trip without cruise control - suggestions tried - good results!

[KarenS]

Well, as you may know, I wasn't real happy with my little smart on my road trips with my adult daughter.

I felt all would be well if I just had cruise control.... Many of you shared with me different techniques on how to make the most of the smart's system while going up hills, etc.

We just got back from a roadtrip (6 hr trip each way) into Alabama from Atlanta and back then we went to North Carolina (3 1/2 hr trip each way). I tried all your suggestions and they worked beautifully....the only time it seemed like it lacked the power to get up and go, was because I wasn't paying attention to the road's upcoming hills and adjust my speed and all.

I WAS going to save up for the cruise control....Thanks to all of you who gave me the good suggestions.....instead I'm buying a new Garmin GPS Nuvi 755t which has the lane guidance, "where am I?" and "where is my car?" features, as well as a few others my present GPS doesn't have. I didn't need bluetooth, as my DVD player handles that so I'm as excited about this as I was about the cruise control...AM I FICKLE?? I'm thinking I'm easily excitable!

After this trip, my daughter, who absolutely LOVED my Mini Cooper S that I traded in for my smart car, and wasn't all that thrilled that I gave it up, says that she is thinking she likes the smart better!!!! Talk about me being shocked!

The short of this loooooong story is just to thank you again for all the great, helpful people on this forum!

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by KarenS

I WAS going to save up for the cruise control...

Honestly though, I have cruise, and couldn't imagine a long trip without it. I think a good part of it depends on the type of long trip. If it involves a lot of hills and back road driving, then cruise isn't what you want. But if it's a lot of long highway driving, cruise is a leg saver.

If I had to choose between a GPS or cruise, I'd take the cruise. I can always hit goggle maps on my cell and use that if I need to. But the phone can't take over the car and hold the gas peddle down. (Well, not safely anyway. )

[bigcritter]

KarenS....Glad to hear that your trip went well, and that the tips that you received from the forum were beneficial to you! :>) So.....how's the puppy doing? :>)
I have to tell you, I just had the Area 451 cruise installed on my car a couple of weeks ago, and I've made a few short trips (2 1/2 hrs. each way) with it, and I absolutely LOVE it! It's without a doubt the smoothest cruise control I've ever seen on a car! It holds the speed REALLY well, and it's nice to be able to just relax and not have to worry about your speed. It also holds well going up & down hills, and will automatically drop down a gear in automatic when needed, although I still think shifting into manual and gearing down early will keep your speed up more easily! :>) Good luck with the pup!

[rawlus®]

nice post. glad to see the validation that cruise is an option, not a necessity and if you know how to drive, you don't need it, even for long trips. ;)

[KarenS]

Originally Posted by bigcritter

KarenS....Glad to hear that your trip went well, and that the tips that you received from the forum were beneficial to you! :>) So.....how's the puppy doing? :>)
I have to tell you, I just had the Area 451 cruise installed on my car a couple of weeks ago, and I've made a few short trips (2 1/2 hrs. each way) with it, and I absolutely LOVE it! It's without a doubt the smoothest cruise control I've ever seen on a car! It holds the speed REALLY well, and it's nice to be able to just relax and not have to worry about your speed. It also holds well going up & down hills, and will automatically drop down a gear in automatic when needed, although I still think shifting into manual and gearing down early will keep your speed up more easily! :>) Good luck with the pup!

The Great Dane puppy is great, he's 8 wks old and stands 17" and is 25 Lbs. He is a beautiful Harlequin male, who is a VERY big boy for his age, and has HUGE feet. We're hoping for good things as my daughter plans on him being a show dog! Thanks for asking...he sat on us in the front seat for the ride!

[vwW12]

I have to admit I only use traditional cruise control as cop remedial; i.e., I often put the cruise at speed limit + car underreport factor + 6. In the case of our smart, this would be speed limit 70MPH + 3 underreport + 6 = 79MPH (which should show as 76MPH to the radar-equipped revenue raiser). I would then ride with the faster cars and let the speed drop to cruise 79MPH if there is a cop around.

When we got the smart, I thought I would get cruise control as soon as it became available. I no longer think I will purchase it.

[SubSlr88]

When I lived in the Bahamas (a looong time ago) my neighbor had one almost a year old that we 'baby sat' quite a bit. In our little apt. he would sprawl out and take up most of the living room floor.
He was raised with cats and my two cats used to visit him in his pen next door and keep him company. . . they thought he was pretty neat.
My greatest fun was taking him to the beach so he could run and play in the surf . . . then we'd go home and get him hosed off.
He weighed close to 100 lbs at the time, but Duke was just a big sweetie!

[Bum-bling-B]

Cruise or GPS?? and you want the GPS instead?

If I were in your shoes I'd opt for the cruise and go for a low end Garmin - like a 200/205 (I've seen them for $100). Currently I have a 3 year old Nuvi 350 but the new 850 I tried out in Sam's the other day makes me..... well, we'll say I really really like it! Wouldn't mind having that at all!! Cruise for my other Smart comes first....that'll be in March.

In my short life I've had over 100 cars and only a limited amount have had cruise - I can count them on one hand. I prefer my Smart with cruise. Took it for a 350 mile trip this weekend and it was great. I need to check my records and see how many miles I have with the cruise installed.

[KarenS]

Originally Posted by SubSlr88

When I lived in the Bahamas (a looong time ago) my neighbor had one almost a year old that we 'baby sat' quite a bit. In our little apt. he would sprawl out and take up most of the living room floor.
He was raised with cats and my two cats used to visit him in his pen next door and keep him company. . . they thought he was pretty neat.
My greatest fun was taking him to the beach so he could run and play in the surf . . . then we'd go home and get him hosed off.
He weighed close to 100 lbs at the time, but Duke was just a big sweetie!

They ARE big impressive babies that don't eat as much as you'd think!

[KarenS]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Cruise or GPS?? and you want the GPS instead?

If I were in your shoes I'd opt for the cruise and go for a low end Garmin - like a 200/205 (I've seen them for $100). Currently I have a 3 year old Nuvi 350 but the new 850 I tried out in Sam's the other day makes me..... well, we'll say I really really like it! Wouldn't mind having that at all!! Cruise for my other Smart comes first....that'll be in March.

In my short life I've had over 100 cars and only a limited amount have had cruise - I can count them on one hand. I prefer my Smart with cruise. Took it for a 350 mile trip this weekend and it was great. I need to check my records and see how many miles I have with the cruise installed.

I already got the GPS on sale, now I will start saving for the cruise control, which I've had in all my cars due to my heavy foot and many tickets. I even use it on 40 MPH areas.....I HAVE found I don't NEED it to drive right, it seems to be a "nice to have item" that I'd like to have...I just have to save for it.

I DO have a question, what sort of person installs cruise control, A stereo/alarm type guy? a car modifier type? a mechanic type guy? As "testosterony" as I felt when I took out the bits & pieces for babybenz to paint, I don't feel confident enough to try installing cruise control!