Cruise control - A couple of questions

[Chrisv60]

Are you sure it applies the brakes? I don't think mine does, it just seems to rely on engine braking although I must admit I've only really used cruise control on the motorways where the hills tend to be less and a couple of mph isn't really noticeable.

[AndyJudge]

I've noticed mine creep 1-3 mph over the set limit before slowing again but TBH not really a major issue to me.

This is using the adaptive cruise, can't think last time I used it in Non-adaptive mode.

On Motorways or dual carriageways a variance of that magnitude it's going to trigger any speed/average speed cameras.

Only place I tend to use it at lower limits is in the Tyne tunnel where almost as soon as I notice the overspeed it comes back to the set limit.

[Yelper85]

Originally Posted by Chrisv60

Are you sure it applies the brakes? I don't think mine does, it just seems to rely on engine braking although I must admit I've only really used cruise control on the motorways where the hills tend to be less and a couple of mph isn't really noticeable.

Definitely applies brakes, like I say if you go down a hill that's like a downhill ski jump and set it to 27-28, it will control to 30 using brakes. Anything around 2-3 mph to the setpoint it seems to leg go and rely on engine braking, however engine braking is only available if not in ECO mode as ECO disengages the transmission for a true coast.

Originally Posted by AndyJudge

I've noticed mine creep 1-3 mph over the set limit before slowing again but TBH not really a major issue to me.

This is using the adaptive cruise, can't think last time I used it in Non-adaptive mode.

On Motorways or dual carriageways a variance of that magnitude it's going to trigger any speed/average speed cameras.

Only place I tend to use it at lower limits is in the Tyne tunnel where almost as soon as I notice the overspeed it comes back to the set limit.

Good to hear somebody else experiencing the same characteristics.

I use cruise 100% of the time purely as it's easy, should stop you speeding and potentially getting a ticket but also in adaptive cruise you get the added benefit of the auto braking/distance control + queue assist.

I sort of agree on the motorway, however for 20/30/40 zones the police could/can book you for speeding, especially a 30. Really even 1 mph over the limit is breaking the law and they can do you for it so in that respect it's irrelevant as to where it occurs.

Surely if it's over, slam the anchors on to bring it down straight away, don't let me get to 35mph, get caught by a speed camera, then bring me down to 30!

[Rocinante]

Mine is an older model (2011, manual) without the adaptive cruise control, so doesn't apply the brakes at all to maintain speed, it will just keep climbing unless I apply the brake. However in my manual it does state:

"Driving with cruise control:
The Eco DRIVe function with activated cruise control makes driving slightly more flexible - the set speed is not followed exactly in the event of an increased load, but the function allows a barely perceptible delay, e.g. at the beginning of a steep hill.
The reason is that Eco DRIVe implements a slower acceleration, e.g. for compensation due to increased load, than the normal cruise control.
The cruise control's environmentally positive flexibility is within the range of +0/-2 km/h"

So, it might stick more strictly to the set speed with Eco Drive off, something you could try next time you're on a hill.

You could also have a look in your manual, for your specific car/cruise control to see if it suggests any flexibility in the limits.