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Every single adaptive cruise control system I've seen allows the driver to set a follow distance that is far too short. For example, on my Subaru, 4 bars is re

Every single adaptive cruise control system I've seen allows the driver to set a follow distance that is far too short. For example, on my Subaru, 4 bars is really the minimum "comfortable, relaxing" amount. But if traffic starts to get a little heavy, 3 bars works a little better, but you do have to be more vigilant. If you are down to using 2 bars or a single bar, you had better be hyper vigilant. I can't imagine a safe way for the car to operate with those settings, unless perhaps they are useful for stop-and-go interstate traffic. To make matters worse, every single car salesman I've encountered has the feeling that doing everything to the extreme is the best way to sell cars. Which means that is is totally, completely believable that the OP with his Golf had the salesman set it to a minimum follow distance and then not explain that they did this or how to change it!

toast0 4y ago
I only have one car with ACC, it'd be really nice if it had half size adjustments, because N bars is too close, and N + 1 is an engraved invitationn for people to pass me up, but not immediately the car I'm following. But once they do pass that car, the ACC wants to speed up just to slow down again.
progman32 4y ago
In my German vehicle, ACC reverts to max distance every time it's engaged. You have to manually shorten the distance every time with the steering wheel buttons. I hope that this behavior is standard, but wouldn't be surprised at all to learn different systems have a less safety-oriented behavior.
- Kon-Peki 4y ago
  Neither of my ACC cars have this behavior! I agree that it would be safer to do it this way.
rjmunro 4y ago
I found in a Tesla model 3 that I borrowed that even the maximum follow distance was closer that I would normally drive. It didn't feel dangerously close, just slightly uncomfortable - closer than I would have liked for a maximum.

toast0 4y ago

I only have one car with ACC, it'd be really nice if it had half size adjustments, because N bars is too close, and N + 1 is an engraved invitationn for people to pass me up, but not immediately the car I'm following. But once they do pass that car, the ACC wants to speed up just to slow down again.

progman32 4y ago

In my German vehicle, ACC reverts to max distance every time it's engaged. You have to manually shorten the distance every time with the steering wheel buttons. I hope that this behavior is standard, but wouldn't be surprised at all to learn different systems have a less safety-oriented behavior.

Kon-Peki 4y ago
Neither of my ACC cars have this behavior! I agree that it would be safer to do it this way.

rjmunro 4y ago

I found in a Tesla model 3 that I borrowed that even the maximum follow distance was closer that I would normally drive. It didn't feel dangerously close, just slightly uncomfortable - closer than I would have liked for a maximum.