When do you use cruise control

[PriusRos]

Please answer the poll about when/if you use your cruise control and add a response to this thread about when and why you use it and whether you think there is an effect on gas mileage.

I didn't used to use it that much, but now I almost always use it on the highway, as well as sometimes on other roads. It's less tiring. I don't know whether I can get better gas mileage by controlling the gas pedal myself - but it seems a lot of hard work and I feel fairly confident that the Prius can work it better himself.

[DaveinOlyWA]

i use it a lot. now i dont leave it at a set speed, i am constantly using the adjustment to bump it up and down 1 mph but then again, i always put it in park at lights even if only for a few seconds.

what i frequently do to manipulate the SOC, is set CC at something that is say 5 mph above the posted speed limit which usually forces a charge to traction battery. then i drift down 1 mph as the instantaneous mpg drifts down until i am at say 2-5 mph below the posted limit.

usually by then, i am in EV mode. i then start over. it really cuts down on the boredom of the daily commute

[bwilson4web]

Cruise control lets me achieve reproducible results and concentrate on the traffic. If dealing with overpasses, I sometimes accelerate a little over the set speed approaching an upgrade so I can slack the speed on the upgrade. Otherwise, cruise control works great.

Bob Wilson

[chrisj428]

My typical main impetus for using cruise control is ticket avoidance. For example, there is a thoroughfare through a planned community I take on my way to work. The speed limit is 30 mph and it has more cops patrolling it than the Ohio State Turnpike. So, accelerate to ~32, set cruise and kick back.

[Blind Guy]

Since most of our driving is city, the DRCC is not often used, but, occasionally we drive to a small town about 20 minutes from where we live, and BOTH the DRCC and LKA are used.

Just today, we went to that town for lunch, and the DRCC (and the combination of highway driving) netted us an increase of 4.4 MPG.

David (aka Blind Guy)

[PriusRos]

Thank you for all your replies. Those of you who say you seldom or never use cruise control, why is that?

As I said, I didn't use it very much before. I used to worry that I may not react soon enough if I start to approach someone who is going slower than me. But now I have gotten used to it and find myself adjusting and readjusting the speed accordingly.

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Blind Guy

Since most of our driving is city, the DRCC is not often used, but, occasionally we drive to a small town about 20 minutes from where we live, and BOTH the DRCC and LKA are used.

Just today, we went to that town for lunch, and the DRCC (and the combination of highway driving) netted us an increase of 4.4 MPG.

David (aka Blind Guy)

I wish I could have gotten DRCC and LKA on my package IV. They sound like really neat features.

[jdcollins5]

I always use CC on the highway, mostly for comfort but also for ticket avoidance. I have a stretch of highway on my daily commute that changes from 55 to 60 for about five miles and then back to 55. If I am not careful I will be doing 65+ in a 55 zone, and they have local cops all around.

I have a friend that has a gas guzzling SUV that says that he uses his CC around town and has found that he gets better gas mileage. I have not tried CC around town to see if the Prius does any better.

Does anyone here use CC around town to get better MPG?

[JimboPalmer]

I use the CC a great deal, as it has a 'steadier foot' than I do. I can often set the CC in town and have the computers decide to use an electric mode.

When I hear folks complaining about CC, they worry how it handles hills. I have no hills in my normal travel

My Service Area - Google Maps

60 foot elevation gain from Greenville to Tunica, in 111 miles

[Matt Herring]

I voted never and the main reason is I can achieve higher mpg by not using cruise (I trust my driving skills more than the car's to drive for efficiency). In addition, when I looked at 2009's to buy I ended up picking one that does not have cruise...don't use it and don't need it.

In my former vehicle I had cruise but only used it once or twice in the 2 years I owned the car...same reason...I trust my driving skills more than the car's when operating for efficiency. In addition, when I used cruise on the highway (long trips) I found myself less attentive and often sleepy when driving as I did not need to keep an eye on my speed.

When cars start being produced with "smart" cruise control I'll think about getting it but not until then. By smart, I mean cruise is set for mpg and not for speed...often called smart cruise.