mountain driving!

[wmussatto]

When I first got my car I took it up to Mount Palomar which while not long was certainly steep. Hill mode kept the RPMs delayed shifts enough that I didn't have to go to 'L'. I noticed going down that the engine braking wouldn't start until I tapped the brake at which point I would get engine braking, full on if I didn't have any throttle applied. It was fairly dramatic. I still did have to brake some, but not a lot. Until I hit the brake it didn't apply any braking.

[jonl9]

I've had my Fiesta for 15 months out here in what is really flat land. However, I was coming down a highway overpass with a light at the bottom and was coasting along and I touched the brake, the car automatically shifted down a couple of gears and braked itself very well down the grade. The braking was actually more than if you push the button and do the shift down one gear. I was really surprised, and positively so.

We'll be up in the NC mountains in June and I think we'll take the Fiesta, I'm confident it will do very well, if this thread is still alive, I'll let you know how we do.

Jon

[Iceracer]

Originally Posted by billnchristy

Our mountain always has those too.

I prefer the Prius jake brake mode since it doesn't use gas but the grade assist button is nice.

I have started using it in traffic as well, its easier and less drastic than tapping into low and having the engine redline, when taking a tight turn you can tap it on and hold revs through the turn so you don't bog coming out of it.

The Prius does not have a jake brake, that is only on diesels. What the Prius and al Hy-brids have is called regenerative braking, which means that the wheels are turning a generator which helps recharge the battery.
It's a little more com[licated than that but that is what it does.

[Iceracer]

While some on the left coast may say we don't have mountains in the east, just big hills, I find the Powershift works quite well on long grades,both up and down.
On some down hills, especially with curves, I find the Hill Assit a handy thing and if you have to slow enough and brake, often thr transmission will down shift also.
Low is really not very useful on the highway. Helps in auto cross though.