Hello,

      Like a lot of drivers I think, I sometimes get cramps when I am driving. It can be a real nuisance and I am thinking of having cruise control on my next used car. I could at least then take my foot of the accelerator( if safe enough to do so of course) and try flexing and massaging my leg. At the moment I have no choice, the foot has to stay on the loud pedal. This could be a Mark Three Fabia estate. I know the SEL trim gives you cruise control as standard on these and I could try to find a good used example of one of them. Or I could get one in SE trim for less money and have the cruise fitted retrospectively. Do any readers have any idea how much an aftermarket job would cost on a used Fabia? I would go the whole hog and have automatic transmission as well   automatc next time  but the pedals in UK cars are no wider than manual transmission cars unlike the automatic  I have driven cars in the US  so that really wouldnt help me. Also , I know the Fabia automatics with their dual clutch have come in for a lot of slating by readers on Briskoda. Thanks for reading, I  hope to get some useful answers  by writing this.

Is cruise control worth having?

Yes! Definitely. I think it will retain its value as an option as many people now regard it as an essential.

 

Standard Cruise control v ACC (adaptive cruise control)

 

Personally I think traditional standard CC is better. ACC is lauded by many but it can be very frustrating. Not allowing undertaking, active braking can be aggressive, etc but safer if you're inclined to nod off or not pay attention. ACC works best with DSG.

 

Big downside to ACC is cost of recalibration if you have a minor bump, replacement windscreen etc when ACC suddenly will become "unavailable" (£450). 

Changing the windscreen shouldn't make ACC unavailable in the Fabia, unless the person fitting it kicks in the sensor! Also, the issue with re-calibration applies to all Fabias apart from the 'S' model, as they all have the Front Assist system, which uses the same radar hardware as ACC. Front Assist and ACC both use a sensor mounted in the lower grille (small plastic box). Issues around changing windscreens should only occur if the car has the Lane Assist camera, which isn't on the Fabia. 

 

Regarding OP's question, I'd say cruise is a good idea. As far as I know it's pretty awkward to retrofit. The SE model does at least have a speed limiter, but of course you can't take your foot off the accelerator when using that as 'cruise'. I'm going to be replacing my Fabia soon, and I'm going for a Seat Ibiza Xcellence Lux which has ACC, I tried it in a Golf and absolutely loved it. 

Edited 7 December, 20187 yr by vc-10

If possible get adaptive cruise control (ACC). Far superior to standard cruise control in today's heavy traffic. Unfortunately, ACC is only available as a factory fit on a new Fabia because it can't be fitted retrospectively. Slightly off the point - SEL is far better than SE because it includes cruise control and climate control plus 16" wheels. My wife and I have had automatic (i.e DSG) cars for years and would never consider a manual car. My present DSG SEL Fabia is excellent and I certainly can't agree with all the comments from 'experts' on this forum about DSG problems.

I notice that you live in Wirral - why not have a chat with Mitchells in Ellesmere Port; I've always found them extremely helpful and very honest. They usually have a very good choice of used Fabias.

2 hours ago, xman said:

Is cruise control worth having?

x

 

 

 

Edited 7 December, 20187 yr by bertJ
Posted 2 messages by mistake

What on earth has ACC got to do with the windscreen also undertaking?

ACC does not permit undertaking unless you override manually. If you are in the inside lane of 2 or more lanes of moving traffic, even if you have a clear lane in front of you, ACC will not undertake the vehicle to the right of you.

 

If you have a windscreen camera fitted that works with ACC and a windscreen replacement then requires the car to be recalibrated before all the assist systems will work again.

Yes CC is definitely well worth having,I sometimes use it for quite short periods if my ankle is sore,and if you have to do long distance Mway trips - I find using CC makes the journey far less tiring as I do not have to constantly check speed.CC is also really useful for those long and boring 40/50 limits for road works.

Cruise control is an essential fitment in my opinion, would never buy another car without it.

 

ACC is simply brilliant, instead of having to brake and resume as the traffic flow changes it does it for you. But the factory settings are far to aggressive, nearly caused a divorce when we first got the Superb. Once changed to a sensible distance its been fine. I have also learned to move into lane 2 before getting too close to an off slip, the system will follow the car on the slip roads speed and you will slow down as they do, move over and no issues.

 

Having said that when we bought the Fabia we decided that normal cruise would be just fine which of course it is, we can swap between cars with no issues.

 

But its is nice to have ACC on busy motorways.

 I am replying to Bert J from Wirral. I cannot use Mitchells near Ellesmere Port. I can make no  further comment than that.

1 hour ago, xman said:

ACC does not permit undertaking unless you override manually. If you are in the inside lane of 2 or more lanes of moving traffic, even if you have a clear lane in front of you, ACC will not undertake the vehicle to the right of you.

 

If you have a windscreen camera fitted that works with ACC and a windscreen replacement then requires the car to be recalibrated before all the assist systems will work again.

Have you ever tried ACC?!? At least in my 2017 Fabia, I've never had any difficulties undertaking any cars as long as my lane is clear. No matter if it's 2, 3 or 4 lanes and no matter which of the lanes I'm driving.

 

I've never heard anyone having ACC in their cars blaming it... IMO it's the best extra I've ever had in my cars.

55 minutes ago, hetty1 said:

 I am replying to Bert J from Wirral. I cannot use Mitchells near Ellesmere Port. I can make no  further comment than that.

OK. Understood

18 hours ago, teraja said:

Have you ever tried ACC?!? At least in my 2017 Fabia, I've never had any difficulties undertaking any cars as long as my lane is clear. No matter if it's 2, 3 or 4 lanes and no matter which of the lanes I'm driving.

 

I've never heard anyone having ACC in their cars blaming it... IMO it's the best extra I've ever had in my cars.

 

My Superb has ACC. If it allows undertaking without intervention then its either broken or the Fabia is different to the Superb, Octavia, Karoq etc

 

 

Edited 8 December, 20187 yr by xman

Honestly to me it's used every journey. My 2005 MK2 Skoda Octavia has standard cruise control and it works a treat. 

My dad just brought him self a new Toyota after giving me Octavia. This two had cruise control, father wasn't aware the Ocativa had cruise and he brought it brand new in early 2005. Either way after two weeks of training he now uses it all the time. 

I'm getting a new Skoda rapid in a few weeks and ofcourse that has cruise control. 

My next car maybe 2023 will be hopefully a hybrid Skoda with adaptive cruise control and that sort of thing. I will love the self drive sort of thing you get in the lastest Tesla's

 

 

Get it. That's all I'm good to say

I must be in the minority as, although my manual Octavia came with cruise control, I very rarely use it even on motorway journeys although I have tried to like it.

I do like to be able to gradually adjust my speed, especially on motorways and dual carriageways, to be able to overtake without having to brake to allow other cars to my right to pass before I pull out. On single carriageways I find that I am constantly altering my speed for road conditions and other road users.

Also my version of cruise control does not put on the brakes when travelling down hills so the car will then exceed the set speed.

 

Just my opinion and as I said I appear to be in a minority.

I have had cruise control on all new cars for the last 20 years and find it essential especially for long distance cruising in Australia.

The cruise control in the 1.9d mk2 and now 1.4tsi mk3 Octavia manual were really good because both engines had sufficient flexibility and power to make  gearchanges almost redundant, however the mk3 allows gearchanges without knocking out the cruise control setting.

 

On flat open terrain I'd say it drives as economically as I do but you can easily best it in more hilly terrain.

I do use it in (South Australia) Adelaide urban areas but I never engaged cruise when driving in London metropolitan areas.

 

It does make you a bit lazy though and I can only think that ACC versions (I have no personal experience) would make you an even lazier driver.

 

ACC has been standard equipment on all Octavia version sold in Aus for the last two years or so but the potentially expensive maintenance when things go wrong does worry me a little.

 

I would add that I use cruise control so much that it is second nature for me to engage, adjust on the fly and disengage as traffic conditions demand. My wife does not use it near as much and it is obviously a more conscious act for her and she is less comfortable with it except on the open road.

 

I'm sure it has saved us a lot of potential speeding tickets.

Edited 10 December, 20187 yr by Gerrycan

@hetty1   The DSG's are automated manuals & have a accelerator & brake pedal (auto if you want), and the brake pedal is all the size it needs to be.

 

With the past issues you have had at dealerships i would look for a car with all the features you want and with a valid warranty and not go getting modifications or upgrades done by anyone.

Find the car you want in the condition you want and have it serviced to manufacturers guidelines.

 

If you ever really wanted a car that can be driven that is easier on one foot you can fit hand controls for when CC is not being used.

I have only a left foot but drive using the standard 2 pedals, on some Auto's i have to cut down the Brake pedal.

 

There are disability settings that Dealers can adjust for you in the cars 'brain' (ECU)

Brake assist, Steering Assist that can be increased or decreased.

When I bought my last car a second hand Fabia 1.9 diesel estate it had CC fitted. The first time i used it was to go from Tyneside to Reading it was a totally relaxing experience after having previously done the journey in a  Daiewoo Matize changed car to Fabia sel in 2015 which has speed limiter and CC would not get another car without it Joe

Well, I started getting cars fitted with CC only because I was importing them new from Holland and cars just get CC as a standard, so VW dealers are not of the mind set to leave that "tick" off the build options list.  I have used it a few times on my old 2000 VW Passat 4Motion, probably more as a tool to see just how high an MPG I could achieve, can't remember using it on the 2002 VW Polo, other than making sure that it worked when new. The next "set" of cars we bought came with CC as standard, though I can't ever remember using it on either, oh bother!

On 10/12/2018 at 01:24, Gerrycan said:

I do use it in (South Australia) Adelaide urban areas but I never engaged cruise when driving in London metropolitan areas.

 

This is one of the great things about the speed limiter function. I just put it on at 30 and basically never then look at the dash, as I know I won't be going above 30 so won't be speeding! London is particularly bad for speed cameras and dangerous other road users, so having the limiter on means I can spend my time looking out the windows for those dangerous road users and not concentrate on my speedo worrying about getting a ticket.

 

My next car will be a Seat Ibiza with ACC, and they have a limiter as well as ACC (some VAG products just have the ACC). Having got used to having the limiter in the Fabia I wouldn't want to be without it. I'm not sure if the Fabia with ACC keeps the limiter or not. 

5 hours ago, vc-10 said:

 

...I'm not sure if the Fabia with ACC keeps the limiter or not. 

It does - I only know because my wife somehow accidently activated it not long after getting the car. She rang me in a panic when the car wouldn't go over something like 50Kph .

 

OP: I think CC is well worth having (although not sure about the retrofit question you ask). No CC < CC < ACC for me, I'd never go back to stock CC after using ACC (On automatics).

7 hours ago, mark_irl said:

It does - I only know because my wife somehow accidently activated it not long after getting the car. She rang me in a panic when the car wouldn't go over something like 50Kph .

 

OP: I think CC is well worth having (although not sure about the retrofit question you ask). No CC < CC < ACC for me, I'd never go back to stock CC after using ACC (On automatics).

 

7 hours ago, mark_irl said:

It does 

It does? I have ACC.I can't find it on my facelift 2018 Fabia? Where is it?

@RickW I'm in work and don't have car with me, wife's also in work so can't talk to her right now. Had a quick look at the manual online and I think you're right, it looks like the Speed Limiter would be on the indicator stalk (which I don't remember seeing) as opposed to on the CC stalk. It about 11 months ago and neither of us have ever looked to activate a speed limiter hence that was my only experience of it.

 

Edit: Just found this on page 48/49 of the online manual....I bet this is what actually happened as it looks like you could set it via the MFD buttons on the wiper stalk

 

"The system offers the possibility to set a speed limit beyond which an acoustic warning signal will sound and the following warning message appears in the display of the instrument cluster". 

 

So probably wasn't the car wouldn't go over the speed set but more that she freaked out at the warning message and sound 

 

@hetty1 - so it looks like Speed Limiter OR ACC on Fabia mk3 as standard (not sure about retrofit options though given the car has the ability to monitor speed and limits with ACC, I wonder could you retrofit the newer indicator stalk with the SL on it).

 

 

Edited 13 December, 20187 yr by mark_irl

I remember maybe twice when I was using my daughter's late 2009 Ibiza, after refuelling it logging fuel quantity, miles travelled and indicated MPG, after resetting all the stored values, driving off and getting a warning buzzer - I had messed up and forced the speed warning function to maybe its default level of 30MPH, quite alarming the first time, still very annoying the next though!

On 07/12/2018 at 16:41, bertJ said:

If possible get adaptive cruise control (ACC). Far superior to standard cruise control in today's heavy traffic. Unfortunately, ACC is only available as a factory fit on a new Fabia because it can't be fitted retrospectively. Slightly off the point - SEL is far better than SE because it includes cruise control and climate control plus 16" wheels. My wife and I have had automatic (i.e DSG) cars for years and would never consider a manual car. My present DSG SEL Fabia is excellent and I certainly can't agree with all the comments from 'experts' on this forum about DSG problems.

I notice that you live in Wirral - why not have a chat with Mitchells in Ellesmere Port; I've always found them extremely helpful and very honest. They usually have a very good choice of used Fabias.

 

Bertj, Skoda's with manual gearboxes are very good. You only don't agree with many of us who have had considerable problems with the DSG gearboxes because you haven't had any issues yourself...yet!  I loved my Fabia Mk3 110ps DSG cars but they didn't love me. I had immediate engine problems with both of my new Mk3's and a very noisy DSG and slipping clutches on the second one. They could not be fixed by Skoda and so I rejected the first car. I received a brand new one which promptly had serious clutch issues. That car I sold on after the dealer replaced the clutches with the latest type of factory clutch. Those failed again I'm told after I sold it. Just not good enough. Fair to say that clutch failure is not totally widespread, but it's a big enough problem for JD Power to downgrade the Fabia's prevouisly good reliability record by some way due to engine and gearbox issues. This it turns out relates to the DSG gearboxes. I would have loved to have stayed with Skoda but they just don't seem to cut the mustard for me anymore.