Is Adaptive Cruise worth it?

[MontelG]

Have you actually read what I said or you just blindly quoted me? Why are you twisting my argument of me being against bad drivers who rely solely on technology to save themselves into me being against technology that can save lives???

My comments were directed toward Norm and not you. I see where it looks the other way though and I'm not sure how I screwed that up. :doh: (That response was on my iPhone which evidently isn't big enough for me to do correctly.) My sincere apologies leszek. From what I can tell in this thread, Norm is the only one that seems to think that technology in cars makes people worse drivers.

The technology isn't perfect. But, it gets it right FAR more often that it gets it wrong. When it gets is wrong, its an inconvenience. When it gets it right, it saves lives at best and at worst it prevents accidents that cost people money to repair.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion and clearly Norm and I don't share the same one. That's OK. I will always get as much safety technology in my cars as I can afford. Every new car I buy, including my Mustang that I should be picking up later today, has all the safely tech available including ACC.

My apologies again leszek AND my apologies to the OP. You were looking for an opinion on ACC and got a flood of debate.

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[MontelG]

Not a Mustang but cool to see where the technology is going.

I hadn't seen that one yet! Thanks for sharing Mike.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Debate is good. It means that OP (and everybody else reading) gets a more balanced package of information from which to form their own opinion. Which might be more in line with yours, or closer to mine, but from the opening post I suspect somewhere in between.

When technology gets it wrong, the result may or may not be as benign as you're suggesting, and the "worst case" of when it does get it right is not that the accident is avoided entirely. Less severe and less costly to repair is likely in many such occurrences (and this won't necessarily be a marginal benefit either).


On edit, it won't bother me at all if you direct replies specifically at me so others won't think you're after them.


Norm

 

[lonerider]

I absolutely love it! I picked up my car last Sunday and have put on over 600 miles. On the highway, I don't have to hit the brakes when coming up on a slower vehicle - the car just slows down to match the speed of the vehicle in front; I determine how close I want to be. When I either change lanes to pass or go into pass mode on a two-lane highway, the car automatically picks up speed. Once it reaches the set speed, done. Love it!!!

 

[leszek]

My apologies again leszek AND my apologies to the OP. You were looking for an opinion on ACC and got a flood of debate.

:cheers:

Debate is definitively good. In the end it's all about mitigating risks. Both technology and good driving techniques will reduce risk.

 

[mikef523]

I absolutely love it! I picked up my car last Sunday and have put on over 600 miles. On the highway, I don't have to hit the brakes when coming up on a slower vehicle - the car just slows down to match the speed of the vehicle in front; I determine how close I want to be. When I either change lanes to pass or go into pass mode on a two-lane highway, the car automatically picks up speed. Once it reaches the set speed, done. Love it!!!

I agree. One of the best features of the car. I have it in my 13 Explorer also.

 

[comagt]

I agree. One of the best features of the car. I have it in my 13 Explorer also.

Our 2013 explorer has it and it is why I ordered it on the Mustang. I will say the 2015 system is nicer, it follows a little farther back and it accelerates when the left blinker is activated.

 

[Norm Peterson]

The scary part is that as you guys use and come to rely more and more on systems like this, your own skills are going to slip . . . and it will be gradual enough that you won't even realize that's what's happening.

I'm not posting this position just to be contrary (as some of you probably think). It actually has basis in experience***, which is something I will pay attention to over any current politically-correct blanket belief that individual experience is irrelevant.


Norm


*** details available if anyone is interested

 

[Lightsaber]

I drove a car with adaptive cruise for a while when I was in college. It was the most scary driving experience I have ever had. The adaptive cruise system literally encouraged me to take attention away from the road all the time. Even though I don't text when driving, I was looking at the scenery and other cars, because I was just feeling bored.

Before that, I was having panic braking about once per year. When driving that car, it was almost once per day. Later I reviewed my experience and concluded the only assistance I need is a rear-view camera and a blind spot warning system, and maybe attention assist (beeping when I'm drowsy). Everything else (e.g. adaptive cruise, auto-brake, lane assist) makes driving more dangerous rather than safer.

Just my two cents.

 

[Alloye]

I drove a car with adaptive cruise for a while when I was in college. It was the most scary driving experience I have ever had. The adaptive cruise system literally encouraged me to take attention away from the road all the time.

Everyone is different, I suppose. For me, using cruise control - adaptive or otherwise - awakens a little voice inside my head that prevents me from fully trusting the system. This encourages me to maintain a high degree of focus and awareness.

 

[goldengooner]

I wonder why 'European' Mustangs won't come with AAC/BLIS/Collision warning? European cars usually are the first to have such technology. Volvo and Subaru already have forward warning dectection. It looks several cars ahead rather than just bouncing radar off the vehicle directly ahead of you.

Because the European Mustang is all about saving money, Ford cant even be bothered to move the handbrake to the other side
that is why i went US

 

[papinist]

Because the European Mustang is all about saving money, Ford cant even be bothered to move the handbrake to the other side
that is why i went US

You did the right choice
If I could go back in time, I would wait and get an used ecoboost for half the price and fully loaded.

 

[goldengooner]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I'm a firm believer that technology saves lives and I will spare no expense when it comes to the safety of my family. I just can't wait for the time when collision avoidance/mitigation technologies are mandatory like air bags and seat belts so those that think they are faster that a computer don't have a choice. The rest of us mere mortals on the road will be safer for it.

For me I really wanted it, Could have had my car now if i did not want it, but done a factory build and got it, mind you at a brilliant price only $550, don't know how my dealer got it so cheap on a factory built car
But for me it's not about thinking the car will do it all for you, it's that the car can brake quicker than you can get your foot on the pedal and push. even played a computer game? or think of eBay and something like Auction Sniper, that can put a bid on for you with 3 seconds to go, we as humans can not match that. Its another safety feature, which just adds to trying to make the journey more safer

 

[fionic]

adaptive cruise = pure laziness.

 

[goldengooner]

adaptive cruise = pure laziness.

Now what a stupid answer that is
So you after maybe driving for a few hours on boring motorway, you suddenly have to slam on the brakes, be as fast as a computer if you have to suddenly slow down?
i somehow doubt it
What makes you right and thousands of other people wrong? who are you to decide its "pure laziness"

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