Isn't cruise control the most useless gizmo to have on your car in the UK?
The only time I find I can cruise at a constant speed for any decent length of time is between 11.00 pm and 5.30 am (which, because I'd much rather be in bed between those times, is not very often). On those rare occasions I can manage to control my speed by pressure on the accelerator. It isn't that much of a hardship.
The rest of the time I'm having to vary my speed, and my course, on account of slower vehicles, other drivers' inconsiderate manoeuvres, traffic queues and suchlike. On our overcrowded island, the roads where there's little traffic are likely to have liberal amounts of bends, hills and tractors.
Cruise control: fine for the interminable deserted highways across the vast expanses of the US and Canada. UK, forget it.
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Totally disagree. It helps you adhere to speed limits, it improves fuel economy, and it makes long journeys less stressful. On familiar roads, it's a doddle flicking it on and off (with the well positioned slim stalk of my MB's VDO system it is). Drive with enough anticipation and space, and it is an eminently practical device.
I first used cruise control in US hire cars in the late 1970s; I had it fitted to the Audi I acquired in 1989; I had it retro-fitted to my first MB E320 Coupé; and I now enjoy it on my second MB E320 Coupé. But, as HJ always reminds us, if it's on when you fall asleep, you will crash at the set speed.
All of which is not to say that it is to everyone's taste, but I do think that many undervalue it.
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Agreed.It helps you adhere to speed limits
>>it improves fuel economy
How so.It is after all a motorised accelerator pedal
just a lazy way of holding speed
>>less stressful.
Can`t see how you work that out concentration on the road is the
most stressful.Not foot on pedal
>>All of which is not to say that it is to everyone's taste
agree with that
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mech1, sorry to mention this, but there's no need to hit the Return key at the end of each line. Your words will automatically "word wrap" as soon as you come to the end of the line.
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Sorry Mad Maxy, I disagree, too.
There is a time and place for everything, especially with cruise control, but it can be very useful other than the obvious 'open motorway'.
As one example, camera ridden motorway roadworks when the traffic is actually flowing rather than stop-start crawling.
Set at 40 MPH with an appropriate gap in front, leave right foot resting gently on the throttle pedal ready to accelerate or brake (at least you know where the brake pedal is with respect to moving from the throttle, not from somewhere else on the floor), and then concentrate all the more on anticipating the kamikaze driving going on around you.
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I use cruise control quite a bit too.
I quite often have to drive the section of the M6 from near Liverpool to Penrith. Once north of the M55 intersection where the traffic thins out I have been known to drive without disturbing the CC for the hour or so to Penrith - very relaxed drive.
... but I do take the point about nodding off and what the results would be!
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Well, this could be a case of 'you never realised you couldn't do without this until you had it', like a dishwasher. And I must confress that I coudn't do without central locking or electric windows ("You mean this car hasn't got electric windows then? How do they open?.... Wind the handle? What do you mean? How do you do that?"). Or aircon.
But cruise control? I'm not convinced... though the speed limit bit might make sense; these days one almost spends more time looking at the speedo worrying about getting done by a camera than concentrating on the road and traffic conditions.
Sounds like it's best on an auto then?
So are the PFDs at the head of long convoys on cruise control with everything else in neutral? (See 'Overtaking convoys' for a rather entertaining thread.)
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I've used cruise control in the US and found it to be wonderful. However, the Mondeo hire car I've just (sadly) relinquished had cc and I tend to agree with Mad Maxy - not much use on UK roads, at least not the roads I spend a lot of time on.
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The only time I ever used cruise control was in the late 60s when I was ferrying a Chev AWD ambulance at 60 mph from Lusaka to Ndola. The bonnet catch was absent, and the bonnet was tied down by a piece of stiff wire. With the vibration and the wind pressure under the bonnet, said bonnet opened and the hinges parted. Bonnet flew 150 feet up into the air and came down like a falling leaf, causing panic avoidance manoeuvres on part of following vehicles. The cruise control was a screw-in knob which opened the throttle. In my surprise, (nice calm progress, sudden white-out, loud bang, then could see the engine), it must have been a good mile before I remembered how to back it off.
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I would certainly dispute that cruise control improves fuel economy. On hilly roads it can make stupid attempts to maintain speed by flooring the accelerator, when a thinking driver would be happy to slow down a bit.
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No - front foglights, sunroof (on a/c cars) are a damn sight less useful.
I have to take a car full of gear to N.I. fairly regularly and
drive up to Stranraer on Sunday morning, I don't normally stop until Dumfries for brunch.
It's not unknown to be on cruise for a full hour at 1000 in the morning, I've certainly done Cumbria without coming off cruise.
I wouldn't advocate using it on the M25 but it does have it's uses, giving the right foot a rest even for 10 minutes after 3-4 hours driving is useful.
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I'm very lazy. Couldn't live without cruise and an autobox. Put it at indicated 70 on the motorway and you go *just* faster than lorries (no holding them up) and slower than everyone else, so you get miles of empty tarmac in front of you. (When I do overtake then I'll gun it a bit to keep out of anyone's way)
Use it at indicated 56-60 on single carriageways to similar effect.
Use it at indicated speed limits elsewhere, cuts out any worry about speed traps, and you look at the road the whole time, not the speedo.
Just need to go up one model on mine to get the "adaptive laser cruise" (me want me want)...
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well worth having I reckon to use the cruise control at some time on virtually every journey definitely useful to allow you to concentrate on the road, hazards etc rather than your speed.
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err ... "adaptive laser cruise" - go on, what's that then?
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Adaptive Laser Cruise (or whatever term each manufacturer chooses) is a system where you set the speed you want - let's say 60. You then might approach a vehicle ahead doing 50. When you get within a certain safe distance, the cruise slows you down to 50 to match. It retains the safe distance between you and the car in front.
That means that as the car in front, in the real world, travels at varying speeds perhaps from 40 to 60, your car maintains the distance behind it without you having to come off cruise or keep turning it off and on. It also means you don't get too close to someone.
If they then hare off at 70, yours simply goes back up to the 60 you set and toodles along again.
I *think* some Nissan Primeras have it - not a Nissan man so not sure.
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Malcolm L may not want to use cruise control (CC) on the M25, but yesterday I had to make a trip from M3 round M25 to A1. Used CC through the 40mph section and didn't need to touch brake or accelerator - brilliant! Used it to keep to 65 on other bits and got a trip computer reading of 58mpg from my 3-year old Galaxy over about 55 miles. Return trip in the evening produced similar stress-free result using CC again, but this time just under 50mpg. I've only had the car for about 7 months, first time with CC and I'm amazed at homw usful it is. Use it every day, from 30mph on our local urban dual carriageway to 20mph on the large site where I work to avoind exceeding the limit. Definitely worth having.
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You will be surprised at how your fuel consumption goes down when using CC. I use it all the time and personally think it's great.
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Dipstick: Thanks for explanation re adaptive control.
Sounds like a good trick - I want one too.
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I use CC every day, our ring road is 40mph and riddled with SPECS cameras, this makes many peoiple waver between 30-40mph as they can't be bothered to watch their speed all the time. People with CC can go in the outside land and I set mine as soon as I hit 41mph and it stays there along the whole road, I can also cover the brake pedal with my foot, so can respond to hazards faster than lifting the throttle and moving my foot across.
It's also good on A-roads which are quiet, as it's easy for the speed to creep up without realising.
With an automatic the gears are also made, so there is no over-revving or labouring.
On mine you can also click the end of the signal stalk to increase or decrease the speed in 1mph increments, I don't think some cars do this, but may be wrong
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I don't think this is a case of 'you only miss what you haven't got' but Cruise control is the one gizmo I miss on my car.
Very useful for the rogue speed camera especially on an unfamiliar road. Useful on a less busy motorway and it can be used on busier ones as there is a 'resume' feature on most.
Best feature was setting it to 56mph on a quiet A-road or motorway and getting peak economy.
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Malcolm, I have a sunroof and climate control and I must admit I would never do without a Sunroof. Each and everyone to their own really, can't beat puting the sunroof up, when the sun's splitting the Sky and if get's unbearable.You can always close it and apply the aircon. Quite useful to some people really.
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In the disagree camp I,m afraid: had cruse in the states and it makes long journeys more comfortable. Next car over here gets C.C.
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