Cruse Control

almillar

Let's not mix up sloshy automatic gearboxes (which have also improved) with semi-automatic gearboxes. These are the new 'automatics' that everyone is ranting about. There are gears, like a manual, and a clutch (or 2!) like a manual, just no clutch pedal, and the computer is in control, not you.
I've driven some, they're great. I don't see how they give you BETTER control than a manual though, I think that's going too far. A foot on the clutch pedal can be invaluable in a lot of situations including snow.

Iceweasel

k18dan wrote: »

I was always under the impression that Standard Cruise Control will and can apply your breaks.

Say you are driving at 50mph and your CC is set at this speed also, if you come to a massive downward hill and coming off the throttle will not kill the speed enough to keep you to 50mph, the breaks will be applied to help reduce the speed.

Obviously this is rare.. as in most parts coming off the gas will slow down enough when at cruising speed i.e the motor way

I guess using CC around town where there are many steep hills your breaks with be used more.

I'm talking about standard cruise control btw not adaptive cruise control :money:

Well that was not my experience with LandRovers and with my e90 BMW.

It was quite possible (and easy) to overspeed on downhills.

The latest BMWs have Cruise Control with braking which will slow them down when going down hill.

Adaptive CC is another thing - Adaptive maintains a minimum distance from the car in front and applies the brakes to do that.

Iceweasel

almillar wrote: »

I don't see how they give you BETTER control than a manual though, I think that's going too far. A foot on the clutch pedal can be invaluable in a lot of situations including snow.

The latest auto boxes - even those without the paddle shifter give more control ( and in my opinion better control) than a manual.

You can initiate gear changes by gentle and sensitive pressure on the accelerator - both up and down-shifts.

If you have the paddle shifters then you can definitely be in total control - if you so wish.

No manual box that I have heard of can be as fast as a paddle shift auto-box.

As for snow conditions that is when you either switch off Traction Control or select a modified version - like half off so that the wheels are allowed a little more slip/spin before the electrickery gizmos come into play - a bit like an old-school Limited Slip Diff.

vqmismatch

motorguy wrote:

Instinct should be telling you where the brake pedal is. If you're having to think about finding it with your foot, you're doing something wrong.

To be fair, I've missed the brake pedal a good few times going out of cruise control, and none of them under 'oh poo' circumstances. Usually I clip the side of the pedal before skimming off onto the throttle. It doesn't take that long to sort out before being on the brake properly but I wouldn't like it to happen if someone pulled out in front of me.

almillar

If you have the paddle shifters then you can definitely be in total control - if you so wish.
No manual box that I have heard of can be as fast as a paddle shift auto-box.

That's a general statement, and it isn't true for all cars. Plenty have quite old fashioned auto boxes, with paddles, and are slow to change. Also, plenty of the semi autos from a few years ago were accused of being slow and jerky, and could certainly be outpaced by a human. You're mostly talking about some cars in showrooms now, it's not a sweeping statement.
Anyone who thinks all autos that you can change gear yourself on - drive a Smart car and see how slow an 'auto' can be!

Snow - yes there are modes, but I maintain that you simply have more possibilities with your left foot on a clutch, and a gearstick to shove.

Iceweasel

almillar wrote: »

That's a general statement, and it isn't true for all cars. Plenty have quite old fashioned auto boxes, with paddles, and are slow to change. Also, plenty of the semi autos from a few years ago were accused of being slow and jerky, and could certainly be outpaced by a human. You're mostly talking about some cars in showrooms now, it's not a sweeping statement.
Anyone who thinks all autos that you can change gear yourself on - drive a Smart car and see how slow an 'auto' can be!

Snow - yes there are modes, but I maintain that you simply have more possibilities with your left foot on a clutch, and a gearstick to shove.

I agree with you it was a generalisation. - but I did say the 'latest' auto boxes.

They are getting better all, the time - at a fair rate too.

almillar

I agree with you it was a generalisation. - but I did say the 'latest' auto boxes.

Yep, but plenty of brand new cars will be supplied with old fashioned stuff. I think the best thing to do would be to check the 0-60 time, and MPG, of the manual vs auto gearbox.
If the auto is faster and more economical than the manual, it's a good one.
If it's slower and less economical (like the always used to be), it's an old style one.

gzoom

My wifes car come with adaptive cruise control, did 190 miles in the storms last weekend. No issues at all, kept to my pre-defined speed, accelerated and slowed down as required, certainly much more consistent than my own driving. Cannot see my self going back to normal cruise control, let alone the old fashioned method of using my foot

Cannot wait to get a car with auto-steer function. The wife's car also has lane departure warning, so actually it already 'knows' where it is in the lane, just a shame the manufacture hasn't taken the next step....Yet.

WellKnownSid

gzoom wrote: »

Cannot wait to get a car with auto-steer function. The wife's car also has lane departure warning, so actually it already 'knows' where it is in the lane, just a shame the manufacture hasn't taken the next step....Yet.

I was impressed with a recent comparison of the VAG, Mercedes and Volvo systems for emergency braking.

They all brake late to prevent people relying on the system for daily braking (i.e. not bothering) - the VAG system only works at slow 'city' speeds, the Mercedes actually hit the obstacle (but obviously more slowly than if it hadn't braked) whereas the Volvo system stopped in time.

All production cars - isn't technology great! Hitting 'auto cruise' and having your car pick you up outside of Tesco in the rain won't be far away...

zappahey

EssexExile wrote: »

Things have moved on since I last bought a new car but I've never had one where the cruise control uses the brakes.

When the cruise control speed limit function is on, my A4 brakes going downhills. It doesn't have adaptive cruise control.