What are your opinions/experience of an automatic Tailgate?

I'm not sure about the whole wave your foot under the bumper solution on the vid, I guess it works with your hands full but just doesn't seem like the best solution.

I know someone whose auto tailgait hit a rail in a carpark that was overhanging the boot lid, not sure if they have sensors to stop this kind of thing now but that should be taken into account.

I think its important you can still slam it if you want as if its raining heavy you may not want to wait for it to close (contents could get soggy)

Call me sad for this one but i'm always impressed with neat hinges VW Phaeton has really nice hinges (shame no one bought one to appreciate them.....)

I've read complaints about tailgates hitting low ceilings. I was considering of having a sensor for that. I think a way to use it manually as well is a good idea, I guess a button that takes the system out of contact with the boot.

Unfortunately I'm just designing a system, which will never get to production anyway, for a hatchback of my choice. But to be honest, I can't really call you sad, hinges can look sexy. I liked the Mini Clubman for the way the boot opened.

I think the manual overide needs to just be a case of shutting the boot, a sensor should know what your doing and allow you to overide, I wouldn't be arsed to press a button

My thoughts after many cars with electric tailgates.

Unless it opens the tailgate/boot when you press the button forget it. I've had some Audi's that just unlatched the catch, but didn't open the tailgate at all - waste of time as I still have to manually open the tailgate anyway.

Waving a foot around doesn't appeal to me. The reason I want the boot to open without a key is that I'm carrying something awkward, so the last thing I want to do is balance on one leg, and wave a foot around in a public place. A voice activated boot would be more useful, programmed to respond to command such as "open", "open you bastard", etc.

How about something novel for dog owners? No ideas myself as I'm not generally the creative type. But my difficulty is getting three dogs in without any of them escaping in the process, and getting them in without wrecking the bumper paint.

The Bentley system allows you to shut the boot manually - don't know if that is a generic VAG system or specific to the Bentley.

My frustrations are with overly sensitive anti-trap sensors. With bulky items, sometimes the bootlid has to be coaxed shut. I put a piece of soft furniture in the boot the other day, (in the p155ing rain), hit the close button and jumped in the car. The anti-trap kicked in and opened it again, so I had to get out again and shut it manually. 

Not sure about foot waving either. If a car already has keyless entry as mine has, it's easy enough to brush your hand against the release button on the boot even when carrying lots of stuff. 

Sensors to protect against low ceilings are a must. Our Q7 had the option to pre-set the open height, but this is only any good if your own garage is limited in height, and it still clattered into an overhang in a car park.

Finally, some systems don't allow you to shut the tailgate from inside the car. I can see from a H&S point of view why this might be the case, but it can be very inconvenient. Especially, if like me, you can sometimes accidentally press the boot release button on the key fob whilst it's in your pocket. I'm fed up looking such a tool when I'm about to drive off and the boot opens, so I have to get out and press the close button on the bootlid... 

Oh dear Liquidgold, you had a Q7 Was quite enjoying your various comments until then

Expand, what on earth made you select that gargantuan monstrosity? I am an Audi fan in general, so it's not the brand, it's just that specific model that grates.

Guilty as charged I'm afraid.  We had just had twins, and we needed a 7 seater with a boot that would take both a twin buggy and a dog. I took the former Mrs LG to look at a GL, an X5 and the Q7. I know this is a kop out, but its the one she chose, though it must be said the GL is equally gargantuan. I had a 5 seat X5 at the time and it didn't make sense to have another at the time. 

It was only a 3l diesel, and with the auto box was pretty sluggish, especially off the line, and in spite of my hardly ever driving it, it chewed front tyres with a fearsome appetite. 

Im not proud of it, but have to take your comments on the chin! As I said in another post, I'm gonna have to get the Bentlet SUV just to be contrary...

OK, say three "Hail Mary's" (or whatever your beliefs state), and do some charity work and you're forgiven.

I will confess my sin that I once willfully purchased a Mk4 Escort when I had other choices.

My repentance iS complete. As the GT has gone in for some warranty work this week, I'm just breaking out the 63AMG, just to prove I've learnt the error of my ways. 

Whats wrong with a Mk4 Escort?

I could make a very long list that started with blandness, and ended with it's awful colour, but it's the model that handled like something was broken in the rear suspension. I sold mine after an off camber oversteer moment at very modest speed in the damp, that had me alternatively heading towards pedestrians and a dry stone dyke several times before I regained control.

Thankfully I'm not poor anymore, and can choose better engineered cars these days.