In an earlier post I wrote about the Active Cruise Control not working as it should, and me having to brake at walking speed behind a stopped car. Well, I was out and about just now, and on impulse decided to try it again.

Well knock me over with a feather - not only does it work a treat on the highway as I have experienced, but it operates right down to a STOP behind the car in front.

Then... STARTS AGAIN without any response from me, and follows the car ahead like an obedient puppy. The manual doesn't mention this anywhere.

I'm sure the opposing traffic would have wondered why the driver of a Bentley was grinning and chortling like a Cheshire cat, but I never knew this was a feature of the ACC and I love it. In fact, I used it in town a bit later and it was miraculous to be in the car as it slowed, stopped and started again in traffic at several sets of lights and a roundabout for over 5 minutes before I had to brake for a give way sign. Best of all it was smooth. No jerky braking or acceleration... just a short 1 sec lag before it moved off (and I'm sure that was intentionally built in for safety).

It won't stop if the car ahead has already stopped and you're approaching it at speed, that much the manual says is accurate. Ask me how I know! And it doesn't sense cyclists, dogs and a number of other roadkill, but most of it is sensibly predictable anyhoo.

But for following purposes, it is a dream feature and it's made my day for its surprise factor.

The problem is now that I want to use this car for every drive, and I can see the first 100,000k coming up in a year or two My advice, buy one! All you have to do then is steer, and I'm sure you'll find an eager volunteer to do that

 

I love this feature on cars. I had it on my CTT and even my wife Sienna minivan has it. My new RR will have it also. IMO it is a must have if its available.

 

Awesome! Yeah, first time i tried the B's Active Cruise Control it worked great.

 

Which year was this feature offered?

Ken you ought to just let the car go to the market for you, now all you need is to teach it to swipe a debt card. That want to drive all the time is how i still feel and I have put on 15K miles in the first year.

Oh I would rarely use such since I usually gas it, swerve left and then right instead of brake. Don't worry Ken you are on the dark slope and don't even realize it.

 

started as option in 2008.

 

Yeah I ain't got it so I'll have to use the brake pedal.

 

I find I'm only using it in city driving. Like you I want to be head honcho on the road, and sticking behind a car, keeping to their speed on the highway is not my preference and aggravates the heck out of me.

 

Yep, it's on everything nowadays, even the Lexus GS hybrid the dealer loaned me today. But none that I've driven has the stop/start feature or drives like me. Most of them are quite mechanical, braking and accelerating at the wrong times with a lot of lag. Nothing worse than having the brake lights come on and off as it adjusts - it makes you look like a learner.

I like the sophistication the ACC gives. For example, if we're following on ACC at the correct distance of 3 car lengths at 30mph and the car ahead stops, the Bentley will progressively close the gap and stop at 1 car length. On takeoff it will start after a second and accelerate quite quickly to stay up, then gradually widen the gap until it's back to 3 car lengths.

At slow speeds of under 10mph it will stay quite close to the car in front, widening the gap as the speed increases. Great for queues as I experienced this morning. I had 10 minutes to play and tweak the system in slow moving traffic.

A lot of fun!

 

Love the way you think. My daughter is constantly saying things like "you can take em dad". Like I need any encouragement. I am glad you are enjoying the new ACC toy.

Now on the truck I'd like a ACC mode for proper ramming the fools slow in the passing lane.

 

God I miss my Tundra!