Did You Just Stall? - 2015 Acura TLX SH-AWD Long-Term Road Test


Auto Start-Stop convinced a passenger that we'd stalled our 2015 TLX at a red light.
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Auto Start-Stop convinced a passenger that we'd stalled our 2015 TLX at a red light.
Comments
That's how I'll adapt.
Also this car has a great gauge panel and the above photo is a great example of the difference between a digital screen and analog gauges, so far there is no way to accurately replicate digitally the reflections and shadows that analog gauges make.
Its a pain in the backside.
Then the gearhead in me kicks in and thinks...how will that affect my time off the line?
That was fail on the salesman to your sister not explaining it. Also, did she ever think about cracking open the manual in the glove box? Nope - too difficult for most people. Could have at least googled it from a smart phone while in the car sitting in a parking lot.
Edmunds did a test. For the most part it works. Who wouldn't want a 10% fuel economy increase? I know, lots of people.
http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/do-stop-start-systems-really-save-fuel.html
"Our 328i GT used 3.1 gallons with the system off and 2.8 gallons with it on, a savings of 9.5 percent. That works out to 91 cents saved in 80 miles. Calculated fuel economy rose from 26.2 to 28.7 mpg.
The Jaguar did a little better, which makes sense when you're talking about a thirstier V8. It consumed 4.1 gallons with the system off and 3.6 with it on, a reduction of some 10.9 percent. At local prices that returned $1.47 to our pocket. Corresponding fuel economy increased from 19.7 to 22.1 mpg.
This, of course, begs the question of what would have happened if we had run the air-conditioning on a hot day. We saved that test for the Mini Cooper. We ran both loops with the automatic temperature control set to 74 degrees.
It used 2.7 gallons with A/C on and stop-start off, and that shrank slightly to 2.6 gallons with stop-start up and running. That works out to a modest fuel savings of 2.9 percent, with fuel economy climbing from 30.0 to 30.9 mpg. At this point we ran a third loop with the system engaged and the air-conditioning off and the savings shot up to 9.5 percent at 33.2 mpg.
The Verdict
All three of our test subjects delivered the estimated 10 percent in city traffic. People who live in particularly tough traffic areas with long wait times could do even better. And the systems were mostly easy to live with. Restarts were fairly seamless and seemed appropriately quick for drivers who use the same foot for throttle and brake. Two-footed drivers who left-foot brake, on the other hand, could find themselves ahead of the engine restart cycle. Functionally, stop-start doesn't take very long to get used to — in our three test cars, at least. The biggest obstacle is mental: overcoming that sinking feeling that your engine just died. Once you get past that, you'll welcome the silence.
On the other hand, if it turns out you just don't like it or it doesn't suit your driving style that "off" button is not far out of reach."
That still works, right?