Disable Auto Start/Stop on new Passat

[dopey]

I thought the stop start feature would be great. Whats wrong with it? Why would you want to disable it?

Well, for myself and probably more-so my wife it would prompt a slight change in driving habit. The way the traffic tends to move a majority of the time involves a lot of "creeping" at which point the start stop becomes a little annoying. If you try to minimise creeping as much as you can then the start-stop isn't quite as much of an annoyance.

[Buzy_Robot]

Having lived with a 125TDI B7 Passat sedan for two weeks I can see the pros and cons of the start-stop system. Absolutely brilliant in bumper-to-bumper traffic and at traffic lights, somewhat annoying when it's not really needed and decidedly unnerving at busy intersections and roundabouts! I'm not suggesting the car will stall, rather I'd prefer to have the engine running at some of the more challenging roundabouts and intersections on our roads.

I would also prefer the option of disabling it by default. Why? Although the switch is available on the gearbox console, it's a distraction to hunt for it when driving. The switch is located on the passenger side and when in Drive, the gearshift obscures it. Having other similar buttons on the transmission console is also far from intuitive.

So, a useful feature, but not a must-have.

[dopey]

I only picked my car up a few hours ago but already both times that I've taken it for a drive this evening I've hit the disable button before taking off. Seems like it's instinct already. Bloody annoying Bluemotion junk

[Buzy_Robot]

I hear you dopey! I have to wonder how much the start/stop system contributes to actual fuel saving. The diesel donk is economical in its own right and the brake energy recuperation is another unobtrusive fuel saving feature.

[wai]

What happens if you have the air conditioner on? Once the engine stops you would have no cooling. Would not be too comfortable in summer.

[Buzy_Robot]

Wai, the air conditioning seems to keep working when the engine has stopped - or at least the fan keeps blowing until the air con can kick in again once the engine has restarted. If you choose a really cold or hot setting, the start/stop system is disabled and the engine keeps running until the air con reaches the desired temperature.

[wai]

Fair enough.

Many if these systems are really designed to allow manufacturers to achieve their fleet average consumption targets. Whether they are practical is not necessarily relevant.

[jetfuel]

I live In Cairns and if the air conditioning isn't cold enough the engine wont stop. If the inside tempereature rises the engine will start to cool the car down. If you live in a big city in peak traffic it would be a real benefit. I often turn it off as I drive out my street. You have the option not to use it

[astroboy38]

I've had my 2011 Passat 125TDI for about 2 weeks and i'm not a big fan of the auto start/stop feature either. At long traffic lights, its great, but generally speaking, i think its pretty useless. There are lots of occasions where by this feature is more annoying than anything else. When you need to get off the line quickly (e.g. turning into a busy intersection from a side street, peak hours traffic), it takes an extra 0.5 sec to start the engine, and the constant start/stop in peak hour is very annoying and i'm not sure if its good for the engine to start/stop so many times. Plus, there has been one occasion whereby the engine has failed to start. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come...

I will also speak to my dealer to see if there is a way to turn it off by default - but given OP's feedback, it seems unlikely. I guess we just need to get in to the habit of turning it off as soon as we start the car - very annoying!

[jetfuel]

If you take your foot almost off the brake, but not releasing it, the engine will restart. Takes a while to master it but there are 2 switches in the brake pedal