Is Stop-Start system costly on the long run?

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

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.

Again, assuming a lot.

I actually got the Bluemotion for less than the price of the regular 2.0TDI Passat. In fact i got it less than the price of a regular diesel golf S. So i saved money on the purchase price as well as saving money with every mile i do.

How do you know other people havent struck similar deals?

Also, having driven several cars down the money but with regular maintenance bills, i decided this time to opt for new - and make sure the car was cared for.

Whats wrong with that?

motorguy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

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?

Your manual key stop and start with regular mechanicals wont be as efficient as an electronic version with mechanicals designed to do just that.

The electrics are designed for it - thats why you simply cant buy a 'retro fit' system.

The computer in the centre of the dash flashes up 'stop start engaged' or something similar.

I just leave it to it. I dont even think about it. I leave the car to do its thing - i just reap the benefits at the pump

Exemplar

I love this thread!!! All the people that start with 'I Think' etc.... well there is the first mistake LOL!

We have stop start on our 09/59 Mini Clubman ONE 1.4.

There is a large button under the dash that will switch the start stop system off.

HOWEVER - on an average everyday run from Newark on Trent to Nottingham QMC the stop start certainly seems to add in the region of 6/7 mpg.

As for all the people who state 'oh well it puts a huge load on' etc etc. can I ask if you do know more than the engineers? Probably not......

Lastly Cyclone Bri yes there is a big thing on the dash that tells you its happened!! The Mini is so quiet that you really dont know that its kicked in unless you look. And it also startes the engine again if it detects a certain drop in battery condtion.

Alex

Disgruntled_Knome

When its all said and done MPG figures and enviromental friendlyness meen sweet FA as its all depends on road conditions, surface and driving style.
I get more ticked off when I see something with ECO on the back getting free tax and driving like a lunatic.

Who is more enviromentally freindly? a 2 liter family car driven carefully or something with a bit of fancy kit and a green badge on the back being driven like an F1 car?

Whole things a joke.

motorguy

Disgruntled_Knome wrote: »

When its all said and done MPG figures and enviromental friendlyness meen sweet FA as its all depends on road conditions, surface and driving style.
I get more ticked off when I see something with ECO on the back getting free tax and driving like a lunatic.

Who is more enviromentally freindly? a 2 liter family car driven carefully or something with a bit of fancy kit and a green badge on the back being driven like an F1 car?

Whole things a joke.

Eh? My Bluemotion is an easy 10 mpg better on fuel than the equivalent passat over ANY driving conditions. Is that reduced fuel cost not better in my pocket that in the Governments via fuel tax OR BPs?

Mine IS a two litre family car, yet i can get cheaper tax, cheaper fuel costs AND better co2 output AND it cost me LESS than the equivalent regular Passat.

How is that a joke?

PLUS, i read more threads about people complaining about 'ECO' cars being driven at exactly 56mph (which i dont) and now we've people like you complaining when they're NOT being driven economically. Theres no pleasing some people

Lum

The Eco versions with all this fancy gadgetry are just something that is waiting to go wrong. I personally do not buy new cars, and I would definitely not buy a second hand Eco car as I'd be expecting either a huge repair bill or to have to scrap it sooner, which isn't very Eco at all.

That said I have a Mondeo "Econetic" as my company car, simply because the only expense a company car causes me is personal fuel, which it saves, and tax, which is 2% less than the Mondeo Zetec that it is based on. I feel sorry for the poor sod who buys it when the lease is up but I'm making a saving right now.

motorguy

Lum wrote: »

The Eco versions with all this fancy gadgetry are just something that is waiting to go wrong. I personally do not buy new cars, and I would definitely not buy a second hand Eco car as I'd be expecting either a huge repair bill or to have to scrap it sooner, which isn't very Eco at all.

That said I have a Mondeo "Econetic" as my company car, simply because the only expense a company car causes me is personal fuel, which it saves, and tax, which is 2% less than the Mondeo Zetec that it is based on. I feel sorry for the poor sod who buys it when the lease is up but I'm making a saving right now.

The stop start technology is the only addition to my car that could go wrong - and it can be switched off.

The rest of the bits are 'static' as it were.

I think its the way cars are moving generally. New cars of today are used cars of tomorrow, so the technology cant be avoided.

almillar

Thanks Paul for the clarifications - I meant to put at the end that, for example, the Stop Start system is clever enough not to kick in until the engine's warm etc.
I've seen it at work in my sis's Mini and yes it is ver fast, (restarts as soon as she hits the clutch) so as long as you're paying attention and hit the clutch pedal on amber, you'll go on green.

Strider590

alcot33uk wrote: »

As for all the people who state 'oh well it puts a huge load on' etc etc. can I ask if you do know more than the engineers? Probably not......

I did a spate of independent component suitability testing for Volvo (on the pre-release V70 and C30) in Sweden. This involves measuring the voltages and current handling ability of electrical and electronic components around the car to ensure (in laymans terms) things don't explode.
Both fine motors, I just wish the resident engineers had spent a bit more time on the circuit diagrams... But that's pre-production for ya!

Starting an engine places a huge strain on the starting system especially the battery. I'll admit that stop/start doesn't put such a huge strain on, but it's still significant.

At the end of the day, it's all about selling cars, it's about gimmicks and in this day and age we all want to save money by buying new cars, go figure.

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

At the end of the day, it's all about selling cars, it's about gimmicks and in this day and age we all want to save money by buying new cars, go figure.

Its not a gimmick - it works. Its about making cars more efficient - that is good for the environment, good for the manufacturer and good for the buyer. And its part of a suite of functions that does that.

And for the record, i'm not some lentil munching hippy, but if i do 25K miles a year and can get an easy 20% extra in economy over a standard Passat, then thats more money in my pocket to spend on the things that matter in life