New car, new job, new commute.

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by BdK9001

@ D.O.G. Usually with a button-starter you can switch off only the engine by a short press, or switch off the entire car by a long press.

Thanks, I'll try that.
I accidentally achieved engine only stop by not selecting Park, but I also got a really annoying continuous chime.
I'll carry on fiddling with it.

[Joggernot]

Things my car does (2018 Honda CRV with CVT). All of these assume the car is not moving. If the car is moving, nothing happens.

1. Car off: Gear in Park: Foot on Brake: -- Push button and the engine starts.
2. Car off: Gear in Park: Foot off Brake: -- Push button puts it in Accessory Mode. Test your car to see what still works in Accessory mode.
3. Car off: any other configuration: -- Nothing happens, but you might get chimes.
4. Car on: Gear in Park: -- Push button and the engine stops.
5. Car on: Gear not in Park: Foot on Brake: -- Push button and the engine stops with chime warning to put it in Park.

What I do is come to a fresh stop light, use #5 to stop the engine. Put it in Park. Wait for the light to change. Put foot on Brake; push the button to start the engine; shift to Drive and go. With a couple cars in front, you have time to do this without holding up the line. If I want Accessory Mode, use #2. Nothing but the radio seems to work in my car in Accessory Mode, so I just sit there in the silence.

[D.O.G.]

BdK9001 - Short push / long push won't work in this car.

Joggernot - I used #5 a couple of times today, followed by slipping the gear lever into Park to stop the chime.
I only have radio, but that's better than nothing.

I'll ask the question on the i30 forum and see if I'm missing something obvious.

[D.O.G.]

Well, it seems as though I'll have to settle for only having the radio on if the engine's not running while waiting at lights

I've entered fills #2 & #3.
#2 was poor, worse than expected at 6.33 (factory gauge reading 5.8).
#3 was really really good ... too good to be true.

I was expecting about 5.7 (factory gauge showed 5.5), due to finally starting 12 hr shifts and avoiding peak traffic times.
I'm guessing that 5.24 l/100 km is more likely a fill error than genuine economy.

[airbiteses]

In Europe diesels falling sales and increased sales of gasoline and hybrid. Diesel will withstand 50-150 kkm.

[Daox]

How are you liking the i30 now that you have had it for about a month?

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by Daox

How are you liking the i30 now that you have had it for about a month?

It's a nice enough car, but with all it's electronic "aids" I find it a bit like driving by committee.

As I clock up more kilometres, I find myself turning off more and more of its automatic features. Who really needs auto headlights and wipers anyway?

Even the ECO mode is annoying. On this car it adjusts the engine output as well as gearbox shift points.
It's OK going to work (down the mountains) but I turn it off on the way home, having to wait while the controller decides whether I really need extra power as I'm climbing drives me nuts.

I'm even finding the car coasts better with the electronic stability control turned off, although I haven't tried that enough to confirm if there's any real fuel saving by doing so.

The electric power steering felt very odd when I first got it but I find I've adjusted to it (or vice versa?).

Having a fuel economy readout is nice, but the phrase "liar, liar, pants on fire" comes to mind when it seems to not count being stopped at lights with the engine running as using any fuel.

Maybe I'm just too old to appreciate the "improvements" in motoring.

Pete.

[Daox]

Haha, thanks for your thoughts on it. Entertaining and informative!

[D.O.G.]

It’s time for an update.

I’ve changed jobs again, now working in Eastern Creek for those who know Sydney.
This has me driving most of the same roads but getting off the motorway 17 km sooner, for a 50.5 km commute each way.
Added to this, I’m working permanent night shift, so there’s no traffic going to work and only light traffic going home.

The car has no mods yet apart from tyre pressure and its commute FE is starting to stabilize just under 6 l/100 km.
We’ve just completed a 1000 km trip to visit family. The car was fully loaded with three adults, a big dog and luggage, running the A/C most of the way (36 C outside) and it still averaged 6.18 l/100 km.

I previously mentioned turning off the stability control and Eco mode.
I’ve decided turning off stability control doesn’t make enough difference to justify the possible risk, but I still toggle between Eco and standard as road conditions dictate.
The dash FE display continues to read whatever it wants to. I'm not convinced driving to minimize that display always translates to real world economy.