Cruise control or “aftermarket cruise control” is a sure cure for lead foot. For those of us who may be a bit heavy on the gas pedal, cruise control can help you avoid hefty speeding tickets and fines, or worse, an accident (if you’re known for traveling too close to the vehicle in front of you). If your car doesn’t already come equipped with cruise control, you can have it installed. Cruise control is basically a “cruise control kit” that allows the driver to activate a cruise control function when needed. The most obvious use for cruise control is during long road trips when our driving feet and legs are most likely to tire out or give out completely. Cruise control can be programmed to operate on it’s own as well; if it senses that you are following another vehicle too closely, it will activate. This makes cruise control a popular safety device as well.
Two of the top cruise control companies are TRW Automotive and Delphi Automotive Systems. TRW is the creator of an adaptive cruise control, called Auto-cruise, and Delphi Automotive Systems has developed a similar adaptive cruise control system, which debuted in the striking Jaguar XKR back in 2000, in Europe.
Cruise control kits are available for all types of cars including: Chevy, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Daewoo, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Saturn, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, and Scion. Aftermarket cruise control must be installed by an installation professional. Aftermarket cruise control installation professionals have the skills to install in 99% of all domestic models and Japanese models.
Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, cruise control can cost anywhere from $179 up to $400 or more. For example, a complete cruise control kit for all 1993-2004 Subaru Impreza may be priced at around $199.95, while a complete cruise control kit for all new 2007-2008 Silverado & Sierra (applicable to the 4.8 – 6.0 and Diesel engine sizes) may cost around $379.95.
If these prices are a bit steep for your taste, especially in today’s economy, there are several discount websites that offer great deals on cruise control. Try NexTag.com or eBay Motors. NexTag.com is the leading comparison-shopping site for products, financial services, travel, automobiles, real estate, and education and it was recognized as an award-winning company in 2005. NexTag has been named among the nation’s fastest growing companies by Inc. 500, Deloitte Technology Fast 500/Fast 50, Red Herring Top 100, San Francisco Business Times Fast 100, and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal Fast 50. The company operates comparison-shopping sites in both the United States and the United Kingdom (NexTag.co.uk).
At NexTag.com you can shop and compare prices on nearly 1,300 cruise control kits ranging in price from a few dollars up to several hundred dollars. You can even enter how much you’re willing to spend and simply search through aftermarket cruise control kits that fit your price criteria.
Visit eBay Motors to search through more than 550 cruise control kits. And like NexTag’s hundreds of listings, eBay Motors’ cruise control offerings also range in price from a few bucks up to $100 or more. Happy cruising!