Adaptive Cruise Control for GTI and GTD

[Corey_R]

Hey guys. There has already been some discussion in the Mk6 Golf forum on this subject, specifically in the Golf GTD Thread. So I thought I'd quote the information here, and start this so that it's easier for people to find information on this new and exciting feature (well, new and exciting for a car in the price range of a Golf!).

My VW dealer rang VWA today and was told May '10 is the planned release for the GTD. VWA also said I could specify adaptive cruise control in my options list

If you check out the original press release for the MK6 Golf GTI, you'll see that they dicuss Adaptive Cruise Control in there.

Adaptive Cruise Control is likely to be an option worth at least a few hunred dollars though - I wouldn't just expect a feature like that to be included as free.

Dynamic Cruise control is the same price in the UK as the Dynaudio option. $1300 approx?

Adaptive cruise control is in my order at $2000. I think the benefits are worth it, but it is top price IMO.

Is anyone able to get confirmation if the GTI builds from June/July onwards will have this as an option?

As most of us ordering GTI's now wont get ours till after this date, it makes sense to be asking now if its going to be avaliable?

So as you guys can see - the information is still a bit sketchy. It's likely to be priced at $2000, and information will hopefully appear in the next week or two along with the official launch of the GTD.

[pologti18t]

Another option for certain people to worry about

Discussion topic:

Do you think Adaptive Cruise Control is better than the Dynaudio option?

[Corey_R]

lol pologti18t

[AdamD]

I've tried the adaptive cruise briefly on a Passat CC. It was a very cool gadget, but to be honest I think it crosses the line for me between useful assistance and taking too much control.

I also noticed that when bringing the car to a complete halt, the last 10km/h or so of speed was wiped off in a very rough/shuddery manner. Perhaps the system isn't really designed to bring the car to a complete halt, so I won't put this down as a flaw per se.

My father (has a CC V6 with ACC on order) mentioned that a car so equipped will hit the brakes hard if it detects you're about to hit something, even if the system is disabled. I think this would be very important in the case that you forget you've disabled it and the car in front brakes heavily, but you wouldn't want it to malfunction!

If you did a lot of freeway driving, especially in areas with fairly dense traffic, I'd say it could be very useful. Normal day-to-day driving though... I'd rather pass.

[Pauly]

It would be a great option to have for $1300. But for the suspected $2000 price... its abit expensive (same price as Xenon's).

However the more gadgets the better haha.

I called my VW Dealer today to see if this was indeed true, he said that he was not able to comment, but it was highly likely, and that he would contact me next week regarding this.

So if I find out, ill post it here too.

Although I did forget to ask about the LED Taillights... damn...

[Christopher]

Dermot, are you able to shed some light on this? (Adaptive Cruise Control as well as the LED's)

[G-rig]

too many options called the same thing Adaptive Cruise Control/Adaptive Chassis Control etc.

I don't see a need for half of them and less interaction at the wheel could mean falling asleep etc. Nice to have all this technology though..

[Leagle]

Another option for certain people to worry about

Discussion topic:

Do you think Adaptive Cruise Control is better than the Dynaudio option?

Faced with such a choice, I picked dynaudio. But now I wished I ticked both lol.

[Leagle]

My father (has a CC V6 with ACC on order) mentioned that a car so equipped will hit the brakes hard if it detects you're about to hit something, even if the system is disabled. I think this would be very important in the case that you forget you've disabled it and the car in front brakes heavily, but you wouldn't want it to malfunction!

If you did a lot of freeway driving, especially in areas with fairly dense traffic, I'd say it could be very useful. Normal day-to-day driving though... I'd rather pass.

Ticking ACC on the CC as an option automatically means that you get "front assist". This gives you a warning (including a brief jolt) if you are about to rear end another car. However it does NOT brake for you. It warns you (assuming it is on).

If you are NOT using adaptive cruise control, it will NOT brake heavily as suggested. You better warn your father!

The manual contains a number of warnings with respect to these driving aids. He better read them!

I actually did not get ACC due to your point about ACC's limited usefulness in day to day driving unless you do a lot of freeway driving. Ultimately, i did not order ACC as I felt I would not use it very often, though I sometimes wish that I did if for no other reason than the cool factor.

[Corey_R]

though I sometimes wish that I did if for no other reason than the cool factor.

Especially in combination with the CC's "Lane Assist"...

"Look ma, no hands or feet"

[GHW]

hmm..so in the (very real) scenario of someone seeing a gap and slicing in front of you (Qldr's rarely give appropriate distance when cutting back in, it's a game to see how close to wiping off your bonnet they can get !) does that mean the detectors will slam on the brakes to avoid an accident?
legit question as I can see this feature being more dangerous than good personally particularly if this happens and the idiot tailgating behind joins you in the front seat.

[Corey_R]

From what I've read on this subject, they're using some type of laser / optical device for measuring the distance of the car in front of you (not sonar like parking sensors). This is running fast enough that it can probably tell the difference between a car approaching fast, or a car moving in front of you from another lane and then either holding distance or pulling away.
Either way it'd probably slow you down, but I'm not sure they'd have it jumping on the brakes immediately.

Does anyone know where the is some detailed documentation on how this actually all works? Or maybe tests done in real life with different scnearios, such as the one GHW mentioned?

[hoi polloi]

Does anyone know where the is some detailed documentation on how this actually all works? Or maybe tests done in real life with different scnearios, such as the one GHW mentioned?

The version in the Passat is a radar based system... A guess is that it works on a similar basis to an aircraft's radar altimeter...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FMCW

Regards,
- Anthony.

[dencar]

Does anyone know where the is some detailed documentation on how this actually all works? Or maybe tests done in real life with different scnearios, such as the one GHW mentioned?

How about this?

http://www.volkswagen.de/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/en2/experience/innovation/assistance_systems/acc.html

[Corey_R]

Thanks!