Stop/start engines

One of the current trends in hybrids and fuel efficient cars are stop/start engines. These are engines that stop automatically when you idle for more than a few seconds, then restart when you step on the accelerator. VW pioneered this in the 1990s with one of their Golf models - I can't remember the name - Ecomotion maybe? The problem at the time was the additional stress on the engine and starter motor resulted in much less longevity for those components. Starters failed after 15,000 miles, engines had excessive wear and various other issues cropped up, all related to the constant stopping and starting of the engine. I'm left wondering if it's really worth it. Are the newer generation stop/start systems that much better? What about all the additional complexity that is required? For example when you stop the engine, you can't stop everything else - heated windows, radios, electric components - windscreen wipers and headlights etc. So you need a hugely uprated electrical system and battery (or batteries). Then there's the heater / air conditioner which run off the coolant fluid or a/c compressor respectively. To compensate for stop/start, you'd need electric a/c and electric heating too. Can all the added weight and complexity really be good for the consumer? Is it reliable?
In Hybrids, it's not an issue - they've been designed from the start to have all these systems running on electric-only if the engine is off. But on non hybrid vehicles it does seem like a lot of complexity for not very much return.

I liked it so much I bought the company.

Well not quite, but nearly. A while back I reviewed the ScanGauge II in-car computer. It hooks up to the OBD-II port on any post-1996 car and gives you all manner of readouts that your car might not otherwise be able to display. (See the Scangauge II review for more info.)
It's taken a while but I finally caved and bought one of these for myself. The original unit was given away in a competition, but I always regretted that. That being said, I make a point of never keeping any of the demo units I get for review. So a couple of weeks ago I parted with my own cold hard cash and bought my own ScanGauge II. It's been doing hard duty in my Honda Element ever since. I'm really glad I bought it. I've got mine reading out water temperature, instantaneous BHP, average MPG and instantaneous MPG. The MPG readouts are particularly interesting. In the same way that Prius owners unwittingly enter into competitions with themselves to get better gas mileage, I've done the same with the Element. The difference is, of course, the info is available to me now where it wasn't before. I'm proud to say I've added 1mpg to my average because of the ScanGauge II readout. Doesn't sound like much but in my boxy Element, that's a 5% improvement.
If you're a car nerd, or just like geeky, techy things, pop over to the review and decide for yourself if it's worth buying one. I would. And did.