[Alex V.]

I thought engine noise levels were low, I could hear it when accelerating but it was not a problem at all. During the test drive we were not using the Bose noise cancellation feature that is apparently available.

At first I thought the engine noise level in my '13 LT was too low, but I now consider it just about right. Loud enough to be heard above 3 grand (when I need to hear it to shift right) but otherwise nearly nonexistent unless it's pulling hard on the highway. I would consider no engine noise in a manual transmission car to be a bad thing, because spirited shifting purely by the tach ain't easy.

 

[jsusanka]

I really have to wonder about the longevity of any car with start/stop technology. I was crossing the street with my dog the other day and a new malibu stopped for us and I could hear the engine start up when he started to go. To me it sounded like he turned the key off and started the car again.
I just have to wonder the demand it will put on the electrical system and the engine itself.

I really believe the owner should have the ability to disable anything on there car like start/stop technology.

 

[obermd]

Start/Stop technology doesn't use a classic starter motor. Most use a beefed up alternator to restart the engine. The fuel pump keeps the ignition system pressurized but the injectors are turned off.

 

[rfruth]

big battery in the trunk is 12 volt ? ((good for weight distribution)) ? :signs053:

 

[tots]

big battery in the trunk is 12 volt ? ((good for weight distribution)) ? :signs053:

Yes, 12V, used to keep electronics (an even AC for a short time I think) when engine is stopped by stop / start technology. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts, how hard it will be to yank it out when it dies, and if most owners will even bother when it does. I wonder how much a replacement with cost too,

 

[MP81]

My Cobalt's battery is in the trunk...

Interesting they went with one battery - most start/stop systems use two.

 

[GlennGlenn]

Regen? Literally every CTD driver has said it smells like something burning when it does a regen cycle.

I am one of the " literally" who has not........Been through 6 regens so far and no burning smell at all and my wife who smells everything would have noticed.

 

[GlennGlenn]

big battery in the trunk is 12 volt ? ((good for weight distribution)) ? :signs053:

Only if it's RWD and they're drag racing or they're trying to get to a 50/50weight bias does it help.

 

[MP81]

I am one of the " literally" who has not........Been through 6 regens so far and no burning smell at all and my wife who smells everything would have noticed.

Can't say I've ever smelled anything either.

 

[jblackburn]

Eh fair enough. Bad choice of words. There seemed to be a lot of concern from brand new diesel owners he'd when they were first released and would go into the regen cycle

 

[IndyDiesel]

Generally, yes. Any vehicle I've been in with it has the ability to turn it off.

Honestly, it's so seamless nowadays you never even notice. The worst start-stop execution I've had was the BMW 550i I drove a year or two back - especially when it turned the engine off as I was rolling a stop...

I drove a Malibu with start stop and I can say I hated it. It worked fine, I just think it is not necessary and I don't plan on buying a car with it.

 

[MP81]

Even Consumer Reports said this is the smoothest Start/Stop system they've encountered. And you should be able to turn it off if it really bothers you that much.

Good luck - your choices will likely dwindle in the coming years.

 

[spacedout]

I am very skeptical about the stop-start technology. I would really prefer that technology stay with hybrids only. I'm just not sure it's worth putting it on a 1,364cc engine which is already so efficient at idle.

I've seen people claim the 1.4T burns less than a half gallon an hour at idle, however ANY fuel burned idling is bringing down your overall average MPG pretty significantly. Comparing my 2012 city MPG with the all new cruze the car picks up 5MPG!!! Most of that is the start/stop system. Reset your DIC and go for a drive, watch your average MPG drop at every stoplight you will see why this is a much needed improvement.

I really have to wonder about the longevity of any car with start/stop technology.

My brother bought a 2013 Malibu hybrid with a very similar start/stop system, has over 100,000 miles now with no issues at all with the car.

Newer to GM and definitely new to the Cruze.

As mentioned above my brother bought a 2013 Malibu hybrid(came out in 2012), it has a very similar system as the new cruze. GM also used this setup in Buicks and a few other models as well. That Malibu had a starting window sticker of $28,000, so for a $18000 starting price car to have it 5 years later is pretty amazing. I also believe in 2014 GM made start/stop standard on all malibu. Riding in my brothers car this system works great.

 

[IndyDiesel]

Even Consumer Reports said this is the smoothest Start/Stop system they've encountered. And you should be able to turn it off if it really bothers you that much.

Good luck - your choices will likely dwindle in the coming years.

Might just buy a truck or a Camaro SS or something like that next time. Those two are less likely to have start stop. With Fuel prices where they are today a couple miles more per gallon is hardly worth it in my view.

 

[spacedout]

With Fuel prices where they are today a couple miles more per gallon is hardly worth it in my view.

If you can bring up a cars city MPG(the worse you get) you bring up the overall average as well. The all new cruze gets 5MPG better in the city, and average!!!! This also reduces emissions and city pollution when an entire fleet of cars uses this technology.

Doing the math based on my 25,000 miles a year, Comparing a 2012 auto 30mpg average vs the 2016+ 35MPG saves 119 gallons of fuel a year!! Depending on fuel cost that could be more than $300 a year in savings for me.

 

[IndyDiesel]

If you can bring up a cars city MPG(the worse you get) you bring up the overall average as well. The all new cruze gets 5MPG better in the city, and average!!!! This also reduces emissions and city pollution when an entire fleet of cars uses this technology.

Doing the math based on my 25,000 miles a year, Comparing a 2012 auto 30mpg average vs the 2016+ 35MPG saves 119 gallons of fuel a year!! Depending on fuel cost that could be more than $300 a year in savings for me.

When I had my Eco Manual, I averaged little over 40 MPG, with my Diesel I average like 41 to 42 MPG overall average, I drive maybe 60% HIGHWAY, so the EPA numbers I don't find all that accurate, I always exceed them with my driving style. I get your point and its probably a good thing with start stop, just not my preference. I have spent like little over $200 on diesel fuel since the first of the year, if my current diesel had Start Stop how much would it really save? Maybe $10, I wouldn't want that to save $10.

My Diesel the blended EPA number was 33 as I recall, actually I think that was it for the ECO Manual as well, I am well above those averages already.

 

[2013Cruze]

If you can bring up a cars city MPG(the worse you get) you bring up the overall average as well. The all new cruze gets 5MPG better in the city, and average!!!! This also reduces emissions and city pollution when an entire fleet of cars uses this technology.

Doing the math based on my 25,000 miles a year, Comparing a 2012 auto 30mpg average vs the 2016+ 35MPG saves 119 gallons of fuel a year!! Depending on fuel cost that could be more than $300 a year in savings for me.

Anything that saves me money at the pump I'm all for it.

 

[obermd]

When I had my Eco Manual, I averaged little over 40 MPG, with my Diesel I average like 41 to 42 MPG overall average, I drive maybe 60% HIGHWAY, so the EPA numbers I don't find all that accurate, I always exceed them with my driving style. I get your point and its probably a good thing with start stop, just not my preference. I have spent like little over $200 on diesel fuel since the first of the year, if my current diesel had Start Stop how much would it really save? Maybe $10, I wouldn't want that to save $10.

My Diesel the blended EPA number was 33 as I recall, actually I think that was it for the ECO Manual as well, I am well above those averages already.

You and I spend a lot of time on the highway where this technology doesn't impact us. However, think about all the people who sit at stop lights every single day. Start/Stop makes a difference for them.

 

[chevrasaki]

There should simply be a small switch in the car then that you can turn it on and off like traction control. If you want the start/stop keep it on, you can if you want to turn it off, for whatever reason, you can. Problems solved.

 

[IndyDiesel]

You and I spend a lot of time on the highway where this technology doesn't impact us. However, think about all the people who sit at stop lights every single day. Start/Stop makes a difference for them.

Very Good Point. That's why my preference is if the car has the option to be able to disable it if we would like to. I kinda think there was a procedure on the Malibu I drove awhile back you could disable it, don't recall what it was. I do spend time on the highway.

I currently have OnStar on 15 diesel, it came with it. When using the Directions Navigation feature, when pulling into a rest area or truck stop etc, gets frustrating with the voice coming on asking if I need updated directions, if I get off at a rest area, the Answer is NO, only one way to go.