Confession

"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss) 04/23/2014 at 07:05 • Filed to: None

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I've never used cruise control before, and wouldn't really know how to use it if I had a car that had it.

jkm7680 > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:09

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Do I have it? Yes

Have I ever touched the damn thing? No

I don't really need to use it, so I don't.

spanfucker retire bitch > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:10

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Damn, I use it any time I get on the highway and it's not so crowded as to endanger myself by putting cruise control on.

It's especially handy on longer drives across the state, or out of it.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:15

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great for long trips and heavily policed zones.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:24

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I used it once. I was 16 and on a long road trip with my mother, meaning I could/should only do the same speed. Never again. Since then I've learned to drive manual and I when I switch to automatic my left leg gets jittery not having anything to do. I can't imagine having even less to do in the car. Might as well fall asleep.

thebigbossyboss > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 04/23/2014 at 07:24

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No doubt it would help keep your speed constant, although on my trips trying to keep my speed constant is the only entertainment available haha.

Mattbob > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:25

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Cruise control is one of those things where it seems like every manufacturer does it differently. The only time I use it is on long trips. For some reason in my BMW, cruise control manages to get WAY better mileage than I can. That damned right foot.

Dusty Ventures > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:26

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I adore cruise control. I couldn't imagine not having it on my multi-hour highway endurance runs. Plus it helps ensure I maintain a more constant speed and improves fuel economy.

Mattbob > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 04/23/2014 at 07:26

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What about a manual with cruise control?

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 07:31

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I had cruise control. I use it when i'm bored with my Crown.

thebigbossyboss > Dusty Ventures 04/23/2014 at 07:34

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Of these things I have no doubt.

davedave1111 > Dusty Ventures 04/23/2014 at 07:49

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Where on earth does this myth about improving fuel economy come from? Cruise control is definitely not the optimal way to go for economical driving. I think it's just that it's more economical than driving like a complete idiot, accelerating and braking hard the whole time.

Hermann > Mattbob 04/23/2014 at 08:10

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Yep, they exist. I've never tried one, though. I remember when I was shopping for a car with my mom it was offered as optional (Chevy Astra). A friend of mine even had it on his Vectra.

I wonder what it'd do if it needed a downshift. Blink an alert?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Hermann 04/23/2014 at 08:23

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It's no issue in a car with decent power. Select the gear you want; set the speed, and you're good to go. It can't downshift for going up grades, clearly, but touching the clutch or brakes disables it.

Hermann > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/23/2014 at 08:36

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With decent power it's really not an issue.

But they offered it to us for a 2.0 Chevy Astra.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Hermann 04/23/2014 at 08:55

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Consider Kansas.

Mattbob > Hermann 04/23/2014 at 08:58

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my 325 has it. I haven't had it need to downshift, but I don't live in a very hilly area.

TheJWT > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 08:58

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I have absolutely no idea how to use it, and I don't really have any desire to either.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Mattbob 04/23/2014 at 08:59

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They exist, but may car sure as hell doesn't have it. I'm guessing it would be for the same reason: long road trips. But, if something suddenly happened you would throw it into neutral, I guess.

Meatcoma > Mattbob 04/23/2014 at 09:01

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my 2010 Camaro has cruise with 6sp.

E92M3 > Dusty Ventures 04/23/2014 at 09:01

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I find it really inefficient. If there's any hills at all it will usually kickdown a gear to maintain speed. It much easier for me to modulate the throttle to maintain speed if its a slight hill. Whenever I've used it, there seems to be 2-3 times the shifts compared to if its off.

Hermann > Mattbob 04/23/2014 at 09:04

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Have you tried to kinda force it to need a downshift just to see how it'd react?

Mattbob > Hermann 04/23/2014 at 09:05

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no, I would imagine it would just give more throttle till it stalled, or disengaged which would also result in a stall. I will have to try if I find a hill with no one around.

Hermann > Mattbob 04/23/2014 at 09:08

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Science!

Dusty Ventures > davedave1111 04/23/2014 at 09:48

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I've actually seen better economy numbers using it on long drives. The reason is that on fairly level terrain (no big hills to screw with it) the cruise will hold an exact speed for hours with extremely little fluctuation. Driving without cruise for those same hours you're prone to more fluctuation in speed as you adjust your foot for comfort's sake or just unconsciously add/lose an ounce of pressure on the gas. Every time you accelerate (be it an unconscious increase of a few miles an hour over your intended speed, or a conscious increase to get back to your intended speed because you've been sitting on the gas for the past four hours and had to move your foot) you're burning that extra little bit of gas.

I do want to point out that the improved economy is slight, requires fairly level terrain, and is only noticeable on long drives (like as in full tank of gas used in a single nonstop highway run). I do regular 4-14 hour highway drives on rally trips, that's when I see the economy benefits

Dusty Ventures > E92M3 04/23/2014 at 09:50

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You're absolutely right, it's definitely less efficient when there are hills, and when I'm in hilly terrain I kick the cruise off and do the throttle work myself. When I'm driving the full width of Iowa on the other hand...

GTI MkVII > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 09:53

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I, too, have a car without cruise control (97 Civic DX). I also don't have power locks or windows lol. But seriously, cruise control is a godsend on long drives. I used to drive from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale (about 3 hours) and back once or twice a month. Trust me when I say my foot would go numb after a little while maintaing 75 mph. On a few occasions I would borrow my mom's VW Jetta and it was a night and day difference from the cruise control alone.

GTI MkVII > Dusty Ventures 04/23/2014 at 09:57

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Until you encounter any elevation changes, that is. Rather than conserving momentum (whatever speed you lose going uphill will be gained back going down), cruise accelerates to go uphill at a constant speed. Probably negligible, but still slightly less efficient.

thebigbossyboss > GTI MkVII 04/23/2014 at 10:01

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Hm. The longest drive I have made without cruise control is about 640 miles thus far. Knee can hurt after about 300 miles but it's better fi I stop to rest for a few minutes.

Dusty Ventures > GTI MkVII 04/23/2014 at 10:05

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true, which is why I don't use it when there are hills

GTI MkVII > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 10:06

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Whoa, kudos to you. I'd never be able to do that without CC lol. Not to mention it wouldn't be much fun in my 4 speed, 106 hp Civic haha.

thebigbossyboss > GTI MkVII 04/23/2014 at 10:38

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This was in a riced out Chevy Cavalier with the worlds stiffest suspension. My fiancee is a saint for putting up with me.

thebigbossyboss > spanfucker retire bitch 04/23/2014 at 10:42

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Usually I don't go that far (maybe 20-30 kms on the highway, 40 if I am going far), which would be about 25 miles. See no reason to use it on such a short trip my foot certainly doesn't get tired on those short stints.

davedave1111 > Dusty Ventures 04/23/2014 at 10:47

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I think it's actually just a myth. Sure, putting on cruise control might well mean you have a lower average speed, but everyone knows that lower speeds are more economical, and it's not cruise control saving fuel but driving slower.

What you say about acceleration is wrong. It's more economical to accelerate and coast, not less. Depending on the engine, it may be quite significantly - 5-10% - more economical to use 'pulse and glide' than a steady throttle opening.

Axial > thebigbossyboss 04/23/2014 at 17:02

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Both the 2002 Jetta (auto) and the '96 Corvette (manual) have it, but I have never used it in either and I have absolutely no idea, or desire to learn, of how to do so.