Am I being dumb or not? 

Whats the point of auto hold? I know what it is and does, but wouldn't having the option of just putting the parking brake on when you come to a standstill be a better choice?

I honestly don’t understand the issue. 

Is it an auto hand brake that automatics don’t have?

It holds the foot brakes on when you stop at lights ,in traffic etc until you move off (not as in hillstart) and if turned on automatically engages the handbrake when you turn off the engine. If you don't turn it on you just use the electric handbrake manually. Personally I find it one of the most useful features.

Ok, when I turn the engine off it puts itself in park. Doesn’t engage the handbrake for me.
 

It’s a manual Feature issue ? 

2 minutes ago, Comares2001 said:

It holds the foot brakes on when you stop at lights ,in traffic etc until you move off (not as in hillstart) and if turned on automatically engages the handbrake when you turn off the engine. If you don't turn it on you just use the electric handbrake manually. Personally I find it one of the most useful features.

I get what it is and I use it. But why have it in the first place? It's doing exactly what the park brake is doing isn't it?

The confusion is that auto hold in the automatics has a different purpose. 

Just now, Alex.S said:

Ok, when I turn the engine off it puts itself in park. Doesn’t engage the handbrake for me.
 

It’s a manual Feature issue ? 

park brake is the handbrake. 

Just now, shawty1984 said:

park brake is the handbrake. 

Park and handbrake 

mines an automatic gearbox 

that’s the confusion 

 

Leaving it in park is like leaving a manual in gear without putting handbrake on. 

Just now, Alex.S said:

Park and handbrake 

mines an automatic gearbox 

that’s the confusion 

 

What do you mean? When I put the handbrake on manually, switch off the car or take off my seatbelt it puts on the handbrake, though on screen it says park brake on. 

Just now, shawty1984 said:

What do you mean? When I put the handbrake on manually, switch off the car or take off my seatbelt it puts on the handbrake, though on screen it says park brake on. 

Manual your on about 

Auto hold in the manual is different from auto hold in the automatic.

 

1 minute ago, Alex.S said:

Manual your on about 

Yeah but surely a handbrake should work the same on auto or manual?

Just now, Alex.S said:

Auto hold in the manual is different from auto hold in the automatic.

 

we are talking about the handbrake?

1 minute ago, shawty1984 said:

we are talking about the handbrake?

Yeah. In my automatic the handbrake (switch) works the same as any other automatic cars handbrake.

In the manual it seems it has an auto handbrake . I know nothing about that. 
 

Ford have used the name ‘auto hold’ for the automatics hill start assist type feature and just to confuse things they’ve called the manuals auto handbrake ‘auto hold’ too.

clear as mud? 

2 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

Yeah. In my automatic the handbrake (switch) works the same as any other automatic cars handbrake.

In the manual it seems it has an auto handbrake . I know nothing about that. 
 

Ford have used the name ‘auto hold’ for the automatics hill start assist type feature and just to confuse things they’ve called the manuals auto handbrake ‘auto hold’ too.

clear as mud? 

Do you have two buttons? Handbrake (Park brake) and auto hold?

Just now, shawty1984 said:

Do you have two buttons? Handbrake (Park brake) and auto hold?

Yes. Next to each other

It’s a common issue in the mk4 manuals. Automatic owners aren’t affected . 

1 minute ago, Alex.S said:

Yes. Next to each other

While I don't have a auto, surely it should be working the same as a manual?

The handbrake applies the handbrake. You either do that manually or if you take off your seatbelt. 

Auto hold is just a brake. You can switch it on or off. If on, when you come to a stop, if you apply enough pressure to the brake pedal, it acts like a handbrake and keeps you still. 

For the above two, you can drive away without touching the buttons. Which comes to my point, what is the point of auto hold? I'm not sure im being dumb but wouldn't it be easier to have the handbrake applied automatically with the option to switch off auto handbrake rather than two things that basically do the same thing. 

People are getting confused because they are trying to combine them. They are 3 separate functions not one combined system

1) Auto Hold, keeps all 4 wheel brakes engaged when you come to a stop with the engine running.

2) The handbrake engages the rear wheel brakes at all times (engine running or not)

3) The auto handbrake on a manual (NOT PARK on and Automatic) is a function where the handbrake will engage when the car is at a stop AND the engine is  then turned off.

 

Not sure why as it's beyond my expertise as to how the handbrake works, but come to a stop and apply auto-hold, then put the handbrake on and the rear of the car will hunker down a little, so to me there must be a differents between foot brake and handbrake

 

3 minutes ago, Mark-UK said:

People are getting confused because they are trying to combine them. They are 3 separate functions not one combined system

1) Auto Hold, keeps all 4 wheel brakes engaged when you come to a stop with the engine running.

2) The handbrake engages the rear wheel brakes at all times (engine running or not)

3) The auto handbrake on a manual (NOT PARK on and Automatic) is a function where the handbrake will engage when the car is at a stop AND the engine is  then turned off.

So whats the point of auto hold, if it's basically doing the job of a handbrake? 

Just now, shawty1984 said:

So whats the point of auto hold, if it's basically doing the job of a handbrake? 

You don't need to take you hands off the steering wheel 😂.  There are several what's the point things, why would I want to see what radio station I'm listening to on the drivers console when it on the sync3 screen, same with the navigation turn display why have the option to see it in both screens  for example. 

I don't get the issue at all if you don't like auto-hold just turn if off, personally I think it's a great system and on the odd occasion I've caught the button and turned it off, I've really missed it.  I very rarely ever touch the handbrake button as it's done for me automatically.

1 minute ago, Mark-UK said:

You don't need to take you hands off the steering wheel 😂.  There are several what's the point things, why would I want to see what radio station I'm listening to on the drivers console when it on the sync3 screen, same with the navigation turn display why have the option to see it in both screens  for example. 

I don't get the issue at all if you don't like auto-hold just turn if off, personally I think it's a great system and on the odd occasion I've caught the button and turned it off, I've really missed it.  I very rarely ever touch the handbrake button as it's done for me automatically.

I don’t think you get the point I'm trying to make. So I do use auto hold and it is a good feature and like you, rarely need to even touch the handbrake. Which then gets to the point of the handbrake button being useless if you don't need to touch it, though obviously, you do need the handbrake button.

So that gets onto the point of, why not just do away with the auto hold button and have the handbrake come on when you come to a stop just like the auto hold does. It seems while both buttons are different, the end result of both buttons is basically the same. 

You may need override the autohold of course if only for maintenance purposes. So you still the button for that. I also suspect it could be a mandatory requirement.