California T Hill Start

[f12tdfoneday]

An older relative has picked up a Cali T today (his first Ferrari) and didn't think to ask the dealer about hill starts in his excitement!

Whilst driving home he stopped on a small hill - the car was in first gear and when he lifted his foot off the brake to then go and press the accelerator it did not hold as he assumed it would and started to roll back slightly.

Can someone kindly explain to me exactly how to do one so I can pass this information on to him?

Also, does the parking brake come on automatically when you turn the engine off?

I'm sure life was simpler when all cars had handbrakes! You go from one car to another and every one is different...

Thanks!

[carpov]

Yes - you just need to be quick between taking your foot off the brake and pressing the accelerator.
And yes to the parking brake. Just forget about having to use one. You get used to it!

[willy wombat]

You hill start just like a normal manual. Apply the (electronic) handbrake. When you want to pull away press the accelerator and the handbrake automatically releases. Simples.

[f12tdfoneday]

willy wombat said:

You hill start just like a normal manual. Apply the (electronic) handbrake. When you want to pull away press the accelerator and the handbrake automatically releases. Simples.

Just to clarify...

You pull up and stop - the car would be in first gear - correct?

Do you need to put it in neutral or can you leave it in first when applying the electronic handbrake?

[GR1FF1F]

Mine's not a T, but I'm assuming they work the same. Unlike traditional auto's the car does not creep when sitting in 1st, so there's no adverse implications to engaging the brake while still in gear. When you activate the brake HOLD comes up in the display. I tend not to use it in traffic, even on gradients, unless I know I'm going to be stopped for an extended period. Much easier to hold the car on the throttle, or use the footbrake and quickly switch. Incidentally, with this thread in mind, I did notice this morning that when stuck on a flyover, I moved from footbrake to throttle and noted that the brake had automatically engaged and then automatically released when I pulled away. Don't know if others have experienced this, but it may be that it only does this when the gradient is sufficient.

[willy wombat]

It is a while since I had the California but I have a 458 spider and the principle is the same. When you stop in traffic you don't need to engage neutral before engaging the brake as it is a dual clutch car. However I graduated to the California from a number of paddle shift single clutch cars - 355 spider, 430 spider and 599 (which I still have) and with the single clutch cars you are always warned 1/ never to stay stationary for more than about 15 seconds in gear and 2/ do not hold the car on the throttle - these and other bad habits will quickly wear out a single clutch. So with me, especially as I still have the 599, old habits die hard and I always engage neutral when I stop unless it is clearly going to be only for a few seconds. The trick is to remember to engage 1st before pressing the accelerator to pull away as otherwise you get a lot of noise, no forward movement and some very strange looks! We've all done it at least once.

[Royamg]

Lol, I did that once and felt such a tit😉😂😂😂

[Spleen]

willy wombat said:

It is a while since I had the California but I have a 458 spider and the principle is the same. When you stop in traffic you don't need to engage neutral before engaging the brake as it is a dual clutch car. However I graduated to the California from a number of paddle shift single clutch cars - 355 spider, 430 spider and 599 (which I still have) and with the single clutch cars you are always warned 1/ never to stay stationary for more than about 15 seconds in gear and 2/ do not hold the car on the throttle - these and other bad habits will quickly wear out a single clutch. So with me, especially as I still have the 599, old habits die hard and I always engage neutral when I stop unless it is clearly going to be only for a few seconds. The trick is to remember to engage 1st before pressing the accelerator to pull away as otherwise you get a lot of noise, no forward movement and some very strange looks! We've all done it at least once.

Yep, done it more than once The F430 will disengage the clutch automatically if you've stopped in traffic for too long and forgotten to select neutral. Flapped like a good 'un the first time it happened as it beeps at you for a few secs, had no idea what was going on.