Useless speed limiters
Discussion
How can car manufacturers get away with cutting speed limiters that are not fit for purpose?
In an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
In an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
BMW used to sell two types of Cruise control option. Straight cruise control, and cruit control with braking. As speed limit was just a function of the cruise control the same was true.
The difference is as you observed on the hill, the first one wouldn't slow you down, the second one would.
I'd check very carefully how the feature is described in the handbook, it's probably got some warning box next to it explaining that it doesn't apply the brakes.
The difference is as you observed on the hill, the first one wouldn't slow you down, the second one would.
I'd check very carefully how the feature is described in the handbook, it's probably got some warning box next to it explaining that it doesn't apply the brakes.
AudiMan9000 said:
How can car manufacturers get away with cutting speed limiters that are not fit for purpose?
In an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
I’m with you OPIn an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
The Audi speed limiter means you can be driving down Everest and it will hold you at the selected speed
I spent 4 years driving a BMW where if you showed it a downhill, it seemingly ignored the speed limiter and sailed through it.
Bloody infuriating, especially in average speed zones
Muzzer79 said:
AudiMan9000 said:
How can car manufacturers get away with cutting speed limiters that are not fit for purpose?
In an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
I’m with you OPIn an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
The Audi speed limiter means you can be driving down Everest and it will hold you at the selected speed
I spent 4 years driving a BMW where if you showed it a downhill, it seemingly ignored the speed limiter and sailed through it.
Bloody infuriating, especially in average speed zones
Muzzer79 said:
I’m with you OP
The Audi speed limiter means you can be driving down Everest and it will hold you at the selected speed
I spent 4 years driving a BMW where if you showed it a downhill, it seemingly ignored the speed limiter and sailed through it.
Bloody infuriating, especially in average speed zones
I've only ever had the cruise with braking on my BMWs, so as said above it depends what was specced with new.The Audi speed limiter means you can be driving down Everest and it will hold you at the selected speed
I spent 4 years driving a BMW where if you showed it a downhill, it seemingly ignored the speed limiter and sailed through it.
Bloody infuriating, especially in average speed zones
They are all generally fit for purpose and working exactly as designed, it may just be that expectations are wrong. If you have a good understanding of the system, then you can adapt to its limitations ok.
LunarOne said:
Muzzer79 said:
AudiMan9000 said:
How can car manufacturers get away with cutting speed limiters that are not fit for purpose?
In an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
I’m with you OPIn an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
The Audi speed limiter means you can be driving down Everest and it will hold you at the selected speed
I spent 4 years driving a BMW where if you showed it a downhill, it seemingly ignored the speed limiter and sailed through it.
Bloody infuriating, especially in average speed zones
But in heavy traffic, where speeds are varied, I like to put the limiter on and know that I won’t exceed.
Steep incline, yes I agree, but the BMW would go over the selected limit on a downhill slope. It couldn’t handle free-wheeling downhill.
The 2021 Ford Kuga speed limiter (and the radar adaptive cruise control) works very well and the speed is set according to the camera which reads the speed limit road signs. Set it and forget it.
The 2021 BMW Mini Countryman also has a camera to read the speed limit road signs but (as far as I can tell) it is for display only and it does not set the speed of the speed limiter (or the camera only adaptive cruise control).
The 2021 BMW Mini Countryman also has a camera to read the speed limit road signs but (as far as I can tell) it is for display only and it does not set the speed of the speed limiter (or the camera only adaptive cruise control).
Really? I have no issues. Yes, on limiter, it speeds up downhill (it’s not designed to defy gravity), but it plays a tone when doing that, and the LIM (limiter sign, which shows as fixed green wording) then flashes. It ain’t that hard. As all of these aids point out, as the driver, you are ultimately responsible for the vehicle. If you can’t accept that, wait for self-driving vehicles to come along.
For me I will not ever use adaptive cruise control. It is dangerous to other drivers and is also against the Highway Code. I have lost count of the number of times I have been driving in lane 1, approaching another vehicle, preparing to overtake, only to find somebody cruising up alongside me and just slowing to my speed when alongside because they have 'caught' the car in front. To me that is careless or inconsiderate driving.
I get that it is going to be needed for driverless cars, but at this point in time it should be outlawed. Drivers need to drive, not be wafted along with minimal attention.
I get that it is going to be needed for driverless cars, but at this point in time it should be outlawed. Drivers need to drive, not be wafted along with minimal attention.
Muzzer79 said:
AudiMan9000 said:
How can car manufacturers get away with cutting speed limiters that are not fit for purpose?
In an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
I’m with you OPIn an Audi, it works almost perfectly. It only has a 1mph margin of error when you catch it out by suddenly going down a steep hill, but even then it quickly corrects itself.
I’ve been driving a Mazda which has one fitted, but any hill or even slight downward incline completely prevents it from working, and you can find yourself significantly over the limit what you set. You then have to resort to using the brake pedal. I appreciate you should be prepared to use the break to compensate for failure of what is only a driver’s aid. But it seems to me that if it is so ineffective, it is false advertising and fraudulent for a manufacturer to hold itself out as offering a speed limiter at all. It’s potentially a safety issue as drivers could place reliance on the system only to find themselves travelling at excessive speeds.
Also drove a Mini in the past and the speed limiter on that was useless down hills too.
The Audi speed limiter means you can be driving down Everest and it will hold you at the selected speed
I spent 4 years driving a BMW where if you showed it a downhill, it seemingly ignored the speed limiter and sailed through it.
Bloody infuriating, especially in average speed zones
Lots of replies here defending shoddy tech. How is it that my Audi Q5 can “defy gravity” with its 1mph margin of error? The speed limiter in the Mazda and Mini were not supposed to be just alarms. They were supposed to restrict your speed. The fact they can’t do that on a hill renders them virtually useless to the point the manufacturer should not bother putting it in and advertising it as a feature.
It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
AudiMan9000 said:
This. Someone who understands.
Lots of replies here defending shoddy tech. How is it that my Audi Q5 can “defy gravity” with its 1mph margin of error? The speed limiter in the Mazda and Mini were not supposed to be just alarms. They were supposed to restrict your speed. The fact they can’t do that on a hill renders them virtually useless to the point the manufacturer should not bother putting it in and advertising it as a feature.
It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
No, you miss the point. Some systems are designed to hold a speed using the throttle only. Others will use the brakes too. You just need to know what system is specced and drive accordingly. Lots of replies here defending shoddy tech. How is it that my Audi Q5 can “defy gravity” with its 1mph margin of error? The speed limiter in the Mazda and Mini were not supposed to be just alarms. They were supposed to restrict your speed. The fact they can’t do that on a hill renders them virtually useless to the point the manufacturer should not bother putting it in and advertising it as a feature.
It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
It's not a big deal, so I wouldn't get worked up about it really.
AudiMan9000 said:
Lots of replies here defending shoddy tech. How is it that my Audi Q5 can “defy gravity” with its 1mph margin of error? The speed limiter in the Mazda and Mini were not supposed to be just alarms. They were supposed to restrict your speed. The fact they can’t do that on a hill renders them virtually useless to the point the manufacturer should not bother putting it in and advertising it as a feature.
It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
In which case then perhaps stick with your Audi and be happy; there are far more worthy things to get this riled up about than whether the speed limiter on a Mazda or MINI operates the brakes as well as the throttle...It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
MikeM6 said:
AudiMan9000 said:
This. Someone who understands.
Lots of replies here defending shoddy tech. How is it that my Audi Q5 can “defy gravity” with its 1mph margin of error? The speed limiter in the Mazda and Mini were not supposed to be just alarms. They were supposed to restrict your speed. The fact they can’t do that on a hill renders them virtually useless to the point the manufacturer should not bother putting it in and advertising it as a feature.
It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
No, you miss the point. Some systems are designed to hold a speed using the throttle only. Others will use the brakes too. You just need to know what system is specced and drive accordingly. Lots of replies here defending shoddy tech. How is it that my Audi Q5 can “defy gravity” with its 1mph margin of error? The speed limiter in the Mazda and Mini were not supposed to be just alarms. They were supposed to restrict your speed. The fact they can’t do that on a hill renders them virtually useless to the point the manufacturer should not bother putting it in and advertising it as a feature.
It seems most people here have lower expectations of the system or not much of an understanding of its purpose, which explains how the manufacturers can get away with installing sub par versions of it.
It's not a big deal, so I wouldn't get worked up about it really.
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