Stop-Start Cars.

[Toureman]

Are the cars with the stop-start facility worth having?

They do save a very small amount of fuel of course and help the environment in a very small way, but, did you know that the car battery will cost 2 to 3 times as much to replace for this dubious advantage?

The starter motor will take quite a bit of a pounding aswell.

[jake-the-peg]

Rather guess it depends on the sort of driving you do.

I'd imagine if you're a London minicab driver it's a lot more beneficial than if you live your life on the Motorway

Got a link to the above?

[FredPuli43]

They are very annoying to drive. I've had hire cars with this feature. The company said that drivers kept reporting it as a fault, but, anyway, it's very eerie and not immediately apparent what pedal to press to start up again or stop it.

[TWR]

I would agree with your statement Toureman,

The starter motor will take quite a bit of a pounding aswell.

[Graham-W]

The Audi version claims to save 0.2 l/100 km in diesel during the combined cycle.
I rough that out to around £60 per annum assuming 12,000 miles per year. Not enough to pay for batteries and starter motors if they need replacing more frequently than with normal cars.

[Toureman]

THe stop-start batteries are called AGM batteries,

here is the cost.........

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_5+Series_2.0_2007/p/car-parts/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/electrical/car-battery/?444777008&1&7e6fdfbbab7e6f5bb655edfa991fd69201860e1b&000020&gclid=CPLkhsyQnbUCFQ7LtAodcDEAew

[sigma]

The Kia ce'ed has two starter motors, one for initial starting and the other for the stop/start system

[sigma]

Also on the ce'ed, the system can be switched off.

[RATTER15]

That would really wind me up!! Its bad enough with our new car, it doesn't have a hand brake, I hate it, I want a hand brake!!

[jake-the-peg]

So replacing one of those batteries on that BMW costs about the same as replacing a tyre

Don't think that's going to be a big issue for BMW owners then do you?

[Baldric]

Morning sigma,
do you have a link to that article, given the size and weight of a starter motor that's a very bold move by Kia.