Facelift Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

ThatBlueS3

ThatBlueS3

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I just finished up a new video on YouTube. Its a quick demo of the Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go. Figured I'd post it since I had a lot of trouble finding anything related to it when I ordered my car. Might help you with a decision.

 
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WTF, you are using a camera/phone whilst driving and your obviously paying no attention to what is going on ahead of you. Then you state when someone merges, it slams the brakes on and the only solution for this is to turn the system off :blink::huh: Drivers behind you are going to love you when someone merges and the system is active on dry roads and even more if wet and especially if the roads are icy or snow covered
 
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Just to clarify. The car doesn't "Slam" on the brakes. It applies them more than a normal driver typically would. This is all based on how close the driver is to your vehicle when it merges into your lane. If a driver cuts you off it will slam on the brakes. If the vehicle gives you plenty of room when it merges, it will gently apply them. You just have to be prepared. I do not use the system in wet/snow conditions. Also just because the camera is focused on the gauge cluster doesn't mean that my eyes aren't on the road.
 
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Even though you say you were looking ahead, in the UK you would definitely be in trouble for doing something like that. Only this week there has been a suggestion that the max penalty is being raised to life imprisonment if you kill someone whilst using a phone.
 
I have ACC + Stop and Go fitted to my current car and basically use it in traffic queues and through road works. The version I have with the Stop and Go is only fitted to cars with the s-tronic gearbox as it needs it to be able to move forward when the car in front moves with me doing anything. I find, in the conditions I use it, it works very well and I have added to my the order for a my new A3. I have also arranged for my dealer to connect my car to the Audi central computers to add the additional menu to the MMI which allows me to choose a closer distance to the car in front when I'm traveling slowly in a queue.
The current A3 Pricelist gives details of the system for s-tronic and manual transmissions on pages 46 and 47.
 
I've got this coming on my new car. So, doe's it actually stop and start in traffic? So if I'm sat on the motorway at a crawl, it'll do the moving and braking for me? I thought it just worked at speed and applied the brakes and accelerator...
 
Mark_86 said:
I've got this coming on my new car. So, doe's it actually stop and start in traffic? So if I'm sat on the motorway at a crawl, it'll do the moving and braking for me? I thought it just worked at speed and applied the brakes and accelerator...
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It depends on the type of gearbox you have. Not sure how it works with a manual but witth an s-tronic it does just that. When the vehicle in front stops then it stops you behind it. When it moves away then, if it's only a short time since you stopped then you car will follow it. If it's been a longer stop then you have to just press the throttle or pull up the AAC lever.
 
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ACC is great, I just wish I could increase the cut-off time once the car stops, 4 seconds is a bit short.

Oh, and recording yourself using ACC with a hand held mobile isn't clever whether you think you've got full attention or not. A seriously stupid move.
 
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Martinbanshee said:
ACC is great, I just wish I could increase the cut-off time once the car stops, 4 seconds is a bit short.
Click to expand...

I agree. I wonder if there is any way of extending the cut-off time using VCDS.
 
I've looked into it and found nothing so far. I did manage to enable the distance menu with VCDS though.
 
With a manual it works from around 19mph (on the way up) but stays active until around 11mph (on the way down). You have to handle gear changes but the system stays active while you do. If you don't change down though and the system is trying to drive you in too high a gear while it's braking, the system will just disengage and warn you about 'Engine speed'. Not a problem if you're paying attention. When you get slow enough the system will also disengage, beep at you and warn you about Vehicle speed as the reason it is disengaging. Otherwise it works exactly the same.

I echo the above comments too - while this might be a useful video for some, it's a really stupid idea to film it in this way. Nothing annoys me more than people using phones on the road (and that includes being stationary at a junction - still illegal and your attention should still be on the road). I'm thinking about setting up a youtube channel and uploading dashcam footage of drivers on their phones - have caught so many doing this with my rear camera.
 
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RichardT said:
Even though you say you were looking ahead, in the UK you would definitely be in trouble for doing something like that. Only this week there has been a suggestion that the max penalty is being raised to life imprisonment if you kill someone whilst using a phone.
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You'd be in trouble in Maryland too...
IMG 0987

ACC is a work of genius. In traffic it hangs back and leaves a bigger gap than I would, which is perceived as an invitation to the drooling halfwits in my part of the world to trim an inch or two from my front bumper, but since the car is looking after itself and deals with it, I don't get quite so upset when it happens.
 
GSB said:
You'd be in trouble in Maryland too...
View attachment 111637
ACC is a work of genius. In traffic it hangs back and leaves a bigger gap than I would, which is perceived as an invitation to the drooling halfwits in my part of the world to trim an inch or two from my front bumper, but since the car is looking after itself and deals with it, I don't get quite so upset when it happens.
Click to expand...

It is possible to get your dealer to add an additional menu to the MMI which allows to you to choice a closer distance than the standard. I had mine done some time ago. It involved the technician connecting my car, through their system, to the Audi AG main computers and download some additional code.
 
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h5djr said:
It is possible to get your dealer to add an additional menu to the MMI which allows to you to choice a closer distance than the standard. I had mine done some time ago. It involved the technician connecting my car, through their system, to the Audi AG main computers and download some additional code.
Click to expand...
The facelift cars get a separate control on the cruise control lever to set your follow distance, and can also set how aggressively it speeds up once an obstruction moves out of the way via the MMI. The distance control allows you to follow from a loooooong way back, through a middle setting to a much closer one. It never quite gets to the 'full Audi' though...

IMG 0988
 
I have that control on the lever on my non-FL but according to the manual your can set a closer default setting.
"Distance 3 is set automatically each time the ignition is switched on. If you would prefer to have a different distance as the default setting, you can have the adaptive cruise control menu extended/activated by a qualified workshop" This is what I've had done to my existing A3 and now the default is Distance 1.
 
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GSB said:
You'd be in trouble in Maryland too...
View attachment 111637
ACC is a work of genius. In traffic it hangs back and leaves a bigger gap than I would, which is perceived as an invitation to the drooling halfwits in my part of the world to trim an inch or two from my front bumper, but since the car is looking after itself and deals with it, I don't get quite so upset when it happens.
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting that. I was not aware the the law had changed from talking/texting on your phone to ANY distraction. I'll have to refrain from doing this in the future even though my eyes were on the road. Have to remember that the camera lens isn't following where my eyes are focused.
 
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h5djr said:
I have that control on the lever on my non-FL but according to the manual your can set a closer default setting.
"Distance 3 is set automatically each time the ignition is switched on. If you would prefer to have a different distance as the default setting, you can have the adaptive cruise control menu extended/activated by a qualified workshop" This is what I've had done to my existing A3 and now the default is Distance 1.
Click to expand...

Yeah, as you say, the FL and PFL both have the control for manual adjustment of ACC distance, the menu just lets you change the default setting which usually defaults to 'Distance 3' when first activated. The PFL also has settings in Drive Select for the 'aggressiveness' of the ACC, e.g. Comfort, Dynamic, etc. I usually set it to Comfort as it behaves a bit better in slower traffic.
 
Mark_86 said:
I've got this coming on my new car. So, doe's it actually stop and start in traffic? So if I'm sat on the motorway at a crawl, it'll do the moving and braking for me? I thought it just worked at speed and applied the brakes and accelerator...
Click to expand...
I thought this too, which is the reason I didn't spec it, because I rarely do motorway driving. Now I realise what it actually does I am disappointed I don't have it.
 
Looking at an Owner's Manual for a FL (the only bit of the car I've got at the moment) The ACC distance is controlled in much the same way but using a rocket switch on the stork to control the distance between the vehicles. All 5 distances (28m, 36m, 50m, 67m and 100m) are available without the need to visit a dealer. Whatever setting is set it is remembered by each individual ignition key.
 
Interesting read that guys. Bit nervous about using it I must be honest... who covered the brake the first time they used the aac? Lol
 
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h5djr said:
Looking at an Owner's Manual for a FL (the only bit of the car I've got at the moment) The ACC distance is controlled in much the same way but using a rocket switch on the stork to control the distance between the vehicles. All 5 distances (28m, 36m, 50m, 67m and 100m) are available without the need to visit a dealer. Whatever setting is set it is remembered by each individual ignition key.
Click to expand...

Is the FL manual available online anywhere do you know? 5 distances is new though - was 4 on the PFL, though the PFL one is specified in terms of time rather than distance, which is much more sensible. I think it's something like 1.2s, 1.5s, 1.8s and 2.4s or something from memory. I set mine to default at 2, 1 is a bit close for me.
 
Mark_86 said:
Interesting read that guys. Bit nervous about using it I must be honest... who covered the brake the first time they used the aac? Lol
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Yes, of course. You should be close to the brakes at all times. It's an aid, not a replacement for monitoring what is going on and being ready to react.
 
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cemerson said:
Is the FL manual available online anywhere do you know? 5 distances is new though - was 4 on the PFL, though the PFL one is specified in terms of time rather than distance, which is much more sensible. I think it's something like 1.2s, 1.5s, 1.8s and 2.4s or something from memory. I set mine to default at 2, 1 is a bit close for me.
Click to expand...

The Owner's Manual I have is a copy my dealer, who I have dealt with since 1998 and now 10 A3s, has let me have from one of their service loan cars. As far as I'm aware it is not available on-line. Unless of course you are buying a Skoda who do make their's available

In the manual it gives both distance and time for the various ACC Distance settings. The times are based on 100km/h (60mph) and are given as 28m - 1sec, 36m - 1.3 secs, 50m - 1.8 secs, 67m - 2.4secs and 100m - 3.6 secs. I assume the reasons for 5 Distances on the FL rather than the 4 on the PFL is that you had to get a dealer to enable the the extra menu in the MMI to allow you to select the shortest distance. I have 5 available on my existing car.
 
Jeez I bet the guy wishes he hadn't bothered now XD
 
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