New Mk4 owner very soon..but now worried!

[Cobb2]

Jazzfreak - I'm not sure if you have driven autos before but personally having now driven a range of hybrid autos for the last 10 years I wouldnt want to go back to a manual. I can still drive a manual easily but not having a clutch to push down every few minutes in slow traffic or jams is really great. In fact when I had my first auto - a hybrid Prius, I actually quite enjoyed being in traffic jams!  Take your time getting the hang of it - and you should find it much easier in the end.

[Kremmen]

Same experience here

You can select a far more comfy seat position not having to floor a clutch. Just 2 pedals, go and stop

My boss loaned me his auto Austin 2200 back in about 1972 and I've been buying autos ever since as I was so impressed

Just as a regular reminder my company used to always provide a manual pool car for client visits and they reminded me how much more work and inconvenience they were to me

Each to their own though

Just don't be persuaded to use both feet, drive like a manual with your right foot operating both pedals

[madasafish]

I have driven autos and manuals regularly over the past 35 years.
Autos are far better in traffic.
Anyone who claims manuals are best obviously enjoys a 4 mile tailback on motorways on a scorching hot day doing stop/start motoring  .

The situation in the UK is likely to get far worse due to lack of money.
Although my Jazz is auto, I still drive  a manual Yaris occasionally  but .....hate it in traffic.

[Lord Voltermore]

I had only  driven manual cars for over 50 years apart from a couple of brief drives in an automatic in the 1980's. It only tyook me a short drive to get used to the automatic  hybrid, and would never want to go back to manual.  I do still occasionally drive  a manual. but occasionally forget to declutch and change gears 

 It did take me a few seconds to  get used to the surreal  sensation in a hybrid  where the stationary car is absolutely silent ,yet still moves off   when you press the accelerator  (Plus you dont even need  to release the handbrake  )

The electric handbrake is no problem.  .  You just apply it with a flick of the finger whenever you would apply a conventional handbrake. It releases automatically when you move off. You wont roll back on hill starts due to the hill start assist function, which automatically keeps brakes applied until you have applied enough acceleration for  the cars drive to take over holding the car on  the hill.(electric motors - no need for gears)    Better still is the 'brake hold' function.  If you switch this on  and brake to a stop the car maintains the brake pressure even after you take your foot off the pedal. Great in stop/start traffic as you dont need to apply (or release) the handbrake   - plus no need for all that  declutching and going into  and out of neutral.   

You wont be alone in being nervous of a  new fangled hybrid automatic with all its clever tricks.   Please folks.  You will soon love it  , and you can drive the car without needing to know how to work all of its bells and whistles.  But take your time and try to learn as many as possible  - they can be very useful.   

[ColinS]

My only piece of advice is to keep your left foot firmly planted on the floor.  There is a temptation to dip the clutch (especially when coming to a complete stop), instead you will hit the brake pedal with your left foot, which is quite abrupt.

Some people do things like removing their left shoe to remind themselves.

But in a very short period of time you will be driving it as second nature and you will never look back.

[Cobb2]

Jazzfreak - as far as the spare tyre consider if you need it. We had a spare tyre kit from a previous Mk 3 Jazz but as you know it can’t be fitted in the boot of a MK4. Yes having a spare can give you peace of mind, but in reality if you have a puncture the tyre sealant kit may or may not work and you could put your spare on. However, would you do that yourself or get the breakdown service to do it for you which is much safer in most circumstances. Breakdown services, I believe, usually carry a universal fitting kit as a temporary spare to get you to a suitable destination although obviously you would need to drive carefully.
When we changed to a Mk4, I actually sold the spare and fitting kit. In the end you can weigh up the pros and cons and decide for yourself what you want to do.

[Tombola]

When I got my Mk4 I ordered a full size spare wheel and toolkit which I keep in the boot, not had much problem when doing weekly shop or loading up for a tip run, when the Mk 4 was first released I went to view one and asked the salesman about the lack of a spare wheel, " Oh you just call out breakdown and they have a universal spare to fit, he will then follow you to a tyre repair centre" late at night, or early hours, miles from anywhere, I don't think so, what a load of faff, having a spare will hopefully have me on my way much quicker     

[Lord Voltermore]

Here is my full sized spare in the boot. It fits quite snugly, still leaving quite a bit of  luggage space.

I dont think you will find it suitable  on the rear footwell with the magic seat up. Its not secure and on the mk4 the magic seats reduce rear  visibility.

[Cobb2]

Tombola - its true if you are travelling at particular times or places it could be more inconvenient to not have a spare with you but for most local and day to day journeys it really isn't. However that's a choice we all make individually ( if there is room in the car for one) and if necessary by all means carry a spare. As I said it can give peace of mind but without opening the debate on pros and cons of carrying a spare, tyre sealant, and perhaps potential pothole problems, many people rarely get punctures over many years and if they do they are often slow punctures which can be dealt with when needed. Obviously, Jazzfreak must of course make his own decisions on this.  If Jazzfreak is going to carry a spare it certainly is safer to carry it in the boot as some do rather than in the rear with seat up up. Having the seat up can very slightly reduce rear vision as LV says, compared to the MK3 and you don't want a loose wheel there in an accident either although you probably could restrain it some way.

[KJazz]

Don't know about the braking as I've had no problem. As to the auto hand brake, it's brilliant.  You push the little green button before you move off in D and the handbrake comes on when ever you stop, like for a light.
As a dedicated handbrake user, I like this. The dealership should show you all the little driving bits before the test drive.

[Tombola]

Tombola - its true if you are travelling at particular times or places it could be more inconvenient to not have a spare with you but for most local and day to day journeys it really isn't. However that's a choice we all make individually ( if there is room in the car for one) and if necessary by all means carry a spare. As I said it can give peace of mind but without opening the debate on pros and cons of carrying a spare, tyre sealant, and perhaps potential pothole problems, many people rarely get punctures over many years and if they do they are often slow punctures which can be dealt with when needed. Obviously, Jazzfreak must of course make his own decisions on this.  If Jazzfreak is going to carry a spare it certainly is safer to carry it in the boot as some do rather than in the rear with seat up up. Having the seat up can very slightly reduce rear vision as LV says, compared to the MK3 and you don't want a loose wheel there in an accident either although you probably could restrain it some way.

Cobb, I agree with your comments, being old school I just feel I have to have a spare, hope I never need it 

[Jazzfreak]

Here is my full sized spare in the boot. It fits quite snugly, still leaving quite a bit of  luggage space.

I dont think you will find it suitable  on the rear footwell with the magic seat up. Its not secure and on the mk4 the magic seats reduce rear  visibility.

Interesting! I’ve got a Jack and wheel brace/wrench. But..not that cover. Looks nice and tidy. Where did you get that cover? And is it called a spare wheel cover? I mean is that it’s actual function or is it something you’ve adapted?. Many thanks and I see you’ve secured it with a strap.

[Jazzfreak]

As well as 3 year warranty you will have 3 years breakdown cover.

What! Is that right? Wow, I didn’t know that. Nobody tells you these things,well they didn’t tell me that when I bought my Mk 3.
It came with a service plan and I found out the breakdown cover came with that plan( just by accident).

Maybe the new car has a service plan? I don’t know .
 But I am not buying from a Honda dealership so they probably don’t know or care!

[Jazzfreak]

I had only  driven manual cars for over 50 years apart from a couple of brief drives in an automatic in the 1980's. It only tyook me a short drive to get used to the automatic  hybrid, and would never want to go back to manual.  I do still occasionally drive  a manual. but occasionally forget to declutch and change gears 

 It did take me a few seconds to  get used to the surreal  sensation in a hybrid  where the stationary car is absolutely silent ,yet still moves off   when you press the accelerator  (Plus you dont even need  to release the handbrake  )

The electric handbrake is no problem.  .  You just apply it with a flick of the finger whenever you would apply a conventional handbrake. It releases automatically when you move off. You wont roll back on hill starts due to the hill start assist function, which automatically keeps brakes applied until you have applied enough acceleration for  the cars drive to take over holding the car on  the hill.(electric motors - no need for gears)    Better still is the 'brake hold' function.  If you switch this on  and brake to a stop the car maintains the brake pressure even after you take your foot off the pedal. Great in stop/start traffic as you dont need to apply (or release) the handbrake   - plus no need for all that  declutching and going into  and out of neutral.   

You wont be alone in being nervous of a  new fangled hybrid automatic with all its clever tricks.   Please folks.  You will soon love it  , and you can drive the car without needing to know how to work all of its bells and whistles.  But take your time and try to learn as many as possible  - they can be very useful.

The middle section: Brake hold? So the brake hold maintains brake pressure. So you don’t need to apply/ release handbrake.. ok got that..but when you drive off do you need to release ‘brake hold?’ If so then it’s just the same as a handbrake then ? I’ve probably misunderstood. Or when you start to move the brake hold deactivates?

Sorry for all the questions. And yes first automatic. Is there a biting nails/scared emoji?

[Jazzfreak]

Oh and it took me 12 months to learn how to deactivate that flaming tyre pressure warning light which came on when on longer journeys and was false most of the time except once.

And I noticed on my test drive for the one I am buying the old tyre warning light was illuminated! I pointed it out to the salesman but he didn’t know how to deactivate it (Peugeot dealer )…so I will now need to find out that again,.,unless he has sorted it prior to delivery.