old school vs. new!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 7
From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
old school vs. new!
If you are old enough..... you remember the days of the first cruise control systems and, if you were looking to obtain best mileage on the open highway, the advice was: "set your cruise and leave it alone!" It worked....
Now... Distronic Plus..... this system works hard to maintain two objectives: set speed and specified distance between you and the car ahead.....having experimented with the system during the last couple of trips have noted the following: unlike the old systems, this one will apply the brakes to maintain the set speed as you go downhill, also ( obviously ) during its attempt to slow you down and maintain the set distance between you and the car in front.... The result is that you will NOT see the mpg increase that was seen on the old systems, in fact... you may see a DECREASE as the system slows the vehicle and then accelerates.....the big difference is in the long downhill runs on an interstate......as it applies the brake to maintain the specified speed. I actually killed the Distronic going down a couple long downslopes.... I dont want increased brake wear and it was not really necessary to precisely maintain the speed. That being said I love it on the long level straight shots!
Now... Distronic Plus..... this system works hard to maintain two objectives: set speed and specified distance between you and the car ahead.....having experimented with the system during the last couple of trips have noted the following: unlike the old systems, this one will apply the brakes to maintain the set speed as you go downhill, also ( obviously ) during its attempt to slow you down and maintain the set distance between you and the car in front.... The result is that you will NOT see the mpg increase that was seen on the old systems, in fact... you may see a DECREASE as the system slows the vehicle and then accelerates.....the big difference is in the long downhill runs on an interstate......as it applies the brake to maintain the specified speed. I actually killed the Distronic going down a couple long downslopes.... I dont want increased brake wear and it was not really necessary to precisely maintain the speed. That being said I love it on the long level straight shots!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 7
From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
Not a much of an issue with me..... because I know the system is doing a fantastic job and I am impressed with the technology..... i just prefer to let her roll on the down hills and let me determine if I need to slow it down.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
I have a question on the Distronic. Several years ago I had the radar operated cruise on a Cadillac XLR. It was a new system at the time and I was not happy with it. When the road cleared in front of you, it had a tendency to then downshift and rapidly accelerate to regain the set speed. This resulted in rather a "jerky" experience.
Do the newer generation systems cure this problem or do you still experience hard acceleration when trying to catch up?
Do the newer generation systems cure this problem or do you still experience hard acceleration when trying to catch up?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 7
From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
I have a question on the Distronic. Several years ago I had the radar operated cruise on a Cadillac XLR. It was a new system at the time and I was not happy with it. When the road cleared in front of you, it had a tendency to then downshift and rapidly accelerate to regain the set speed. This resulted in rather a "jerky" experience.
Do the newer generation systems cure this problem or do you still experience hard acceleration when trying to catch up?
Do the newer generation systems cure this problem or do you still experience hard acceleration when trying to catch up?
