if you use "hypermileage" techniques, cruise is far worse. it ALWAYS keeps speed constant, but hypermileage sacrifices a constant speed by limiting the throttle to be applied.

so you slow down/speed up with hills but keep a specific load on the throttle

at 60 i feel my engine getting hotter....at 70 its is perfect....its the ice cold at 110

about cruise....there are various factors affecting the gas mileage with cruise....if your going slightly downhill the cruise control is trying to apply some brakes to keep you at 60 and hence you loose a little gas mileage....where as you would just "coast" (coast = off the throttle)....cruise is perfect for a flat out terrain....if the terrain has incline/decline....your better off without cruise....

also the electronics which are "ON" in the car makes a difference....if the car is clean or not makes a difference.....

Negative, Ghost Rider. The cruise does not and cannot apply brakes. It can/will close the throttle going downhill which will save gas by shutting off the injectors.

^^^ i usually agree with you but i have felt this first hand....

there are 2 scenarios that come to mind:

1> you are CRUISING at 70mph and you press the DEC button on the steering wheel....you telling me that cruise control cannot/will not hit the brakes ?
2> there have been situations (i drive back and forth to KC from STL) and i take the same damn route every week....so there have been situations where i have cruise control ON and the car felt as if it was braking down the slope....on the other occasions i had the cruise control off and the car did go from 70mph to 75-76 mph....so cruise control wont avoid this by braking ?

and also am swoosh.....ghost rider is some other dude

it does that to utilize what little engine braking is allowed in automatics, or the usable amount manuals have, to maintain speed. cruise control is NOT to get better gas mileage, but just as a creature comfort for long trips.

anyone wanting to improve their mileage should research "hypermileage" techniques. it will tell you all about it

Nope, all you're feeling is deceleration/engine braking...

do your brake lights go on by themselves? no? then CC does not brake for you.

Think of the legal ramifications if it did and didnt indicate to the driver behind you that you were slowing down.

It's also a heck of a lot more efficient coasting down a hill with engine braking when possible rather than braking to slow down.

Also, yes CC is bad if you're crazy for mpg. But do "hypermiling" only when traffic is light. I hate it when people slow down on the fwy on an incline during rush hour. That causes noticeable congestion. Anyone here travel the 5 South to San Diego? You know what i'm talking about. Those rolling hills are disastrous for people that dont maintain speed.

answer to question number 1. Drive by wire. when you hit the DEC. button, you're telling the computer to pull back on the throttle by 1 point.
It's not hitting the brakes.

DBW makes no difference. older versions of cruise (with abs mind you) used a second cable to actuate the throttle plate. using the VSS system to calculate 1 mph increments (from the set speed)

I meant engine braking....i can feel the engine slow down and hence the car.....

am sorry i mislead by saying braking....