Sat Nav route suggestions surprised me...

[DocAce]

Our first proper day out in quite a long while found us driving the T8 up to a National Trust property for a walk.

On the way up we just followed the sat nav defaults but on the way back we thought we'd try the optional "Eco" route. I was somewhat sceptical as it took us through three large towns and despite being 10 miles shorter was an estimated 15 minutes slower, this turned out to be closer to 20 minutes.

End results (according to the app) were:

Default Route 50.4 miles in 1 hours using 1.4 gallons of petrol resulting in 34.8mpg
Eco Route 39.1 miles in 1h22m using 0.6 gallons and returning 57.6mpg

The battery was pretty much drained by the end but was utilised more on the return journey (approx 60/40 split).

Half the fuel consumed of the outbound journey! I guess if time isn't an issue and there's some juice left in the battery for town driving it's probably worth checking the Eco suggestion.

Don't get me wrong, I am not going to be watching the fuel consumption like a hawk... you really don't buy a two tonne, 400hp vehicle as a sign of your green credentials... but as an intellectual exercise it interests me and I am getting better MPG overall than in my previous car which is nice. We will have to see where the MPG settles once I start doing longer journeys and the battery becomes more of a hinderance than an asset

Other thoughts - steering intervention and warning is still somewhat un-nerving; the collision warning when the van coming the other way was sure he could just squeeze through made me jump out of my skin; touch screen is no replacement for physical controls no matter how smart it is.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by DocAce

Other thoughts - steering intervention and warning is still somewhat un-nerving; the collision warning when the van coming the other way was sure he could just squeeze through made me jump out of my skin; touch screen is no replacement for physical controls no matter how smart it is.

Are you aware that you can adjust the sensitivity of the ‘Collision Warning’ system to suit your own driving style - I found the default setting was way too sensitive for my liking & was soon reduced.

[DocAce]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

Are you aware that you can adjust the sensitivity of the ‘Collision Warning’ system to suit your own driving style - I found the default setting was way too sensitive for my liking & was soon reduced.

Thanks Simon, yes I am... still finding the right balance but this was the first time it had gone off and it was a little more... strident... than I expected

[gaby]

Originally Posted by DocAce

...touch screen is no replacement for physical controls no matter how smart it is.

It takes some time to get used to.
Preferences may differ, I won't go back to a car with (lots of) buttons.

[DocAce]

Originally Posted by gaby

It takes some time to get used to.
Preferences may differ, I won't go back to a car with (lots of) buttons.

I agree on the lots of buttons statement but physical buttons for items that I want to call up whilst driving coupled with a physical interface such as MMI on Audi does seem safer than trying to hover a finger over the screen which has to be looked at rather than felt just feels safer to me.

For example, Charge and Hold are two things which I do want to use whilst driving and that requires swiping left - after coming out of full screen map display - a glance to double check where the setting is - I'll learn that with time of course - and then another glance to press it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the centre display and functionality - it's using it on the move that's the problem for me at the moment. Perhaps it is just a time thing... time will tell.

[techwatcher]

Originally Posted by DocAce

I agree on the lots of buttons statement but physical buttons for items that I want to call up whilst driving coupled with a physical interface such as MMI on Audi does seem safer than trying to hover a finger over the screen which has to be looked at rather than felt just feels safer to me.

For example, Charge and Hold are two things which I do want to use whilst driving and that requires swiping left - after coming out of full screen map display - a glance to double check where the setting is - I'll learn that with time of course - and then another glance to press it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the centre display and functionality - it's using it on the move that's the problem for me at the moment. Perhaps it is just a time thing... time will tell.

You do get used to it but even after 2.5 years I still find myself hankering after a button to activate the 360 degree camera.

One tip that may help; you can rearrange the functions in the function view (screen after swiping left) - just press and hold the function and move it as desired.

Personally, I moved the camera function to the bottom right of the screen which helps a little - still needs a glance though.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by techwatcher

You do get used to it but even after 2.5 years I still find myself hankering after a button to activate the 360 degree camera.

One tip that may help; you can rearrange the functions in the function view (screen after swiping left) - just press and hold the function and move it as desired.

Personally, I moved the camera function to the bottom right of the screen which helps a little - still needs a glance though.

100% in agreement with you - in fact I would love a 'virtual" button to which I would add the 360 camera. Instead I have done the same as yourself to make it easier to instantly find the button.