I suspect it is more to do with the handbrake lever.
Due to the previous owner 'modifying' (sliced the rubber grip up to fit a bit of chrome plumbing pipe for a grip) the handbrake lever I had to replace the lever.
I searched around the local breakers for something that looked to be similar.
I ended up with a lever from a Fiesta I think not sure.
Anyway it is a little longer but more importantly it rises at a steeper angle so that you can pull harder as opposed to just trying to lever the lever upwards (if that makes sense) and seems to have a better gearing.
The handbrake operates much better and I will eventually convert the Mantara to the same lever once I work out what it is actually off.