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Stop start economy

I have an excellent Volvo 480 but it is 15 years old, and I am thinking of buying under the "scrappage" scheme a new "Volvo C30 DRIVe". However, advertising from Volvo proclaims: “It also uses our brand new Start/Stop technology to cut CO2 emissions by up to 5% and fuel costs by as much as 8%. Here's how it works: when you put the car into neutral and release the clutch, the engine switches off-while maintaining comfort settings such as air-conditioning and the stereo system. Then, the next time you press the clutch, the car starts again." I can accept engine cut out at traffic lights, but I can't see a positive when I am in a line of slow moving, stop/start traffic. I am sure that Start/Stop technology in those circumstances would use more fuel, run down the battery and annoy me considerably. What would your thoughts be?

Asked on 11 July 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
What can happen is that the system restarts the engine to keep the a/c pump running and the lights on. It only saves a small amount of fuel and is more to get the car into a favourable tax bracket than provide a significant fuel economy benefit. You can switch it off. You might be made quite welcome at your Volvo dealer because a 480 for a C30 is a near perfect scrappage deal making for an excellent photo
opportunity (and maybe a bottle of champagne, or something for you). Unfortunately the dealer won't have much more to offer financially.

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