.

I can feather the clutch and gas simultaneously while pulling away to make for a perfectly smooth transition, but it's simply impossible to not roll backwards without the hand brake.

True. I do believe that in my state if a car is closer than 6 inches behind you at a red light on a hill it's there fault if you hit them.