Posted on 05/12/2025 7:07:32 AM PDT by Red Badger
Before my current ride I had a 2014 BMW that had the button but it defaulted to the last setting. So I just had to set it to “disable” once and never had to worry about it again.
I had not appreciated the extra cost of such Start-Stop Systems. Here's the cost breakdown:
Battery: Start-stop systems require Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) (+$140–$240) or Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries (+$200–$300), which are 20–40% or 50–100% more expensive than conventional flooded batteries ($100–$180). These batteries handle frequent cycling (up to 270,000 starts for EFBs, 360,000 for AGMs vs. 30,000 for flooded).
Starter Motor: A reinforced starter motor, designed for 10–15x more starts, adds ~$50–$200 to manufacturing costs compared to standard starters.
Alternator and Electronics: A heavy-duty alternator with regenerative braking support and a battery management system (BMS) to monitor charge cycles increases costs by ~$100–$300. Sensors and software for seamless engine restarts add another ~$50–$150.
Total Component Cost: Manufacturers face an additional $200–$600 in parts per vehicle, which is passed on to consumers with a markup.
Suburban/rural drivers pay a higher relative premium for Start-Stop costs ($515 vs. $256–$406) and get far less benefit ($56 vs. $164–$314).
Technology in cars has become a nightmare period... if you need all that shxt to drive you should stay home. Start/Stop was asinine to begin with and the inventor should be tar and feathered.
Like using platinum in catalytic converters that people steal.
Good way to wear out starter & battery by stopping engine at every traffic light. My girl friends new car was doing just that. But there was an override option, so now it runs like a normal car.
engine control has always been a fundamental aspect of hybrid automobiles ... for example, toyota has been making the Prius for almost 30 years now and there doesn’t seem to be any particular problems with the way their Prius ICE engine is operated ...
Scotty Kilmer agrees:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdhzUubonVE
Personally, I own a 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid and the only way i can tell whether the ICE engine is one or off is by looking at the power flow screen ...
apparently, though manufacturers do recommend special engine oils for hybrids, which i think are more hygroscopic than regular engine oils, and all the major engine oil manufacturers make said special oils that meet manufacturers’ specs ...
On my wife’s BMW the dealer had to set the default to off on startup.
These electronics are crazy. My Tacoma doesn’t have a clue what ASS is.
At least you did not have to buy a car that does that. What they did to gasoline cans, however, created a whole new market for throwing out the nozzles they come with today and buying just the nozzles that are traditional for use. There are alot of you tube videos on how to convert the nozzles they all have now.
When stopped at a long red traffic light, I put car in neutral. This lessens wear on transmission and load on engine. Essentially you press the brake to fight engine power through transmission.
This table shows how Suburban / Rural car owners are absolutely screwed by the mandated Start-Stop regulation:
| Description | Conventional Car | Start-Stop Car |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $23,000 | $23,800 |
| Fuel Efficiency (MPG) | 35 | 35.5 |
| Annual Miles | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Engine Stop Time (Hours/Year) | 0 | 4-25 |
| Fuel Price ($/Gallon) | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Depreciation | $11,500 | $11,424 |
| Financing Interest | $3,000 | $3,100 |
| Fuel Cost | $4,000 | $3,945 |
| Insurance | $6,000 | $6,250 |
| Maintenance/Repairs | $3,689 | $3,929 |
| Taxes/Fees | $2,360 | $2,416 |
| Total Lifecycle Cost | $30,549 | $31,064 |
| Cost per Mile | $0.76 | $0.78 |
You are ignoring the inconvenience of taking car to repair shop when starter burns out, or battery dies at some inconvenient time & place.
For what? Saving a few Cents every month?
“A BASIC TRANSPORTATION automobile.”
There have been some real improvements that aren’t terribly complicated or expensive. Disc brakes and fuel injection are pretty bulletproof. Materials for suspension parts are much better as well and how about rust proofing? The cars would be much better without being more complicated.
Identify the names of the government apparatchiks who were responsible for this “most idiotic government regulation”.
When I bought my first car, fuel injection was for high end sports cars and aircraft.
But a basic car can have 4 wheel disc brakes and FI and get rid of a lot of complicated electronics and it’s associated wiring. Sensors for everything are not necessary.
..............
Realistically, those increased emissions only occur at initial startup from cold. Likewise, the catalytic converter doesn’t cool down more that slightly perceptibly during those short periods.
That being said, I hate them - and hate some even more than others. On some cars, the restart is barely noticeable. On my new VW Atlas, it is objectionably annoying.
Auto makers should start ignoring EPA rules, the rules are not law.
I f*cking hate this “feature” on my 2021 Honda CRV. I’ve trained myself to shut it off immediately after ignition.
I'm not an E-1 recruit anymore. ;-)
After replacing a TPMS sensor I realized how stupid these are, I guess people can no longer visually inspect tires.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.