Adaptive Cruise Control - opinions?

[BHML]

Just wondering what people who have adaptive cruise control think of it? I am particularly interested in the Audi system as it is an approx £1500 option on the S4. Worth getting or not?

[camel_landy]

I've got it on my RRS...

There are pros & cons but I think overall, I prefer a regular cruise control.

M

[SystemParanoia]

ill let you know in 20 or so years

[fizz47]

I was very dubious about them until I got to use them.


Have driven an XKR, XJ, Pheaton, Toureg, Range Rover and a BMW7 series with them.

Liked the VAG and BMW system but wasn't as keen on the Land Rover Jaguar system.

It takes time getting used to it and need faith in the system but after that if I had the choice I would always go for adaptive cruise control especially if you spend a lot of time on Motorways. If not spending time on motorways then not really worth it.

[anonymous-user]

Watch out for Mk1 mondeo's, they are the equivalent of "stealth" technology when it comes to ACC !

(something about the shape of the back of them makes them practically invisible to the radar, with er, interesting, results...... ;-)

[jjones]

Max_Torque said:

(something about the shape of the back of them makes them practically invisible to the radar, with er, interesting, results...... ;-)

it will be the gaffa tape that is used to hold the bumper together, all MK1s have this feature! The radar absorbent properties of gaffa tape are so effective the Yanks used it to wrap the SR-71s!

[SystemParanoia]

hmm.. new trick for the crash scammers? to "stealth" the rear of their cars and deliberately get shunted?

[AAGR]

I have adaptive cruise control on my just-purchased nearly-new Jaguar XF. I hate it - not only because it starts to slow the car when it is at least 100 yards behind the slower machine in front, but also because it is very direction-sensitive, which means that if I am driving on a curving motorway, it often gets spooked by a car which is not even in the same lane.

[Speed_Demon]

Does the JLR system happen to be quite brake happy? I was following an XJ on heavyish traffic on the motorway recently, it was maintaining distance, but constantly using brakes to do so as opposed to letting off when it got closer.

[joebongo]

I have it on the wifes 03 Primera estate. It is good but has directionality and I think ours needs adjusting as it can sometimes think a lorry on the left is in my lane and will brake.

[GTIR]

As a chauffeur it's useless as it's to abrupt on its braking.
The Merc S class (2011 model) has flaws. For example, if you're on a motorway or duel-carriage way in the outside lane and going round a right hand bend it detects trucks in the inside lane and thinks they are in your lane and wacks the brakes on.

Rubbish.

[Dimski]

Had it on my 2005 XJR, but I prefer the regular system. It was quite good at recognising speed differentials but (obviously) could not see a driver's intentions and so would brake where you, as the driver, could coast for a second or so and judge other traffic movements, or check your own blind spots and move to another lane and maintain speed.

IIRC Clarkson said the new XJ had a microwave based system, so perhaps they've improved. Even so, I would not spec it myself.

[Spoof]

RRS system drove me mad, distronic on the E63 is better. No idea how the VAG system works but if it was a cost option, I wouldn't bother.

[Negative Creep]

GTIR said:

As a chauffeur it's useless as it's to abrupt on its braking.
The Merc S class (2011 model) has flaws. For example, if you're on a motorway or duel-carriage way in the outside lane and going round a right hand bend it detects trucks in the inside lane and thinks they are in your lane and wacks the brakes on.

Rubbish.

Sounds like fun for the people driving behind you

[craigb84]

I've been in a RRS with this turned on. It freaked me out. I'm not a fan. Normal cruise is good but I can see too many potential dangers with fully automated as it won't take long until some plank thinks he can sit in the fast lane reading a newspaper.