vinny2487
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Vince
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2021
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 252
- Reaction score
- 306
- Location
- Orange County, CA
- Vehicles
- Mustang Mach E CA Route 1 (Star White)
Thank you for your insight. One observation on your range: try going 70-75mph on at least one part of your trip to gauge any increase in efficiency. I probably don't have to tell you this, but going faster creates more drag. The hit in efficiency is more pronounced in EVs.This is a quick and dirty list of pros/cons that I experienced with BlueCruise in a 300 mile trip with a GTPE.
First of all, I would like to preface this with the fact that I am someone who came from using similar technology in Audi and VW for years. Although neither of those brands have a hands free version, the combination of lane assist with adaptive cruise is very very similar (a single finger keeps it happy). The Audi's have sign recognition and will slow on corners etc. Many of the reviews that I've seen are based on never driving with any type of assisted driving features in the past. Being that I'm used to driving with them and drive about 20k miles a year, I feel this review is based on a lot of previous experiences. Lastly, I'm in technology for a living and have many years of AI/ML/DL experience. I'm someone who embraces technology.
The pros:
The cons:
- The overall keeping into the lane works as anticipated
- It keeps a good distance and similar to the distances that I've experienced with other brands (configurable).
- Braking and acceleration are on par with other brands
- Eye tracking works well
- Manual control over the speed works well without disengaging the entire system
- Love the auto-resume for stop and go traffic.
-- Observation about range and conditions *unrelated to BC* --
- The disengagement of the system is very poor. In detail here's the issue ... The eye's on the road system prevents you from looking at the drivers display. If you look at the display for too long the system triggers an eye warning. So in other words, don't look at the display. But, and it's a big BUT, when the system wants to disengage for a corner or other reason it alerts you in the very display the car doesn't want you to look at. There's no audible alert or other notification that you need to resume control. If this was a hands on system like Audi/VW and other brands it wouldn't matter because your hands are still on the wheel. But that's just not the case here.
- My biggest compaint - The BlueCruise system automatically changes the speed limit regardless of how you have your cruise control settings. In other words you'll be moving along at 70 and if the system reads a sign for a different limit it will then lower AND BRAKE to get to +1 the posted limit. Even if you have your cruise control to +5, it doesn't matter. If you have adaptive on it doesn't honor that either. For comparison Audi does this on drive, but not when in sport. When in drive, it will lower it but in proportion to how much it was over originally. So 10 over 70 would result in 10 over 25, 10 over 45, etc.
- My second biggest complaint - There's an 80mph cap on BlueCruise. At 81mph it disengages. You are able to set your speed above that limit, so anything above 80 and you're on your own.
- To piggy-back on the first issue, the disengagement for an emergency situation needs to be louder. The calm and quiet "bing bing" should be much more attention grabbing. The first issue was more in regards to corners. For this item I'm referring to the complete disengagement (red), which I had happen a couple times on bumpy bridge expansion joints. When my Audi disengages the alert sound is almost like a jump scare. After years of using it, it still makes me jump out of my seat.
- One time the collision avoidance alert triggered while in BC, which was kinda strange. It was on a closing vehicle, but I'm not sure why the system triggered. It was probably a 20 mph difference so nothing it couldn't handle and in fact, it did handle it. I never took over from BC.
- Some of the disengagements for corners, it should have been able to handle. The radius that it disengages for should not be that low.
Today's journey was to pick up a few nieces and a nephew, all teens. On the way to get them two of us averaged 2.7 mi/kwh. After we picked up the kids we averaged only 2.1 mi/kwh on the way back.
We left at 100% charge and hit a DCFC a block away from them at 55% - A 45% change
We left the charger at 80% and got home at 18% - A 62% change
All 3 kids are about 120lbs (360 total). To list all the variables the temp difference was 6 deg lower on the return trip (70 vs 64). The return was at night vs day when we went down. It was in the central valley of California so there's no elevation changes. No prevailing winds either way, same speed cross winds both directions. Going there I had the vehicle on Unbridled and coming home on whisper.
If anyone is curious DCFC @ EA with plug and charge worked flawlessly. Stopped, plugged in, walked away. It was literally that easy.
I see no way that this car will get the estimated 250 miles and even at full it only advises 220.
In conclusion:
Will I continue to use BC - Absolutely
My experience with Plug and Change - Amazing
My experience with range - Abysmal
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