1. I understand the add-ons don't really maintain speed up and down hills, they just hold accelerator position.

That statement is false.

 

2. Anyone been successful on a retrofit of factory cruise into a 2009?

A replacement wheel with the cruise controls is far more expensive than one of the aftermarket cc, can not see why anyone would bother.

 

unless you can find one at a salvage yard.

 

What does a junk yard smart steering wheel go for?

 

For those of you with FACTORY cruise control (not either of the 2 brands of add-ons) available since 2011:

1. How well does it function. I understand the add-ons don't really maintain speed up and down hills, they just hold accelerator position. How well does the factory unit function? Does the car downshift by itself and/or increase throttle on uphills and then upshift and/or decrease throttle on downs?

2. Anyone been successful on a retrofit of factory cruise into a 2009?

The "Area 451" holds Set-Speed when SET, and will shift down to maintain it if it needs to... It works like a Dream. Almost 4 years, and still working Perfectly...<)

 

(4+ years, first one off the assembly line )

 

Unfortunately I haven't used it, (the factory one,) although I think there are retrofit instructions available on smarttekinfo...

 

Both after market CC's will downshift to maintain speed going up a hill.
There is some speed variation (+/- x mph) in every cruise control.

From what I have heard, the factory option has a bit smaller range of variation, however, if that is a big concern, you can put a little extra pressure on the gas pedal which would be a whole lot easier than replacing the steering wheel. Also, the cc speed setting would remain when you take your foot off the gas.Somehow, you would also need to tell the car's computer that you have this new steering wheel.

It may be easier to just buy a newer smart...

Why not link up with someone in your area who has the cc installed to try it out?

 

I bought a 2013 in November 2012 and I have 9,000 miles on it. I have had no problems at all. I have pulled a small alumna trailer with the smart car on a 2,600 mile trip used cruise all the time it would work just like the one in my ford 150 truck. max speed that I used with the cruise set for any time was 78 -79 mph. pulling the trailer.

How well does the factory unit function? Great!!! Does the car downshift by itself and/or increase throttle on uphills and then upshift and/or decrease throttle on downs? Yes it will increase throttle and shift when needed. Works like any other cruise.

 

You'll have to lose the paddle shifters if you TRY to retrofit the newer wheel on the '09

 

I have the factory cruise on my 2012. Works fine, will downshift when needed, and AFAIK no cruise control will downshift when needed... they all maintain speed, *not* scrub it off. As a side note, I don't miss the paddles as I *rarely* used them.. they were only an irritation when I hit them on occasion in sharp turns when whipping the wheel around.

 

I've had my 451 downshift twice in rapid succession when on the interstate encountering a hill and speed had begun to lag. MDC Cruise control was still advancing the throttle as the speed lagged in 5th gear. Transmission did its thing and the car caught back up to the speed requested by the cruise control. It was a little hair raising, as I wasn't prepared for the aggressive double downshift. I've learned to downshift into 4th at the base of a hill and the cruise handles everything famously with no overspeed at the top of the hill. Solves everything.
For me it is part of being actively involved with the car as the driver, which I find more entertaining and fun than allowing the car to deliver me to work with no involvement like my old caddy did.

 

... For me it is part of being actively involved with the car as the driver, which I find more entertaining and fun than allowing the car to deliver me to work with no involvement like my old caddy did.

Not to forget: more alert too. Beats texting!

 

451 C/C works better than any factory cruise I've had on other cars. Maintains speed much, much better.

 

AND....it's the ONLY cruise you can use at 15mph

I use it around town and the neighborhood all the time ....... has saved me many tickets :woohoo:

 

Thanks for the responses. I guess I was wrong about the MDC 451 not holding speed.