Auto Stop
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 616
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From: West Lafayette Indiana
Auto Stop
It has been suggested that future Corvettes will have the Auto Stop feature that shuts off the engine whenever the car is stopped at a stop light or any other situation where you are not moving with the engine running.
While my Stingray was in the shop this week the dealer loaned me a 2014 Malibu to drive and it had Auto Stop. It worked so smoothly that I didn't know the car had this feature for three days. It is like the Stingray going from eight cylinders to four cylinders. You don't even notice. When you take your foot off of the brake the engine starts again and you accelerate.
Many on this Forum objected to the idea of adding Auto Stop to the Corvette. I know I didn't like the idea but after a first hand experience I would say it is much better than I expected.
While my Stingray was in the shop this week the dealer loaned me a 2014 Malibu to drive and it had Auto Stop. It worked so smoothly that I didn't know the car had this feature for three days. It is like the Stingray going from eight cylinders to four cylinders. You don't even notice. When you take your foot off of the brake the engine starts again and you accelerate.
Many on this Forum objected to the idea of adding Auto Stop to the Corvette. I know I didn't like the idea but after a first hand experience I would say it is much better than I expected.
Last edited by repo czar; Mar 26, 2014 at 08:30 AM. Reason: Correct spelling.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,299
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From: Long Island New York
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Retired Suffolk County Police Dept NY South Carolina
The usefulness of that device would depend where you live, It would have been useful where I lived in NY but where I now live stoplights are few and far in-between unless I go into town
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
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From: Coralville Iowa
I have had it in rental cars, and I think it sucks - you have to take your foot off the brake, allow 2-3 seconds for the car to start and then it goes.
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,406
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From: Austin Texas
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I HATE start/stop. It just makes the car sound stupid (off) at a light. My 911 4S had the feature, and I turned it off and never used it. If I wanted a silent car, I'd buy a Tesla.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
I understand the gas mileage goals. And if I can keep more HP in my Corvette and use this to get the Gooberment MPG rating up it's OK. No different then the 1-4 skip. Ways around it.
There's no delay to restart. I too had a malibu and it was seamless. My issue was it shuts down the ac/heater and for a few seconds not a big deal but during the hot summer or cold winter...... in heavy stop and go not sure that works too well.
There's no delay to restart. I too had a malibu and it was seamless. My issue was it shuts down the ac/heater and for a few seconds not a big deal but during the hot summer or cold winter...... in heavy stop and go not sure that works too well.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
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From: Manheim Pennsylvania
It is an interesting concept. I have never operated a car that had this feature, I'm not opposed to it. There should be a provision to turn it on or off though. If our government would put into law that traffic lights could be treated like a stop sign, we wouldn't need stop start. (How often have you sat at a red light, not another car in sight. Then just as your light turns green another car approaches the intersection and his light turns red and he gets to look at the red light too). Old fogey thinking - think about all those no turn on red signs. I rest my case.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2012
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I have had it in rental cars, and I think it sucks - you have to take your foot off the brake, allow 2-3 seconds for the car to start and then it goes.
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
They do use heavy duty starters but I don't think it puts any big strain on the engine. Besides, the strain put on Corvette engines by virtue of it's owner's heavy right foot would be far greater.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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From: Guelph, Ontario
I don't mind the feature at all, in fact if I'm at a stoplight that I know is going to take a little while, I shut off my engine. I just hate the thought of idling and wasting gas while going nowhere. So it would be a lot easier if the computer would take care of the shutting off and restarting for me 
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,548
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From: Southeast, WI
I have had it in rental cars, and I think it sucks - you have to take your foot off the brake, allow 2-3 seconds for the car to start and then it goes.
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
I also can't imagine a few hundred start-stop cycles per day, which is what happens in urban driving in traffic, can be good for the engine or starter?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,548
Likes: 609
From: Southeast, WI
I don't mind the feature at all, in fact if I'm at a stoplight that I know is going to take a little while, I shut off my engine. I just hate the thought of idling and wasting gas while going nowhere. So it would be a lot easier if the computer would take care of the shutting off and restarting for me
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: DFW Area TX
I've been at some pretty long stop lights (over a minute). In Texas summer sitting at a long stop light without the A/C would be totally unacceptable, especially if it was before the car has even had a chance to cool down yet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
This is a cool idea. Does anyone have any numbers on how much fuel it actually saves?
There are a few lights around where I live that I know if I get caught in it will be while. So I turn off the car.
There are a few lights around where I live that I know if I get caught in it will be while. So I turn off the car.
Race Director
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http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...as-2-batteries
Last edited by BlueOx; Mar 26, 2014 at 07:01 PM.
Race Director
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The article I posted says the Malibu's version has now helped give the base Malibu better gas mileage than the Malibu Eco Hybrid. That should likely make any Corvette buyer happy vs a Corvette Hybrid!