Why are cars allowed to go so fast?

Tyga11 · 07-31-2021, 06:21 PM

Before I get called a communist, I've always wondered this.

Is it because there weren't speed limits like 70 years ago and no one introduced a law limiting car top speeds?

upstatedoc · 07-31-2021, 06:33 PM

What's the top speed on your M3?

Chihuahua · 07-31-2021, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Before I get called a communist, I've always wondered this.

Is it because there weren't speed limits like 70 years ago and no one introduced a law limiting car top speeds?

Because if you're not first you're last.

Tambohamilton · 07-31-2021, 06:37 PM

You mean 'why are street legal cars allowed to have a top speed which is higher than the legal maximum?’

I can't think of a reason why not!

cmyx6go · 07-31-2021, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Before I get called a communist, I've always wondered this.

Is it because there weren't speed limits like 70 years ago and no one introduced a law limiting car top speeds?

B
A
N

Maynard · 07-31-2021, 06:42 PM

Back in the gloomy 80's they almost did this - at least capping them all at whatever would be 'legal plus a little'. They settled on limiting the speedos to only display up to 85mph. Back then, cars were craptastic enough that 85 was actually pushing it in most of them.

upstatedoc · 07-31-2021, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maynard

Back in the gloomy 80's they almost did this - at least capping them all at whatever would be 'legal plus a little'. They settled on limiting the speedos to only display up to 85mph. Back then, cars were craptastic enough that 85 was actually pushing it in most of them.

This should be posted in the old fart thread.

Buug959 · 07-31-2021, 06:49 PM

My question is why are speed limits so low? And in a lot of towns and cities they are being lowered even more.

cmyx6go · 07-31-2021, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maynard

Back in the gloomy 80's they almost did this - at least capping them all at whatever would be 'legal plus a little'. They settled on limiting the speedos to only display up to 85mph. Back then, cars were craptastic enough that 85 was actually pushing it in most of them.

I remember the 85 high on the speedometer I was going from LA to Vegas in the wee hours of the morning mid 80s. I was a passenger. We got pulled over for speeding. When asked by the cop “Do you know how fast you were going” the driver responded the speedometer said 85. It wasn’t pretty. He clocked us at 100. It was a rental.

cmyx6go · 07-31-2021, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemansE90335xi

My question is why are speed limits so low? And in a lot of towns and cities they are being lowered even more.

Cha ching is why. They just lowered the speed limit on the main drag here to 30 mph. Seriously? And of course there are speed cameras everywhere. They’re off on the weekend

Buug959 · 07-31-2021, 07:01 PM

Back in 2000 I drove to Florida and back in an old '89 Ford Bronco II. I drove that thing with my foot literally on the floor almost the entire trip. I was stopped in Georgia on the way down and in Maryland and Connecticut on the way home. I got three speeding tickets... all of them were for doing 84mph. It's all the old Ford would do.

whitef31 · 07-31-2021, 07:30 PM

There's no universal speed limit, so what would you have manufacturers limit their cars to? What about vehicles used on private tracks?

Buug959 · 07-31-2021, 07:37 PM

Or Germany?

CTinline-six · 07-31-2021, 07:38 PM

We should have an autobahn here in the states, but also have better driver training. I think we should have different plates that indicate driving skill. If you are a better driver, you can go faster.

Saif2018 · 07-31-2021, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Before I get called a communist, I've always wondered this.

Is it because there weren't speed limits like 70 years ago and no one introduced a law limiting car top speeds?

Well, there are places where you can legally go as fast as your car allows like tracks and Autobahn, so limiting cars performance doesn't make sense. Plus speed limits vary from country to country.

Contrary to popular belief speed kills, that is not necessarily true, its inappropriate use of speed at the wrong place/time that kills.

If you look at the majority of the vehicle accidents they don't happen at very high speeds anyway, even though the green brigade would have us believe otherwise.

Speed limits have been lowered to various areas - 20mph in UK, and Moronic traffic management in certain places, just for cyclists, which in turn has increased emissions due to more traffic, its places like this that increase likelihood of accidents but nobody seems to care, just fixated on speed.

GuidoK · 07-31-2021, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemansE90335xi

Or Germany?

Actually Germany is together with Japan the only country I can think of where there is an agreement between government and carmakers to limit the speed of cars.

ok, in Germany that agreement is 250kph, but still, it's an agreement (and not a hard one, if you pay, you can go faster)
This agreement is afaik mainly due to the enviromental reasons, not safety reasons I think.

F32Fleet · 07-31-2021, 10:41 PM

Answer: Because there are speed limits.

Limegrntaln · 07-31-2021, 10:50 PM

Even worse, I paid to bump the governor on my G82 to 180.

aliiin · 07-31-2021, 10:52 PM

"Get off my lawn, kid."

-OP

upstatedoc · 07-31-2021, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Even worse, I paid to bump the governor on my G82 to 180.

How is this done? Asking for a friend.

Suds · 07-31-2021, 11:00 PM

Let’s add a wheel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Before I get called a communist, I've always wondered this.

Is it because there weren't speed limits like 70 years ago and no one introduced a law limiting car top speeds?

Limegrntaln · 07-31-2021, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

How is this done? Asking for a friend.

Its no secret.

07-31-2021, 06:21 PM	#1
Tyga11 Lieutenant Colonel 3484 Rep 1,749 Posts Drives: M3 Comp Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Why are cars allowed to go so fast? Before I get called a communist, I've always wondered this. Is it because there weren't speed limits like 70 years ago and no one introduced a law limiting car top speeds?
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07-31-2021, 06:33 PM	#2
upstatedoc I'll get back to you 7533 Rep 2,132 Posts Drives: blue streak Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: not downstate iTrader: (2)	What's the top speed on your M3? __________________ 2018 Stinger GT 2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/ Countermeasure enthusiast.
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07-31-2021, 06:37 PM	#4
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3160 Rep 4,021 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	You mean 'why are street legal cars allowed to have a top speed which is higher than the legal maximum?’ I can't think of a reason why not!
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07-31-2021, 06:42 PM	#6
Maynard Colonel 4179 Rep 2,944 Posts Drives: 228iX & M2C Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (1)	Back in the gloomy 80's they almost did this - at least capping them all at whatever would be 'legal plus a little'. They settled on limiting the speedos to only display up to 85mph. Back then, cars were craptastic enough that 85 was actually pushing it in most of them.
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07-31-2021, 06:49 PM	#8
Buug959 Captain 22695 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 335xi E90, GMC Sierra, VW Golf Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Nova Scotia iTrader: (0)	My question is why are speed limits so low? And in a lot of towns and cities they are being lowered even more. __________________ Wha' da ya mean? No brakes never stopped anyone before!
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07-31-2021, 07:01 PM	#11
Buug959 Captain 22695 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 335xi E90, GMC Sierra, VW Golf Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Nova Scotia iTrader: (0)	Back in 2000 I drove to Florida and back in an old '89 Ford Bronco II. I drove that thing with my foot literally on the floor almost the entire trip. I was stopped in Georgia on the way down and in Maryland and Connecticut on the way home. I got three speeding tickets... all of them were for doing 84mph. It's all the old Ford would do. __________________ Wha' da ya mean? No brakes never stopped anyone before!
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07-31-2021, 07:30 PM	#12
whitef31 Registered 25 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 328d F31 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	There's no universal speed limit, so what would you have manufacturers limit their cars to? What about vehicles used on private tracks?
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07-31-2021, 07:37 PM	#13
Buug959 Captain 22695 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 335xi E90, GMC Sierra, VW Golf Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Nova Scotia iTrader: (0)	Or Germany? __________________ Wha' da ya mean? No brakes never stopped anyone before!
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07-31-2021, 07:38 PM	#14
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6941 Rep 3,016 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	We should have an autobahn here in the states, but also have better driver training. I think we should have different plates that indicate driving skill. If you are a better driver, you can go faster. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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07-31-2021, 10:41 PM	#17
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3892 Rep 10,598 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Answer: Because there are speed limits. __________________ "Drive more, worry less. " 435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line
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07-31-2021, 10:50 PM	#18
Limegrntaln Major General 14179 Rep 7,161 Posts Drives: 2022 DG/BLk xDrive M4C Wk 34 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sacramento Area iTrader: (3) Garage List 2022 G82 M4 Competi ... [9.42]	Even worse, I paid to bump the governor on my G82 to 180. __________________ 2022 DravitGrau /Black Full Merino M4 Competition M xDrive / Production Week 34/ Delivered 10/19/21/ IG: dravit_m4_comp YT: G Dubyou
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07-31-2021, 10:52 PM	#19
aliiin I use my turn signal 741 Rep 282 Posts Drives: Toyota Tercel Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	"Get off my lawn, kid." -OP
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