Long road trip - No cruise control

[TXSaturn02]

Any suggestions from those of you who drive a lot on helping with foot fatigue if you don't have cruise control? Planning a long road trip and I don't want to put cruise on my car.

[AlexofNazareth]

well i normally have my seat all the way back when i drive, and once my leg gets sore i move it pretty far forward so that my leg is in a different position and that works for a while(and it also helps at night b/c youre not blinded by lights in the sideview mirrors.

Or you could kinda cock your leg to the right and only have the left portion of your foot on the gas pedal.

[alordofchaos]

Cough up for cruise

I got spoiled with cruise... I set it even for 3 mile trips on the hwy

Well worth the $60 or so that it cost me

[AlexofNazareth]

cruise wastes gas, but it would be a nice feature to have to give your leg a break every couple of hours.

[TXSaturn02]

Originally Posted by alordofchaos

Well worth the $60 or so that it cost me

$60 where? Is this the DIY price?

[fetchitfido]

$60 for the parts, maybe 2hrs to put it in and because you have such an awesome 3rd gen...$100 for the d-tard's to program your PCM for you.

[TXSaturn02]

Originally Posted by fetchitfido

$60 for the parts, maybe 2hrs to put it in and because you have such an awesome 3rd gen...$100 for the d-tard's to program your PCM for you.

Yeah, always a catch. I drove to San Diego and back two years ago and it wasn't that bad. I'm guessing I can make it a go again - though a bit further to Big Sur this time...

[MattBarszcz]

Originally Posted by TXSaturn02

Any suggestions from those of you who drive a lot on helping with foot fatigue if you don't have cruise control? Planning a long road trip and I don't want to put cruise on my car.

How about a brick?

[TXSaturn02]

Originally Posted by MattBarszcz

How about a brick?

Sounds dangerous. I might experiment with something like this on a rural road with no traffic.

[MattBarszcz]

Originally Posted by TXSaturn02

Sounds dangerous. I might experiment with something like this on a rural road with no traffic.

It's definitely dangerous. But at least your foot won't be tired.

But on a serious note, I did actually have a use for something like this. When I was checking some things under the hood while the engine had to be revved at different RPM's, I wedged a book inbetween the gas pedal and the plastic edge of the center console. To vary the RPM all I had to do was angle the book differently.

[Saturninin]

Im not sure if 2nd gen works, but i should have the complete set up i believe semi soonish

[off-track]

Originally Posted by Saturninin

Im not sure if 2nd gen works, but i should have the complete set up i believe semi soonish

Different steering wheel required for a Gen-3 with CC. The controls are in the spokes instead of an add-on pod.

[Threeshot223]

Originally Posted by TXSaturn02

Planning a long road trip and I don't want to put cruise on my car.

Why not?? Having cruise takes a lot off your mind. I live in Texas too and regularly drive 400, maybe 500 miles at a time in-state. Not to mention the monthly trips to Northern California, 2100 miles one way.

It's nice to be able to set my cruise for the speed limit and not get stopped by hawk-eyed DPS troopers.

I didn't used to believe in cruise...my SL2 was the first car I had with a cruise control. But after driving this car for so long with cruise, I don't know how I would survive long trips without it. It's nice to be able to disengage part of your brain while you're driving. I'm still paying attention to the road and my surroundings, of course...but I don't have to watch my speed.

[capricess]

yeah i know every time i drive to Florida for vacation which is 1100 miles away i have to stop at every rest stop and walk a bit because my legs gets numb after a while from the vibration.

[tehSaturn]

I don't have cruise in my wagon either. I've some some decently long trips in it, and I'm a tall guy. I put the seat as far back as I can and use that "cock your foot to the right" kinda move. It's worked well so far.

Cruise is for wussies anyway.

[MattBarszcz]

Originally Posted by tehSaturn

I don't have cruise in my wagon either. I've some some decently long trips in it, and I'm a tall guy. I put the seat as far back as I can and use that "cock your foot to the right" kinda move. It's worked well so far.

Cruise is for wussies anyway.

I'm a tall guy too (6'2") and with my size 12 shoes I always drive with my foot cocked to the right. If I try to drive with my foot straight on the gas pedal, my toes hit the metal rod attached to the gas pedal. I don't know if I could really drive any other way. I hit the gas with the my toes and my cocked to the right, and the brake with the left edge of my foot (obviously not on the highway). Also being 6'2 I have the wheel lifted up a bit so I can fit my knees under it. Plenty of head room though. How short does one have to be to have their legs go straight down to the pedals and not bowed out to the sides?

[Saturninin]

Originally Posted by Threeshot223

It's nice to be able to disengage part of your brain while you're driving. I'm still paying attention to the road and my surroundings, of course...but I don't have to watch my speed.

Yeah thats amazing use your brain for something other than, OH CRAP!!!!! that was a cop hit the break (have lead foot if no cruise), with while cruise all you have to do is:

SET IT AND FORGET!!!!

this amazing feature can be yours all for the extremely low price of 6 easy payments of 29.99

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!!

if you act within the next 15 minutes we will cut those payments of 5 payments of 29.99


(in other wards for what i would say definitively for 200 you could defiantly have CC which is amazing on long trips and helps gas millage (If you have lead foot like me)

[alordofchaos]

Originally Posted by TXSaturn02

$60 where? Is this the DIY price?

Yep, in my case, $45 for the Saturn dealer to flash it (well, former Saturn dealer... this was shortly after the Penske deal fell apart but before they became a Hyundai dealer) and maybe $20 or so for the parts.

As mentioned, you would need the steering wheel from a 3rd gen. Parts list from my local pick n pull shows $4.99 for a steering wheel, and $12.99 for the cruise control module.

Dealership labor rate was $90 an hour and they charged a half hour labor, but some people have found tech schools, community colleges, etc with a Tech II to do it for less.

Originally Posted by Threeshot223

I'm still paying attention to the road and my surroundings, of course...but I don't have to watch my speed.

+1, I can keep a better eye on the other idiots on the road. I get annoyed when I am stuck behind someone without cruise, and their speed keeps changing. This morning, it was a pickup that kept creeping up and down between 45 and 55 mph

[BV22]

While my SC1 has CC, I've had several cars that did not. What I did was change feet for a while and drive with my left, while exercising the right in the footwell. Only recommended in rural areas, but after 10 miles with the left foot, the right one is ready for another hour.

[TXSaturn02]

Originally Posted by alordofchaos

+1, I can keep a better eye on the other idiots on the road. I get annoyed when I am stuck behind someone without cruise, and their speed keeps changing. This morning, it was a pickup that kept creeping up and down between 45 and 55 mph

This is the primary reason why I have NOT installed cruise control. As you say, too much traffic (with screwball drivers especially) on the roads that virtually makes the cruise unusable. I've spoken to a few people who almost got into accidents because of this (automatic) feature and they stop paying close attention - sort of like automatic vs. manual transmission debate, but not quite.

The only time it would be usable (in my case) would be on a long road trip where there isn't much traffic. And if that is the case, I MAY be able to rig something up.