[HASTIhatch]

Most of you know that the 08s now have brake assist--a feature with which I'm familiar only because I had it on my 07 BMW 335 coupe. For those of you who may not be familiar with it, the purpose is to help the car not roll up or down hill while stopped on a hill/gradient. What happens, is, say you're parking or driving up or down a San Francisco hill. Normally, you'd take your foot off the break and have to quickly engage the clutch and gas so as to prevent the car from rolling into the curb or the car in front or back of you. Or, of course, you could use the ebrake. Now, the brake assist function basically takes the place of manually using the ebrake. Ie., you're on the hill, stopped, you take your foot of the brake, and bam, brake assist holds your car in place for a couple of seconds until you engage the clutch and gas it and get moving.

Ideally, this would be a smooth process. But anyone notice, from time to time, their brake assist feature being rather sticky? That is, from time to time (perhaps 5% of the time), I find the brake assist holding the car in place for slightly too long. And as I apply the gas/clutch, since it's still holding on to the car, as soon as it releases, the car kind of rockets out or breaks free from the brake assist hold rather abruptly, not smoothly, and I don't think this is supposed to be happening. I realize it may have to do with how I'm engaging the clutch and gas but this should *not* be happening, no matter how I choose to engage the clutch/gas. On the bimmer, as soon as you touch the clutch/gas there was always a seemless exit from the brake assist, and it should be the same for our cars.

I did do a brief search for this on the forums and didn't see anything. If there's already a thread on this forum, please let me know. Otherwise I'd be really interested to get some feedback.

[CFar]

I remember seeing mention of the feature before and no one liked it. I think its a good idea (especially if my wife ever needs to drive) but in my experience it almost never engages. I need to remind myself to push the clutch ALL the way to the bottom, not the couple mm back from the fire wall I usually only push it.

[BlueF]

I believe Subaru calls this feature "hill-holder", or at least they used to (had it in my first 86 Subie).

Here's a long thread with other 08 STI ownser's experiences (on this feature):
08 Incline Start Assisst Feature??

For what it's worth, I also find this feature engages on flat ground and can make for odd starts. Getting better now that I'm up to 3k miles... not sure if I'm less prone to notice it, or if I've adjusted my driving (less roll at a stop, taking foot off brake sooner before taking off)?

Personally, despite the buggy operation, I find this to be phenomenal feature. I've been driving manual transmission cars for $15+ years and still find this a brilliant convenience.

Too those who say this is unnecessary, I'll listen to you when you turn in your keyless entry, power windows, and perhaps even your electric starter motor (crank start anyone)? When this feature *works*, it's another modern vehicle convenience. Take it or leave it, but don't be ridiculous and say it has no purpose or is for bad/lazy drivers. : P

[polyol]

Originally Posted by BlueF

I

Too those who say this is unnecessary, I'll listen to you when you turn in your keyless entry, power windows, and perhaps even your electric starter motor (crank start anyone)? When this feature *works*, it's another modern vehicle convenience. Take it or leave it, but don't be ridiculous and say it has no purpose or is for bad/lazy drivers. : P

Its not just unnecessary...its damn near worthless...I rank it just below the auto parallel parking feature finding its way into new cars.

I dont like gimmics messing around with my clutch/brakes/steering...and im not talking about boosters like power steering or power barkes either. Putting it on the same level as electronic starters and power windows is non-sense.

[Tweaked]

I have found this quite valueable on some of the steep hills Seattle area. However, I've also noticed a few notchy releases and when it does this on small inclines it catches me off guard (almost stalled a couple of times). Maybe I need to get used to it? I'd like to be able to adjust this and/or turn it off.

[waktasz]

I'll paypal $5 to whoever figures out how to disable this.

[MJKustom]

to disable it turn off the traction control.

[waktasz]

That doesn't turn it off.

[Dave]

It still catches me out at work from time to time. I've stalled before because of the hill-assist feature when we first started getting 08 STi's in. I had been driving older models for most of the morning and when I climbed into an 08 I totally forgot. It's not usually a problem in S and S# but if you are in i i fount you definetly have to give it more gas than I'm used to.

I usually just remedy the problem by starting in S and then going to i once I'm on the open roads.

[HASTIhatch]

Yes--and my other question was going to be... how the heck can we disable it? Someone will figure out a way I'm sure.

[HASTIhatch]

FYI, if you live in a hilly area, this features is especially helpful, when, say parking. I just don't think it should be as sticky as it is.

[MJKustom]

with the traction control totaly off it should disable the incline assist. thats what subaru says

[howboutthemapplz]

i think these options should be on luxury cars... honestly. i am not trying to hate on the 08's, i think they look good..

but c'mon, this is not a lexus. it's taking away from what the car is supposed to be...

STi = drive easy until warm then beat it up. (it was made for that).

08 STi = you have to push a button to tell it that you are ready to go fast?!?!
the 08 is NOT an STi IMHO...
The enthusiast of a car should never have to rely on the ECU/car to help them brake, not roll back on a hill, or anything.

I dont mean to rant, or bash the 08's. i like them, just finnicky things like these new "features" i think are retarded...

[BuzSTid]

so, is it possible to have the car default to traction control off mode?

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by howboutthemapplz

i08 STi = you have to push a button to tell it that you are ready to go fast?!?!
the 08 is NOT an STi IMHO...
The enthusiast of a car should never have to rely on the ECU/car to help them brake, not roll back on a hill, or anything.

I dont mean to rant, or bash the 08's. i like them, just finnicky things like these new "features" i think are retarded...

While I don't think Hill Assist is a great feature, I don't get your sort of thinking.

All STis have a DCCD control module which takes input from various sensors (brakes, wheel speed, etc) and controls the lockup of the centre differential. We've had this here since '04. Sport ABS keeps your car straight under emergency braking by adjusting the brakes at each wheel independently. The front and rear LSDs help you lay down the power out of a corner. Does that mean 04-07 drivers aren't enthusiasts because they have to rely on the car to do these things for them?

Having Hill Assist does not make the new STI any less of an enthusiast car. VDC and TCS are quite useful features as well for situations where simple modulation of the throttle is insufficient to maintain directional stability or maximize acceleration (e.g. pure ice surfaces, loose/packed snow up a steep hill, etc.)