I would - I would like it to have a brake function (just a simple one, not necessarily owned that keeps you a set distance from the car in front). This would ensure the car maintained the set speed going down hills too steep for engine braking alone to maintain the set speed.

 

That's not the same as the CC remaining engaged when you try to take control, though, is it?

That's not the same as the CC remaining engaged when you try to take control, though, is it?

No, it's the same as the most basic cc in that touching the brake will disengage it as well as flickering the off switch or changing gear (manual). However there is no front sensor to maintain distance from the car in front. So, if you take control it will always disengage. The cruise on our Audi and previous BMW is like this.

Adaptive cruise control coupled with DSG must be a dream to drive.

No, it's the same as the most basic cc in that touching the brake will disengage it as well as flickering the off switch or changing gear (manual). However there is no front sensor to maintain distance from the car in front. So, if you take control it will always disengage. The cruise on our Audi and previous BMW is like this.

 

The above highlighted text is the key point, and it's true with "normal" cruise control and adaptive.  That's the point I was making in my original post on the subject, and which you seemed to want to take issue with for some reason.

I would - I would like it to have a brake function (just a simple one, not necessarily owned that keeps you a set distance from the car in front). This would ensure the car maintained the set speed going down hills too steep for engine braking alone to maintain the set speed.

 

BMW's do this with Standard Cruise. 

 

It can be frustrating sometimes when going down a slight incline when a slight increase in speed wouldn't be a problem and would save a bit of fuel but everyone behind you thinks "What's he braking for?"

 

I found myself knocking cruise off sometimes where I wouldn't do on the Skoda or VW. But for average speed camera sections it's great.

 

So advantages and disadvantages really.

 

Lee

BMW's do this with Standard Cruise. 

 

It can be frustrating sometimes when going down a slight incline when a slight increase in speed wouldn't be a problem and would save a bit of fuel but everyone behind you thinks "What's he braking for?"

 

I found myself knocking cruise off sometimes where I wouldn't do on the Skoda or VW. But for average speed camera sections it's great.

 

So advantages and disadvantages really.

 

Lee

To be honest, if I'm using cc it's invariably to keep me from creeping over the legal limit which the cc is set as, irrespective of speed cameras, so people behind me should be slowing down too. But I take your point.

I use CC on most motorway trips especially in the Specs speed zones. On the M1 stretch around junction 15 - 19, around 20 miles, it's a pain to drive without CC. Adaptive CC would be better as there is always some ****** who insists on overtaking and then slows on the next incline or next camera set. There must be thousands of people who do not understand average speed cameras and brake every time they,pay see a camera set. CC is a must have for me.

To be honest, if I'm using cc it's invariably to keep me from creeping over the legal limit which the cc is set as, irrespective of speed cameras, so people behind me should be slowing down too.

 

Pompous and patronising...

Pompous and patronising...

Oh dear - the Season of Goodwill is over. 

Since the A9 had average speed cameras installed - about 90 miles or so - the ability to use the average speed setting has saved me a lot of time (and ensured zero points on my licence!)

 

Bill :sun:  

 

Fear not, those A9 cameras don't work. Which is why you'll sometimes see mobile speed traps "within" the average speed controlled zones.

Why don't they work? Because they're digital cameras and there is insufficient mobile data coverage to actually upload the data to the control centre. So as a result, though they're fully functioning cameras, they're all switched off.

 

Pompous and patronising...

If you think that was 'pompous and patronising' you have either misunderstood my post or have other 'sensitivity issues'! My point was simple, I don't disagree with the poster, but just state the disadvantage he quotes tends not to apply the way I use my cc with brake function. Anyone following a car going down a hill at the legal speed limit shouldn't be surprised to see brake lights. I tend to drive at the speed limit on a clear road where safe to do so and use cc to maintain a consistent speed. Of course, if you have a traffic free road ahead and choose to drive slower than the limit with cc but turn off cc to take advantage of gravity I have no difficulty with that whatsoever.

We travel quite a bit on the A1 & A14 doing about 100 miles at 70 all the time we can on CC.
We have to laugh at some cars that overtake us only to be overtaken by us 3 or 4 times with us travelling at a steady speed.

Fear not, those A9 cameras don't work. Which is why you'll sometimes see mobile speed traps "within" the average speed controlled zones.

Why don't they work? Because they're digital cameras and there is insufficient mobile data coverage to actually upload the data to the control centre. So as a result, though they're fully functioning cameras, they're all switched off.

 

I am surprised that living close to and working in Inverness I have never heard of this.

 

You would have thought that would be more widely known. What I can say is that the accident rate has fallen significantly - which was the point in the first place.

 

Bill  :sun:

We travel quite a bit on the A1 & A14 doing about 100 miles at 70 all the time we can on CC.

We have to laugh at some cars that overtake us only to be overtaken by us 3 or 4 times with us travelling at a steady speed.

Absolutely. On the M6 and A74M I have just about given up on using CC. These are the same idiots that pass, then ease off. and pull across the bonnet of our car, leaving a gap of 2 or 3 car lengths. At 70 mph that is way too small a safety envelope. I think it would improve road safety significantly if we all [ including me ] had to retake our driving test every 5 yrs or so. I believe the general standard of driving is falling, Cars are getting increasingly clever - sadly the drivers are not.   :notme:  

Yes, these are the reasons I'm not happy using CC.

Whenever I give it another go I'm almost immediately braking or disengaging it because someone has cut across in front of me or I'm catching someone who keeps varying their speed for no apparent reason.

If a future car has adaptive CC then I'll probably use it more but until then I'm happier being in control.

I can certainly see the advantage of CC where there are many miles of cameras though.

How do you find the acceleration when you resume the CC speed? For example set at 70, then disengage for going with 50 due to maybe a short road work zone and then press Resume to be again at 70. I feel like the car is using full throttle to get to the speed. My wife, and maybe myself a little, were a bit anxious when I did this for the first time, since we are not used with such aggressive acceleration. Since then I no longer use the Resume function if the speed difference is more than 15 km/h, I just prefer to accelerate myself. 

Otherwise I'm quite happy with the way CC works and where it is positioned. I try to use it as much as possible. An adaptive would would be nice. Taking into acocunt that I already have front parking sensors I don't see the difficulty of adding this functionality, it's only software; unless it uses other types of sensors. 

Yet lots of people are surprised that I don't have a speed limiter. When I ask them how much they use it, their answer is at best occasionally. 

An adaptive would would be nice. Taking into acocunt that I already have front parking sensors I don't see the difficulty of adding this functionality, it's only software; unless it uses other types of sensors.

It is nothing like those sensors, it has to cover about 50 times the distance that they will work at.

It's usually a radar detector under a small dome located in the middle of the grill.

It is nothing like those sensors, it has to cover about 50 times the distance that they will work at.It's usually a radar detector under a small dome located in the middle of the grill.

Agreed, I worked for a U.K. Company that made a RADAR system for the S Class Merc, early days so it was pretty expensive but worked well.

On the diesel engined models...

When starting from very cold and the heater coils take a while to heat up.

If you turn the key to start it, the engine will not turn over until the coils have done their job.

14 minutes ago, CFB said:

On the diesel engined models...

When starting from very cold and the heater coils take a while to heat up.

If you turn the key to start it, the engine will not turn over until the coils have done their job.

You do not need to hold the key until it fires.
Just a flick into the start position then let go, when it's had enough heat it will start.
Probably have to keep foot on clutch though.

2 hours ago, Urrell said:

You do not need to hold the key until it fires.
Just a flick into the start position then let go, when it's had enough heat it will start.
Probably have to keep foot on clutch though.

 

Only on stop-start equipped cars.  Mine needs the key to be held. I know this because my Audi does what you say and when I forgetfully do it in the Yeti it only cranks as long as I hold the key.

1 hour ago, weasley said:

 

Only on stop-start equipped cars.  Mine needs the key to be held. I know this because my Audi does what you say and when I forgetfully do it in the Yeti it only cranks as long as I hold the key.

No, mine is a key model.
If really cold so the heater plugs need a few seconds I just flick the key to start and then release it, I can put my seat belt on and the car then starts when glow plugs have done their work after a few seconds without touching the key again.
If yours doesn't do that perhaps its a F/L upgrade.

10 hours ago, Urrell said:

No, mine is a key model.
If really cold so the heater plugs need a few seconds I just flick the key to start and then release it, I can put my seat belt on and the car then starts when glow plugs have done their work after a few seconds without touching the key again.
If yours doesn't do that perhaps its a F/L upgrade.

 

Does yours have stop-start though? (I am referring to the engine-shuts-down-at-the-lights-then-restarts-when-ready-to-go system, not the keyless entry).  My assumption is that having the stop-start function built-in hands control of the starter motor to the ECU, rather than being simply controlled by the key position, hence enabling the sort of intelligence your situation is describing.

 

My car cranks as long as you hold the key (until it fires, at which point it stops cranking).

Ah yes. Stop/Start is probably halfway to key-less ignition.

On 26/01/2017 at 22:26, Urrell said:

No, mine is a key model.
If really cold so the heater plugs need a few seconds I just flick the key to start and then release it, I can put my seat belt on and the car then starts when glow plugs have done their work after a few seconds without touching the key again.
If yours doesn't do that perhaps its a F/L upgrade.

 

I'm going to try this in the morning, just because I can.