skydiver30960 0 #1 May 20, 2007 Anyone have experience with aftermarket cruise control units? I've decided that as soon as I pass boards and start work at the new job that I'll be dumping the Chevy Tahoe (roomy, but only 17mpg on flat ground with a running start and a tailwind) for a little gas-sipper. I really like one particular make and model (left out of the discussion to avoid the typical rants and raves about such topics) but am absolutely PISSED OFF that the only way to get cruise control is to buy the $3500 "everything you don't want along with cruise control" package. Obviously adding this much to the price of the gas-sipper shoots the price point to hell and has me thinking I may as well move up a model or two. So, there are these outfits that sell and/or install aftermarket cruise control units (thank you Google). 1.) Do they work? and, the question I'm afraid I already know the answer to: 2.) Will installing one void the factory warranty? Elvisio "all about getting a car that weighs less than I do" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #2 May 20, 2007 Do they work? Quote About ten years ago I bought a gently used Pathfinder from a retired Naval Officer. The thing was in great shape, had a 'Sears' aftermarket CC installed...worked great. The guy said he had it installed about a year after HE bought the car for 1/2 what the factory/dealer wanted. Don't know about the warranty thing though. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gawain 0 #3 May 20, 2007 If cruise control is a make-or-break issue for you, then you should carefully weigh the difference with moving up a model or two, or looking at another make altogether. There aren't too many makes/models out there where cruise control isn't available (e.g. stepping up from a Honda Civic DX to an LX with CC standard isn't even a $2K premium, and you get a whole lot more car for the money). How much does an aftermarket cruise control kit cost? I don't know if it's worth the effort to be honest with you. Do you really do that much driving where you need it?So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ryoder 1,590 #4 May 20, 2007 QuoteI really like one particular make and model (left out of the discussion to avoid the typical rants and raves about such topics) but am absolutely PISSED OFF that the only way to get cruise control is to buy the $3500 "everything you don't want along with cruise control" package. When I was looking over the pricing on a new Jeep Wrangler two years ago, I came across "Leather wrapped steering wheel: $300". WTF? Who would pay that? After a lot of digging, I discovered that was really a package of two items. The other item in the package was cruise control. I can't imagine what kind of marketing idiots Daimler employs who think it is a good idea to advertise a package by naming the least important item in the package."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites n23x 0 #5 May 20, 2007 Quote I can't imagine what kind of marketing idiots Daimler employs who think it is a good idea to advertise... Well I think the answer is obvious! It's probably the same kind of idiot that wants to buy a jeep. .jim"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites turtlespeed 226 #6 May 20, 2007 Call a local dealer and say you already have one and see how much it is to install one after the fact.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cjsgrlsx3 0 #7 May 21, 2007 I would have to say no on the after market cruise control thing. My husband and I had one installed by the dealer in June of '93 and planned a trip to Lousianna in August of '93. We were only on the road for 20 minutes when the thing got stuck. It wouldn't shut off. You couldn't put the car in nuetral to turn it off. Nothing worked. So after smoking the brakes for a little while we decided to take an exit ramp and for some reason it just shut down. We immediatly turned back to the dealer and had them diconnect it. Now we make sure we buy a vehicle that it is already installed by the manufacturer. This may have been almost 14 years ago but I would still never buy one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites 1969912 0 #8 May 21, 2007 A couple days ago I was searching the web for tips on diagnosing a problem with my factory cruise and came across several posts from people wanting to use an aftermarket cc instead of paying $$ for factory replacement. Two brands were mentioned as being the best, Rostra and Dana. It turns out that Rostra bought Dana a while back. The company is a hugh supplier of components to world auto makers. They didn't have a lot of pictures of the hardware, but what I could see from their install manual looked better than the $100 junk from WalMart. They even have an RF control pendant that needs no wires. As far as the warranty is concerned, the dealer would probably say no if you asked ahead of time, but I doubt they have the legal right to deny coverage for a failure that was not caused by an aftermarket product. Also, any car newer than the 80's or so will already have a speed sensor built in that the cc could read from so you won't have todrill holes, attach magnets, etc. If you are going to have you car for a while, don't buy a $100 Audiovox POS. Here's their site: http://www.rostra.com/cruise-control.htm Oh, yeah, I put a cheapo one on my car in '81 or so an it worked good for 6 years or so, and then the speed sensor pickup startet getting flaky. By that time the mfr. was out of biz. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Gawain 0 #3 May 20, 2007 If cruise control is a make-or-break issue for you, then you should carefully weigh the difference with moving up a model or two, or looking at another make altogether. There aren't too many makes/models out there where cruise control isn't available (e.g. stepping up from a Honda Civic DX to an LX with CC standard isn't even a $2K premium, and you get a whole lot more car for the money). How much does an aftermarket cruise control kit cost? I don't know if it's worth the effort to be honest with you. Do you really do that much driving where you need it?So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #4 May 20, 2007 QuoteI really like one particular make and model (left out of the discussion to avoid the typical rants and raves about such topics) but am absolutely PISSED OFF that the only way to get cruise control is to buy the $3500 "everything you don't want along with cruise control" package. When I was looking over the pricing on a new Jeep Wrangler two years ago, I came across "Leather wrapped steering wheel: $300". WTF? Who would pay that? After a lot of digging, I discovered that was really a package of two items. The other item in the package was cruise control. I can't imagine what kind of marketing idiots Daimler employs who think it is a good idea to advertise a package by naming the least important item in the package."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n23x 0 #5 May 20, 2007 Quote I can't imagine what kind of marketing idiots Daimler employs who think it is a good idea to advertise... Well I think the answer is obvious! It's probably the same kind of idiot that wants to buy a jeep. .jim"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #6 May 20, 2007 Call a local dealer and say you already have one and see how much it is to install one after the fact.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjsgrlsx3 0 #7 May 21, 2007 I would have to say no on the after market cruise control thing. My husband and I had one installed by the dealer in June of '93 and planned a trip to Lousianna in August of '93. We were only on the road for 20 minutes when the thing got stuck. It wouldn't shut off. You couldn't put the car in nuetral to turn it off. Nothing worked. So after smoking the brakes for a little while we decided to take an exit ramp and for some reason it just shut down. We immediatly turned back to the dealer and had them diconnect it. Now we make sure we buy a vehicle that it is already installed by the manufacturer. This may have been almost 14 years ago but I would still never buy one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #8 May 21, 2007 A couple days ago I was searching the web for tips on diagnosing a problem with my factory cruise and came across several posts from people wanting to use an aftermarket cc instead of paying $$ for factory replacement. Two brands were mentioned as being the best, Rostra and Dana. It turns out that Rostra bought Dana a while back. The company is a hugh supplier of components to world auto makers. They didn't have a lot of pictures of the hardware, but what I could see from their install manual looked better than the $100 junk from WalMart. They even have an RF control pendant that needs no wires. As far as the warranty is concerned, the dealer would probably say no if you asked ahead of time, but I doubt they have the legal right to deny coverage for a failure that was not caused by an aftermarket product. Also, any car newer than the 80's or so will already have a speed sensor built in that the cc could read from so you won't have todrill holes, attach magnets, etc. If you are going to have you car for a while, don't buy a $100 Audiovox POS. Here's their site: http://www.rostra.com/cruise-control.htm Oh, yeah, I put a cheapo one on my car in '81 or so an it worked good for 6 years or so, and then the speed sensor pickup startet getting flaky. By that time the mfr. was out of biz. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
