What are the reasons for NOT using Cruise Control?

[roadhunter]

They seem to use them here, it's always the idiot's in the little foreign cars going 10 MPH under the speed limit & brag that they get 92 MPG

Ronnie

The "hyper mileage" crowd has some interesting tactics to increase mileage.

I usually take 2 lane highways as my truck gets much better mileage going 65 than 75+. Now that Wyoming has 80 MPH speed limits that just kills my mileage if I go that fast.

 

[Eric Salop]

Ahhhhhh,,,,,, the problem is solved!!,,, My new Honda CR-V has auto distance controlling cruise control.
Set it for a couple miles over the speed limit.
THEN, if the guy in front of you slows to three miles per hour below the speed limit, the CR-V slows to maintain the gap.

:thumbsup: Me too, first bought a CR-V with that "adaptive cruise control" in 2012 and of all the fancy tech items they stick on cars nowadays, it is the one I like the most. The first time I switched it on was a really spooky feeling as it magically tweaked the throttle for itself, maintaining a perfect safe distance from the vehicle ahead without me having to do a thing. Took me a few weeks to build up enough confidence to not have my hand always hovering over the switch to turn it off.

Every week I drive a long stretch where the traffic speed is always varying by a few mph - enough to make fixed speed cruise control a constant thumb workout. Adaptive cruise control now takes care of all that, almost without me thinking. I have got so used to it that I wouldn't now consider buying a vehicle without it. I recently swapped the CR-V for a Toyota Rav4 (nothing wrong with Honda, just fancied a change) and made sure that has it too.

 

[turnkey4099]

Anticipation / efficiency

Thats the main reason I dont use cruise that often.

Cruise control cannot anticipate hills, either up or down. I do try to keep everything above the minimum speed limit. So if I see a hill a coming, I try to get some speed up. Maybe 5-6 MPH over what I am normally going, either on the flat before the hill or the downhill. This allows the car to not drop below the desired speed AND not downshift.

Just as Birdhunter said, alot of times, cruise will downshift right as you are cresting the hill, then it quickly realizes it needs to upshift right away again. Not good for efficiency.

My saturn 5-speed doesnt have cruise control, nor the option to automatically downshift if I need more pedal. And with it being a saturn (not really known for power and speed), you learn to anticipate. And them cars are VERY efficient.

In my truck, or the wifes car, the only time I use cruise is long trips on the interstate in pretty flat areas. But shorter trips, hilly areas, or rural state-routes.....no cruise for me

Suit yourself but realize that you are pissing off everybody behind you due to your consstantlyi varying speed.

 

[LD1]

Suit yourself but realize that you are pissing off everybody behind you due to your consstantlyi varying speed.

Unlikely, but if so, thats their problem not mine.


IF someone behind me had their cruise control set at the speed limit, They would NEVER have to slow down for me. As I anticipate the upcoming hill, I (break the law) and get to ~4-5 MPH over the limit. That way, I dont have to downshift, and if I fall 2-3 MPH under the limit by the time I crest....its all good.

Now if the moron behind me wants to speed up as I do and stick to my bumper while approaching that hill, like I said....their problem. But its not like we have a lot of traffic where I live either.

 

[JerryK]

I use CC on the Xways quite a bit. If I come up on a vehicle, I usually speed up a few miles an hour to go around it, then coast back down onto the CC setting. One of my pet peeves [ as you get older your list lengthens ] is that folks plug up the left lane going their CC setting no matter how many cars are behind them. Three-four lane areas, you have room to have your ' own lane ' lots of times in light to moderate traffic. Now, 1st on my pet peeve list is idjets that should not be allowed to have vehicles with bright lights [ or allowed to drive at night without passing an old timey real driving school where they actually taught folks some driving etiquette ] ...

 

[roadhunter]

Suit yourself but realize that you are pissing off everybody behind you due to your consstantlyi varying speed.

Yep. And what happens when they are using the tailgate feature and someone merges in between them and the car they are following.

But some people are just followers and they don't know any better.

 

[Paul Thornton]

Was telling someone I "drove by thumb" the other day on a 3 1/2 hour highway trip they looked at me with a puzzled expression.

 

[tallyho8]

I love to use my cruise control on the open highway and just sit back and maintain speed, but no, every couple of minutes an idiot passes me, pulls in front then slows down, making me cancel my cc, slow down, and wait for a chance to pass so we can play leap frog again. This irritates me so much that many times I just have to leave the cc off and control my speed behind the idiot as he speeds up and slows down just to keep my blood pressure down.

At my age I have finally learned that there are so many idiots on the road that if you let each one get under your skin then you are going to be scratching the rest of your life.

 

[downsizingnow48]

At my age I have finally learned that there are so many idiots on the road that if you let each one get under your skin then you are going to be scratching the rest of your life.

Agree. Can't let the morons ruin your peace of mind. There are too many morons.

 

[turnkey4099]

Unlikely, but if so, thats their problem not mine.


IF someone behind me had their cruise control set at the speed limit, They would NEVER have to slow down for me. As I anticipate the upcoming hill, I (break the law) and get to ~4-5 MPH over the limit. That way, I dont have to downshift, and if I fall 2-3 MPH under the limit by the time I crest....its all good.

Now if the moron behind me wants to speed up as I do and stick to my bumper while approaching that hill, like I said....their problem. But its not like we have a lot of traffic where I live either.

Idt isn't just hills. YOu probably don't think you do but you ARE constantaly varying speed even on flat ground. Mayi only be by a mile or two but that is enought to screw up poeple behind you.

I am a considerate driver and try not to cause problems for others on the road. For sure I don't think "it is their problem" when I screw up.