Is Stop-Start system costly on the long run?

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

Gimmick IMO, the EU will take it on just as with other pointless and silly gimmicks.

The cars battery for this is a very expensive/large unit, I dread to think what it costs to replace.... But that cost is bound to out weigh the fuel saved in the first place.

Stop start is only available with the raft of other eco refinements, and together they clearly work.

Also, as an individual concept it clearly must be worthwhile otherwise so many manufacturers wouldnt be scrambling to get it into their production cars. Yes, it helps with the 'official' co2 rating, BUT clearly sitting around in heavy traffic with your engine running is inefficient, therefore this resolves that scenario.

If i can get an easy 20% economy improvement over a standard car with these refinements fitted, how can you say its not worthwhile?

Strider590

^^ Because your buying new cars just to get these systems, the production of a new car creates more CO2 than the car will in it's lifetime.

The depreciation on a new car far exceeds the extra fuel and repairs you'dneed/use by keeping your old one.

Solution??

F*ck off consumerism (buying things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't know - [stolen quote sorry]).

GO BACK TO MAKING CARS THAT LAST MORE THAN JUST A FEW YEARS!!!!





Reminds me of another thread, that went something like this:

"oh I need a new car, because my current one does 3 mpg more than this new one ive been looking at"

^^ we keep making excuses to buy new things that we don't need.

almillar

My car (from 1995) has a very handy key that you can turn back and forth to stop and start it when sitting in traffic.
For those worried about batteries, electrics, engines etc.
The car uses more fuel when it's cold. Don't start and stop when the engine's cold. That means temp guage below 1/2 or at least 1/4, or wait until it idles at its normal level, that's when the 'choke' is fully off in old school terms!
It's only really worth it if you know you'll be stopped for 30 secs or more, by the time you count the slight extra fuel used to start a warm engine.
The cold part of your air con, your brake assist and almost definately power steering won't work when the engine's off, but all the electrics will. If your battery flattens after running some of the accessories for 5-10 mins, it's no good for getting a big heavy engine started.
As stated above, the best thing to do is to slow down in gear (dont' call it coasting, coasting is in neutral) up to the lights and avoid stopping at all - getting a car going uses loads of effort as anyone who has pushed a car should know!
And finally - don't let me ever get stuck behind you at a green light!!

roddydogs

It will be the law soon.......thats why manufacturers are doing it.

Strider590

^^ Rohs compliance is EU law too and look at how quickly we get through electronic goods now that lead has been removed from solder.

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ Because your buying new cars just to get these systems, the production of a new car creates more CO2 than the car will in it's lifetime.

The depreciation on a new car far exceeds the extra fuel and repairs you'dneed/use by keeping your old one.

Solution??

F*ck off consumerism (buying things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't know - [stolen quote sorry]).

GO BACK TO MAKING CARS THAT LAST MORE THAN JUST A FEW YEARS!!!!





Reminds me of another thread, that went something like this:

"oh I need a new car, because my current one does 3 mpg more than this new one ive been looking at"

^^ we keep making excuses to buy new things that we don't need.

It amazes me that people can comment on me and my car without even knowing ANYTHING about my circumstances or the car.

(a) I got £4000 off the list price, taking it back to £15650.
(b) I wanted reliability and hassle free motoring which i have with a three year warranty.
(c) I plan on keeping it ten years after which i anticipate it being worth around £2650 (for talks sake)
(d) when i sell it then, i will have suffered a heady £1300 a year in depreciation.
(e) I can get 1000 miles to a 70 litre tank if i put my mind to it.

I do fairly heavy mileage and i like roomy cars so it made perfect sense to me.

Please dont start to tell me how running an older car makes far more sense. Been there, done that, and it doesnt work. For me. In my circumstances.

motorguy

almillar wrote: »

My car (from 1995) has a very handy key that you can turn back and forth to stop and start it when sitting in traffic.
For those worried about batteries, electrics, engines etc.
The car uses more fuel when it's cold. Don't start and stop when the engine's cold. That means temp guage below 1/2 or at least 1/4, or wait until it idles at its normal level, that's when the 'choke' is fully off in old school terms!
It's only really worth it if you know you'll be stopped for 30 secs or more, by the time you count the slight extra fuel used to start a warm engine.
The cold part of your air con, your brake assist and almost definately power steering won't work when the engine's off, but all the electrics will. If your battery flattens after running some of the accessories for 5-10 mins, it's no good for getting a big heavy engine started.
As stated above, the best thing to do is to slow down in gear (dont' call it coasting, coasting is in neutral) up to the lights and avoid stopping at all - getting a car going uses loads of effort as anyone who has pushed a car should know!
And finally - don't let me ever get stuck behind you at a green light!!

Several things

(a) the car restarts itself after several minutes if it senses it needs to keep the interior cool / warm OR there is any drain on the battery.

(b) it has been 100% reliable and starts as soon as you put your foot on the clutch - there is no delay.

(c) if you manage to stall your car it restarts it for you.

(d) if you're running the air con it normally doesnt bother using stop start

(e) if the engine isnt at a reasonably running temperature it does use stop start.

motorguy

I'm quite surprised at this thread - there are quite a few 'know it alls' who clearly know nothing about the technology but deem themselves 'experts' and then of course we get those who drive old cars (which is fine) but are smug about how 'they know best'.

Strider590

All I see is people who've either swallowed all the enviro and advertising spiel OR are using it as an excuse to buy new cars.

cyclonebri1

I have a manual shut off system, it's called a brain, well what's left of it in my case

It was allways said that any stop over 20 seconds waranted the engine being turned off, I generally follow that rule anyway, temp lights, etc, and particularly when I can roll the car away and "bump" it.

It must put an additional load on the electrical system, starter etc and for me in modern quiet cars, do you actually realise the car engine has stopped?, big flashy thing on the dash I asume?