Conference terri::cars_uk

Outside temperature - very important if you break down and need 
to decide whether to take your anoral with you to the phone box

Speed - very useful if your speedo fails

Economy - very useful for working out fuel economy if you're into that
kind of thing

>if so are they any use or worth the extra loot?

Of course not

    ...and very useful for measuring your performance against your
    "personal best" on regular journeys. Not that any of us would be so
    reckless of course!

>>Outside temperature - very important if you break down and need 
>>to decide whether to take your anoral with you to the phone box
    
    An oral what? 8-)
    
>>Speed - very useful if your speedo fails
    
    They only measure average speed - you'd find it hard to use as a
    speedo' replacement.
    
>>Economy - very useful for working out fuel economy if you're into that
>>kind of thing
    
    They're pretty accurate, I've checked mine against miles/tank fills and
    it's spot on.
    
    Another feature is RANGE. This takes your average consumption over
    the last N miles and compares it with remaining tank contents then
    computes how far you're likely to get on what petrol's left.  It
    automatically switches to this mode and `flashes' when you have the
    equavalent to 40 miles(ish) of petrol left.
    
    INSTANT CONSUMPTION is interesting, you can give yourself a fright by
    flooring the pedal in second and see how few mpg you get.  Conversly,
    you can get 999.99 miles per gallon on overun.   It's also a
    good talking point when you've got a constantly changing display.
    
    STOP WATCH can be useful.
    
    They also tell the time. 
    
    
    As a matter of interest how much are they?
                                                                             
     

    
    I did actually find the 'RANGE' function quite useful when I borrowed
    the Omega demonstrator from Fleet Services a few weeks back. Flicking
    between 'AVERAGE MPG' 'INSTANT CONSUMPTION' and 'AVERAGE SPEED'
    provided some entertainment on an otherwise fairly boring journey,
    (I achieved 33.2 MPG on a 250 mile run after using a fairly heavy foot
    when I got fed up with 'economy' driving - not bad for a 2.5 litre six
    with an automatic box). The computer was a fun toy to use, but I suspect the
    novelty would very soon wear off - I certainly wouldn't pay the extra
    to have one even if it were an available option on the GLS, which it's
    not.
    
    (Fleet Services = Car Fleet, not the place on the M3 .. I don't know
    why I called it that!)
    
    

    I used to let the average miles per gallon setting go for long periods
    of time to challenge myself to more economical driving.  My son would
    borrow my car occasionally and I would admonish him for having a heavy
    foot because I could tell when the fuel economy suffered.  He caught
    on, and would clear the setting to start anew about a mile or two from
    home when he would drive with extreme care to register a high number. 
    That didn't work, either, because I could see the average mileage
    change more rapidly than usual because of the short distance that the
    average was based on.
    grins,
    bob

    Has anyone experienced a fault with their trip computer, the
    temperature in particular?  When I start up, I get an outside
    temperature of about -30.0 C (it varies).  After a while I get the
    'fault' F appear next to the time.  Any ideas?
    
    Kris

    What car have you got ?
    
    The sensors on Astras and Cavaliers do go from time to time. They are 
    fairly inexpensive (not that cost is an issue if its a lease car).
    I have had the sensor replaced twice in 18 months
    on my Cavalier.
    
    Royston

    Its an Astra 1.8 GSI.  Unfortunately, it is not a lease car (but will
    be going into the garage anyway due to the recall(s).
    
    Kris