Stop Start Technology

On cars...I know Ducatis have it but that's called rain...
Anyway..it seems to be getting more and more prevalent amongst new cars I've noticed.
I drive a 10 year old Transit with the drivers window constantly open, so I can usually tell when the car that's pulled up alongside at the lights has gone quiet and most often I am 3-4 van lengths down the road before the cars tickled back into life.
A few months ago one pulled up next to me, a Toyota I think it was, that refused to start at all..
But I digress...
The reason for this post is, on the slip road onto the main dual carriageway through area there are traffic lights that operate at peak times to alleviate congestion from loads of cars trying to join the main road en-mass.
Now these lights operate very fast, red-green-red, 2 maybe 3 cars can get through if the drivers are on the ball.
That is unless they drive stop-start tech cars, then they have no chance of getting going as the sequence in done before the engine can cough back to life, I've actually seen it happen, much to the annoyance of the drivers behind.
I dare say these types of light are quite common on busy slip roads and interchanges around the country, and with more and more cars moving towards the stop-start tech, road planners and the boffins that program the light timings and sequencing are going to have to re-think things otherwise there will be lines of cars on slip-roads all over the UK in the future..

 

I have an Astra estate and my missus has a mini both have start stop. By the time my foot is down on the clutch, engaged gear and releasing clutch to pull away with both cars they are already alive and on their way. I've never really heard of the starting time being an issue with any car. You most be getting stuck behind them slow coaches that you would be behind regardless of start stop lol.

 

I've driven a few BMW autos with stop-start, and they're up & running quicker than I can get my foot from the brake to the accelerator.

 

My start is very fast, by the time the clutch is pushed in it's going, it's no different to putting car in neutral while at lights, I don't see the problem unless those drivers are just slow drivers anyway

 

Yeah you're probably right there, the sorts that wait for the lights to change before taking action, though it's been the bigger VW and BMW that I've noticed seem to be sluggish, maybe because they have the larger capacity engines.
I couldn't drive a car that had the engine cut out every time I stopped, it would bug the hell out of me.
I'm starting a new job next week and it comes with a brand new company van...watch it have the tech....

 

You can turn if off of you wish, well.you can on mine anyway

 

I'm probably going to regret this...but what is the reasoning behind start stop technology? saving fuel?!? It would probably bug me too a bit like eco warrior folks who insist on turning corridor lights off at work and you have to follow them around flicking em back on so you don't fall down the bloody stairs!

 

Essentially it's to save fuel when stuck in traffic. My car has 2 batteries, 1 to start the car with and a smaller one to run the electrics when the engine stops so as not to flatten the main one.
But in relation to the OP, if you don't engage neutral then the engine doesn't stop, so sit there in gear and ready to go.

 

That's exactly what I do.
I see any savings on fuel more than being outweighed by the new batteries, solenoid's and starter motors that will need replacing in the future.

 

First thing I do EVERY time I get in the car is to turn the stop/start off. Drives me nuts! Plus, how much wear is it causing yo the ring gear and starter!

 

It's to reduce emissions. Wether it's a lot or not I dunno. Again how much fuel are you really going to save when at idle?

I don't mind the stop/start.

 

I was sat at a main east coast line level crossing today on the way to Peterborough, I guess the lights had just changed as they must have been on Red for 20-25 mins, I turned off my blade but it was crazy how many cars sat there ticking over for all that time maybe they should have had "Stop start" or just the sence to reach down and twist the damn key

 

Just bought the wife a new focus and every time I've been out in it the stop/start takes me by surprise as I've not got used to it. That said it stops and starts quick enough.
The problem I've found lately at traffic lights is people's attention span,and it's really starting to bug me on the school run. They pull up to the traffic lights and have one f**king job to do(wait for the amber/green) and they can't even get that right
Some people shouldn't be allowed on the roads during rush hour

 

I know this is slightly off topic, but it's my thread so I'm gonna post it anyway
I was driving my van, big silver Transit, so quite easily seen...some woman in a newish red Audi pulls out of a side road from my left with me about 3 van lengths off the junction.
Luckily I was only doing about 20mph and had already seen and read what she was going to do so had started taking evasive action.
She finally spots me, slams her brakes on !

Then, get this, she mouths "sorry" and waves an apologetic hand

And in that hand...a nice big phone...three guesses why she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings...

I wish I had been a copper at that moment..

 

Well yes we all agree mobile phones and driving is so bad that cars should have a gizzmo that blocks mobiles from.working while the engine is ON

 

@t0m541 Belated Happy Birthday for yesterday by the way

 

I think it's probably a legacy from driving old bangers 30 odd years ago as first cars that would randomly cut out that I like my vehicles these days to continue chugging away till I turn the key and switch them off when I've done..

 

Forgetting the environmental benefits for a moment, Craig hit the nail on the head with lower emissions = low tax. Works for me, my new car is about £50 a year cheaper to tax and still has the same power