New technology causes problems

[=V8 Power=]

In reading about the new Audi Q7, I found a big error that a lot of people are going to hate. The side assist feature and the adaptive cruise control both use radar to do their job. Now this sounds find and dandy until you realize what type of radar they use...K-Band. Anyone that drives with a radar detector knows what I'm talking about.

K-band is one of the various types of radar that most police departments in the United States and other countries use. Radar detectors are very sensitive and look especially for this radar band and others.

And the worst part is it cannot be turned off. Now this is not only a problem on the Q7 but many luxary SUVs these days. Even the best top of the line radar detectors become useless when used with the Q7 and these other SUVs. I think they should have developed a different type of radar other than the ones police use. I don't know about other people, but I know that fact alone would keep me from buying any of those SUVs. Having a radar detector is crucial when ever driving on long interstate trips.

 

[daan]

So are you complaining that, in a Q7, you wouldn't be able to speed?

 

[=V8 Power=]

So are you complaining that, in a Q7, you wouldn't be able to speed?

or in any luxury car/SUV with this

don't tell me you never speed

 

[ExigeEvan]

or in any luxury car/SUV with this

don't tell me you never speed

He has a Peugeot 406, how could he?


Wouldn't these radars make the police radars usless? I know some automated garage door openers can do the same thing, so surely these would?

 

[Poverty]

Dont know about you, but I still see luxury SUV's speeding all the time.

I just think this kid has something against luxury vehicles. He reminds me of those hicks that were following around the guy in the Z4

 

[Metar]

He has a Peugeot 406, how could he?

A Peugeot 406 Coupe, and with it, you can speed pretty nicely. I still remmember that time when a dark-blue 406 Coupe wizzed by at 140KM/h when only 100 was allowed. My brother only managed to see the 06 of the numbers, and was convinced this was a 906

 

[ExigeEvan]

A Peugeot 406 Coupe, and with it, you can speed pretty nicely. I still remmember that time when a dark-blue 406 Coupe wizzed by at 140KM/h when only 100 was allowed. My brother only managed to see the 06 of the numbers, and was convinced this was a 906

Yeah I was only ribbin' him.

My Physics teacher educated me well on the wonders of the 406.

 

[Metar]

Funny, mine did too. Last year, when he taught us about G-forces and Inertia, he took videos of the 406 as an example...

 

[=V8 Power=]

Dont know about you, but I still see luxury SUV's speeding all the time.

I just think this kid has something against luxury vehicles. He reminds me of those hicks that were following around the guy in the Z4

Well I don't like luxury vehicles thats true. But this shows how too much inovation can lead to problems. BTW, that was a staged video with the hicks because they were driving a Toyota. No true hick drives such a thing

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Me thinks the use of K-band may be intentional. Use the type the police use, and you can't use a detector, so (in theory) speeding will decrease. I don't agree with it, but maybe car manufacturers do.
That's just my theory, though.

 

[daan]

or in any luxury car/SUV with this

don't tell me you never speed

What does my driving habits have to do with the topic at hand?

You seem to be annoyed that radar detectors won't work in a Q7/SUV/Luxury car fitted with this device. I, and my car, function perfectly happily without the need for a radar detector.

Going by this quote of yours

Having a radar detector is crucial when ever driving on long interstate trips.

you seem to think it is ok to speed as long as there are no police around.

 

[vladimir]

Well I don't like luxury vehicles thats true. But this shows how too much inovation can lead to problems. BTW, that was a staged video with the hicks because they were driving a Toyota. No true hick drives such a thing

i've heard more sound explanations as to why that video was supposed to be fake then the make of their car.

anyway, the Q7 and s-class are made in germany where A) radar detectors are illegal and B) we can do 200mph legally if we want.

 

[YSSMAN]

...It is a growing problem with a lot of cars. Those fancy radar and laser-based cruise control systems screw with radar and laser detectors here as well, rendering them almost useless in some cases.

In other bad-news, the new Mercedes GL-class has some special kind of windscreen that prevents radar from going though it. So when you've got your Passport or Valentine One strapped on the dashboard, it also becomes ineffective as it cannot read any oncomming signals. However, take it away from the glass, and it will get whatever you want it to.

 

[Casio]

In other bad-news, the new Mercedes GL-class has some special kind of windscreen that prevents radar from going though it.

Now that's a handy invention. I no longer have to be concerned about being killed by a stray radar wave while I'm driving. A #1 concern for me.

 

[YSSMAN]

There is some fancy explanation for why they did it, and I can't remember what it is. I belive even Motor Trend noticed the problem in their test of the SUV, and although they didn't seem to take issue with it as much as Car and Driver, it still is interesting.

...I do know that US-spec models have a special section of the glass that goes without the protection for states that use the electronic toll-road cards. I belive Illinois is the big user there, and I'm sure there are plenty of other East-Coast states that do it as well.

 

[ExigeEvan]

But if the radar screws with your detector then surely it screws with the police radar?

 

[=V8 Power=]

Going by this quote of yours

you seem to think it is ok to speed as long as there are no police around.

Uhh...ya, speed limits are waaay too low.

Like I said on interstates a radar detector is crucial because everyone speeds and interstates are the number one place for police to try and catch speeders.

i've heard more sound explanations as to why that video was supposed to be fake then the make of their car.

anyway, the Q7 and s-class are made in germany where A) radar detectors are illegal and B) we can do 200mph legally if we want.

Okay fine I'll give you a better explanation If a wealthy person and his GF were driving along in a BMW Z4, and a bunch of crazy rednecks started following you and harrassing you, why would you drive down a DIRT road that DEAD ENDS?? No, you would drive to the most public place possible or better yet a police station.

Actually from what I've read only small sections of the Autobahn have no speed limit. Also these cars are sold in the US just FYI

 

[Wolfe]

I have two radar detectors that work just great as long as it's light outside. Instead of detecting radar waves, though, they scan the distance and constantly send images directly to my brain for processing.

 

[=V8 Power=]

I have two radar detectors that work just great as long as it's light outside. Instead of detecting radar waves, though, they scan the distance and constantly send images directly to my brain for processing.

haha, funny

So I'm guessing that your radar detectors can pick up police from 2 miles away even at night just like my Escort can? Also can they pick up unmarked police vehicles? How about police speed traps in concealed locations??

 

[Wolfe]

You just have to drive smart, or, for an easier solution, don't speed.

Radar detectors are foiled just as easily as one's own eyes. Did you not start this thread based on the fact that Q7's and other luxury vehicles will be sending false signals to radar detectors? I don't know about you, but visually, I have no problem discerning a Q7 from a Crown Vic. There are other ways to foil radar detectors, too, and cops know what those ways are.

Q7's or not, you should never rely entirely on your radar detector. It'll only get you in trouble. My eyes have served me well -- I've only gotten pulled over twice, and both times were at night, and when I wasn't paying attention. My mistake for letting it happen, and my mistake for speeding in the first place, but considering the number of speed traps I've passed without getting pulled over, not to mention my speedy driving habits, I'd say my eyes' track record is pretty good.

 

[harrytuttle]

But if the radar screws with your detector then surely it screws with the police radar?

Yeah, that would be my understanding, too. It seems like this would just add to the radar-band noise level out there, setting off radar guns & detectors alike. Perhaps to the point where you could use it as an excuse in court. Of course, the police could just switch bands, or move to laser altogether.

 

[=V8 Power=]

Yes I was thinking the same thing. It would prob act like a scramber. Although its prob not as strong as the police radar so it wouldn't scramble their radar until it got pretty close. They would have your speed most likely by the time this happened.

 

[Metar]

But why is this such a large problem? If I don't speed - why should I care? Those extra 10-20KM/h won't save much time, but waste more fuel (engine outside the recommended cruise-RPM). Plus, 100KM/h is speedy enough for me.

 

[Tornado]

That is, of course, unless the recommended cruise RPM is come about over the speed limit.

 

[=V8 Power=]

But why is this such a large problem? If I don't speed - why should I care? Those extra 10-20KM/h won't save much time, but waste more fuel (engine outside the recommended cruise-RPM). Plus, 100KM/h is speedy enough for me.

Are you serious?? That equals 62 mph in the United States. That is below avergae interstate speed here. I hit 62 on regular roads all the time.

Speedy for me is anything above 90mph. That equals 144kph.

 

[Metar]

Are you serious?? That equals 62 mph in the United States. That is below avergae interstate speed here. I hit 62 on regular roads all the time.

Speedy for me is anything above 90mph. That equals 144kph.

Actually, 90KM/h is the maximum on most roads - only one pay-road has a 110KM/h limit...

 

[=V8 Power=]

Actually, 90KM/h is the maximum on most roads - only one pay-road has a 110KM/h limit...

I assume since you said "actually" you are talking about the United States??

If so, you are very wrong then. Most interstates are 112 km/h, the highest in the nation is 120km/h. However people drive above that so really the "average" speed is closer to 120-128 km/h.

 

[Wolfe]

I assume since you said "actually" you are talking about the United States??

I assume you're wrong on that.

By "actually," I'm betting he meant, "even though you think I'm going 'slow' at 100km/h, I'm still going faster than the speed limit, which is 90km/h."

Are you serious?? That equals 62 mph in the United States. That is below avergae interstate speed here. I hit 62 on regular roads all the time.

Speedy for me is anything above 90mph. That equals 144kph.

Don't act so surprised. Even in Germany, on the limitless portions of the Autobahn, you can often find drivers limiting themselves to 100-130km/h. Why? It saves a lot of fuel, compared to going "all-out," and since petrol costs more than the equivalent of $6 per gallon over there, that means they're saving a good chunk of money. Oh, and of course, going slower is safer, too.

Pretty much the only drivers you'll find barrelling down the left lane on the Autobahn are young/immature drivers, sportscar owners looking to have a little fun, someone who's really late for an appointment, or tourists from another country to whom limitless highways are a novelty.

Sometimes saving money on gas is better than saving time. Especially when you don't really need to do the latter.

 

[=V8 Power=]

Don't act so surprised. Even in Germany, on the limitless portions of the Autobahn, you can often find drivers limiting themselves to 100-130km/h. Why? It saves a lot of fuel, compared to going "all-out," and since petrol costs more than the equivalent of $6 per gallon over there, that means they're saving a good chunk of money. Oh, and of course, going slower is safer, too.

Pretty much the only drivers you'll find barrelling down the left lane on the Autobahn are young/immature drivers, sportscar owners looking to have a little fun, someone who's really late for an appointment, or tourists from another country to whom limitless highways are a novelty.

Sometimes saving money on gas is better than saving time. Especially when you don't really need to do the latter.

Dam, $6 a gallon is crazy. I only pay $1.96 per gallon right now so I could careless how much gas I use.

I also didn't mean that I drive all out. I usually drive around 80-85mph on interstates. Going above 90 in the US can get scary sometimes. Although I'm not sure that you use that much more gas traveling say 85mph vs. 60mph. In my car at least, RPM's at 60 are about 1900 while at 85 they are only 2200. Not that big a difference I would guess.

 

[Wolfe]

Dam, $6 a gallon is crazy. I only pay $1.96 per gallon right now so I could careless how much gas I use.

I also didn't mean that I drive all out. I usually drive around 80-85mph on interstates. Going above 90 in the US can get scary sometimes. Although I'm not sure that you use that much more gas traveling say 85mph vs. 60mph. In my car at least, RPM's at 60 are about 1900 while at 85 they are only 2200. Not that big a difference I would guess.

I didn't mean to imply that you drive all out. However, I'm willing to bet that you would if given a chance to drive on the Autobahn. Many americans would.

In my car, speeding at an average of about 80-85mph nets me 26-27mpg. Cruising at 70-75mph can yield 30-32mpg. That's a considerable gap, especially considering the fact that my "city" mileage is typically 26-28mpg if I'm lazy and pay no attention to conserving gas.

Of course, at 65mph I'm somewhere close to 3000rpm, and many smaller European cars are the same way, so that would explain why the Germans try to stay below 80mph.