I have to let go of my Jeep. :(

[Farmer X]

Downhill brake assist...

That's a thing now?

I used to drive the Pacheco Pass several times a week.The number of drivers who rode their brakes throughout the downhill stretch never failed to get me shaking my head.

[Vidar]

Our car doesn't have brake assist as such (as far as I know), so thus no experience with that, but I can still imagine it might be useful in two ways:

1. If there is little traction the ESD of the car can control braking on the wheels individually rather than the drivers more crude control of all wheels at once. (Hopefully while keeping the car pointing in the same direction...)
2. For an electric car or auto transmission car it can maximize braking using regeneration or the engine rather than the actual brakes.

What our car does have is some kind of terrain speed control. That only works at quite slow speed and is some kind of cruise control that aims to keep constant speed regardless of low traction, uphill or downhill. (I guess that it doubles as some kind of brake assist too but only for slow speeds). At first I thought this worked by trying to drive all wheel at the same speed (thus simulating all locked differentials), but it is smarter than that it seems. In deep loose snow it can go from steady slow to quickly spinning snow on individual wheels as needed to keep momentum going.

I've used it some times by now, and to my surprise it works quite impressively and better than me giving it my limited best. Still haven't tried it downhill though. If I need downhill assist at slow speed I'm probably doing something I shouldn't do anyway

[Chako]

Well, I picked up the new Kona on a Wednesday. Friday night I thought I would try the new vehicle on an evening run to Gros Cap. A deer crested the deep ditch. i saw it and slowed down as fast as I could, and moved into the oncoming lane as there were no cars. The furry cruise missile jumped the lane and hit me. I am happy I moved over, as if I hadn't, the deer would have stuck my windshield. As it is, I am waiting for parts to arrive. They  are going to replace the fender, passenger headlamp, and fix a few dents here and there. Talk about bad luck. On the upside, I am still able to drive it. My lens was taken out but I still have fully functioning lights. Worst part, I have to maybe wait till sometime in August for the repairs. I do like the vehicle though bad luck and all.

20250518_123232 by Chako, on Flickr

I can't open the passenger front door due to the damage. Lucky I am just myself these days.
20250518_123250 by Chako, on Flickr

[nate j]

Well, that is unfortunate.  At least it wasn’t worse, I suppose.

I am a big proponent of deer hunting.  I figure the more are shot, the fewer will be around to get hit by cars.

[Vidar]

That is very unlucky. Luckily you avoided even worse alternatives, and it is fixable.

[Chako]

Agreed. Never got hit by a deer before. I guess I have now joined the proud ranks. 

[nate j]

I have hit/been hit by 3.  I would say 90% of the drivers around here have hit at least one.

Usually it is just vehicle damage, but the potential for serious injury or death (for the human, not just the deer) is definitely there.

0/10 stars, do not recommend

[pfrsantos]

That is very unlucky. Luckily you avoided even worse alternatives, and it is fixable.

+1

Sorry to hear it, bud. Hope you get your ride fixed soon and nothing like this happens to you again.

 

[Farmer X]

I am a big proponent of deer hunting.  I figure the more are shot, the fewer will be around to get hit by cars.

I read that statement to my neighbor (we're watching the Stanley Cup), and he agrees 1,000%.

Chako's deer hit could have been a lot worse. Glad he's okay!

[Chako]

 

I can still drive it. Took it out for the first time on the highway and it is official, I am impressed with this adaptive cruise control. On my jeep, I could only select up and down speeds in speeds of 3 or 4 km/h chunks. This Kona can select per 1Km/h. I have also 4 distance settings. I was able to try it out and I found the further distance to be more my preference, and it worked. My vehicle reached the distance and matched the slower cars speed. How did I ever live without this.

I also played with the lane assist, and was amazed that the vehicle remained locked in the center lane. I even took my hands off the steering wheel and was amazed the Kona steered itself down the highway. Even though my hands hoovered above the wheel, it warned me to grab the steering wheel. I turned that tech off via a steering wheel button as I did not like how the wheel felt under its control.

Still no word on the parts or when it will be repaired. I was told sometime probably in August. Who knows.