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: 21 September 2015 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:

Incidentally, as far as the noise of the car is concerned, the driver can certainly "live with it", but can the neighbours?

 

 

Unfortunately this is the issue I have - I live right on the edge of the New Forest and if I had a tractor / diesel Land Rover / horse transporter then there'd not be a problem and I could happily come and go as I please but spinning up the TVR at 9:00 in the morning to come into work (it takes me 11 minutes) and usually being home by 7pm (never later than 9pm as otherwise I leave the car nearby and walk the rest of the way home) once per day raises a flurry of disapproval. :-(

 

Phil

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by tonym
Originally Posted by Tony Lockhart:
I don't even appreciate self-cancelling indicators, so perhaps I'm just weird.  (No comment please, Suffolk Tony!)

Oh no Tony, I've always found you completey normal. Ish.

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by tonym

I like gadgets in cars. One of the most useful to me is adaptive cruise control, it's great on my regular long journeys, very handy through the long stretches of road works with average speed cameras.

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Mike-B

+1 for cruise control,  I also use mine for control in speed limit areas.

 

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by MDS
Originally Posted by Phil Harris:
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:

Incidentally, as far as the noise of the car is concerned, the driver can certainly "live with it", but can the neighbours?

 

 

Unfortunately this is the issue I have - I live right on the edge of the New Forest and if I had a tractor / diesel Land Rover / horse transporter then there'd not be a problem and I could happily come and go as I please but spinning up the TVR at 9:00 in the morning to come into work (it takes me 11 minutes) and usually being home by 7pm (never later than 9pm as otherwise I leave the car nearby and walk the rest of the way home) once per day raises a flurry of disapproval. :-(

 

Phil

Sourpusses! TVRs make a glorious noise. Your neighbours should be grateful.

 

Mike

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Frenchnaim
Originally Posted by Wat:

I don't like car engine noise so am looking forward to getting an electric car in a few years time. We do have a neighbour who likes cars & has an Aston Martin, which does make a horrible noise when he starts it up. Mind you I suppose he might think that when I start up the Massport at 7.00 of a Sunday morning, but I have to mow the lawn. 

Mowing the lawn on a Sunday morning at 7a.m.? How uncivilised!

Since the beginning of the season, I've been using a manual lawnmower - I have a largish garden - and the lawn has never looked better!

Posted on: 21 September 2015 by Bananahead

My lawn mower effectively has stop start technology. The engine only runs if it is cutting grass. If I am emptying it then it stops.

Posted on: 22 September 2015 by Redmires
Originally Posted by tonym:

I like gadgets in cars. One of the most useful to me is adaptive cruise control, it's great on my regular long journeys, very handy through the long stretches of road works with average speed cameras.

Some Volkswagens come with a hidden gadget - at least it was hidden until a few days ago

 

 

 

Posted on: 23 September 2015 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by Redmires:
Originally Posted by tonym:

I like gadgets in cars. One of the most useful to me is adaptive cruise control, it's great on my regular long journeys, very handy through the long stretches of road works with average speed cameras.

Some Volkswagens come with a hidden gadget - at least it was hidden until a few days ago

 

 

Is *ANYONE* actually surprised by this? Really?

 

Given a standardised test for efficiency and emissions then I have no doubt that *ALL* manufacturers bias their ECU parameters to perform best under those conditions - I mean, does anyone here actually get close to the manufacturers claimed overall fuel consumption in day to day driving?

 

I feel very sorry for VW being pulled up over this because I would put money on the other manufacturers having had many nervous meetings over the last couple of days too.

 

Phil

Posted on: 23 September 2015 by rodwsmith

It's all made me feel a bit less guilty about this. 

 

Posted on: 23 September 2015 by DrMark

I see nothing about which to even feel the slightest pang of guilt Rod...