Cruise control / Speed limiter
Discussion
I'm in the market for a used car (approx up to 3 years old) and due to high mileage I'll be doing, cruise control is one of the must haves on the list. However, rather than just the conventional cruise control, I have only recently become aware (sheltered life and all that..)that some manufacturers have a max speed function which I suspect would come in rather handy.
Does anyone know which manufacturers have this type of cruise control. I believe Renault and some recent Nissans - any others?
TIA
Does anyone know which manufacturers have this type of cruise control. I believe Renault and some recent Nissans - any others?
TIA
Mercedes, works best on the autos, same switch can do limit and cruise, if you want limit you get to the speed you want to set it to and press limit (you can also tap it up to set it in increments). If you hit the kickdown it disengages, otherwise you can keep your foot down and it will only run to the limit.
I've been playing around with the cruise control on my Volvo, and while it's a neat feature I can't imagine it ever being a 'must have' for me. I hear it's very popular with people who do lots of motorway miles (I don't, to be fair). Is that so you can rest your feet flat on the floor when you get tired?
The max speed function on our Merc was so annoying that it never got used after the first couple of weeks... but more importantly, I became paranoid that it would cut power just when it were needed most.
IMO the speed warning alarms found on BMWs, Saabs, and doubtless many more, are much more useful. They tell you you've hit a certain threshold but doesn't actually stop you going through it should you so need/wish.
IMO the speed warning alarms found on BMWs, Saabs, and doubtless many more, are much more useful. They tell you you've hit a certain threshold but doesn't actually stop you going through it should you so need/wish.
Lanby said:
Surely it just stays at the speed you set it so who cares whether there is a Max speed?
This, surely? If you don't want to go over a certain speed, then watch your speedo, and don't. Wanting cruise control I can understand, but I don't particularly see the point of the speed limiters.Merc system is fantastic, brilliant thing to use.
As has been mentioned, cruise is only any good on the motorway/DC or perhaps A road that you know really well. Once you bring traffic into the equation it stops being useful. It's quite relaxing on a long journey to stop worrying about modulating your right foot and just use the cruise to deal with obstacles. You can relax both legs and sit comfortably (obviously don't move your foot too far from the brake!) and spend even more time making correct observations and planning ahead to make sure you don't have to disengage the cruise.
I find psychologically it's quite good too. If on the m'way you set it at 70 you will just sit at that speed and plod along, or even 65/60 if you're feeling frugal. I find it much easier to avoid the temptation to "blip" past someone and then stay at that speed. Because your speed is constant, you notice how variable everyone elses speed really is!
As has been mentioned, cruise is only any good on the motorway/DC or perhaps A road that you know really well. Once you bring traffic into the equation it stops being useful. It's quite relaxing on a long journey to stop worrying about modulating your right foot and just use the cruise to deal with obstacles. You can relax both legs and sit comfortably (obviously don't move your foot too far from the brake!) and spend even more time making correct observations and planning ahead to make sure you don't have to disengage the cruise.
I find psychologically it's quite good too. If on the m'way you set it at 70 you will just sit at that speed and plod along, or even 65/60 if you're feeling frugal. I find it much easier to avoid the temptation to "blip" past someone and then stay at that speed. Because your speed is constant, you notice how variable everyone elses speed really is!
Lanby said:
Surely it just stays at the speed you set it so who cares whether there is a Max speed?
The Citroën C4 I tried had a speed limiter as well as cruise - was great for congested 50mph works with average speed cams. On cruise you'd be setting and cancelling it all the time. Until adaptive cruise (like the S-Class, etc) becomes commonplace, it's probably the next best thing.
You set a speed (C4 has a little dial on the wheel), the car will accelerate up to that speed. Ease off the throttle and speed drops. Back on and you can get up to that speed again but not past.
It will override if you floor it, like if someone creeps into your lane and you want to get past. Much like the kickdown on an auto.
It will override if you floor it, like if someone creeps into your lane and you want to get past. Much like the kickdown on an auto.
New 5 series has cruise control and limit. very usefull through average speed sites, villages, scamera sites etc..
The advantage of limit over CC is that you can speed up and slow down with the traffic using accelerator, knowing that you won't go over the speed limit, I use it all the time.
The advantage of limit over CC is that you can speed up and slow down with the traffic using accelerator, knowing that you won't go over the speed limit, I use it all the time.
My 2005 Renault Laguna had cruise control and speed limiter on it, you could set a speed limit on it and it wouldn't exceed it unless you held full throttle for a few seconds then it would cut out until you got below the limit again. My current cars have a "chime" that you can set if you exceed a certain speed. The wife puts on the speed warning reminder on her TomTom which cuts in about 5% above the current speed limit.
Mercs cruise/limiter is excellent - especially in roadworks. Even better if you've got Distronic so you don't even have to bother about people in front slowing/braking etc.
You can also play cruise control games - the OH and I were driving to Spain last year in the SL and were going down an excellent swoopy road through the forest of Vernon in France. Cruise set at 80 - who is going to bottle it and brake. Waaaaaaaaaaah
You can also play cruise control games - the OH and I were driving to Spain last year in the SL and were going down an excellent swoopy road through the forest of Vernon in France. Cruise set at 80 - who is going to bottle it and brake. Waaaaaaaaaaah
Dog Star said:
Mercs cruise/limiter is excellent - especially in roadworks. Even better if you've got Distronic so you don't even have to bother about people in front slowing/braking etc.
You can also play cruise control games - the OH and I were driving to Spain last year in the SL and were going down an excellent swoopy road through the forest of Vernon in France. Cruise set at 80 - who is going to bottle it and brake. Waaaaaaaaaaah
That sounds like a game that will one day end badly.You can also play cruise control games - the OH and I were driving to Spain last year in the SL and were going down an excellent swoopy road through the forest of Vernon in France. Cruise set at 80 - who is going to bottle it and brake. Waaaaaaaaaaah
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