A thought sidled it's way into my semi-conciousness driving up the A34 this morning.... is it more or less economical to use cruise control as opposed to using your right foot?

Any ideas/experience? 2012 FFRR Westminster Orkney / Ivory and absolutely no pimp-glass!

Without doubt its more economical to use your right foot... The CC is control'd by an ECU that has one sole purpose in life and doesn't care how open the throttle is to achieve that goal...

only use mine in long motorway contra flows to keep my speed steady.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Use mine quite a lot on long Mway trips (i.e. Europe) but switch to manual if it is a long steep uphill and then re-engage at the top. Still get an avge 20 mPG (v8 Petrol)

Use mine whenever I can, as long as the road is clear, especially speed restricted areas (OK, which is everywhere) but find it useful at 30 as well as at 69mph.

Another approach on the motorway is to set it at 65mph then use your right foot as normal, stops you from drifting downwards on the speed front if you have a long way to go.

Right foot is the more economical approach though .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

The difference would not be enough to warrant worrying about using it. You buy a Range Rover and then worry about using cruise....

I'd even use it down my 20 metre drive, if I had the time! Previous cars:
S-Max 2007-2013 (only diesel I've had, good car but expensive when diesely bits go wrong, so what's the point?)
Galaxy 2001-2007
Mondeo Estate 1997-2001
Sierra Estate 1993-1997
Uno Turbo 1987 -1993
Fiesta 1984 - 1987
Fiat 127 1982 - 1984

Wish my VX had it.

I've found it better. When I'm doing say, 60 and I switch on cruise, the revs drop off but I'm still doing 60. I can't manage that manually - must be my feet! The range figure increases in cruise for me.

Another tip I was given by the Land Rover Experience instructors was to use manual mode around the twisties. I have noticed a difference in mpg there. Using manual to work sees the consumption rise to about 23mpg. Left in auto, it's nearer 20.

The best "cruise control" was the one Alfa Romeo used to have. It just held the accelerator mechanically using a cable with friction "lock". Didn't come off when you pressed the brake or clutch so you would have to do that yourself.

Because it holds the revs constant it is supposed to use the least amount of fuel as accelerating "overfuels" briefly and that increases the fuel consumption. I only ever heard this as theory and based on my knowledge of cars and engine I think it is correct.

As for cruise, I think it depends on the driver. some people will beat the cruise when it comes to being frugal but most people I think drift of the set speed too much and then have to correct using additional fuel. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

^^ Agreed there, Noddy, to manual mode.

Cruise is useless where I live, where as the slightly confusingly named "sport" mode is essential. I use my car out of drive about half of the time - it saves a hell of a lot of braking, and is better on fuel.

I know most owners buy the car to waft about in Drive, but they're so much better to "drive" using Sport in the right places.

When I went to test drive/buy mine, the dealer - who'd sold lots of RR's previously - never had anyone either select Sport or low range before. He didn't even know how to !

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

I heard that it is not safe to use cruise control in wet or heavy rain conditions. I thought it was one of those internet myths, but apparently not. Heres the reason.

We checked with the departments of transportation for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington State as well as visiting several websites of other states and the consensus is clear: Don't use cruise control during winter conditions such as when it is snowing or icy or under other slippery conditions such as when it is raining.

The comments and warnings we found were:

...The cruise control is designed for normal road conditions. It doesn't know when the pavement is slippery. Under slick conditions, you need to be in complete control and monitoring road conditions. You're more likely to notice hydroplaning if you are not relying on the cruise control.

...With some cars, it is possible that the wheels will actually spin faster when the cruise control is on and the car hits a slippery spot. When the tires make contact with firm road again, the car can skid or lose control.

...On most cars, the cruise control is disengaged by tapping on the brake. In an emergency, this adds a fraction of a second to your response time as well as the risk of the braking action itself causing a loss of control on a slippery road.

We had a safety alert at work about not using cruise control in the rain.
Apparently certain cars disengage it when the wipers are switched on.

I don't think I'd ever use cruise in the rain