Automatic - Review of the in-car nanny (updated)

"Mosqvich" (mosqvich)
09/27/2014 at 22:12 • Filed to: Automatic, OBD-II, BMW 135i, Tesla

"Automatic is a Smart Driving Assistant that can save you money on gas, remember where you parked, and even call for help in a crash."

Full Disclosure : The people at Automatic wanted me to review this so bad, they actually sent one to me.

The Automatic is a small device which plugs into a car's OBD-II port. The company behind the device has a lofty mission of changing your driving behavior with an aim towards helping all of us achieve better fuel economy. The device goes about this by a Pavlovian method of beeping at the driver when the car accelerates too quickly or brakes to hard. It also keeps track of your trips and how many minutes you spend driving over 70 MPH.

Design: 7/10

The device itself is actually very nice looking. It has the feel of an Apple or Nest designed device. However, I have used it now in a number of cars including my own cars a some rental cars.

The Automatic hangs down from the OBD-II port just enough in some cars to be dislodged just about every time the driver gets in the car. It is also a little chunky. In the days of measuring smart phones in millimeters of thickness, the device is just too big. In my personal car, the OBD-II port is hidden by a little door. So now, I have the device protruding near the driver's side door.

This is a pretty small detail, but Automatic II should be much more compact in design and execution.

Setup: It depends

Setup on the Automatic is fairly straightforward, stepping the user through the process using graphics. Automatic can either read the vehicle's VIN through the OBD-II or it will ask the user to scan it with an Android or iPhone. It works. So, why does it depend? Once you begin adding other vehicles, was not so easy. The new vehicles would show up, but it was nowhere near as straightforward and sometimes I had to delete other vehicles in order to add an additional vehicle, like a rental car when I travel. Automatic wants you to own a device for each car, but enthusiasts typically have more than one car and may want to collect metrics on each car's performance. I'll give car #1 setup a 10/10 .

Operation: 10/10

There is no denying the Automatic works. It beeps at the driver early and often. In my case, my car is fairly high performance and the Automatic often beeps at me for fast acceleration at take-off, as well as shifts into second and third gear. The software on a compatible smart phone tracks your behavior and actually scores your driving habits.

The overall rating is presented to the driver, me in this case, in the center. The goal is to be closer to 100. 37 is not very good, at least according the people at Automatic, whose goal is help the driver achieve the best possible efficiency. As you can see on the left, I did hit a high on Thursday.

Most of my driving this week has been in town, so there isn't a lot to show for minutes over 70 MPH. In another screenshot below though, I hit 49 minutes over 70 MPH. Here's the problem: I live in Colorado where the speed limit is 75 MPH. A driver would need to drive below the speed limit in order to meet the needs of the software architects who live in San Francisco.

I do rapidly accelerate. In my older car, an E46, I was beeped at frequently, but nowhere near as often as I do in my 135i.

Hard Brakes are a mystery to me. I rarely stop hard. I'm saving the rubber on my tires for rapid acceleration after all. The device is consistent across all the cars I've tried it in. Always with the hard braking. Oy.

In my E46 I had some check engine lights that were active. Here is where the Automatic shines. The decoding was very precise and I was able to fix the problem, a pretty easy fix in fact. Once I fixed it, I was good to go. I think this aspect of the Automatic would be very useful to enthusiasts, particularly those with older cars. The nearby mechanics function is not as helpful. It recommended a Chevy dealer for my BMW. As if.

It does a pretty good job calculating fuel economy, remaining miles, and even some vehicle's fuel level. Remaining fuel does not work on every car though. It's usually a little bit off, but it's close enough.

The software also keeps track of your individual trips highlighting where you hit the brakes hard, went over 70 and where hard accelerations took place. It even calculates the cost of your journey. It also reminds the driver of what you should be getting for mileage according to the EPA. Considering all of my rapid accelerations, I don't think getting 18 MPG is so bad.

Crash alert. The Automatic does have the ability to detect when an accident occurs. Apparently it sends a report to the home office at Automatic, who then let the authorities know you've wrapped your Lambo around a tree. Fortunately, I haven't experienced this feature.

What it doesn't do right

There are no adjustments for speed limits. This aspect very unrealistic of the software developers. Driving under the speed limit in a given area, for instance in Utah where the speed limit is 80 MPH, at some point becomes dangerous. I have had some "no hard braking" trips, but not very many. It seems like Automatic could learn from video game developers and understand the physics of braking. I didn't try the Automatic out on a Tesla, but I would be very curious to see how a Model S would be rated. The moment you let your foot off the accelerator on a Tesla, it is applying brakes to regenerate electricity.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Summary

The Automatic is not particularly useful for enthusiasts, but if you're a hyper miler, order one of these babies as soon as possible. Having said that, I really think there is room for an improvement to the device allowing for economy, performance, and even race modes. For the older car owner, it's ability to read engine codes is a bonus, but there are plenty of other code readers around, so I couldn't recommend buying an Automatic for this reason alone. It is a competent device, albeit a little large.

Price: $100, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Automatic Web site: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (91)

HammerheadFistpunch > Mosqvich
09/27/2014 at 22:26

i have a Hard time buying a device to tell me information i already know...also i live in utah

ScreenShot > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:15

I'll stick to my listening radar detector that beeps when the engine growls in anger under hard acceleration.

ScreenShot > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:16

Sorry if I missed it...what does this thing cost and how long will it take for it to pay for itself?

vc-10 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:19

I find that just the normal mpg gauge fitted to most modern cars is enough to push my fuel economy right up. I spent some time driving my mum's Skoda Superb estate over the summer. For those in the US, it's about the size of a Mercedes E-Class estate, so not a small car, although mum's on has a fairly small engine (a 1.4 Turbo 4-cyl). I managed to push the mpg right up to 46.9mpg (39 US), without much cruising at all. Just by thinking about the acceleration, and thinking ahead on the road. For such a huge car, I was quite pleased. Considering I can't get that high in my 1.2 Polo...

Kinja'd!!!

WadeMoeller > ScreenShot
09/28/2014 at 12:19

It's not in the review, but some other friends have the device and it runs around $100. I do not know if the app for your smartphone is included in that price or if there is an additional subscription.

Meanwhile, you can pick up an OBDII reader with Bluetooth for under $20 on Amazon and Torque for Android is around $5. Torque won't do the nagging, but you'll get to see all the raw data produced by the car as well as clearing the OBDII codes.

g101010101 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:25

This was a very helpful review. What apps/devices would be better for reading engine codes? (I've done a little reading on Torque but it's limited)

DonKeybals > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:25

This device will not tell me anything I don't already know. A lot of cars nowadays already come with provisions that will give you mos, if not all of the information that's coming from this device.

nramos33 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:30

I have one and my issue is that with some cars like the 2002 Toyota Avalon and other cars, there are known glitches.

When I plug mine in for example, the ABS light comes on. Once I unplug it though, lights go off. Another issue, it doesn't always record data or transfer it. I usually have to have the app open on long 3-4 hour road trips, otherwise it stops importing the data. This isn't an issue unless I want to change music on my phone, because then I have to switch apps and switch back.

What it does do well, it tells me how much my little fun disappear for an afternoon drives cost. I sometimes forget the cost of driving around and it helps me keep track of cost of each trip instead of me doing math to figure it out afterwards based on mileage and cost (which I don't do). It also is good at reminding me to be easier on the brakes. When I drive, I'm the same driver, but maybe I brake a little earlier or don't use as much throttle to accelerate off the light.

It's a good device, but mine now sits in my glove box waiting for automatic to send me a specially formatted one just for Toyota vehicles.

darthd > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:31

Does this do anything a scangauge II doesn't do, besides the whole app nonsense.

Rockchops > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:36

Hard braking matters because on direct injection cars (all, if I'm not mistaken), the car will spend literally zero fuel when coasting. So the longer you coast = the longer you're using no fuel, vs braking hard where you're on the gas a longer time — even if you depress the clutch you're spending fuel to idle. Ideally for mileage, you want to coast as far down as you can to every stop without stalling the engine. I'm not saying its practical or safe, but doing so will add up to a couple MPGs.

Older cars without DI it won't add up to as much.

MartinWantsBeer > Rockchops
09/28/2014 at 12:43

It's actually not only DI cars, but (newer) fuel injected cars in general. There's no difference, you're only compressing air either way.

Slickdeal > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 12:56

It is also a little chunky. In the days of measuring smart phones in millimeters of thickness, the device is just too big.

... Automatic II should be much more compact in design and execution.

It looks like they did a pretty good job of conformally-packaging the electronics in a cost-effective way. The OBD-II connector can be blamed for driving the device's size.

FCV-8311 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 13:05

Kinja'd!!!

I never liked gear selectors mounted on the dashboard. On the column is the best IMO, followed by on the floor.

MotorcycleRider > Rockchops
09/28/2014 at 13:08

Any car with a manual will use no fuel when you're off the gas

PatinaBeforePolish > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 13:14

I'll go ahead an hazard a wild guess that the OBD II port in a Tesla Model S is mostly there for regulatory purposes and provides little or no information useful to Automatic. You meant to say Prius, right?

PeteRR > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 13:26

Countdown to NHTSA making this mandatory for all new cars...

QQXQXL123 > MotorcycleRider
09/28/2014 at 13:30

Not true. Anything with a carburettor will still use fuel. and older fuel injected cars don't always have an over-run cut-off.

Dr_Watson > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 13:30

Apparently they're software engineers that know nothing about cars. The odd hard braking stuff, the ignorance of speed limits, then the fact that it's been proved that hard acceleration is efficient. Time @ RPM costs fuel, getting to cruise speed and into top gear as quickly as possible uses the least fuel over a distance longer than the acceleration period (qualifier needed, because drag racing up to speed then immediately stopping is ineffective, but drag racing up to 40 and cruising for a few miles makes up for the acceleration). Also engines tend to be their most efficient at energy production during WOT.

BobWellington > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 13:31

No support for Windows Phone so I couldn't get one even if I wanted one. Also, it's overpriced. I do like trying to get the best fuel economy I can as if it's a game, though. I generally average about 15.5 terrible miles per gallon in my '06 Explorer with the 4.6. It was about 18.5 before I got slightly larger General Grabber AT2s. That was probably a mistake.

d3v > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 13:54

Kinja'd!!!

What a weird place for a gear lever.

Chaos-cascade > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 14:02

Does it rat you out to your insurance company? What does an autocross score look like?

LJSearles > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 14:04

Isn't such such a device called a "wife" ?

Mosqvich > ScreenShot
09/28/2014 at 14:10

You didn't miss it. I omitted that fact. Sorry about that. $100, but I think it's on sale for $80 right now. I'll add in a link.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 14:33

I picked up a WiFi adapter and a copy of DashCommand instead for a total investment of about $30. It's not an ideal solution as the connection seems to drop at random times, but it gives me a ton of usable information. I tend to use the fuel economy page that shows instantaneous MPG (not all that useful) and averages over time (0-5 minutes, o-30 minutes and 0-3 hours - quite good).

By paying attention to what it's telling me and modifying my driving accordingly I've managed to get an extra 50 miles per tank on my daily commute. That's two gallons, so this setup paid for itself in about 6 weeks. The same effect could have been gained by doing what I do now, namely let the cruise control take care of the speed most of the time, but it's nice to have some feedback to see that what you're doing is actually having a positive effect.

Eric the RC guy > WadeMoeller
09/28/2014 at 14:48

Torque won't make the noise, but you can set it up to be kind of naggy about bad driving habits. I've got one of the screens on mine set up for economy highway driving, and you can set it so it flashes above a certain RPM number, certain engine load percentage, certain speed. etc. Mine flashes if I go above 3,000 RPMs, above 70 MPH, or am getting less than 22 MPG and I have noticed a difference in fuel mileage when I use it versus when I don't.

ythostiress65 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 15:25

Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail

www.Jobs7000.Com

BLCKSTRM > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 15:44

Not to pile on too bad, but this thing is for the iPhone/prius crowd.

Torque is for Jalops, plain and simple. It is as superior to Automatic as a $25k new BMW i8 is to a $100k Prius.

My Bluetooth dongle is small enough to fit under my OBD2 port door.

There is a MAJOR disconnect between what this thing does and who would buy it based on the little info it provides.

They sure could have made Torque prettier, with a better ui, and then added the nannies and they'd maybe have something. As it is? I can't believe they think there's a market for this (as they've positioned it). Typical simian valley.

I meant "silicon" valley, but my autocorrect isn't too far off.

The Ghost of ¯\_()_/¯ AKA BabySteps > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 16:13

"I live in Colorado where the speed limit is 75 MPH. A driver would need to drive below the speed limit in order to meet the needs of the software architects who live in San Francisco."

I really don't understand the logic here. While I do understand that most folks (and perhaps ALL the folks here at Jalopnick) treat the speed limit as the lowest permissible limit for driving but I always thought that it represented the upper limit of permissible speed?

Hiroku > Rockchops
09/28/2014 at 16:25

AFAIK all cars with electronic fuel injection will cut fuel when coasting off-throttle, not just the ones with direct injection.

deugea > d3v
09/28/2014 at 16:28

That's a Venza dash. I drive one of those, and it's actually great to have it up and out of the way. The center console has plenty of room for sliding cubbyholes, cupholders, adjustable armrest, etc., since the gear shift is up and out of the way. Also, the dark gray wood interior looks a lot better than the wood picture above. :-)

Hiroku > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 16:34

I can understand the hard braking events and driving over 70mph being harmful for fuel economy, but what's wrong with hard accelerations? I thought on port-injected Otto engines it was actually beneficial to accelerate harder, as the butterfly valve would open more and thus allow considerably less pumping losses to occur.

Hifrequency > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 16:37

Please let that shifter not be real, is it just shopped to be that hideous?

Kinja'd!!!

Eddie Rodriguez > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 16:47

Don't forget about Dash... free alternative provided you have an OBD sensor

Mosqvich > The Ghost of ¯\_()_/¯ AKA BabySteps
09/28/2014 at 17:02

Unfortunately most people who drive under the also linger in the left lane trying to impose their values on others or are completely oblivious to the world around them.

Computerbudda > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 17:39

I've had one for over a year. I love it. It has increased my MPG by about 1 MPG over that period but that is not what I think is it's most feature. It also tracks where you go and how long you've spent there and can display it on a website for you. Being in the service business, now I know exactly who I visited and how long I spent there. Yes, it costs $100 ($79 is the current promo) and it paid for itself for me in the first week. It also shows you where your car is parked. Don't buy it for monitoring speed and the savings from it's coaching is minimal in my mind.

If you have employees who do deliveries, get one for each vehicle!

CBuckley > d3v
09/28/2014 at 17:54

Yes! This trend of having gear shift protrude out of the dash towards the driver is strange ergonomically and I wonder about the safety of this arrangement. I know cars have an airbag nearby in the steering wheel but a hard object sticking out like that seems dubious.

C-Rod > The Ghost of ¯\_()_/¯ AKA BabySteps
09/28/2014 at 18:13

I think this is true for the general public as well, not just us Jalops. Studies have shown that most people travel 5-10 miles per hour above the speed limit. Many speed limits haven't been updated in decades to reflect the new realities of performance and safety of modern cars.

http://jalopnik.com/michigan-state…

C-Rod > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 18:18

You guys and your fancy "computers" and your "OBD-IIs". The chip in my car is about as smart as a game and watch.

The Ghost of ¯\_()_/¯ AKA BabySteps > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 18:31

While I guess I understand what you are saying as I understand it those values have already been set by the community in the form of a representative legislature. if 75 is the speed limit then by law that is the fastest we are allowed to go. I just find it interesting that by default and without even thinking about it 75 mph here becomes the default lowest possible speed that one could never go below. That is my only commentary on this sentence.

The Ghost of ¯\_()_/¯ AKA BabySteps > C-Rod
09/28/2014 at 18:35

I think this is probably right (though I did say that "most folks (and perhaps ALL the folks at J) feel this way"). Although, I would wonder about the "updating the speed limits to reflect the realities of the performance of modern cars" portion. As I remember those limits were put in place to curb energy consumption. It was later found that it also brought vehicle deaths down. Am I wrong? I could be wrong!

jalop1991 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 19:01

bah. Anyone with any schooling understands, feedback WORKS.

Honda puts simple feedback into its lowliest Civic, for example. The dash background lighting subtly goes from green to blue to tell you what you're doing.

All you need is a little simple information to make a huge impact. It doesn't have to be elaborate, and it WORKS.

I was think all you really need is a little vibration in the gas pedal when you're doing over the line from inefficient to efficient. It doesn't stop you from doing anything, and it's not obtrusive, but it does feed information back to the controller of the car—the driver.

Rootsmanuva82 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 19:27

The best "device" I've seen to improve overall fuel economy has been an "analog" needle that shows mpg in real-time. I had an old e30 325es that had this feature and it worked very well at teaching good driving habits in regard to fuel economy. And it never BEEPED at you.

Cole Paquette > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 19:29

As potentially useful as saving gas is, my DD is a Volvo V70. The OBD port in in the center console under the lid. I would have to drive around with the lid taped up so it doesn't sit there and bounce on top of the thing and hammer it into pieces. or my old VW has an OBD port right in the center under the radio, where the thing would get bashed constantly. Or what I'd really want it for is a much older car, but those lack OBD. Good idea, but not always suitable.

MotorcycleRider > QQXQXL123
09/28/2014 at 19:58

Why? If the throttle is closed, no fuel should be going to the engine

RotaryLove > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 20:30

It is also a little chunky. In the days of measuring smart phones in millimeters of thickness, the device is just too big. In my personal car, the OBD-II port is hidden by a little door. So now, I have the device protruding near the driver's side door.

This is a pretty small detail, but Automatic II should be much more compact in design and execution.

This is an arbitrary nitpick in my opinion, considering it can't get much smaller than it already is. keep in size the massive size of the OBDII connector itself, which could probably use a revision to make it smaller.

QQXQXL123 > MotorcycleRider
09/28/2014 at 20:56

It's sort of perverse, but at the small throttle opening required for idling (a "closed throttle") the engine can create a lot more vacuum. That causes more suck on the carburettor jets, and so you get a litle more fuel pulled into the engine at high revs and an idle throttle opening than you do at low revs. You can't really dial that out because the vacuum sucking on the jet is what makes the carb work in the first place.

When you combine that excess fuel with not enough air, you get to the fun bit - and that's when a carburetted car spits flame on the overrun. It only does that because unburnt fuel gets all the way through the exhaust system and meets the fresh air at the tail pipe while still hot enough to ignite.

Slave2anMG > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 21:22

Frankly I'd rather be rolled in a dumpster full of broken bottles then submerged in a tank filled with 250 gallons of isopropyl alcohol than put up with something like this thing. Holy crap it sounds breathtakingly irritating...and no doubt it's going to make the hypermilers even more irritating to surrounding traffic than they already are.

Mosqvich > RotaryLove
09/28/2014 at 22:15

I understand the OBD-II port design, but certainly a device could be flatter and not require 2 circuit boards.

Mosqvich > jalop1991
09/28/2014 at 22:21

Perhaps my point is that some folks don't need a nanny - I choose to drive a little quicker, etc... This device obviously is made for a limited audience and the fact that it is on sale indicates the device and software could be upgraded and have a much broader customer base.

Mosqvich > Computerbudda
09/28/2014 at 22:24

Valid points all. I haven't unplugged mine yet. I like the trip info too. I wish it expanded the map in the app. I should setup a website account.

The Transporter > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 22:38

It's a damned ripoff even at 20% off. OBDII Bluetooth adapters run on Amazon for about $15 and Torque Pro app is $4.95 while Torque Lite is free and both of them will tell you almost the exact same info as this device.

jalop1991 > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 22:44

no, you don't WANT a nanny. That's way different than saying you don't want or need feedback to achieve a goal.

Here's a thought: instead of declaring this to be a "nanny" (which it's not), how about declaring it to be a teaching tool much like a g-meter? The more you know, the better you are—at whatever task you choose at whatever moment you choose. Nobody here would declare a g-meter to be a "nanny," yet there it is, judging you and your ability every moment.

So this is all about knowing better how to drive when you're not hooning? If you're just driving your mother around, wouldn't you like to know if you've developed bad habits that waste gas? Wouldn't you like to exorcise said bad habits so that when it's appropriate, you're driving efficiently?

And if you choose not to know something about your car and your ability driving it, what does that make you?

Computerbudda > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 23:29

It's free, since I bought mine and have an account I just went here and logged in.

https://dashboard.automatic.com/#login

Owned Wolf > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 23:36

I have to agree with the assessment on this. I bought one a year ago just hoping to have it monitor error codes and to help in emergencies. I get beeped at all the time in my underpowered car. I accelerate hard and I brake hard. It's just what I do despite having this nanny me. Fortunately there are settings in the app to only beep under certain circumstances, such as going over 90 mph or to not beep at all. They really could bring an awesome level of options going forward as you mention at the end of the article. I feel that automatic is limiting themselves as a "we help you save money as a driver car feature" vs "we have all of your car needs covered". The app design is great, but I would absolutely love an enthusiast feature. That does bring other challenges along, but in app purchases would be something they could consider.

RotaryLove > Mosqvich
09/28/2014 at 23:42

Two circuit boards might be a requirement due to size restraints, but I completely agree with you. Personally I'd love to use one of these devices whether they're in the way or not, but that's not exactly possible considering neither of my vehicles has OBDII.

HammerheadFistpunch > The Ghost of ¯\_()_/¯ AKA BabySteps
09/28/2014 at 23:43

I know in Utah people drove 80 mph when the speed limit was set to 65 on I15 and X people died a year, then they raised it to 75 and people drove 80 and X people died a year. Then they raised to to 80 and people drive 80 and X people die a year.

MN > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 00:27

Just kill this bloody thing.

Ben C > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 01:03

No.

I rev when I want to, dammit!

shadowx360 > Dr_Watson
09/29/2014 at 01:18

Actually not true for some weird reason. C&D did a test with my exact car and WOT gives the worse mileage for some reason...that being said, I hold my accelerator 2/3 down and shift at 4k when the lights turn green. The gas ain't worth giving up the sounds of a naturally aspirated I6 at full throttle.
Link: http://www.caranddriver.com/columns/drivin…

Monsterajr > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 07:30

My mom performs the same function as this device when she is seated anywhere in my car.

StevenG > WadeMoeller
09/29/2014 at 08:27

Yup, they should just sell the software and let you use your own OBDII reader, this is a total scam.

Dest > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 09:30

Looks kind of like Dash. I deleted that shit after one week of driving to work. Apparently "hard braking" to these apps is just "braking" to everyone else.

philipilihp > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 09:42

What was your "highscore?" And by that I mean lowest Automatic score? That would be a fun challenge too!

Prophet of hoon > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 10:09

Isn't having a woman discuss the merits of a device that nags a bit sexist?

AndresMN > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 10:19

Put the voice of a nagging mother in law screaming "Do you want to kill MEEEE" and you've got the whole package.

xtheunknown > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 10:38

His point about not buying it to just read codes is exactly correct. I bought one for this purpose hoping the thing would also give me other data, but it's far too limited.

patrick0brien > WadeMoeller
09/29/2014 at 10:42

I've got an E46 with a trick schroding-code, so I'm interested in monitoring the health. What OBDII reader-to iOS app would you recommend? Do you have links?

BLOZUP > Dr_Watson
09/29/2014 at 10:44

Hard acceleration is not necessarily efficient. At WOT or heavy loads all cars go pretty rich to be safe, and aren't going to be saving fuel over conservative acceleration. At higher RPMs efficiency drops and fuel usage gets insane, so that's also not a good idea. Moderate acceleration at most efficient RPM ranges is key, not WOT.

ILoveMyWRX > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 11:09

If you're a Windows phone user don't buy it, but please be sure to let them know you're interested in the product. http://getsatisfaction.com/automatic/topi…

Dr_Watson > BLOZUP
09/29/2014 at 11:23

A British automotive engineering consultancy claims to have unearthed proof that putting your foot down hard on the accelerator can actually be more fuel efficient than driving more conservatively.

"It sounds totally counter-intuitive — and it is," admits Cousins. The key to saving fuel, he says, is to accelerate hard until the engine reaches 2000 rpm, move up a gear, then put your foot down until you reach 2000rpm again. It's all to do with internal friction. "Put simply, with your right foot down on the accelerator, the engine is working at its most efficient," says Cousins. Above 2000rpm the benefits diminish and you start using more fuel, not less.

Here's the really interesting thing: in tests carried out in a Citroën C1, one of the most fuel-efficient cars, Cousins's driving technique proved 8.5% more efficient than the "eco-safe driving" style promoted by the Department for Transport ( http://www.dsa.gov.uk — search for eco-safe). The government's official driving method — taught to all UK learner drivers and now included in the driving test — encourages drivers to save fuel by using the accelerator pedal only lightly.

Source: driving.timesonline.co.uk

Dr Steve Cousins should know what he's talking about - he was project leader for the Axon Automotive Caterham 2R which achieved 131 miles per gallon in UK Shell Eco-marathon, and is one of the world's top researchers into fuel economy.

Road & Track did a similar test several years ago and came to the same conclusion. Hard acceleration + short/skip shifting to hit top gear was the most efficient. IIRC they settled on 3,000 RPM, though that surely is variable depending on the vehicle.

Plecostomus is a starred commenter > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 11:25

You know what's great for mileage? A boost gauge or manifold pressure gauge.

keep it out of boost, mpg goes up. VOILA!

McLarry > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 12:18

How much time do I spend above 70mph?

As much time as physically possible.

Strange Noises Alou > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 12:26

so someone decided to make an ECO light for those that are fortunate enough to not have one installed by the factory?

I had a rental car once with the little green light. I stuck a tiny piece electric tape on the dash after a few hundred miles.

deekster_caddy > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 12:59

It looks like OnStar for the hypermiler.

A couple things -

1) I am guessing that pretty much anytime you step on the brake pedal, it's going to register "hard braking". If you pay enough attention you can slow down by decelerating without touching the brakes for a lot of driving. Not most commuting hour driving, unfortunately, but for most off-busy hours on roads you know, you can usually do very little braking. Of course, this approach also pisses off everybody behind you.

2) Speed limits 80 and above? awesome. I can understand why it's recommended to stay below 70 though, for the MPGs - simple math, energy used to fight the still air goes up exponentially as speed goes up. So it's for the hypermiler, not the 'real world' driver. Nice to know these things, but you aren't going to live by it if you regularly drive in those areas.

3) god I hate these things. Other than the 'call for help when wrapped around tree' bit, that's cool. OnStar already does that, so why would anyone with OnStar want one of these?

BLOZUP > Dr_Watson
09/29/2014 at 13:35

Ugh. I would figure lugging the engine at that low of an RPM would be worse. I was thinking 3-4k RPM pulls, but I guess the losses of RPM overtake engine flow efficiency much sooner. Still, I thought you were talking about going to redline, which this doesn't approve.

Mosqvich > Prophet of hoon
09/29/2014 at 14:12

Not a bit, completely is a better way to look at it ;-)

Dr_Watson > BLOZUP
09/29/2014 at 14:46

Not the best yes... I'll have to search out the article as it was several years ago, (Dennis Simanaitis is my kind of nerd) R&T tested several options against each other (granny acceleration, 1-3-6 skip shifting, short-shifting, etc...). I know WOT+short-shift won, but they did find that it's more fun and only a small penalty to wind out high RPM until cruising speed and then skip-shift to top gear (1-2-6) as long as you had enough road to cruise in top gear long enough to offset the small blast of high revs. So, not good for stop'n'go but 0-60 testing onto the highway it ends up efficient.

The moral is that fuel efficiency is so situational that trying to define good habits with a simple software algorithm is a waste of time (and your money if you buy a gizmo for said purpose).

farrance > Mosqvich
09/29/2014 at 15:39

Kinja'd!!!

True Jalop.

Mosqvich > farrance
09/29/2014 at 18:25

WadeMoeller > patrick0brien
09/29/2014 at 22:15

I do not have an iDevice so I can't say that app to use. For the OBDII reader, Amazon has many options . It's hit and miss for which one works for your phone and for your vehicle. Either pick a cheap one so you won't feel bad if it doesn't work right or pick one sold by a vendor with a good return policy. Don't use the programs on the included CD. They are often virus ridden..

Ari Jay Comet > Mosqvich
09/30/2014 at 12:26

First off.... you CAN adjust the speed. It was a firmware update, so depending on how long ago the OP actually tested the device, it may have not happened until after. I had the same issue/complaint but during my testing found the results better once you could adjust.

FAQ and how to adjust here: https://community.automatic.com/automatic/topi…

That being said, the device was cool, but lacking. I found similar results otherwise, to the OP's review. I also compared/tested it against one of the other large competitors, the Zubie Key— which is supported by people like Progressive Insurance... and carries a 3G radio in it, making it not need a phone always connected.

My testing and comparison/review are located here: http://arijaycomet.com/2014/09/11/rev…

dentonthebear > Dr_Watson
10/05/2014 at 06:49

Software engineers not knowing the market they are programming for, so unexpected! A bit like expecting highway/roadway designers to understand how to properly correctly.

Dr_Watson > shadowx360
10/05/2014 at 21:18

The engine does matter of course. I just tested WOT short-shifting at 2500 RPM in the mx5 and increased my average mileage from 27-29 mpg over a full tank of mixed driving.

Rock Bottom > Mosqvich
10/16/2014 at 09:02

If you need this thing to tell you how to drive efficiently, then you probably shouldn't drive. Momentum maintenance isn't the most complicated concept.

greenagain > Rockchops
11/02/2014 at 10:19

I was wondering about that I have a new DI Accord and insta-meter pegs the max if I'm coasting in gear, or in neutral.

greenagain > LJSearles
11/02/2014 at 10:21

I deleted that.

Dunnik > Hifrequency
11/02/2014 at 21:58

No, it's real.

That's the Toyota Venza. The logo on the steering wheel has been shopped out.

baelim > Mosqvich
11/03/2014 at 09:24

Have you tried pairing the Automatic with IFTTT to automate things like turning on navigation in your phone and house items like the thermostat? I agree that having a car nanny is just plain annoying for robust driver but i'm still considering buying one to play nice with my TLX's dashboard.

TheNoblePatriot > ScreenShot
11/03/2014 at 09:51

Here, here! Escort Passport 8500 X50 FTW!

roddenshaw > Mosqvich
05/19/2015 at 09:32

When I checked compatibility on the Automatic website for my E46 it said that it would not be able to read fuel data. Was the device able to calculate fuel consumption for your E46?

Mosqvich > roddenshaw
05/22/2015 at 13:59

No.