firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Topic says it all. If I have a set button and a cancel button...... wtf

New Yorker

Probably to make it virtually impossible to set it accidentally. Having to push two buttons—instead of one—means you have to really, really want to be using cruise control.

But I agree, for me it's not necessary. You'd have to be pretty stupid to set it my mistake. (Of course, one of the reasons I use a Mac instead of a PC is so I have a mouse with just one button.)

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

EXACTLY. And like it would matter anyway.... the cruise control doesn't prevent you from stopping.

New Yorker

Well… if you were stupid, and you did turn it on accidentally, that would be bad: people subconsciously expect their car to de-accelerate when they take their foot off the gas—and it wouldn't. It would be just as bad as using cruise control when there's lots of traffic around.

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Yeah but who wouldn't notice their car not slowing down the second they remove their foot from the gas? I guess ANYTHING is possible..... but I certainly don't believe this long shot warrants another button.

Hey i heard the 08 RX8's have a safety feature where you have to turn the radio off, buckle your seat belt, unbuckle your seatbelt, buckle your seatbelt, turn the radio on and then actually speak aloud "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" before you can put the car in reverse...... just to make sure you really meant to do that. Because you know, someone might accidentally back up into another car when they meant to pull forward.

New Yorker

The same stupid person who didn't notice he/she pushed the 'set' button by mistake?

dillsrotary

anyone else know is current models in other brands have this feature? Maybe it's needed per a new DOT rule.

laythor

Blame Ford. They came out with one of the first cruise controls and it had an on/off switch.

New Yorker

If I'm not mistaken, all cars with cruise control—in this country, at least—have to have it.

Chamberlin

iTrader: (1)

At least this 'master arm' switch is pretty consistent on Mazda models...my Rx-8 GT, dads Mazda 3 GT, and moms CX-9 GT all operate identically, which is nice. The Mazda 3 and I think CX-9 have the cruise light up yellow when armed and it changes color to green when set... RX-8 has two separate light elements... I can see the need for it, since it is an automatic device that could theoretically lead to unexpected results if it was on unintentionally... for the guys and girls reading the boards here, it will never likely be an issue..... but there are still the folks out there that hit their gas pedal instead of the break, or stab it in reverse in stead of forward etc and crash through into their living rooms... so I just assume have to live with the master arm while those other folks are still out there driving.

New Yorker

Wish the 8 had that. I hate the way-too-bright yellow light when cruise is on at night.

Stavesacre21

lol we're definetely splitting hairs now.

I'm more then likely wrong, but i'd always assumed that the reason there is a cruise main is to "arm" the cruise system. Considering how cruise control requires the vacuum canister to be empty (hence the word "vacuum") and ready to immediately function, i'd always assumed that were the purpose. Not that it takes long at all to cause a vacuum in such a small canister, but I guess that it gives the ECU a heads up that it might be happening shortly (almost like stand-by).

Like I said, a total guess...but in accordance to how other such systems work, it seemed logical enough for me. I guess i'd just like to believe that there is more of a reason that there is a cruise main, then an actual cruise button.

Chamberlin

iTrader: (1)

hmmm, I'd be really surprised if the RX-8 was a vacuum controlled cruise...since the gas pedal is all digital fly by wire, it would seem a PID control loop that had command of the throttle, based off of speed and load would be all that's necessary... the fact that something other than you has control over the throttle, gives way to the master arm switch, I think it is just good general practice to have this.

-C

Stavesacre21

again i digress...a total guess.

Rems31

Well when I use cruise control and let off the gas, the car does decelerate for a bit before the comp notices that the speed is below the set level and accelerates again.

MrCairo

I'm not so sure about that. BMW's sold here (and some assembled in South Carolina, not just imported from Germany) don't have an on/off button. So I don't think its a DOT requirement but more of just a convention that some manufacturers use.

New Yorker

Ah. So then I am mistaken. Sorry.

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

why are we bickering about this? It's soo easy. One extra button. It's a safety feature. And I still think the RX-8 has one of the best cruise controls I've ever used. Speed stays constant, and when you hit the decelerate or accelerate the mph changes in exact incriments of 1. Perfect.

The Drunk IT Guy

I hate the bright yellow light too... Almost as much as I hate yellow paint on dirty 8's.

My Silverado had that push button on the end of the wiper control stick. It was easy enough to set with a single push, but you couldn't decelerate without hitting the brake.

I really do like the little up or down switch that instantly and precisely lowers it by 1mph. This is the best for inebriated driving through changing speed limits..

///1,2,3,4,5.. 35-40... Perfect, smooth, and doesn't attract attention..

Chamberlin

iTrader: (1)

crap, with all the other yellow lights I got (DSC, CEL, TPMS) what's another one!

SureShot

It grandfathered in from the early days of motorcars.
Back then many drivers didn't trust "them new fangled automatic things" and wanted to make sure that damn thing was turned OFF!

The jog up/down in 1MPH increments is one of the better ideas.
I first saw that in my '85 Impulse.

I'd prefer we loose the on/off switch also.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

without an on/off switch the cruise would be what? on all the time even after you turned ignition off and back on? and if it was always on, hitting "set" accidentally could be dangerous. its a safety thing.

dynamho

From a user interface standpoint, the modal switch is superfluous.

From a safety standpoint, it makes sense to have a physical wiring disconnect for a cruise control circuitry that can potentially malfunction.

Stavesacre21

i cast my vote of the safety thing

Galaxy Gray

Well, here goes my opinion!

As many of you may notice, when it is nighttime out, with lights on, the display changes to a very cool red on black configuration. The radio and various buttons in the car also light up. This coupled with the fact that, at high RPMs, she sounds like a jet engine, and the fact that she handles like one too, leads me to conclude that they wanted to make even the cruise control more fighter jet like.

Fighter jets have that neat little flip up red plastic thing right on top of the missle fire button. Same principle.