Cars With "Stop-Start" Technology

Posted by: Martin Zero on 13 September 2015

Dear Naimers

 

I have have recently replaced my 5 YO Golf diesel with a 2 month old demonstrator. It comes with stop start tech, i'd actually forgot about this until i got to the first red light. I noticed you can switch it off though. Now, being in my 50's I remember my father when I had my first car, Triumph Herald (lol) going on about always letting the engine warm up before any serious load, avoid short journeys, and don't switch the engine on and off. (My Naim system is on all the time BTW)

 

I'd be the first person to appreciate that technology, manufacturing, materials, oil etc have all improved vastly, but it still doesn't seem right in a way that this very sophisticated engineering marvel goes a few hundred metres to our local roundabout and stops!

 

Any thoughts or experiences from you guys?

 

Regards

 

Martin

 

 

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart

Phew  Gorgeous car.

 

Just for more info, since about 2000 I've used Photobucket as my image server. I'm not far from being a technophobe, and I detest IT jargon and complications, but Photobucket has been easy to set up and use. With my iPhone I can go from taking an iPhone pic to posting it here in under two minutes. And I never seem to suffer the problems others suffer with Flikr......

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

I think it will take a long time for mainstream acceptance of full battery cars even when the range expands. It is not just range issues but the charging issue. OK, you may have a driveway and a garage so you can plug your car in overnight (or your at work) but look how many people have cars parked on the street etc. Where do they get hooked up?

 

I also think battery technology is always going to be limited by weight, space and costs (including longevity issues) even as the technology moves forward. It ultimately uses fossil fuels too in electricity generation.

 

I think low capacity high efficiency combustion engines (with or without hybrid technology) have a very long life left yet, even though the battery only segment will increase.

 

Bruce

Teslas are everywhere here; and an increasing number of BMW i3s. Even a few i8s (but they're a fake electric car). Teslas are easily the single most common luxury car in the suburbs where I live. We know a family that has 2! Very few A8s, S-class or 7-series to be seen. With respect to street parking, there is also a guy near me who parks his Leaf in the street and just runs a cable out to it. Not possible for everyone, of course. But charging points are very common - in most downtown parkades (parking garages) and most major hotels.

 

Seems like the beginning of a revolution to me. There are always the naysayers who will claim "not enough range for my frequent, long and epic high-speed journeys", but for 99% of city-based motoring the 400km+ range of the Model S is more-than-ample. Additionally, Tesla Supercharger stations are en-route to most destinations I'd ever drive to, making long-distance trips only slightly less convenient than conventional refueling. Stop for lunch while your car charges. No biggie, unless you're in a  blinding hurry.

By mainstream I mean denting the sales of the mainstream. Fiesta, Golf, Corsa etc. I see the take up at the luxury end but I just think it will be a while before the buyers of 'ordinary' cars seriously consider electric only as their option. Not least where a few hundred quid informs decisions and choices.

 

As for the pleasures still to be had from driving; I recommend a classic. See my profile. I'd venture it makes a finer noise than the Aston, and one that definitely makes people smile!

 

bruce

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart

The Stag is a gorgeous car, but I'm guessing the key word in your post was 'finer'   Open to interpretation? Modern Astons sound epic!

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by DaveBk

I have start/stop on my SL500, and have found it far better than I expected. It took a while to get used to it, but now a slight touch on the throttle in anticipation of pulling away, hold, then accelerate seems quite natural.

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:

The Stag is a gorgeous car, but I'm guessing the key word in your post was 'finer'   Open to interpretation? Modern Astons sound epic!

Nope, nothing beats a fine V8, I refuse to be swayed. Although I'm prepared to swap it with the DBS for a few weeks just to be sure.

 

i'll agree the Yorkshire Dales provide some great driving, not least because NY Police have a common sense policy about speeding with traffic police rather than fixed cameras. 

 

Bruce

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart
One of my most memorable drives was in March, from the Ribblehead viaduct to Hawes, in the 911. N Yorks is my adopted second home, with great roads from Whitby to Cumbria, and Ripon to Co Durham.



We will pass through next week on our way to the Isle of Skye     Can't wait.

Edit: hydraulic steering (real, not artificial feel) and no stop-start. Still gives 35mpg on a run, or 35 smiles per mile on other journeys.  U
Posted on: 15 September 2015 by NikonAl

I know the area well Tony. I have some friends with a farm near Horton-in-Ribblesdale. I like the road from Ingleton to Hawes.I've spent many a happy hour at Ribblehead with the camera. Nice wheels by the way !

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart
I just love that road from Ribblehead through Horton-in-Ribblesdale! A couple of good tea shops, and respectful bikers   I adore it.
Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Clive B
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
I just love that road from Ribblehead through Horton-in-Ribblesdale! A couple of good tea shops, and respectful bikers   I adore it.

Indeed, Tony. A road made for cyclists.

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse

Done that road many times, remember one epic evening in my Caterham some years ago! Summer weekends tend to be a bit scary though with the motorbikes, not all ridden with sense. Bikers, or organ donors as we called them in Casualty (sadly). I have ridden it on my bicycle a fair bit too.

 

If you want a great road then continue from Kirkby Lonsdale to Sedbergh, then over the tops to Ravenstonedale and eventually the A66. To round it off nip to Penrith then across via Melmerby over Hartside to Alston. We do this every spring at some point as a bit of a tradition, in whichever fun car I own at the time.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by MDS
Originally Posted by Wat:
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
100% agree with your comment about lights.

+1 - I always have auto lights switched on 

Me too.  On my C-class there's no chance of making this error because the light switch is either 'on' or 'auto'. My previous E-class also had a setting for 'off' and I guess Mercedes withdrew that option because of the problem north pole describes.

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by GregW
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by GregW:

.... I don't think pure electric vehicles will be realistic as a primary car for most people until they can at least double their current range. 

 

 

400km+ is not enough for most people?

 

If it's your only or primary car then it may be too low for many people. I've been following a couple blogs on owning an electric car and one consistent theme comes up.You can't take the raw range number. You also need to consider; especially if it's your primary or only car is, that you may need to drive out of your way to get a charge. Charging points are less common than petrol stations so you can't run as close to your reserve. Also charging takes time and it's not uncommon for chargers to be vandalised in a way that fuel pumps are unlikely to be.

 

In reality you have to actively plan your trips in a completely different way because there is no guarantee you will get a charge when you need it.

 

 

 

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by GregW
Originally Posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Originally Posted by GregW:

We have just ordered a BMW i3 to use on short journeys.

With or without the range extender engine out of interest?

 

Without. We have a couple of other cars so it won't get used for anything other than short trips in and out of town. We make a 120km journey fairly often which I might test as there is a suitable charging location there. It's an experiment and we felt to really understand electric motoring we needed to go all in.

Posted on: 15 September 2015 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:       
Plenty of us live near empty roads and sparsely populated areas. 

Well, not THAT many, or they wouldn't be sparsely populated, would they?

Posted on: 20 September 2015 by Mick P

Chaps

 

Mrs Mick's new Honda has a host of gizmos, some good and some a total PITA.

 

1. Good ones

 

Reversing camera - this is brilliant

 

Parking sensors - again excellent

 

Automatic lights

 

Electric folding mirrors

 

Auto air con

 

Blue tooth

 

Built in Sat Nav

 

ABS

 

 

 

2.Bad ones

 

Automatic stop start - yuk - worst invention ever.

 

Automatic windscreen wipers- some things are best left for the driver to decide.

 

Regards

 

Mick

 

PS I saw a small gathering of vintage cars this morning, life was certainly more simple then. 

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Mick P:

 

 

Automatic windscreen wipers- some things are best left for the driver to decide.

 

Regards

 

Mick

 

PS I saw a small gathering of vintage cars this morning, life was certainly more simple then. 

The auto windscreen wipers on our car are brilliant. Spooky how clever they are. The automatic dimming of the headlights is also surprisingly great.

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart
I find the auto lights are too slow to go to dipped from main. I usually dip lights just before the other car appears rather than just after.
Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Bananahead
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
I find the auto lights are too slow to go to dipped from main. I usually dip lights just before the other car appears rather than just after.

This sounds like some sort of precognition. How do you know to dip your lights if the other car hasn't appeared?

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse

This summer has been the first time I have really gelled with the degree of automation in modern cars.

 

I bought a new Volvo V60 in July with a decent SatNav, internet connected, voice control on the steering wheel etc

 

What is so impressive is how well it all integrates. It really works so well together. If fuel is low it directs you to the nearest petrol stations. On holiday in France it was great for finding supermarkets, parking in unfamiliar towns etc. You can pre-pay parking too. The voice control works totally naturally for all the controls.

 

Technology that serves the driver like this is now genuinely useful, not a gimmick any more.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
I find the auto lights are too slow to go to dipped from main. I usually dip lights just before the other car appears rather than just after.

Ours are spookily quick. Yes, in some instances, I'd be a bit faster manually, anticipating based on the glow of still-obscured lights, but with auto it is actually much more consistent and reliable (on average) than I'd ever be.

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart
Winky has answered Bananahead's question for me. The glowing verge/trees/parked cars give the game away. I can pretty much always dip my beam (quiet at the back) just before the other car appears. I found a 2014 S Class to wait a second or two after the other car had appeared.

Also, this same car had the latest headlights, very powerful and white. However, the lighting system would often dip the mains due to reflected light off road signs! Bloody annoying. Auto off, back to MkI Human back-up system.
Posted on: 21 September 2015 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
Winky has answered Bananahead's question for me. The glowing verge/trees/parked cars give the game away. I can pretty much always dip my beam (quiet at the back) just before the other car appears. I found a 2014 S Class to wait a second or two after the other car had appeared.

Also, this same car had the latest headlights, very powerful and white. However, the lighting system would often dip the mains due to reflected light off road signs! Bloody annoying. Auto off, back to MkI Human back-up system.

Our system is very rarely fooled by reflections. The algorithm seems to be able to regognise the size and shape of headlights, rather than just responding to light. There might also be some sort of polarising filter that will somewhat block reflected light and detect direct light only. It is also smart enough to detect tail-lights so you don't blind the driver in front. It's also speed dependent and won't automatically switch to high when you're below abour 30 km/hr. The whole thing works much better than it has a right to.

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart
I don't even appreciate self-cancelling indicators, so perhaps I'm just weird.  (No comment please, Suffolk Tony!)
Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
 
I suppose that depends on whether your theory is correct or not. No major problems so far, but I do prefer the feel of hydraulic power steering over wriggly amps.

 

Some of us don't even have power steering! :-)

 

Phil

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Tony Lockhart
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:

       
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
 
I suppose that depends on whether your theory is correct or not. No major problems so far, but I do prefer the feel of hydraulic power steering over wriggly amps.

 

Some of us don't even have power steering! :-)

 

Phil


       


The last car I had without power steering was a 1994 Pug 106 Rallye 1.3. The car weighed 800kg, and the tyres were only 185 width. I'd love a Caterham but I reckon I'd drive it about ten times each year.

That 106 was amazing and is still on the road!