Driving manual cars at a constant speed on long roads is challenging for drivers. Using cruise control has made driving easier without worrying about acceleration and over-speeding.
Can Manual Cars Have Cruise Control? Manual cars have cruise control, but it differs from the system of automatic transmission cars. They have adaptive cruise control that keeps the vehicle at a safe distance from other objects on the road. It disengages itself when you change the gear. It turns off at the high or low RPM of the vehicle. It provides convenience and safety to the driver and makes the car fuel efficient.
However, it has the drawbacks of making the driver less attentive, and it is difficult to use in harsh weather and on curved roads. Audi, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai manual transmission models have cruise control.
What is cruise control?
It is a unique feature present in almost all electric cars and sometimes in manual transmission vehicles.
It allows the driver to set a speed limit on a long journey. It does not allow the vehicles to cross the speed limit set by the driver.
It is a separate feature that uses cable and throttle to control the accelerator. When you set a speed limit, the system adjusts the throttle position to keep the speed within limits.
The throttle controls the power generated by the engine. In addition, it changes its position to maintain the function of the accelerator pad.
In advanced automatic cars, the whole system is controlled by computers and electronics. The drivers set the speed limit in the computer module, and the sensors send signals to the throttle.
The throttle shifts its position without the assistance of any cable to maintain the speed within limits. You need not press the accelerator pedal during driving on a highway to increase the speed.
How do you use cruise control in manual cars?
Manual transmission automobiles also have a cruise control feature, which is different from the speed-limiting system of an automatic transmission.
Instead, these vehicles have an adaptive cruise control system that adjusts the speed of the car relative to other automobiles present on the roads.
Adaptive cruise control is an advanced form of the conventional system. It works half as best as it works in automatic transmission automobiles.
They can benefit from this feature on long highways with less gear shifting. In manual, the cruise control requires the driver’s input as the system disengages every time you shift the gears.
This feature uses different sensors or radars to keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the cars ahead in heavy traffics.
This system has on-off and resumes buttons in manual transmission vehicles. The cruise control buttons are present on the dashboards or the steering wheels. You can choose the desired speed limit.
How adaptive cruise control in manual cars is different from automatic cars?
The cruise control in an automatic transmission is advanced and fully automatic. It does not involve the accelerator pedal in any way.
It keeps the speed within the limit even when you change gears. It automatically adjusts the speed and distance from the vehicles ahead. You can use it on uphills and curved roads.
In contrast, the cruise control of manual cars is beneficial when the same gear is required throughout the distance.
When you press the clutch pedal to change the gears in engine ignition vehicles, the system disengages itself and turns off. After shifting the gears, you have to turn on the feature and resume the speed limit.
In manual cars, it also turns off when the RPM of the tire is too slow or high. It usually disengages when the RPM drops below 20.
It disengages itself when the other vehicle ahead is too slow. It does not have a low-speed follow feature in manual cars because it involves changing or shifting the gears at small intervals.
Why do manual cars have a cruise control feature?
Manual vehicles and speed-limiting devices might seem incompatible due to many differences. But it still provides many benefits in these automobiles. Here is a brief description of all of them.
Convenience
It gives drivers a lot of convenience and comfort during long journeys. However, driving on a long highway is a tiresome job for all of us. You have to step on the pedals every time to maintain a speed on the roads.
The cruise control helps the drivers set up speed limits and comfort their feet. They can keep their feet on the floor as the car moves at the same speed on the road.
As a result, they can drive well for a long time and are not fatigued during driving on heavy roads.
Besides focusing on speeds and accelerators, one can focus on the road and steering. As a result, you can handle the U-turned and other obstacles more efficiently.
It is also easy to use and disengages when you press the pedal. You can also use the cancel button to turn it off.
Safety
Collisions and accidents due to overspeeding are the leading cause of injuries and deaths on the highways. This feature helps reduce the risk of accidents on highways and heavy traffic roads.
Setting the speed limit will prevent the drivers from accelerating too fast. It will adjust the speed and distance from the vehicles on the roads.
In this way, it ensures the safety of cars and human beings. All the humans and other objects in the surrounding will be saved from your car. You can drive well without panicking about accidental collisions.
Overspeeding is also a violation of traffic laws. This violation can get you in big trouble.
However, drivers prevent themselves from overspeeding by turning on this feature. As a result, you will not violate traffic laws and be safe from penalties.
Better fuel economy
Setting up speed limits can save a lot of fuel during long journeys. On average frequent accelerating and deceleration can consume 16% more gas than driving at a constant speed.
This feature helps burn less oil by setting up a speed limit. In addition, the vehicles become more fuel efficient and give more mileage with this control system.
A study shows that varying the car speed between 40 to 60 mph every 20 seconds can consume 18% more fuel.
One might think it can hurt the vehicle engine and other parts in many ways. But in contrast, it is good for the lifespan of manual cars. Sudden overspeeding and pressing the accelerator can increase the normal wear and tear of the vehicle.
It can make the accelerator and brake pedal faulty. Setting up speed and maintaining a safe distance from other cars can decrease normal wear and tear and protects the automobile from damage.
Drawbacks of having cruise control in the manual cars
Besides all the advantages, this feature has many weaknesses as well. Here is a brief description of all of them.
Makes driver over-relaxed
Despite setting the speed limits, the driver should be attentive to the upcoming turn curves and surrounding vehicles.
It helps him to act immediately if any car comes forward from any side. But Cruise control makes the driver free to do other stuff. For example, they are free to use their mobile phone and other gadgets.
They are no longer worried about the speed of the vehicle. It is bad for cars and drivers. It makes the driver unattentive, which results in accidents and injuries.
The ease and comfort can make the driver fall asleep. They should be attentive because cruise-control manual cars are still unable to detect other objects.
In an emergency, the drivers can take more time to take action or press the brakes due to overrelaxed position. Therefore, it is advisable to be attentive and stare throughout the journey to prevent these problems.
Difficult to use in harsh weather
The system cannot function correctly during extreme winters or in the snow. This is because the sensor or radar system cannot sense the distance of vehicles from other cars. Therefore, during these days, it is advisable to turn off the system.
Using the system on rainy days is also difficult because the tires can lose traction. As a result, they lose their grip on the roads the vehicle can slip away.
In such emergency conditions, pressing the brake pedals and turning off the speed limit is challenging. This problem limits the use of ACC in harsh weather.
Difficulty in driving on curved roads
Vehicles become unstable on curved roads. Using cruise control in hilly areas is difficult as you have to shift the gears frequently.
The ACC system disengages itself every time you change the gears. It is difficult and tiresome to turn on the system after shifting gears. You should turn off the system on the hilly roads and control the accelerator manually to avoid any trouble.
What manual cars have cruise control?
Various manufacturers of vehicles are trying to incorporate this useful feature in their all models. Not only automatic but manual cars also have this component. Here is a list of a few manual cars with cruise control.
- Hyundai
- Toyota Camry
- Honda Accord
- Audi A5
- Toyota Corolla
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