The cost of remote start in MPG and dollars?

[rafaelsmith]

I use remote start all the time here in Florida. Guess could explain my MPG numbers....but I don't care....im still averaging 8mpg more than I did with my JK=P I rather have a comfortable interior when I get in.

Also have ESS permanently disabled. The constant on/off/on/off/on/off during 2-3 mile leg of my commute to/from work was making MPG worse.

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[SwampNut]

WHat happens if you exit but didnt lock the door

Well, then you can open the door. I didn't test further. When I stop anywhere and leave it running, the key is on me and I lock the door using the button on the door.

 

[jimbom]

Good point about manuals, I forget they exist.

I had a Ram with remote start and used it as you do all summer. Only complaint I have about the 6-speed is the remote start is not an option. Man, I miss being able to start it and have the A/C blasting before I get in.

 

[DirkG]

The only way Amazon is higher impact is if you are constantly ordering rush 2 hour delivery for things like milk and eggs and still also going to the grocery store. Otherwise your normal online purchase that shows up in a few days where a driver can deliver to 100+ homes on one route that is planned in advance because they know the package is coming on such and such date allowing them to make tiny incremental jogs between houses, is going to be better.

I used to think the same way, actually. While aggregate single vehicle traffic may be lessened, the net result is higher greenhouse gas emissions per item purchased. This is because of 2 factors: frequent online purchases produce more packaging waste, and online items tend to come from different distribution centers (here's an interesting CNN article).

Karen may go to Costco and buy $500 worth of bulk groceries; online, she may only buy a few items per purchase. Studies have shown people buy in small "need" bursts rather than purchase/need forecasting when at Costco (for example).

Please read this as informative and not that I'm a tree-hugger by any means. I actually find all of this very fascinating. Of course all of this is meaningless short-term discussion as long-term deliveries will be by drone (which I find even more fascinating).

IMO, drone usage and technology will be the "next big thing" to change our everyday lives. The architecture and technology are there; FAA approval and a logical map for drone navigation / traffic are the current barriers. This also assumes lithium ion (li) batteries (or cobalt free li or silicon anode li batteries) continue on their path of advancement.

 

[jimbom]

edit edit- Now I'm wondering if I lock the door and somebody, say, busts the window and unlocks it manually, will it kill the engine? I assume the alarm will go off. I'll try it later (although I'll just leave the window open )

Crap, bad news (for manual tranny.) With the truck running and the fob not inside, it seems one can just break the window, jump in and drive away. No alarm, even. Guess I won't be leaving it running when I run into a store in the futue.

 

[SwampNut]

Crap, bad news (for manual tranny.) With the truck running and the fob not inside, it seems one can just break the window, jump in and drive away. No alarm, even. Guess I won't be leaving it running when I run into a store in the futue.

Did you give it time to arm? I can't remember how long, but it doesn't arm immediately. And I believe it would still kill the engine if you get really far from the key.

Also, is theft such a worry around you that you'd change your life over it? I'd be more worried about being hit by lightning. I don't even lock it some of the time.

 

[jimbom]

Did you give it time to arm? I can't remember how long, but it doesn't arm immediately. And I believe it would still kill the engine if you get really far from the key.

Also, is theft such a worry around you that you'd change your life over it? I'd be more worried about being hit by lightning. I don't even lock it some of the time.

I'll look into giving it more time and distance (but surely it doesn't know any different if it's 20 ft or 200 yards, right?)

I live close enough to the border that I'd never leave it running if a rock is the only tool needed to steal it. Brother's car was stolen and driven to the border, but recovered before it crossed. Wife's car (before we were married) was stolen by illegals and driven the other way until it ran of gas. Fortunately also recovered. Neither have been struck by lightning.

There's some comfort in that the Jeep has GPS/tracking. I lock it always, even with the top off so to set the alarm. I would think risk of theft is even higher in the Phoenix area (I'm in Tucson.)

 

[jimbom]

I would think risk of theft is even higher in the Phoenix area (I'm in Tucson.)

Was curious so just looked it up. 2017 report, Phoenix ranked #94, Tucson #73 in per capita thefts. Previous report (~2006?) had Phoenix at #1 and Tucson #2 in the country.

https://aata.az.gov/sites/default/files/2018 Annual Report.pdf pg 11

 

[Shootist]

Crap, bad news (for manual tranny.) With the truck running and the fob not inside, it seems one can just break the window, jump in and drive away. No alarm, even. Guess I won't be leaving it running when I run into a store in the futue.

Have you tested that? Some vehicles that have push to start and manual transmission will kill the car when the clutch is pushed in. If I recall correctly my S2000 did this.

 

[SwampNut]

I'll look into giving it more time and distance (but surely it doesn't know any different if it's 20 ft or 200 yards, right?)

It technologically possible for it to recognize that. I don't know if it DOES, but it's possible. Someone else reported that it shuts down about 100 feet away.

I would think risk of theft is even higher in the Phoenix area (I'm in Tucson.)

I'm specifically in the far Northwest, Peoria. Big crime here is when kids egg a house. It's just zero concern. I lived in Tucson for 14 years, and was mildly more concerned, but still used remote start. Just like anything, it depends on the area. When I lived in Picture Rocks, zero worries. When I lived on West Valencia near an illegal traffic area, very concerned.

 

[jimbom]

It technologically possible for it to recognize that. I don't know if it DOES, but it's possible. Someone else reported that it shuts down about 100 feet away.



I'm specifically in the far Northwest, Peoria. Big crime here is when kids egg a house. It's just zero concern. I lived in Tucson for 14 years, and was mildly more concerned, but still used remote start. Just like anything, it depends on the area. When I lived in Picture Rocks, zero worries. When I lived on West Valencia near an illegal traffic area, very concerned.

I'm in a gated community, so not much worry here, either. But it's when I'm out shopping that I'm worried about.

Never worried with my Ram (automatic.) I knew it couldn't shift out of Park if the fob wasn't inside. This is disappointing with the manual -- I hope you're right about the proximity and or timing. Otherwise, no way I'm going to leave it running when I run into a store, even for a quick stop.

 

[Jar Jar Insano]

So in Canada we have addressed all these environmental concerns by adding a carbon tax that is basically a social program. What an impact it has made, let me tell you. I think they need to enforce it on mother nature though because that bitch starts forest fires and doesn't even pay tax on it. Gotta be kidding me, right? Nope, true story.

Jokes aside, you're seeing that increase in your mpg because of your 4mile commute. If you commute 40 miles, your impact would be 1/10th of that starting your car. I would be surprised if at idle the car used more than 1/10L of gas in 5-10 mins idling. When it's -20 here for a couple weeks a year, my car usually goes through 2 x 15 min cycles and I could absolutely care less how much it burns. Last thing I want to do is freeze my ass to the seat for next 30 mins over 2 bucks of gas.

 

[SwampNut]

If you're addressing me, I rarely have just a four mile trip. I work at home, so I don't "commute" and most of my errands are somewhere in town. But of course, I agree that the percentage impact goes down with longer drives. I generally mostly drive for an hour or two to various places, 10-20 miles.

 

[jimbom]

Have you tested that? Some vehicles that have push to start and manual transmission will kill the car when the clutch is pushed in. If I recall correctly my S2000 did this.

I started the truck, got out, locked the door with the handle button, placed the fob on my workbench, reached in the open window and unlocked the truck manually. I fully expected the alarm to go off at that point. It did not. I got in, backed out of the garage and drove (edit)~ 20 ft. As suggested, I will repeat this but place the fob much further away and wait a couple minutes before doing so to rule out timers/proximity issues.

 

[Jar Jar Insano]

I started the truck, got out, locked the door with the handle button, placed the fob on my workbench, reached in the open window and unlocked the truck manually. I fully expected the alarm to go off at that point. It did not. I got in, backed out of the garage and drove (edit)~ 20 ft. As suggested, I will repeat this but place the fob much further away and wait a couple minutes before doing so to rule out timers/proximity issues.

if someone can get in the door, they can drive infinitely until the car is turned off if you use push button start unless they have changed the coding in recent years. only the remote start kills the engine when you go to put it in gear without the fob in the car.

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