Does anyone know where I can get an after-market cruise control?
When we ordered our new car I decided to forego this $300 option
and install my own.  I've done so on every other car I've owned. 
I was counting on JC-Whitney & Co. to have their usual large
selection.  They don't anymore it seems!  Any suggestions on where
I can get a good electric motor driven cruise control?  (I'd prefer
to stay away from vacuum servo systems.  It's going on a Subaru
Legacy with distributorless ignition.)
 

5 responses total.

That's strange, J.c. Whitney without it?  Well, could be you have an older
catalog-on page 50-51 of the catalog that expires 5/31/95 are some cc's--
but they use magnets.

How easy are these things to install?  How much do they tend to cost?  I
would be interested in adding cruise control to a cruise controlless but
otherwise nice '87 Honda Civic.

I would worry about a system driven with electric motors. Seems like they
would have a rather nasty failure-mode. What's wrong with the vacuum
servo systems? I have one on my Subaru that I put on after-market. I
got it from JC Pennys in 1984. I think the same unit was also available
at the time, from J.c. Whitney's too.

Vacuum servo systems have higher warranty than electric motors.

OK, I found a more recent catalog and indeed they do have some.  All are
vacuum driven though.  Good point about the electric systems.  However,
the one on our Nova has been working great for the nine years we've had
it.  Vacuum systems also can suffer form open throttle failures.  Both
in the electric and vacuum servo systems shutting off the engine will stop
the car.  The electric servo is also much smaller than the vacuum equivalent
and is not effected by the loss of vacuum in open throttle conditions.
(Such as climbing steep hills.  A vacuum resivior is required in these
situations adding to the bulk of the vacuum driven systems.)
Adding a vacuum system to our Subaru should be pretty easy though.  I
found a plugged port on the intake manifold and the cruise throttle
advance mechanism is already in place!  Add to that the fact that the 
hood is designed to hinge 90 degrees to the ground, it should be be
more enjoyable than all other installations I've done to date!
 
Steve, cruise controls go for between $75 and $135.  I have called all
of the auto parts stores in the AA area and NONE sold them!  Looks like
J.C. Whitney is my only choice.  I'll call them for their most recent
catalog today in hopes of finding an electric motor drive unit.  Ease 
of installation depends on the car and the system you choose.  I've
adapeted *all* three of the cruise controls I've installed and only the
electric motor driven one has been trouble free.

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