[Dante]

Originally Posted by ake109

I actually would NOT consider the earlier body style STIs as I found them too loud. This 08 model is very different and I like it a lot more. I actually never considered the Impreza (was eyeing the Legacy GT) but after seeing the 08 STI in the flesh and then test driving one, I was sold.

But the Hill Start Assist REALLY irks me! (if it functions like what some of the previous posters wrote).

The idea of a manual car stalling on me when I try to move off** due to the damn computer locking up all four of my beautific Brembos is VERY VERY WRONG!

**Me being the skillful manual trans driver that I am....

I'm a somewhat experienced manual driver and I don't have any issue with it. 95% of the new STi drivers will learn the hill start assist and then never worry about it again. It's honestly not a big deal and if this is the biggest fault you can find with the car, then you'd be crazy not to buy one.

That being said, this thread is for folks that want to disable it. More power to them if they figure it out. :thumbsup:

[DrPhyzx]

Originally Posted by ake109

I actually would NOT consider the earlier body style STIs as I found them too loud. This 08 model is very different and I like it a lot more. I actually never considered the Impreza (was eyeing the Legacy GT) but after seeing the 08 STI in the flesh and then test driving one, I was sold.

But the Hill Start Assist REALLY irks me! (if it functions like what some of the previous posters wrote).

The idea of a manual car stalling on me when I try to move off** due to the damn computer locking up all four of my beautific Brembos is VERY VERY WRONG!

**Me being the skillful manual trans driver that I am....

I've been sitting on the sidelines with some thoughts but no time to post. However, this seems to be getting blown out of proportion for those who haven't driven one so I'll add my observations.

- It appears to me that the system uses a combination of factors to decide whether to hold. In particular, it seems like both the slope, and how hard the brake is depressed have an effect. This could explain why it seems to be inconsistent in its action.

- The system holds the brake exactly how hard you are holding it yourself before letting up on the pedal. So, if you don't just mash the pedal to the floor when you are stopped, but rather apply just enough brake to keep yourself from rolling, then that little bit of braking after you let go is easily overcome without killing the engine.

- The system doesn't hold unless you are depressing both the brake and the clutch for some minimum period of time (at least a second or two). As a result, I find that when I sit upslope at a light, I now shift to neutral so that I am only holding the brake. Then, when the light changes and I am ready to go, I shift to first and go (the hill-holder doesn't engage).

Yes, the system has annoyed me at times, and I have almost killed the engine a few times too, but after about 1500 miles, I seem to be automatically adapting my style as above so I don't even notice it any more. There are also times (e.g. in my driveway which is easily a 20% grade) when I take advantage of it. Unfortunately, that is an extreme case and I imagine very few drivers that are comfortable in this car ever have any use for it at all.

[Halogene]

Great breakdown. Thanks for giving us your observations!

[ake109]

Thanks for all the replies!

I would really need to go for another test drive on a slope before I buy. This next test drive would be done entirely on a slope!

And like what someone said earlier, its daft that you can have 3 throttle maps, 6 DCCD manual locking levels, 3 DCCD auto modes and 3 Traction/VDC modes but no option to switch off the freakin Hill-Start-Hindrance.

[UberWagon]

Well this thread makes me feel better. I couldn't understand why I kept stalling the damn car in a test drive (I used to have an '04). The hill assist on my FXT isn't that bad and is easy to get used to, hopefully someone will be able to figure out how to disable this one.

I will be following this thread's progress!

[mondojava]

I've tested this function for a few days now, since first reading this thread. My daily commute includes a couple of upslope stops at red lights. Seems to me that the system disengages as soon as the clutch begins to engage. I haven't sensed the time delay that others have mentioned. Not sure about how brake pedal pressure effects it. I'll have to play with that variable next. Overall, after getting used to it, I like it.

[SlackerNJ]

Funny story... My father (an ex race car driver, now has moved on to motorcycles) came out to visit and drove the car for the first time. He was loving it until about 10 minutes into the drive when he stopped at an uphill light and a charger pulled up behind him. Green means go and he went for a serious launch...only to stall because the brakes were on. He prides himself in never having been in a single accident in nearly 30 years, but that charger barely stopped in time. He was so pissed that he drove strait to the nearest subaru dealer (not even the one I use) just to yell at them about it. While he was venting, the dealership told him that they could not disable a "safety" feature but they could adjust it... Hmmm... will have to look into what he meant exactly.

[jrdriller]

guys, if you really don't like HSA just use the hand brake (either properly or just pull the hand brake up 1 click, dont forget to relase it after you're on your again )

[ploney]

Originally Posted by SlackerNJ

Funny story... My father (an ex race car driver, now has moved on to motorcycles) came out to visit and drove the car for the first time. He was loving it until about 10 minutes into the drive when he stopped at an uphill light and a charger pulled up behind him. Green means go and he went for a serious launch...only to stall because the brakes were on. He prides himself in never having been in a single accident in nearly 30 years, but that charger barely stopped in time. He was so pissed that he drove strait to the nearest subaru dealer (not even the one I use) just to yell at them about it. While he was venting, the dealership told him that they could not disable a "safety" feature but they could adjust it... Hmmm... will have to look into what he meant exactly.

That dealer is confusing the hill holder clutch available on the previous generation Forester(I have one still) with the new hill start assist function present now. The hil holder clutch had mechanical adjustments because it released with the postiiton of the clutch when releasing the clutch. New system only uses the position of the brake(probably the tail lamp on/off sensor) and then counts to 1 full second and then releases the brake vacuum assist present present at the time. I posted the tech. article months ago.
That dealer is wrong!

[Rexspeedworthy]

The hill-holder on my 85 Brat works better than the 08 STi. 23 years later, and we get worse technology.

[SlackerNJ]

Originally Posted by ploney

That dealer is confusing the hill holder clutch available on the previous generation Forester(I have one still) with the new hill start assist function present now. The hil holder clutch had mechanical adjustments because it released with the postiiton of the clutch when releasing the clutch. New system only uses the position of the brake(probably the tail lamp on/off sensor) and then counts to 1 full second and then releases the brake vacuum assist present present at the time. I posted the tech. article months ago.
That dealer is wrong!

I talked to someone else at the same dealership today. This guy didn't really sound too confident but seemed to say that the 1 second timer was adjustable via programing. cause if this thing only worked for a 10th of a second that would be infinitely better. I mean, if it takes you a full second to move your foot 3 inches from one pedal to the other... you should shoot yourself in that foot and get rid of your sports car cause you don't deserve it. Either that or maybe, just maybe learn how to drive a stick properly!! I could have a snack and make a phone call in the amount of time I wait for the thing to release.

[ake109]

Originally Posted by SlackerNJ

I talked to someone else at the same dealership today. This guy didn't really sound too confident but seemed to say that the 1 second timer was adjustable via programing. cause if this thing only worked for a 10th of a second that would be infinitely better. I mean, if it takes you a full second to move your foot 3 inches from one pedal to the other... you should shoot yourself in that foot and get rid of your sports car cause you don't deserve it. Either that or maybe, just maybe learn how to drive a stick properly!! I could have a snack and make a phone call in the amount of time I wait for the thing to release.

Yeah, we need another KNOB. A DCHH. Driver Controlled Hill Holder.

Sets from 0.0001 seconds to 10 seconds.

[julesrules07]

I bought the 09 Forester not knowing about the hill assist feature. I'm new to manual transmission driving and have been having a TERRIBLE time at hill starts (i get around on flat ground okay).

I took a professional lesson and was able to momentarily hold the instructor's car on an incline using the clutch, letting up on the brake and then giving it gas and go. Well i tried this technique on the forester and it did not work a single time, stalling BADLY each and everytime ("bucking bronco" or "bunny hopping" style).

Is this the "evil" hill assist preventing me from using this method? How would you recommend I learn to do hill starts with the hill assist?

Please help, I'm tired of being afraid to drive! (and i live in San Francisco! so I really need to learn hills fast!)

[Joel-STi]

Originally Posted by julesrules07

How would you recommend I learn to do hill starts with the hill assist?

Just have to wait for the assist to time out (slight roll back) then go. Problem for a lot of people here is that it doesn't seem to be very consistent when it wants to assist.

[jermdeez]

Wow, this is so lame. It seems like subaru created a feature that actually impairs people who have a clue how to drive a stick.........anyone who buys an sti w/o knowing how to drive a stick is a real jerkoff IMO, unless you have a helluv a reason.

Hill start, traction control

Good to see research dollars are being wasted on completely useless ****.

Does it prevent from launching hard? maybe they are trying to keep people from beatin on the cars?