I own older cars and drive them into the ground, so I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here? For example, on a busy limited access road with frequent interchanges the system would jam on the brakes every time someone was merging from the right. If I had maintained speed I would have been able to pass ahead of the other car which could have merged behind me. Or, I found that someone would blow by me, pull in ahead and the car would jam on the brakes again to maintain a ridiculously long following distance. This meant I kept gradually slowing up as more and more people jumped into the huge space in front of me. I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me? In general, I found the system useless, and possibly dangerous as it jams on the brakes in situations I would not expect it to.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
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Yup. Can't stand it myself. So annoying. Always turn it off.
I don't know the specifics on your Toyota but on my Mazda you can go into the settings and change a number of parameters. The distance between you and the car in front can be adjusted. The audio beeps can be turned off.
I don't use mine in busy traffic. Once out of the metro area I turn it on and it performs quite well. No more cancellations of the cruise control.
It may take you some getting used to it.
I don't use mine in busy traffic. Once out of the metro area I turn it on and it performs quite well. No more cancellations of the cruise control.
It may take you some getting used to it.
It's great on the Interstate, rural. I wouldn't use any cruise control on a busy freeway.
I have it on my Tundra and my feelings mirror those of Old Mustang Guy. You can adjust the following distance, and the beeping is likely a lane departure warning or blind spot warning. Also you can turn adaptive cruise off and use it as a regular cruise control system by pushing the button to turn it on, releasing the button, the pushing and holding it for a number of seconds.
I know it makes the radar detector go nuts.
Audi SUVs seem to trigger it the most though.
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It's great on the Interstate, rural. I wouldn't use any cruise control on a busy freeway.
Here in the Northeast most highways are busy, but regular cruise control can be quite useful if for no other reason than to avoid speeding tickets. The radar thing made me drive like a lousy driver. Even with light traffic you occasionally have to deal with a merging car, someone passing you, or exit ramps.
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Also you can turn adaptive cruise off and use it as a regular cruise control
I assumed as much, but couldn't figure it out on the fly. This type of thing makes it hard to just hop into a rental car and drive off. Who wants to sit and read the manual every time you rent a car?
It's great on the Interstate, rural. I wouldn't use any cruise control on a busy freeway.
Here in the Northeast most highways are busy, but regular cruise control can be quite useful if for no other reason than to avoid speeding tickets. The radar thing made me drive like a lousy driver. Even with light traffic you occasionally have to deal with a merging car, someone passing you, or exit ramps.
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Also you can turn adaptive cruise off and use it as a regular cruise control
I assumed as much, but couldn't figure it out on the fly. This type of thing makes it hard to just hop into a rental car and drive off. Who wants to sit and read the manual every time you rent a car?
Originally Posted by AuthorEditor
I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me?
It was telling you to read the owner's manual:
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Warning: On curves, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control may not detect a vehicle ahead in your lane. You could be startled if the vehicle accelerates up to the set speed, especially when following a vehicle exiting or entering exit ramps. You could lose control of the vehicle or crash. Do not use Dynamic Radar Cruise Control while driving on an entrance or exit ramp. Always be ready to use the brakes if necessary.
The view of the radar is a cone extending straight out from the front of the vehicle. It doesn't bend and it doesn't articulate. If you turn the vehicle sharp enough, like an entrance or exit ramp, the vehicle trajectory is no longer within the radar's "cone": It can't see where you're turning into. That's what it was warning you about. Based on the steering angle, you were approaching or exceeding the system's capacity to see what was in front of you.
I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me?
It was telling you to read the owner's manual:
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Warning: On curves, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control may not detect a vehicle ahead in your lane. You could be startled if the vehicle accelerates up to the set speed, especially when following a vehicle exiting or entering exit ramps. You could lose control of the vehicle or crash. Do not use Dynamic Radar Cruise Control while driving on an entrance or exit ramp. Always be ready to use the brakes if necessary.
The view of the radar is a cone extending straight out from the front of the vehicle. It doesn't bend and it doesn't articulate. If you turn the vehicle sharp enough, like an entrance or exit ramp, the vehicle trajectory is no longer within the radar's "cone": It can't see where you're turning into. That's what it was warning you about. Based on the steering angle, you were approaching or exceeding the system's capacity to see what was in front of you.
I think the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control was deactivated before I entered the ramps, but the warnings continued sporadically. The car was warning me about something, but I don't know what.
The warnings could have been lane departure or blind spot. I turned off my lane departure audio beeps and keep the visual in the HUD. I kept blindspot on but turned the audio volume down.
Rental companies have all these systems activated as a safety measure. That's fine but on my personal vehicle I don't care to hear the beeping every time I twitch.
Rental companies have all these systems activated as a safety measure. That's fine but on my personal vehicle I don't care to hear the beeping every time I twitch.
The beeping was lane departure. Easy to turn off permanently.
The dynamic cruise leaves too wide of a gap to the car in front. Even when put on the shortest setting.
Dynamic cruise must be turned off each time the car is started. Push and hold the 'cruise on' button for 3 seconds.
The dynamic cruise leaves too wide of a gap to the car in front. Even when put on the shortest setting.
Dynamic cruise must be turned off each time the car is started. Push and hold the 'cruise on' button for 3 seconds.
The one in my Hyundai works great on the interstate. Set my speed 3 over and never touch the brake or accelerator.
Adjusts speed based on traffic and keeps me from getting a ticket.
Moderate traffic it also does pretty well, but at times over brakes.
I have played with it in stop and go traffic when the wife is not in the car (it is a little jerky at times) and works pretty good.
Not something I use all the time in this aspect, more me just playing with it to see how it works.
Mine does not beep when activating (not even an option) but it does beep for lane monitoring, blind spot detection, and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) (just prior to applying the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)).
The FCW/AEB is a separate system from the cruise control. Uses the same sensors, but what it looks for is a little different.
The radar cruise is only active when the cruise control is on, looking further ahead, the FWC/AEB is always on (unless you manually turn it off in settings) and is for closer (and usually lower speed) issues.
I have my lane monitoring turned off, it was beeping all the time for stupid reasons (one intersection was re-striped a while back, it sees the "old" stripes as lanes) and have issues with it alerting on high speed rural roads in sharp curves (of which there are many on the way to my moms).
When we first got it, she asked my why her car was beeping at her all the time, and it was that. Luckily, very easy to turn off.
Again, this is how the Hyundai system works (since I read my owners manuals), not sure how other systems work.
Adjusts speed based on traffic and keeps me from getting a ticket.
Moderate traffic it also does pretty well, but at times over brakes.
I have played with it in stop and go traffic when the wife is not in the car (it is a little jerky at times) and works pretty good.
Not something I use all the time in this aspect, more me just playing with it to see how it works.
Mine does not beep when activating (not even an option) but it does beep for lane monitoring, blind spot detection, and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) (just prior to applying the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)).
The FCW/AEB is a separate system from the cruise control. Uses the same sensors, but what it looks for is a little different.
The radar cruise is only active when the cruise control is on, looking further ahead, the FWC/AEB is always on (unless you manually turn it off in settings) and is for closer (and usually lower speed) issues.
I have my lane monitoring turned off, it was beeping all the time for stupid reasons (one intersection was re-striped a while back, it sees the "old" stripes as lanes) and have issues with it alerting on high speed rural roads in sharp curves (of which there are many on the way to my moms).
When we first got it, she asked my why her car was beeping at her all the time, and it was that. Luckily, very easy to turn off.
Again, this is how the Hyundai system works (since I read my owners manuals), not sure how other systems work.
Originally Posted by AuthorEditor
I own older cars and drive them into the ground, so I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here? For example, on a busy limited access road with frequent interchanges the system would jam on the brakes every time someone was merging from the right. If I had maintained speed I would have been able to pass ahead of the other car which could have merged behind me. Or, I found that someone would blow by me, pull in ahead and the car would jam on the brakes again to maintain a ridiculously long following distance. This meant I kept gradually slowing up as more and more people jumped into the huge space in front of me. I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me? In general, I found the system useless, and possibly dangerous as it jams on the brakes in situations I would not expect it to.
1st under in that situation one shouldn't use cruise control.
2nd This is another one of those...see what it can do and not is it useful!
3rd You can change the parameters or shut it off.
4th I wish all this F***ing technology was limited to engine management only.
I own older cars and drive them into the ground, so I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here? For example, on a busy limited access road with frequent interchanges the system would jam on the brakes every time someone was merging from the right. If I had maintained speed I would have been able to pass ahead of the other car which could have merged behind me. Or, I found that someone would blow by me, pull in ahead and the car would jam on the brakes again to maintain a ridiculously long following distance. This meant I kept gradually slowing up as more and more people jumped into the huge space in front of me. I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me? In general, I found the system useless, and possibly dangerous as it jams on the brakes in situations I would not expect it to.
1st under in that situation one shouldn't use cruise control.
2nd This is another one of those...see what it can do and not is it useful!
3rd You can change the parameters or shut it off.
4th I wish all this F***ing technology was limited to engine management only.
Originally Posted by jeepman3071
I know it makes the radar detector go nuts.
Audi SUVs seem to trigger it the most though.
+1. My Escort picks them up. I checked the Escort website and there doesn't seem to be any new models that deal with it.
I know it makes the radar detector go nuts.
+1. My Escort picks them up. I checked the Escort website and there doesn't seem to be any new models that deal with it.
Originally Posted by AuthorEditor
I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here?
You don't use ANY cruise control in busy traffic. The dynamic feature is for more moderate traffic so you don't have to keep disengaging and reengaging the cruise control. Try it out when traffic is lighter and you will like it.
I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here?
You don't use ANY cruise control in busy traffic. The dynamic feature is for more moderate traffic so you don't have to keep disengaging and reengaging the cruise control. Try it out when traffic is lighter and you will like it.
Originally Posted by AuthorEditor
I own older cars and drive them into the ground, so I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here? For example, on a busy limited access road with frequent interchanges the system would jam on the brakes every time someone was merging from the right. If I had maintained speed I would have been able to pass ahead of the other car which could have merged behind me. Or, I found that someone would blow by me, pull in ahead and the car would jam on the brakes again to maintain a ridiculously long following distance. This meant I kept gradually slowing up as more and more people jumped into the huge space in front of me. I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me? In general, I found the system useless, and possibly dangerous as it jams on the brakes in situations I would not expect it to.
You'll get used to it. You can also change the following distance or hold the button in when turning it on and it is just normal cruise. You shouldn't be using cruise in busy highway driving anyway. On the open road I like it.
I own older cars and drive them into the ground, so I am new to this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control thing found in today's Toyotas. Rented a Camry with it recently and it was completely frustrating and useless in normal busy highway driving. What am I missing here? For example, on a busy limited access road with frequent interchanges the system would jam on the brakes every time someone was merging from the right. If I had maintained speed I would have been able to pass ahead of the other car which could have merged behind me. Or, I found that someone would blow by me, pull in ahead and the car would jam on the brakes again to maintain a ridiculously long following distance. This meant I kept gradually slowing up as more and more people jumped into the huge space in front of me. I also get all sorts of beeping warning sounds when doing normal things like driving around an exit or entrance ramp. I couldn't figure out what it was warning me about. I deliberately tried a few of these going way too slow, driving right down the middle and I still got beeping. What is it telling me? In general, I found the system useless, and possibly dangerous as it jams on the brakes in situations I would not expect it to.
You'll get used to it. You can also change the following distance or hold the button in when turning it on and it is just normal cruise. You shouldn't be using cruise in busy highway driving anyway. On the open road I like it.
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1st under in that situation one shouldn't use cruise control.
I was using it in situations where I would normally use regular cruise control successfully. In other words, traffic flowing at or above speed limit, no stop and go, but normal busyness of cars exiting and merging, passing, etc. I try to maintain a consistent speed, minimizing slowing and accelerating in order to keep the flow of traffic moving right along. Instead, Dynamic Cruise Control shifts your speed up and down all the time trying to maintain consistent distance instead of speed. If every car on the road would do this there would be a lot of herky, jerky traffic
1st under in that situation one shouldn't use cruise control.
I was using it in situations where I would normally use regular cruise control successfully. In other words, traffic flowing at or above speed limit, no stop and go, but normal busyness of cars exiting and merging, passing, etc. I try to maintain a consistent speed, minimizing slowing and accelerating in order to keep the flow of traffic moving right along. Instead, Dynamic Cruise Control shifts your speed up and down all the time trying to maintain consistent distance instead of speed. If every car on the road would do this there would be a lot of herky, jerky traffic
Originally Posted by AuthorEditor
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1st under in that situation one shouldn't use cruise control.
I was using it in situations where I would normally use regular cruise control successfully. In other words, traffic flowing at or above speed limit, no stop and go, but normal busyness of cars exiting and merging, passing, etc. I try to maintain a consistent speed, minimizing slowing and accelerating in order to keep the flow of traffic moving right along. Instead, Dynamic Cruise Control shifts your speed up and down all the time trying to maintain consistent distance instead of speed. If every car on the road would do this there would be a lot of herky, jerky traffic
You must have light traffic in your area. For me I need to get about 50 miles out before things settle down and that's not a given either.
Good thing this was just a rental for you.
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1st under in that situation one shouldn't use cruise control.
I was using it in situations where I would normally use regular cruise control successfully. In other words, traffic flowing at or above speed limit, no stop and go, but normal busyness of cars exiting and merging, passing, etc. I try to maintain a consistent speed, minimizing slowing and accelerating in order to keep the flow of traffic moving right along. Instead, Dynamic Cruise Control shifts your speed up and down all the time trying to maintain consistent distance instead of speed. If every car on the road would do this there would be a lot of herky, jerky traffic
You must have light traffic in your area. For me I need to get about 50 miles out before things settle down and that's not a given either.
Good thing this was just a rental for you.
This feature, which Honda calls Adaptive Cruise Control, works pretty seamlessly on our newer Accord, although any cruise control is really intended for interstate highway use.
The rental RAV we had while the Forester was having body repair done also had a pretty good system, I thought.
In most cases, there is no braking, the car just rolls out of the throttle, which automatically results in at least some regen braking with the Accord.
These systems seem to work best when set to the minimum allowable distance from the traffic ahead and for speeds which are in line with most of the other traffic on the road and not a lot faster.
The rental RAV we had while the Forester was having body repair done also had a pretty good system, I thought.
In most cases, there is no braking, the car just rolls out of the throttle, which automatically results in at least some regen braking with the Accord.
These systems seem to work best when set to the minimum allowable distance from the traffic ahead and for speeds which are in line with most of the other traffic on the road and not a lot faster.
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