chizzer337

hey guys,


I come home from work and i have about a 3 or 4 mile road with no lights just houses and the speed limits 35mph. I usually cruise at 42mph and set cruise control while still in 4th gear. Is this going to effect the engine? the car doesnt seem as sturdy as it does when I cruise in 6th on the highway. is it ok for me to keep doing this? thanks

BlueSky

I don't understand what you mean by "sturdy".

What RPMs is it at when you're cruising at that speed in that gear?

Are you doing this simply because it gives you more passing power should you need it immediately without a downshift?

I don't see how this is bad for the car, but I'm not very knowledgeably about the mechanics of the rotary engine. But I do know that you're using a lot more gas doing that than just sticking the car into 6th gear.

Raptor2k

Yeah, what do you mean by sturdy? As in power? The engine is very low in torque...

Cruising at 42 in 4th gear is ~3100 rpms, cruising at 42 in 5th gear would be better for gas mileage. Don't see why it would be bad for the engine.

swerver

Im sorry, Im generally leniant to new posters, but that is the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. ...

You're actually engaging 'cruise control' at 42 mph.........wow..........why not just ask someone else to drive the car for you while you're at it............

Really, a car like the 8 is engineered to be driven, not chauffered. .....................er........sorry again

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Maybe he needs a free hand to put on his make-up. JK

daisuke

no you can't hurt the engine that way, just use more gas... I don't see why you'd want to set cruise for just 4 miles tho...

SC-ed

Maybe he is just like me. Same situation except mine is 25 mph speed limit and I can't keep my foot off the gas pedal. Already have 2 tickets on that same road. So I use cruise control set at 30 mph in 4th gear. No problems.

BlueSky

Yeah, maybe the guy lives in one of those god forsaken countries that's got speed cameras (DAMN THEM TO HELL!), like Britain. I feel really bad for those Brits. If those cameras ever come to California I'll start buying up on blackmarket C4-plastique and zipties.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

I work for a company that has their on office campus. The speed limit is 20 mph. I use the cruise control around there with the car in 3rd gear.

We have 2 speed cameras mounted in vans here in Illinois. At nite the flash from the camera is bright enough to create 5 seconds of blindness.

BunnyGirl

I usually just use my cruise control on the freeway, but lately traffic has been so erratic and sucky, varying anywhere between 15-60 MPH in a few short miles, that it isn't really such a good idea.

daisuke

I can see why you'd use cruise control now, the main street in my town has a 25 limit which no one respects, fortunately the cops aren't too big on enforcing it. You should sue the county that has those speed cameras in vans, say that they almost caused you to run off the road and that you were psychologically damaged by it... hehehe that'll teach them to put those things up!

Marc_H

I have the same situation. A two mile stretch of scenic road in Carlsbad CA that has police running a speed trap at least twice a week (just north of Canon Blvd. on the coast highway). I got ticketed once and now I set the cruise control for 37 in third gear while on that stretch.

chizzer337

Well your right in a sense, but after a long night of partying then a 12 hour shift at work with a hour drive each way I try to relax as much as possible....

And what I meant is can I use cruise control, for example 3rd gear at 25mph? the engine jerks a little if you notice closely and that's where I came to the obvious conclusion that it may be bad for my engine.

8_is_enuf

You guys are brutal.. I'd do it in a speed trap.

YT1300

But why? Just look at the speedo, and drive slower.

mysql101

As long as the engine isn't bogging down and lugging, you should be fine.

Dar

Rip out all cruise controls. Man I'm with you...enjoy one of the world's best handling production cars...drive it, and drive it well...sheeez