Noticed 2 strange things about my cruise control at the weekend and wandered if these were common traits;

Trait 1 ;

My car accelerates much harder when holding the button on the cruise control stalk than it does the accelarator, i mean no matter how i use the accelarator ?

Trait 2 ;

I get better fuel economy without using the cruise control, as i saw my mpg go down when going downhill with the cruise set at 70. When i disengaged it my fuel consumption went down to 0 mpg even when i was doing the same speed

Is this the norm ??

Trait 1 - my 2 Octavias have accelerated at the same rate as pushing the throttle but it has been progressive acceleration - gradually builds the longer you hold the button. Big difference in my current dsg, it doesn't kick down - maybe drop a gear or 2 but no screaming redline in every gear as it does under full throttle.

Trait 2 - depends how steep the hill is. WHen the mpg display shows ---mpg it means either zero mpg (eg while you are stopped with engine ticking over) or greater than 200mpg (eg cruising downhill with foot off throttle).

There is are several long vociferous debates in many threads about whether it is more economical to use cruise control - I feel another one coming on!

My previous Octavias both accelerated harder under CC than with the pedal, my Superb is about the same.

Trait 1: Mine does this if I hold the accel button on the stalk.....to avoid this I tap the button.....each tap gives roughly 1 mph increase in speed.

Trait 2: As eccleshill said, this has been debated before. There is no reason why you should get poorer fuel consumption with cruise consumption on.....but I have a theory. If you go onto a quiet motorway and set the cruise for 70 mph and travel 30 miles, you'll find the average speed over those 30 miles will be 70 mph.

If you do the same trip and drive at 70 mph using the throttle and your right foot only, then I suspect most people will find their average speed over the 30 miles will be less than 70 mph, thus giving better fuel economy......you know what it's like....you get to a hill and the speed subconsciously drops off a bit, unless you are really concentrating. You could argue that speed subconsciously builds when going down the other side of the hill....which it may do, but I think people are better at correcting over speed (you might get a ticket otherwise) than under speed when not using cruise control.

But that's only a theory and has never been tested!

Edited 25 February, 201313 yr by booke23

Trait 1: Mine does this if I hold the accel button on the stalk.....to avoid this I tap the button.....each tap gives roughly 1 mph increase in speed.

Trait 2: As eccleshill said, this has been debated before. There is no reason why you should get poorer fuel consumption with cruise consumption on.....but I have a theory. If you go onto a quiet motorway and set the cruise for 70 mph and travel 30 miles, you'll find the average speed over those 30 miles will be 70 mph.

If you do the same trip and drive at 70 mph using the throttle and your right foot only, then I suspect most people will find their average speed over the 30 miles will be less than 70 mph, thus giving better fuel economy......you know what it's like....you get to a hill and the speed subconsciously drops off a bit, unless you are really concentrating. You could argue that speed subconsciously builds when going down the other side of the hill....which it may do, but I think people are better at correcting over speed (you might get a ticket otherwise) than under speed when not using cruise control.

But that's only a theory and has never been tested!

Seems a good theory though, my cruise also builds speed if i tap the stalk 1 click at a time, however when i hold the button down the pick up seems far quicker and smoother than when i slowly apply more power via the pedal, just seems i bit odd holding the button down that's all, will defo avoid it for overtaking manouveres (bad spelling i know) as it just feels sooo wrong..

And of course, life is for living, not eeking out a few pence, because there are no pockets in a shroud. IMHO of course (the first bit of course. I'm pretty sure about the shroud).

Seems a good theory though, my cruise also builds speed if i tap the stalk 1 click at a time, however when i hold the button down the pick up seems far quicker and smoother than when i slowly apply more power via the pedal, just seems i bit odd holding the button down that's all, will defo avoid it for overtaking manouveres (bad spelling i know) as it just feels sooo wrong..

I know what you mean.

It's like when you press 'resume' on some cruise control systems (not tried it on the Octavia), and it just floors the throttle.....especially interesting in an Auto.

I had a memorable experience with this when I hired a Ford Expedition in the U.S. a few years ago. On the freeway I had the cruise set to 70 mph....slowed down due to heavy traffic at a junction. When past the slow traffic I hit 'resume' at about 35 mph......down went the throttle, down kicked the auto transmission to 2nd gear and off I went!.....every single horse power of the 5.4 litre V8 was unleashed....the sudden unexpected acceleration almost caused my arms to fly back off the steering wheel!......My mrs wasn't impressed, she thought I did it on purpose!

I'm more careful with 'resume' on automatics these days.

Edited 25 February, 201313 yr by booke23

Seems a good theory though, my cruise also builds speed if i tap the stalk 1 click at a time, however when i hold the button down the pick up seems far quicker and smoother than when i slowly apply more power via the pedal, just seems i bit odd holding the button down that's all, will defo avoid it for overtaking manouveres (bad spelling i know) as it just feels sooo wrong..

I've never liked using the buttons to increase/decrease speed.

If traffic is slowing I just click it across to cancel and use the pedal for a bit until I can get back to the previous speed and click resume. My other half will decrease the speed using the buttons and try and match the speed of the traffic... it always results in following too close and needing to use the brakes. Really grates on me!

Also when over taking I just use the throttle and then I can just carry on at the set speed afterwards.

Phil

I'm more careful with 'resume' on automatics these days.

Just got a DSG from driving manuals all my life.

It certainly is fun to press resume! Also very handy on a section of dual cariageway near me that goes up a steep hill at one point. The gearbox was able to knock down to 5th and maintain the set speed whereas in a manual you would need to change manually and knock the cruise off.

Phil

I have never actually tried 'resume' on my DSG.....must give it a go!

Will try this as well, when the Mrs is not in the motor, seeing one to many glaring looks in my peripheral recently...

Does the same for me, press the stalk and the car will apply full throttle it seems to get up to speed, using the pedal I can make it more progressive.

Yes I have found I can get better overall fuel consumption doing things manually than with CC engaged, it will try and maintain the same speed up hill and down dale, it cannot see the brow of an hill approaching and lift off a bit or give it a bit more throttle on a downhill section to enable and easier ascent of an hill.

Ian

This is the 1st car I've had with CC and I do actually like it, I plan to drive to Germany again this year as I have done a few times last year so will see what difference it makes to my journey, and if I arrive at my destination more relaxed than in the past, driving in Germany is fine but going through Belgium and round Brussels is P*nts..

It's like when you press 'resume' on some cruise control systems (not tried it on the Octavia), and it just floors the throttle.....especially interesting in an Auto.

I drove a Citroën C5 once and used the cruise. Every car I've ever driven before, holding "+" produces moderate acceleration until you let go of the button. In the Citroën, holding the button increased the set speed first by 1km/h at a time and then in steps of 5km/h or something. The car kicked down and I didn't know WTF happened until I noticed the little display that told me I had set the CC to 150. :lol:

This is the 1st car I've had with CC and I do actually like it, I plan to drive to Germany again this year as I have done a few times last year so will see what difference it makes to my journey, and if I arrive at my destination more relaxed than in the past, driving in Germany is fine but going through Belgium and round Brussels is P*nts..

We drive to Germany very regularly. Going on the 6th March.

As with anywhere it's nice to use the CC when it's clear but hard to use in busy traffic. Never get to use it much through Holland as they all just pull straight out on you and do 60mph!

I once drove through Germany in the old car with CC on for about 100 miles. Was set to 120mph. Would love laser guided cruise control.

Phil

We drive to Germany very regularly. Going on the 6th March.

As with anywhere it's nice to use the CC when it's clear but hard to use in busy traffic. Never get to use it much through Holland as they all just pull straight out on you and do 60mph!

I once drove through Germany in the old car with CC on for about 100 miles. Was set to 120mph. Would love laser guided cruise control.

Phil

I drive to Heidelberg in Germany once or twice a year and it's a 5 and a bit hour drive from Dunqurque mostly about 80 till you reach the brussels ring road then maybe same again when you get off. On the no limit roads in Germany i dont do much more at all just maybe upto 90 for a little while and then a short burst about 110 to clear things out, I dont find driving an +100 comfortable so do as little as poss..Drivers in Belgium did my head in always tailgating even when there was lots of traffic in the outside lane, so needed a button to drop a load of tacks out the back of the car..

I have never actually tried 'resume' on my DSG.....must give it a go!

Don't get too excited! It will drop a gear or 2 and accelerate reasonably briskly but not like a full kickdown wheel spinner.

I drive to Heidelberg in Germany once or twice a year and it's a 5 and a bit hour drive from Dunqurque mostly about 80 till you reach the brussels ring road then maybe same again when you get off. On the no limit roads in Germany i dont do much more at all just maybe upto 90 for a little while and then a short burst about 110 to clear things out, I dont find driving an +100 comfortable so do as little as poss..Drivers in Belgium did my head in always tailgating even when there was lots of traffic in the outside lane, so needed a button to drop a load of tacks out the back of the car..

Nice. Love Germany!

Yeh we normally just do those kind of speed really.

Only did the 120mph+ (saw 143mph on the GPS at one point!) that time as it was early Sunday morning and very quiet.

The Octavia isn't quite as long legged as the Cordoba so I doubt we will be doing the same this time.

Phil

Don't get too excited! It will drop a gear or 2 and accelerate reasonably briskly but not like a full kickdown wheel spinner.

No....I have a feeling it won't be quite like the 5.4L V8 kickdown!

Don't get too excited! It will drop a gear or 2 and accelerate reasonably briskly but not like a full kickdown wheel spinner.

Yeh... clicking the the kickdown button with the throttle is more fun really!