Cruise Control

[davidf]

Has anyone fitted cruise control to a Stag? If so, what system did you use? I have looked at a few systems on-line, but they all seem to want a speed input from the car's systems. None of them seem to come with a speed sensor of their own (which I guess would have to go somewhere like the prop-shaft).

[mole42]

A friend fitted one years ago to a TR4 which used a magnet fitted to the propshaft to drive the sensor.
My Stag has a Brantz rally tripmeter that uses an inductive sensor which picks up from the bolt heads to provide a speed sensor input, I'm sure that a cruise control could use the same style.
In my case, I would use it as a speed limiter.....

[Motorsport Micky]

You'll find a driver variable speed limiter far more usable and worthwhile.
Trouble with cruise control is it's normally fixed at whatever you set it at and in today's traffic flows you often have to brake which disables the cruise control.
When I sold trucks with variable speed limiters, driver initial reaction was " I don't want anything that slows me down or makes the drive more complicated" after 2 weeks using them it was " you'll have to prise it from my cold dead hands" they loved it !
The reason was the speed limiter was driver set by a button press and then activated by FULL application of throttle which the driver just left his size 12 boot on, if the driver was baulked in the traffic flow he released the throttle and the speed degraded in a normal manner, or he just braked as if the limiter wasn't there. Then as the traffic cleared he just jumped back on the throttle and the truck accelerated back up to the preset limit, very useful. It was especially of use in 30 mph areas where the drivers use it as a max speed limiter to avoid picking up speeding fines inadvertantly as the traffic flow exceeds it.
I just checked and found this

http://www.avsgemini.com/speed-limiters.html

which looks like it may be similar but you'll have to check it out for suitability for you and if it can be fitted.

Micky

[Stagdad]

Sounds like a good system Micky. Anything home made that hold open the throttle it going to be fun in an insurance claim. I know the Megasquirt ecu didn't support drive by wire throttle bodies because of the legalities of this sort of thing. It was a while back so may have changed now though.

[davidf]

Thanks for that. Micky - that looks a useful link. I think they only offer cruise control for cable operated throttles, but that is actually what I was looking for.
Very personal feelings, but I have had a few cars with Cruise/limiter, and a few with cruise only. Actually, I prefer to use cruise - I can set it to the speed limit and let it carry on. If I need to slow, either touch the brake or flick the dis-engage. When the road is clear again, re-engage and it builds the speed up again by itself. I find that driving with my foot to the floor relying on the speed limiter is counter-intuitive. Also, if I forget to set and think I am relying on cruise, it slows down, If I forget to set limiter and floor the throttle pedal, the effect can be quite hairy !!

Stagdad - interesting point - I guess I would have to clear it with my insurer before proceeding - usual point about disclosing modifications.

[MandM]

We had a triumph 2500 at the garage I worked at in the seventies with cruise fitted, think it was made by the same people that sold cental locking etc , could not tell you how it worked.

[jakesmig]

I frequently use Cruise Control on my daily driver, which is an oil burning light bulb (Mazda) which must be a fully electronic affair because to increase speed to pass something it takes a fair pedal movement to get to the current cruising speed. Use of brake, clutch or steering wheel button disengages so it is fairly user friendly.
In my last stint of employment I frequently drove a van which was fitted with both cruise and limiter. Limiter was useful when driving through a restricted area, set to limit and plant a brick on the pedal, apart from that situation I found it less than useful and frequently fraught with danger.
When you needed extra bit of speed and had forgotten it was engaged the extra time taken to faff about disengaging the limiter could be enough distraction to cause problems. That was certainly the gist of a traffic accident report at a court case.

[new to this]

Russell Lewis has cruise on his stag

Dave

[trunt]

retrofit kits are fairly available for older cars over here.. some use a prop shaft sensor, I saw some using the speedo cable.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/cruise-control-kits?ibanner=SREPD4

Cars over here pretty much all have cruise, (and cup holders!) Our Gti has adaptive cruise, it uses radar to keep a certain (variable) distance from the car in front, when the road clears the speed rises to the setpoint. It will actually stop the car if needs be. the only thing is you need to pull out to overtake a bit earlier to prevent it from slowing down

I like it..especially given the type of driving here.

Terry