How do you use cruise control properly?
- Thread starter inkey$
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pvr said:
I've made sure that my cars have had cruise for years.
I find it very relaxing to help cover long distances at speed without fatigue.
When I set cruise on the motorway, I tend to adjust my style to try not to have to cancel the cruise, i.e. I watch cars in front and those coming up behind and make sure that I can either gently pull out and overtake without adjusting speed, or if I see that traffic behind will catch me before I can overtake & get out of their way I'll use the accelerator pedal to overtake a bit quicker, let off & pull back in with the cruise automatically resuming at the previously set speed.
Obviously if I get it wrong I have to knock the cruise off, usually by a tap on the brake pedal (and a small curse under my breath).
It's all a matter of driving in a slightly different method and looking much further ahead & behind, judging closing speeds & watching out for the boys in blue.
I find that I never use the up and down buttons, only Set & Resume (if I get trapped).
It really makes journey times quicker as you don't slow down unnecessarily, and don't have to stop due to tiredness.
P.S.
Some cars I've had let you very very slightly touch the brake and slow without cancelling the cruise - my Z4 did this yesterday for the 1st time.
I find it very relaxing to help cover long distances at speed without fatigue.
When I set cruise on the motorway, I tend to adjust my style to try not to have to cancel the cruise, i.e. I watch cars in front and those coming up behind and make sure that I can either gently pull out and overtake without adjusting speed, or if I see that traffic behind will catch me before I can overtake & get out of their way I'll use the accelerator pedal to overtake a bit quicker, let off & pull back in with the cruise automatically resuming at the previously set speed.
Obviously if I get it wrong I have to knock the cruise off, usually by a tap on the brake pedal (and a small curse under my breath).
It's all a matter of driving in a slightly different method and looking much further ahead & behind, judging closing speeds & watching out for the boys in blue.
I find that I never use the up and down buttons, only Set & Resume (if I get trapped).
It really makes journey times quicker as you don't slow down unnecessarily, and don't have to stop due to tiredness.
P.S.
Some cars I've had let you very very slightly touch the brake and slow without cancelling the cruise - my Z4 did this yesterday for the 1st time.
I always use cc. My last car (2001 corsa C 1.8 ) came with it standard believe it or not, its not even an option on the 1.8, and I was lost without it when I bought the zed. Although I fitted it to the zed within 2 months :lol:
One difference between the corsa cruise and the z4 is increasing and decreasing the speed with the stalk. On the corsa, you would press a button and it would immediately speed up 1mph, but the zed seems to delay a bit and I find myself holding the stalk forward.
One difference between the corsa cruise and the z4 is increasing and decreasing the speed with the stalk. On the corsa, you would press a button and it would immediately speed up 1mph, but the zed seems to delay a bit and I find myself holding the stalk forward.
I used to hate CC, as it made me feel like I lacked control. Maybe it was because the car I owned didn't have CC and I wasn't familiar enough with it. Nowadays with the Z4, I regularly use it on the motorways or on certain stretches where I know it might be expensive to speed.
Whenever I need to slow down I try to avoid using the brake. I hate it when people constantly use the brake when releasing the throttle would suffice, so I try not to do it myself. It's become a habit to try and only use the CC's functions (while my right foot hovers over the brake pedal of course). I don't use the speed adjusting much, though.
The only things that bother me (a bit):
1. What to do with your right foot? I sit as low as possible and fairly close to the steering wheel, so bending my knee and putting my right foot flat on the floor isn't comfortable. Usually, I leave it gently on the throttle, but it does keep a bit of strain on it.
2. The CC only engages when you back off the throttle a bit. Smooth overtaking requires some anticipation as to when exactly the car you want to overtake will get out of the way (the BMW lane, LOL).
Whenever I need to slow down I try to avoid using the brake. I hate it when people constantly use the brake when releasing the throttle would suffice, so I try not to do it myself. It's become a habit to try and only use the CC's functions (while my right foot hovers over the brake pedal of course). I don't use the speed adjusting much, though.
The only things that bother me (a bit):
1. What to do with your right foot? I sit as low as possible and fairly close to the steering wheel, so bending my knee and putting my right foot flat on the floor isn't comfortable. Usually, I leave it gently on the throttle, but it does keep a bit of strain on it.
2. The CC only engages when you back off the throttle a bit. Smooth overtaking requires some anticipation as to when exactly the car you want to overtake will get out of the way (the BMW lane, LOL).
NEVER BREAK
to turn it off unless you have to.
One of my pet hates, you see people bombing along with the cruise on and break to turn it off, scares the drivers behind so they slam on (also because people drive too close). Just leads to accidents because you get people who are chilled driving along and all of a sudden they panic when they see break lights and get rear ended. Seen this so much on the motorway, rear ending equates to a high percentage of accidents.
The way I use the cruise is to set it to about 75mph (you wont be done and can overtake slower moving traffic) always leave 4 car lengths, leaving loads of room to overtake, to accelerate just press the peddle, to slow down just turn the cruise off by pushing it upward. You can speed up by pushing it away from you and slow by pulling it toward you. If you are gaining on people then just turn it off using the leaver and act accordingly.
So many people don't use it properly and accidents happen, if you feel like your being taken away with it just turn it off, the car slows very quickly without the use of the break. Half the problem with people on the motorway, use the car to break, not the actual break, unless it is necessary. Breaking not only can be dangerous but excess ware, higher fuel consumption etc.
If more people took the extended driver training (pass plus) which includes motorways they would know this!!!
Sorry rant over.
In terms of fuel consumption it does use slightly more because when going down hill the car slows using the engine instead of say taking your foot off the accelerator slightly, but its not a lot depends what the roads are like.
to turn it off unless you have to.
One of my pet hates, you see people bombing along with the cruise on and break to turn it off, scares the drivers behind so they slam on (also because people drive too close). Just leads to accidents because you get people who are chilled driving along and all of a sudden they panic when they see break lights and get rear ended. Seen this so much on the motorway, rear ending equates to a high percentage of accidents.
The way I use the cruise is to set it to about 75mph (you wont be done and can overtake slower moving traffic) always leave 4 car lengths, leaving loads of room to overtake, to accelerate just press the peddle, to slow down just turn the cruise off by pushing it upward. You can speed up by pushing it away from you and slow by pulling it toward you. If you are gaining on people then just turn it off using the leaver and act accordingly.
So many people don't use it properly and accidents happen, if you feel like your being taken away with it just turn it off, the car slows very quickly without the use of the break. Half the problem with people on the motorway, use the car to break, not the actual break, unless it is necessary. Breaking not only can be dangerous but excess ware, higher fuel consumption etc.
If more people took the extended driver training (pass plus) which includes motorways they would know this!!!
Sorry rant over.
In terms of fuel consumption it does use slightly more because when going down hill the car slows using the engine instead of say taking your foot off the accelerator slightly, but its not a lot depends what the roads are like.
Feel free to lightly tap your brake to knock it off, particularly when not in the outer lane of the motorway & courteously waiting to be overtaken before you also overtake.
It lets your overtaker know that you also want to overtake & encourages them to continue past you and the vehicle in front at their constant speed, thereby allowing you to also pass and resume your cruising speed.
It's worked for me these last 20 odd years.
But feel free to only take on board advice that you feel comfortable with.
In time, with practice, you'll gain confidence and competence, Christ even the wife can do it now !
It lets your overtaker know that you also want to overtake & encourages them to continue past you and the vehicle in front at their constant speed, thereby allowing you to also pass and resume your cruising speed.
It's worked for me these last 20 odd years.
But feel free to only take on board advice that you feel comfortable with.
In time, with practice, you'll gain confidence and competence, Christ even the wife can do it now !