My Tiguan has arrived and this is my experience so far

[Eyes24]

How do people feel on the long term effects of the stop/start system? Will it drain batteries quicker? Will it kill the longevity of the starter motor? You hear a lot of talk around the potential damaging effects, just wonder if there's any concrete evidence out there. This is my first car with it and still debating whether or not to use it.


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I have Nissan x trail with stop/start system and l use it all the time, had no problems in 2 years with it.


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[IsDon]

My Tiguan has arrived and this is my experience so far

I've got it in my A6 Allroad which I've had since new. 2013. I was a bit concerned about it when I first got the car, more over whether it would annoy the crap out of me than anything else.

Happy to report, I leave it on, and pretty much forget it's there.

There's a whole bunch of parameters that have to line up before the stop start will turn the engine off. Obviously stationary, foot on the brake, engine up to temp, air conditioner compressor not required (cabin temp down to what's selected), battery voltage above a certain minimum. Unless all these are lined up the engine keeps running and gives you a little symbol to say, "in case you were wondering, no I'm not shutting down".

It also requires a fair bit of pressure on the brake pedal. I find that, without really thinking about it, if I pull up at a stop sign, or a red light about to change, or a roundabout I pull the car up, just before it stops I release most of the brake pressure so that I'm just holding the car from rolling, but not with enough pressure to activate the start stop. You learn to use it, and it does work surprisingly well.

No battery issues, no starter motor issues. My A6 is also a 3.0L 6 cylinder diesel so a lot more cranking torque required than for a 4 cylinder petrol. If starter motors can handle hybrid drive trains that seem to be starting the car every 30 seconds, then the amount of starts your Tig will be doing will be of no consequence.

[Ozsko]

How do people feel on the long term effects of the stop/start system? Will it drain batteries quicker? Will it kill the longevity of the starter motor? You hear a lot of talk around the potential damaging effects, just wonder if there's any concrete evidence out there. This is my first car with it and still debating whether or not to use it on an ongoing basis. Ps I'm in Sydney, so it will be working constantly.


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Does it rely on the starter to re-start? I know Mazdas do not use the starter to re-start, they stop the motor in a precise spot and fire a spark plug which gets the motor going again.

[hcvo1]

YouTube video of the 220HP what I assume is a 162TSI walkaround and engine sound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r63phV2eRhU

[Ozsko]

There are now quite a few videos on YT since the release, it looks a lot of like stock VW video footage in most of them. The days of critical car tests are long gone I am sorry to say though in the journo's defence they only had restricted time and driving on Macquarie Pass.

[Gladbach]

There are now quite a few videos on YT since the release, it looks a lot of like stock VW video footage in most of them. The days of critical car tests are long gone I am sorry to say though in the journo's defence they only had restricted time and driving on Macquarie Pass.

Not quite. They had a launch where each journo had 30 mins with the car and was given a media pack (with photos and video). That's pretty standard practice for a launch. These then form "First Drive" reviews like the ones we've seen. In the coming weeks, the journos will be offered a demo vehicle to drive for a few days, after which well see some more comprehensive reviews. It's in these reviews that you get a much more detailed review - and sometimes they can be a little different from the first drive ones - i.e. more positive or perhaps more negative, as the journos get used to the vehicle.

Sit tight, they'll come soon

[jtan9695]

Does the car lock itself once you turn it off and walk away?

I didnt have the time to actually check it out. Also how long does the engine fan stay on after car is switched off?

And lastly how do you activate the feature that lets you keep safe distance with car in front of you??

Oh and for me personally first thing indo when i start up the car is to immediately turn off auto start stop function since ive read how it will ruin the battery in the long term.

[REXman]

Does it rely on the starter to re-start? I know Mazdas do not use the starter to re-start, they stop the motor in a precise spot and fire a spark plug which gets the motor going again.

I always wondered how they did it. Apparently there's a second starter that does it, but that's just what my dealer told me when I asked.


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[Ozsko]

Not quite. They had a launch where each journo had 30 mins with the car and was given a media pack (with photos and video). That's pretty standard practice for a launch. These then form "First Drive" reviews like the ones we've seen. In the coming weeks, the journos will be offered a demo vehicle to drive for a few days, after which well see some more comprehensive reviews. It's in these reviews that you get a much more detailed review - and sometimes they can be a little different from the first drive ones - i.e. more positive or perhaps more negative, as the journos get used to the vehicle.

Sit tight, they'll come soon

You just confirmed what I posted, restricted driving time, stock video etc.

[Ozsko]

I always wondered how they did it. Apparently there's a second starter that does it, but that's just what my dealer told me when I asked.


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The dealer representative is wrong, Mazda do not use any form of electric starter, my son is one of their techs.

[Gladbach]

You just confirmed what I posted, restricted driving time, stock video etc.

I guess I was trying to reassure you that it's not just a sign of the times, but merely a timing issue.

[Ozsko]

I know what you mean and I realise that what has taken place was only a taster for the journos. A normal road test these days does not go into detail like they used to, brake tests, performance figures, are the seats actually comfortable and so on which was the point I was trying to make. I like it when a new model appears and the journos proceed to bag the old one but when the old one was current they never said a word.

[IsDon]

My Tiguan has arrived and this is my experience so far

I'll preface this with I haven't taken delivery of our Tig yet. Next month fingers crossed. I do, however, own a 3 year old Audi A6 that I've tinkered with extensively. The answers are based on my knowledge of VAG vehicles in general, and how expect they will work on the Tig. Many of the systems are identical to that found in the later Audis.

Does the car lock itself once you turn it off and walk away?

I haven't activated this personally, but I believe it is something that can be easily activated with VCDS.

I didnt have the time to actually check it out. Also how long does the engine fan stay on after car is switched off?

The only time the fan stays running after the engine is switched off, as far as I've witnessed, is when the car decides it needs to do a DPF regen. This is a clever system, but it only applies to diesel vehicles. If the diesel has spent a lot of time in city traffic the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) can start to load up. When it get to a certain percentage of its maximum load it does a regen which, I understand, involves pumping fuel into the DPF to heat it up and burn off the particulates which then end up as soot. If you reach your destination and turn off the engine before it completes this operation, it continues with the engine switched off. The fan will run flat out while this finishes. Could be 5-10 minutes. You'll also notice an acrid smell. If you're ordering a petrol then ignore all of the above.

And lastly how do you activate the feature that lets you keep safe distance with car in front of you??

If you're asking about adaptive cruise control then this is active by default. To actually use it you just switch it on like any other cruise control. The only additional control is a setting for the distance you want it to maintain from the vehicle ahead. Personal preference. Too far and cars jump into the gap in front of you. Bloody annoying. Too close makes for nervous passengers.

Oh and for me personally first thing indo when i start up the car is to immediately turn off auto start stop function since ive read how it will ruin the battery in the long term.

Personally I think the issues with start stop ruining the battery are rubbish. It is a very clever system that will only turn off the donk when a whole bunch of hurdles are met. Battery above a certain charge, air conditioner compressor not required, engine up to temperature, stationary, foot fairly firmly in the brake etc etc etc. Like you I thought I would hate it. Now I actually think it's pretty cool. If it cuts down on the diesel idling in traffic (which is bad for them) you will probably save yourself some maintenance later on and save yourself some fuel. A lot more than you would pay for a new battery even if this was an issue, which I doubt.

That said, if you really want it gone this is easily accomplished with VCDS. Your options are to have it never activate (by changing the threshold battery voltage to a higher figure than the battery will ever get to.

Or to set it so the car remembers what your preference was when you turned off the engine. By default it will reactivate each time you start the car so you have to push the button to turn it off each time you start the car. With VCDS you can set it to remember what you had set when you switched the engine off last. If you turned it off before turning off the engine, when you next start the engine it will remain off. This is a good middle ground.

I live in the Shire in South Sydney. I have a VCDS to help with these things if you wish.

[REXman]

You just confirmed what I posted, restricted driving time, stock video etc.

I think it's important to make the distinction that they do not have the authority to write something negative.

Maybe a meaningless point, "I don't like the position of the aircon buttons" for example. This gives it a flavour of it being a real review.

They couldn't write "it was awful to drive, handled like a barge, gross interior", or something of that nature.

Unfortunately they aren't reviews, they are controlled advertisements.



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[Ozsko]

I think it's important to make the distinction that they do not have the authority to write something negative.

Oh Really! What happened to the independent press? Are you saying that VW lines up the journos and gives them a lecture on what they are allowed to write? I don't doubt that it happens but what self respecting journo would play that game when they all profess to be independent.