Is START/STOP Technology One Of The GREATEST Automotive Inventions Or WORST?

The automotive community is a small world and, largely, most of the folks are friendly. Sure, there's some enemies but at the end of the day we all share one thing.

We love autos, dearly.

That said, every now and then we see a colleague asking a question. Sometimes it's for a story and sometimes it's just out of blind curiosity.

Today I saw someone make a straightforward ask: "Does anyone have DATA on people actually disliking Start/Stop technology?"

Frankly, I was stumped. While everyone I've spoken to has always told me it's the most annoying feature in their all-new rides, I haven't seen any actual data points. You have to keep in mind, Start/Stop can save quite a bit of fuel if you're enduring a hellish commute — studies say up to 10 percent. It's one thing to have anecdotes, it's another to have facts.

So, Spies, I've got to ask: Is Start/Stop technology one of the GREATEST automotive inventions or WORST?

runninglogan1 - 9/14/2019 12:49:17 AM

+3 Boost

It's annoying and definitely not great for you engine.

MDarringer - 9/14/2019 10:33:57 AM

0 Boost

The starters also fail because they say they have upgraded them, but the failure rate it high. The amount of fuel it saves is negligible, so why bother?

SanJoseDriver - 9/14/2019 12:57:10 AM

+1 Boost

Just a stopgap, I always turned it off in rental cars

PUGPROUD - 9/14/2019 5:34:57 AM

+1 Boost

It detracts from the driving experience, annoying and an unwelcomed sign that your cars computer is in charge not you. First time every time I get in my car I press the sport mode button that cancels stop/start.

TomM - 9/14/2019 6:50:55 AM

+3 Boost

It is neither - it just is another feature of your vehicle. Just like having a catalytic converter or Anti-lock brakes - both of which do their job without direct control of the driver (the anti-lock response - not the brakes). THere are thousands of people who have features in their cars that they do not know about or care. And when you are driving your car - LOTS of things are happening that you have no conscious knowledge of. It is much like the "ECO.N" button - that largely gets your car more quickly into higher gears for better fuel economy - lots of people turn that off too. If you don't like it - at least for now -many cars have a way to disable it. Eventually - all cars will likely have it.

Truthy - 9/14/2019 9:08:30 AM

+2 Boost

I usually turn it off as soon as I start the car. However, typically on my commute I am stopped for 25 percent of the trip, so this can save fuel. But, in slow traffic the constant on-off is distracting.

Cleankutazn - 9/14/2019 10:20:34 AM

+3 Boost

When you're waiting to make a left turn and your engine is off....makes me kinda nervous. Yeah, its the worse thing to ever happen to cars.

skytop - 9/14/2019 1:00:49 PM

0 Boost

I have deactivated start-stop since it is not compatible with heavy traffic conditions.

ricks0me - 9/14/2019 2:30:52 PM

0 Boost

skytop said: I have deactivated start-stop since it is not compatible with heavy traffic conditions.

I have been in some vehicles where I did know how to deactivate S-S. I could not find the switch or maybe it was not even available to the driver.

atc98092 - 9/14/2019 3:19:05 PM

+2 Boost

Other than a test drive of a Q5 TDI years ago, I've never driven a non-hybrid with SS. From what I remember in the Q5, yes it can be annoying. Of course, in a hybrid it's critical. But you also have the battery to get you moving immediately, so there's no concern about moving out into traffic.

edwardfrancis - 9/15/2019 10:55:56 AM

+2 Boost

I really, really don't like it when it shows up in my rental cars. I really think this is just one more attempt at extending the life of engine-power cars. This - and other devices/systems - suggest we are nearing a tipping point in which the engine will give way to electric motors. See this:

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/78bdc2531b3e016f0fbf9919292d1e91ee0171bce5d8d995b44a69dc722d2055.jpg

cidflekken - 9/15/2019 10:47:12 PM

+1 Boost

It’s annoying to have a car where you have to deactivate it every new drive. My old car allowed me to keep it disabled even after I’ve turned the car off. My current car doesn’t so I don’t even bother. And I really don’t like how it works because to me it feels like there more wear on the engine and only a negligible boost to fuel efficiency.