Getting a MK4 perhaps.

[edam]

Im trying to talk myself into getting a MK 4
With my Mk3 I quite often "hand brake on into Neutral" when stuck in traffic mainly to keep my right knee happy.
How good is this "Brake Hold" thingy

[JB]

I find it very good, always use it, only thing I don't like is it leaves your brake lights on.

[jasonevans]

Brake hold works really well .
When you come to s stop you just take your foot off the pedals and it holds it there.
When you next press the gas pedal it automatically releases.

Going from a MK3 to a MK4 is quite a big step up in creature comforts .
I don't regret going from MK3 to MK4.  Especially as over 50% of my journey is stop start so mostly goes on electric with the ICE motor kicking in every now and again to give a quick charge to the battery.

Nice on a motorway as well as it's got adaptive cruie control so it makes it a bit more relaxing.
Plus you have got Andriod Auto / Apple car play etc.

[Downsizer]

I use Brake hold every trip and have had no problems.

[Nicksey]

I never use brake hold, and never will.
I much prefer the hand brake lever. On at stops.. lift up and away you go. Just like a traditional hand brake really.
.. and I'm not dazzling the driver behind me, nor relying on something that a slip of the foot would cause me to jump forward.

[Lord Voltermore]

I love brake hold in stop/start traffic. . You brake to a stop. Take your foot off the brake and thats it. The car doesnt move.  No applying handbrake,no depressing the clutch pedal , no going into neutral.   You can now  flex  both knees if you want.  But I accept Nickseys concern. You need to  be careful not to inadvertently  touch the throttle or the car  will move off.  But its not hard disciplining yourself to avoid doing this(IMO)   But when its time to move off you will really appreciate not having to depress a clutch , select a gear  or release  the handbrake. Simples.It may sound decadent and lazy but its amazing how much palaver it saves you in stop/ start traffic.  Traffic jams become a doddle,almost a pleasure 

Brake lights  do remain on  which could  dazzle or annoy others.IMO  this is only likely at night. If I find other cars are starting to dazzle me  I stop using brake hold so  I  wont inflict it on others. .  But the alternative is also  simple.   Just apply  the electric handbrake switch  instead at each stop with a flick of a finger.  Still no need to go into neutral, or release the handbrake when moving off. The car does this for you.   
 

[coldstart]

Im trying to talk myself into getting a MK 4
With my Mk3 I quite often "hand brake on into Neutral" when stuck in traffic mainly to keep my right knee happy.
How good is this "Brake Hold" thingy

If you are near a Honda dealership do plan for a test drive and give it a go (or stop)   yourself.
The MK4 is a joy to drive and truly excells in stop-and-go traffic while being very fuel-efficient at the same time!

[ColinB]

Im trying to talk myself into getting a MK 4
With my Mk3 I quite often "hand brake on into Neutral" when stuck in traffic mainly to keep my right knee happy.
How good is this "Brake Hold" thingy

I’m old school like you, I was taught to use the hand (parking) brake and I continue to do that, but I’m not sure I understand the problem you’re trying to solve here. Your profile says your Mk3 is a CVT, so you’re already well used to having just two pedals, both of which need your right leg & knee. I presume you then apply the parking brake so can take your right foot off the brake pedal (you don’t keep your foot on the pedal, do you??). The Mk4 is no different: you brake to a stop and then either apply the parking brake (which is a simple electrical switch rather than the big lever) or let the brake hold thingy hold you in position. So I can’t see how the Mk4 controls will be significantly different for your right knee.

Personally, as the driver behind you in the traffic queue, I’m not a big fan of brake hold because of the light issue. It’s hardly difficult to avoid it by using the parking brake, but so many drivers these days simply can’t be bothered. What does that say about how attentive and considerate they are?

[emp]

thanks to this discussion I tried brake and hold today. Works great. But as I understand it the break lights stay on?  I think I will then turn it off when having used it. It is handy sometimes. Automatic transmission alone is already way easier than manual gears. Especially when standing before a traffic light when the road is sloping upward.

[coldstart]

... Automatic transmission alone is already way easier than manual gears. Especially when standing before a traffic light when the road is sloping upward.

Please don't "hold" the car without braking (and/or putting it into P)!
You are putting an enormous strain on the system if you simply let the electric motor hold the car steady on a light slope! On a prolonged stay the system might even overheat.

Quote from the manual (section: >>Parking Your Vehicle>When Stopped):
When facing uphill, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal.
Doing so may cause the power system to overheat and fail.

[emp]

... Automatic transmission alone is already way easier than manual gears. Especially when standing before a traffic light when the road is sloping upward.

Please don't "hold" the car without braking (and/or putting it into P)!
You are putting an enormous strain on the system if you simply let the electric motor hold the car steady on a light slope! On a prolonged stay the system might even overheat.

Quote from the manual (section: >>Parking Your Vehicle>When Stopped):
When facing uphill, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal.
Doing so may cause the power system to overheat and fail.

thanks. This is my first automatic transmission. I always press on the break when I need to stop in front of a traffic light, and then keep pressing on the break. But now I also tried "break and hold" yesterday (then you can take the foot off the break).  I think what you mean is that because the road is sloping up the car will not move when I take the foot off the break? I never do that. If the road is horizontal then one needs to press the break in front of a traffic light (or use break and hold) else it will move forward.

My point is that with the manual gear cars I had so far you need to work with the break, clutch and gas. On a steep upward slope in front of a traffic light this requires some practice. Now with my Honda you can just take your foot of the break and press the gas. Or when using "break and hold" you can just press the gas. The car will not move backward. It is easy and smooth.

[ColinB]

I always press on the break when I need to stop in front of a traffic light, and then keep pressing on the break.

In the UK, this is regarded as bad practice (and may even be a test failure?). That's because the car will move if your foot slips off the brake pedal (NB "brake", not "break"), I was taught always to use the hand brake (aka parking brake). In a modern car (such as the Mk4 Jazz) with the brake hold feature, you don't need to use the hand brake because the brake hold keeps the brakes on and stops the car moving. Although personally, as I've commented before, that keeps the brake lights illuminated which can be an issue for a driver behind you particularly at night or in wet weather. It's not difficult to use the hand brake.

[emp]

yes sorry it is brake, not break. My first language is Dutch. As far as I know this is common practice if you need to stop before a traffic light to just press on the brake and keep it pressed until you can drive again. If the wait is longer you can put it in P (park). And yes you can also use brake and hold. Maybe the best solution is to stop the car using the brake. Then press "brake and hold" and when you can drive again press the gas and again press brake and hold to release it (so the lights go off).

I asked chatgpt and it says: Is it “bad practice” to hold the brake?

No—keeping your foot on the brake while in Drive is the standard, intended way to wait at a light in an automatic car. Modern cars are designed for exactly that situation.

[ColinB]

UK Highway Code, Rule 114:
"In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again."

This doesn't mention brake hold, nor does it distinguish between auto or manual, but the intention is clear that drivers should not keep their brake lights on unnecessarily, which is what brake hold does. There's a matter of judgement regarding short stops at traffic lights (how short is short?) but more than a few seconds (eg if the lights have turned red as you approach) I'd certainly use the parking brake. As I've said, it's not difficult.

[Lord Voltermore]

My point is that with the manual gear cars I had so far you need to work with the break, clutch and gas. On a steep upward slope in front of a traffic light this requires some practice. Now with my Honda you can just take your foot of the break and press the gas. Or when using "break and hold" you can just press the gas. The car will not move backward. It is easy and smooth.

Yes, this is a separate big advantage of  the Mk4    Hill start assist.  (some modern conventional ICE cars also have it ) 

  This provides assistance whether you are aware of it or not. I mean no offence to anyone in particular  but some  'Traditionalists'  have  unknowingly  benefitted  from it  who might otherwise have switched it off as a' new  fangled '  drivers aid,so they can persist with the traditional skills and 'best practice' which, like me ,they  may have learned 55 years ago to cope with technology which now dates back more than 100 years.   

emp. No worries.   Plenty of native english speakers also misspell 'Brake' as Break'.And  many other homophones.      

Keeping your foot on the brake pedal when stopped in traffic  is common practice with an automatic.
Some people also do this, without setting the handbrake , in a manual car, especially if there is no hill.  But its  considered bad practice in the Uk and would fail the  driving test.     

Biggest error some have developed of leaving the car in gear  with the clutch pedal depressed rather than putting it into neutral. A slip of the foot, perhaps due to a shunt from behind, can have serious consequences.  And its also rapidly wears out the  clutch release bearing.