Their advertising states:
By leaving the pistons in the optimum position, the restart is always smooth.
Any idea what it means and how they achieve it, or is it just advertising hyperbole?
|
A bit of both, I think. I assume that they are copying Mazda's stop-start technology. IIRC, this ensures that when the pistons come to rest, the next cylinder to be fired on startup is in exactly the right position for the induction stroke. i.e the crankshaft doesn't have to turn before firing.
How much this actually helps is anyone's guess - but it looks good in a marketing way.
This stop-start hooey is getting a bit much, though. I notice that Audis will need special heavy duty batteries to support it.
Battery = "limited life" consumable = Audi = 1 Arm + 1 Leg to replace.
|
|
But for company car drivers they are helping wrt the CO2 penalty on some models.
Edited by rtj70 on 23/08/2009 at 00:46
|
Yes it does, but at what expense?
I wish that the company car never existed. I'll have to start a thread on this sometime. There are a lot of ways that it skews the market in this country, and not always for the better.
Stop-start technology is a case in point. We don't know the long-term implications on the cars with this technology, but its "Lombard Street to a China Orange" that it ain't good.e.g.
1) More wear and tear on metal surfaces by more frequent starts
2) More expensive batteries with maybe shorter life.
3) More expensive complicated startup systems, which won't be cheap to fix if (when) they go wrong.
But of course the poor mug who will be picking up the tab for all this, when the car is out of warranty is the poor private motorist, not the company car driver.
Don't think that I am having a go at the company car DRIVER. I am not - it is the system that is at fault. Company cars are evil! (And No - I haven't just got back from the Pub)
Rant temporarily suspended.
|
I wish that the company car never existed. I'll have to start a thread on this sometime. There are a lot of ways that it skews the market in this country and not always for the better.
One huge benefit is the constant supply of 3 year old fully maintained vehicles for the 'ordinary Joe' to purchase a much reduced cost. Discuss?
|
|
You'd have that anyway - plus the ordinary guy would get a better deal if car manufacturers had to work harder for his custom. Private buyers are an afterthought to these boys nowadays.
|
You'd have that anyway
How so?
Company cars are a good thing for the used buyer - the vast majority serviced to high standards and even high miles these days is not a thing to be put off by. In fact I would rather buy a high mileage car that had been serviced correctly than the 1 owner low mileage car that had seen irregular servcing - perhaps only when it broke down.
|
|
|
|
Yes it does but at what expense? I wish that the company car never existed. I'll have to start a thread on
I'd save money each month - so sounds good to me. The lower CO2 emissions also help other motorists because road tax is lower for powerful cars. The 200+ bhp Audi's with 2.0T engines emit only 149g/km.
But of course the poor mug who will be picking up the tab for all this when the car is out of warranty is the poor private motorist not the company car driver.
Don't buy an ex company car then. And pay for a lower mileage car that was private.
I could take an allowance but still choose the company car option for peace of mind and hassle free driving.
|
I could take an allowance but still choose the company car option for peace of mind and hassle free driving.
Since you are a beneficiary of the company car system, then it is hardly surprising that you are in favour of it, is it? What you are basically saying is, "I'm all right Jack" to all those of us who don't have access to a new subsidised company car.
Don't buy an ex company car then. And pay for a lower mileage car that was private.
Company cars have taken an ever increasing proportion of new car sales over the last thirty or so years. From memory the last set of figures that I saw said 70% of new cars were to fleets. So the proportion of ex-private cars has decreased. (Basic Maths)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Going off at a slight tangent, when the engine stops doesn't the coolant flow through the heater stop? Engine start ~ stop ~ start ........... Heater hot ~ cold ~ hot .......
|
Going off at a slight tangent when the engine stops doesn't the coolant flow through the heater stop? Engine start ~ stop ~ start ........... Heater hot ~ cold ~ hot .......
Thats an easy one to sort!
Electric pump, to take over from the engine driven one... Hmmmm more battery drain, and electronics to go wrong.....
|
We have a Honda IMA in work - totally silent in operation - its been run since Sept 05 when we had it and now has over 40k on it. Its not a weapon of choice for anyone and can stand for days unused - it stood over the very cold weather with no ill effect. I personally don't like it for a number of reasons but it seems to work ok.
I wouldn't be tempted.
|
|
Hybrid Civic saloon - AKA underpowered shed.
|
|
|
|
