2nd Generation ACC

[IT]

I doubt thats an official term, but I've coined it for now.

The ACC that I fell in love with on the D3 from introduction is brilliant. It keeps the distance from the car in front, using the throttle and brakes as required. It is settable from 20mph through to 120mph (if you're brave), has pretty graphics and generally works well.

It has a couple of annoyances, which you quickly get used to:

1) It disengages at 20mph, which is very annoying in crawling traffic
2) It can be slow to react to people cutting into your lane etc

Well, the Q7 I have with ACC clearly has a newer design of ACC, and I have to say it is quite a bit better.

Firstly, when traffic crawls along, it will not disengage until it comes to an absolute standstill, at which point it bongs on the dashboard before releasing the brakes after a few seconds (remember, it used the brakes to bring you to a standstill in the first place) - This is an epic improvement. Given the state of the motorways, the amount of sub 20mph I crawling I seem to do these days is horrific. Interesting, you can resume at any speed above standstill too - 1mph is enough, so it will carry on creeping forward....

Secondly, the ACC is configurable for Dynamic, Standard or Comfort indicating how keen you want it to react. I have to say I have it in Dynamic all the time and its way more responsive to things going on than the early D3's were.

So, my big question: I know that even on my 56 plate D3 with ACC, it had the '1st generation' system, and this was the point at which the Q7 was being released with the newer, better one.

Does the facelift D3 >2007 have the newer design of ACC, or not ? I've never been in a facelift car with ACC to find out, and to be honest, its a game changer for me. If facelift cars have the better version, I think I'd hunt long and hard for a facelift version of whatever D3 I was interested in

Unless of course its a simple ECU upgrade, but lifes never usually that easy ?

[M-A8]

You know what, I never was a big fun of all this automatic cruise controls, but after your write up I can see few reasons to love them as they can be quiet useful around London and M25.
I've changed my mind now, its just the shame I haven't got one on my 8

This, 1) It disengages at 20mph, which is very annoying in crawling traffic, sounds like a possible ECU upgrade or even a VCDS job, but this, 2) It can be slow to react to people cutting into your lane etc, could be down to processing speed and better/upgraded processor on the 2nd gen acc??

Anyway, its interesting to hear your experience with ACCs because as I said, I didn't liked them...until now

[Adrian E]

I can't understand why the Audi system disengages at a standstill to be honest, never mind 20mph. These systems have been reliable enough in daytime use for even Merc with their flaky electronics to be able to slow you to a complete standstill and then accelerate you back up to speed without any action by the driver at all for years

I would love to have adaptive cruise on our next car, but it's still a rare option on most cars no matter how expensive

[mannyo]

My D3 has the first Gen ACC, but not been able to use it for one simple reason. My pre facelift D3 has been fitted with the wrong lower grill at some point, so the radar sensor is pointing at the grill slats and thinks it needs calibrating. All I get at the moment is "ACC Not available" and a calibration error in VCDS.

I'd love to try to see if works at some point, I may even remove the lower grill and drive without it to see if it works.

[IT]

Originally Posted by Adrian E

I can't understand why the Audi system disengages at a standstill to be honest, never mind 20mph.

I can only guess maybe its a pedestrian thing perhaps ?

Sat in traffic for ages, car in front moves on just as a person walks past and it lunges at em?

It'll be something silly like that. There seems to be no technical limitiation that I can see....

It is a godsend though. If you ever do more than 10 miles a year on Britains motorways these days, its a must have.

Its the only thing my D3 S8 didnt have, and the S8 was a whole different drive and didnt lend itself to sensible cruising much, ah hem, but if I could stomach the fuel (new tax year, im back up to 45p / miles yay) then a tidy well specced facelift D3 S8 with ACC could be very tempting.

But then, C6 RS6 prices have nosedived quite a bit now the C7 is out - They are becoming abundent under 30K, which is raising my interest levels again....

[Adrian E]

I was looking at c6 rs6 a few days ago - good ones still seem to start at £30k but there's definitely more under £30k than there was, if you don't mind less spec or more miles

I've been ogling jag xf's as the 4.2 supercharged and 5.0 xfr are really good value - £25k is plenty for a mint low miles xfr. The 4.2 can be had for £15k ish!

[HPsauce]

Jag! Pipe and slippers time for you, Adrian.

[ScottD3]

Don't forget to put your wallet on a chain!!


They still owned by Ford?

My uncle owns a jag, I keep asking him how is Mondeo is doing and he hates it.

[mannyo]

Originally Posted by ScottB5

Don't forget to put your wallet on a chain!!


They still owned by Ford?

My uncle owns a jag, I keep asking him how is Mondeo is doing and he hates it.

Jaguar cars is now owned by the Indian company Tata Motors.

[sarg]

Originally Posted by mannyo

Jaguar cars is now owned by the Indian company Tata Motors.

And has been for 6 years, your Uncle should ask when you're going to join us in this century

Nothing wrong with modern Jags, I did look at an XF last time around, but found myself falling out the seats when pushing on round bends, so left them alone