Driving habits of rural folk

[3Ts]

The roads around here are hilly and cruise control does not work well here, it makes for a jerky ride. About the time CC figures out we're going up a hill and gets it all adjusted, we start down and CC has to re-calculated all the settings. So it's slow down, speed up, going to fast, apply the brakes, repeat over and over, or turn off CC.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think if I ever had the choice to have a vehicle and I had to pay for that specifically, I would pass. I think if I use it at all, it's to remain on the margin of where you might get a ticket, and don't inadvertantly go over, or I'm bored as heck driving the speed limit and just need something to play with.

My 94 Dakota with a 6 was just terrible in CC. Slightest grade and it would go out of lock, out of OD and down a gear and do that constantly. A mechanic finally bent some control bracket so it wasn't so responsive and it got better.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
I had a '93 which would wait too long, then go down 2 gears... and it only had 3 plus overdrive. In addition, every downshift it would add a mph to the speed. I would set it and forget it, and a half hour later it would have added 10 MPH.

Somewhere earlier in this thread I pointed out that you really can's set it and forget it. When approaching a hill I will add a little gas or downshift, depending on which truck I'm driving; on a downhill grade I use the brakes. It really has improved over the years though, and considering how much time I spend behind the wheel it does make it a bit more enjoyable.

 

[dragoneggs]

I love cruise control but use it only on the freeways/highways on longer trips and with light traffic. Significantly reduces driving fatigue. I love it.

 

[Sigarms]

Why don't you like cruise control? To me it's something that's a given, that almost everyone has now, and it's effective. I can't imagine why anyone would have beef with it. Like an electric toaster. "I can't believe how many people can't toast bread with open flame. I don't like toasters." Why?

See Industrial Toys post #225 for one.

I can however put over 50k on a vehicle. Even on longer 4-8 drives, generally with people driving too fast, too slow or even the speed limit, there always seems to be a somewhat constant change of speed.

I've also happen to experience 3Ts post #227 as well.

Added the fact that I grew up driving a 3 on the tree, and I find driving a very interactive activity, and find it personally easier just to manually control the speed with my foot on the gas. I know it's getting harder and harder to find a new vehical (other than a "sporty" car) with a straight drive, but do straight drives come with a crusie control option? That said with all the new technology and gadgets in cars I don't care for, I was able to convince my father to spend his money on upgrading his car, and his 89 year old body actually loves the paddle shifting on the wheel as he can't drive my straight drive truck anymore (I can still remember him hollaring at me teaching me to drive a speed on the floor:laughing

 

[Frankenkubota]

I was a traveling salesman, 20 years on the road, 10 in the air. And it痴 a hobby, I truly pay attention.

Just another observation. Many many People seem to slow down as they approach stop lites, lites that are green.

Everyone knows, red means stop, green means go, yellow means go real fast.

Autumns here and I for one am thankful!

 

[Diggin It]

Service logs can prove phone use activity...access to those logs is the issue...

Read a post on another forum once where the poster was cited for using their device while driving. They were not using the phone, but some other non-communication function like adjusting music, clock or turning BlueTooth on/off. Can't remember now, but not something any activity log would show.

I've taken to doing garlic bread in a frying pan instead of the toaster oven.

 

[Diggin It]

Just another observation. Many many People seem to slow down as they approach stop lites, lites that are green.

I've done that. I'm watching for cross traffic that might not be stopping like they should, people making right turns on their red that might turn in front of me, sometimes listening for sirens approaching.


I find that CC disconnects one of the interactive senses and can lull me into distraction. I need that foot/leg action to keep me focused. I've only used it on wide open limited access highways where I'll be running 50 miles or more with very light traffic. And that's very rare these days, maybe three or four times a year.

 

[turnkey4099]

Long story short, I can't believe when one car has to follow another for a long trip, how many people can't maintain a constant speed without cruise control.

Honestly, I don't like cruise control.

People who think they maintain a steady speed with CC are badly mstaken. Withing 3 or 4 mph maybe but only by constantly checking he spedo. I have probably somwherearoun 500,000 miles undeer my built coasst to coast with CC and I can't keep it with a 3-4 mile range up/down hill mile after mile. Noting beats teh frustration of getting behind someone not using it on on the open road.

What is it about CC that you don't like?

 

[LouNY]

I use cruise control frequently, depending on the area even on some 30 mph zones.
The cruise on my truck keeps it within 1 mph.
Depending on where I am and what I'm doing and the road I may thumb the gear selector down to 3rd or 4th,
mine is an 8 speed. If I'm not paying attention to the speedometer but just the roads and whats around me
it is too easy for the speed to creep up way faster then I wish to go.