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Car Forum / UK Car Forums / Driving (UK group) / February 2006Why?
I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? >I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The >speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. >So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? <sigh> -- Stuart > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? You seem to have a fixation on speed. Why? I've quite legitimately driven at speeds of 100+ mph on public roads. >> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. >> The [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I've quite legitimately driven at speeds of 100+ mph on public roads. Same here, the most I have hit is 115 >>> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. >>> The [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Same here, the most I have hit is 115 148 in a MkII RS2000 McKev > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? I've never understood how people can post such fucktarded questions to a newsgroup. Perhaps you could explain it to me.  SignatureSteve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Fiat Marea 20v HLX - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # SteveH <steve@italiancar.co.uk> wrote on Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:09:06 +0000: >> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The >> speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. >> So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? > > I've never understood how people can post such fucktarded questions to a > newsgroup. Perhaps you could explain it to me. It's easy. You type fucktarded questions into this piece of software called a "newsreader", which you configure with the details of your news "server". Then you just tell it which newsgroups you wish to spam/troll/bore. SignatureDavid Taylor >I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The >speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. >So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? It's, er... entrapment. >>I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The >>speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. >>So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? > > It's, er... entrapment. Would that work in court??? Justin. It's because your average motorist has an IQ somewhat less than 75 and believes everything he/she reads in the Daily Mail and hears on Top Gear. There is no sense to it at all. But for uttering such words, you will now be cast down to spend the rest of your days with the sodomites, for it is the motorists unalienable right to drive as fast as he/she likes and kill as many pedestrians, cyclists and children as he/she likes. callfinals@googlemail.com wrote on 27 Jan 2006 13:30:14 -0800: > It's because your average motorist has an IQ somewhat less than 75 and > believes everything he/she reads in the Daily Mail and hears on Top > Gear. The average motorist sets neither the speed limit nor the 155mph limiter on their car. Why does believing what they hear on Top Gear result in such a strange situation? I suggest you're talking bollocks. > There is no sense to it at all. But for uttering such words, you will > now be cast down to spend the rest of your days with the sodomites, for > it is the motorists unalienable right to drive as fast as he/she likes > and kill as many pedestrians, cyclists and children as he/she likes. Ah. You're a troll. SignatureDavid Taylor > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. > The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you > can do. So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. > +100mph? Apart from lorries, I've only encountered one vehicle with a limiter and that had just arrived from Japan. Which vehicles are you thinking of? (A grey import Toyota Soarer if anyone's interested.) > > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. > > The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Apart from lorries, I've only encountered one vehicle with a limiter and > that had just arrived from Japan. Which vehicles are you thinking of? Quite a few performance cars have limiters set at 155MPH for example. SignatureConor Windows & Outlook/OE in particular, shipped with settings making them as open to entry as a starlet in a porno. Steve B > Quite a few performance cars have limiters set at 155MPH for example. Ditto bikes at 185 mph. > > > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. > > > The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > > Quite a few performance cars have limiters set at 155MPH for example. AFAIK all std BMW's that, unrestricted could exceed 155mph, have a limiter set at that speed. Mike. >> Quite a few performance cars have limiters set at 155MPH for example. > > AFAIK all std BMW's that, unrestricted could exceed 155mph, have a limiter > set at that speed. > Mike. Most German cars have it. It's a 'gentlemans agreement' between manufacturers, AFAIK >> > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. >> > The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> > Quite a few performance cars have limiters set at 155MPH for example. It's an agreement between manufacturers to not build cars which can go at stupid speeds. [...] >> Quite a few performance cars have limiters set at 155MPH for >> example. > > It's an agreement between manufacturers to not build cars which can > go at stupid speeds. It also allows the use of cheaper tyres. I have "Y" rated tyres instead. :) A > > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. > > The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > (A grey import Toyota Soarer if anyone's interested.) You seem to have little experience of driving, or much else come to that. Most of the vehicles I own have limiters. Set IIRC at 110, 120, 155 and 155 mph. Signature"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? European harmonisation. The same reason the limit for HGVs in the UK is 60MPH but the limiters are set to 56MPH/90KPH. SignatureConor Windows & Outlook/OE in particular, shipped with settings making them as open to entry as a starlet in a porno. Steve B Craig Davies <nospam@nospam.com> wrote on Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:53:12 +0000 (UTC): > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. You were right, up until the dash. 70mph may be the maximum legal speed on a public road in the UK. There's no speed limit on racetracks, or some parts of the German Autobahns. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? To prevent litigation when their cars start to take off at 170mph? To prevent (postpone?) the introduction of speed limits on Autobahns due to people taking the piss and driving at 200mph? I don't know, but it's certainly not as ridiculous as you make it seem. SignatureDavid Taylor > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - In the UK, sadly it is. > which is the top speed you can do. ...legally in the UK, thanks to bad laws. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? To be usable at 70mph you need a bit of headroom. My car needs to be capable of 170+mph to be practically usable at only 160mph and provide useful acceleration to 150mph. Even in the benighted UK this performance is a useful aid to safety as it makes the car more responsive at our low highway speeds. A >> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. >> The [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > My car needs to be capable of 170+mph to be practically usable at only > 160mph and provide useful acceleration to 150mph. > But it makes ir laughably inefficient at ALL speeds However, fuel/pollution profigacy is no joke, so I guess it makes your car a sick joke at any speed . > But it makes ir laughably inefficient at ALL speeds > > However, fuel/pollution profigacy is no joke, so I guess it makes your car > a sick joke at any speed . I dunno, ISTR Alistair mentioning that it manages 24mpg, which for the performance on offer is by no means inefficient in the slightest. Signature"Doctor Fox was on the panel and I asked him why we didn't even get nominated, and he said 'because you're not very good'. <pause> At least I don't practise medicine without a license." - Ricky Gervais on the Sony Radio Awards >> But it makes ir laughably inefficient at ALL speeds >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I dunno, ISTR Alistair mentioning that it manages 24mpg, which for the > performance on offer is by no means inefficient in the slightest. I guess how you rate effiiciency as a measure of performance. I've got a few things in the cupboard at home that are 'OK' enough at their job, but basically aren't worth using because they are just so crap in the way they do it. If Alistair gets a kick out of using such a wasteful machine I guess it's down to him; but I think it's perfectly reasonable to be scornful of 'idiots' who pretend thar profligacy is an acceptable lifechoice. Personally I think you are "an idiot" too - my parents had a VW caravenette in the 1970s that gave mpg's in the low twenties, but at least it carried 8 of us; What extra value does a"'24 mpg 'performance' vehicle" provide in real terms thirty years later? Cars should be better than their predecessors- but whatever Alistair drives definitelty seems to be worse! > I guess how you rate effiiciency as a measure of performance. I've got a > few things in the cupboard at home that are 'OK' enough at their job, but [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > predecessors- but whatever Alistair drives definitelty seems to be > worse! I do apologise - I didn't realise a VW caravanette was similar in terms of performance to what Alistair drives - out of interest, do you know what that is anyway? Signature"Doctor Fox was on the panel and I asked him why we didn't even get nominated, and he said 'because you're not very good'. <pause> At least I don't practise medicine without a license." - Ricky Gervais on the Sony Radio Awards >> I guess how you rate effiiciency as a measure of performance. I've got a >> few things in the cupboard at home that are 'OK' enough at their job, but [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > performance to what Alistair drives - out of interest, do you know what > that is anyway? I'm happy to accept your apologies ; as I'm sure you are now aware there is a general confusion between 'efficient and effective and 'powerful and prolfigate'; I've no doubt that A's car is the latter, but that doesn't mean it is 'efficient'. I'm sure that any car I would devise would have a fuel performance that was far worse than 24mpg, and I'm sure I would be stupidly proud of it; but that STILL wouldn't make it any worse than a "f**king atrocious waste of energy on the road", just like any 24 mpg 2 or 4 person carrier. > Personally I think you are "an idiot" too - my parents had a VW > caravenette in the 1970s that gave mpg's in the low twenties, but at > least it carried 8 of us; What extra value does a"'24 mpg > 'performance' vehicle" provide in real terms thirty years later? Cars > should be better than their predecessors- but whatever Alistair > drives definitelty seems to be worse! Alistair chooses to drive a quality car. I have also done so in the past. All that safety and comfort adds weight, weight needs power to overcome. Engines are most efficient at peak power output - ie they convert the most power to motion, which is why smaller engines are more efficient at lower speeds - they are further up their efficiency curves. Alistair, like myself, drives abroad where proper speeds are legal and tolerated. I've regularly driven my cars at 90-100% of Vmax for hours on end, running 12-15mpg. That's my choice - so live with it. Currently in an effort to reduce my expenses I'm running a small diesel hatchback - it runs 33mpg flat out (115mph) but I'm not traveling europe as much now so it makes sense. The extra value is 400bhp... SignatureJust remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving And revolving at 900 miles an hour That's orbiting at 19 miles a second, so it's reckoned, A sun that is the source of all our power. The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see, Are moving at a million miles a day In an outer spiral arm, at 40,000 miles an hour, Of the galaxy we call the Milky Way. >> But it makes ir laughably inefficient at ALL speeds >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I dunno, ISTR Alistair mentioning that it manages 24mpg, which for > the performance on offer is by no means inefficient in the slightest. 23.6mpg rolling average. It has various high-tech bitties which raise its thermodynamic efficiency well above that of the average shopping trolley. ...of course peak efficiency only occurs at WOT. :) A >>> But it makes ir laughably inefficient at ALL speeds >>> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > ...of course peak efficiency only occurs at WOT. :) Well, it's more reason to upgrade to a B10 - Valvetronic prevents the pumping losses induced by a partially open throttle. That and the 500bhp of course... SignatureJust remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving And revolving at 900 miles an hour That's orbiting at 19 miles a second, so it's reckoned, A sun that is the source of all our power. The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see, Are moving at a million miles a day In an outer spiral arm, at 40,000 miles an hour, Of the galaxy we call the Milky Way. [...] >> ...of course peak efficiency only occurs at WOT. :) > > Well, it's more reason to upgrade to a B10 - Valvetronic prevents the > pumping losses induced by a partially open throttle. B5 you mean? I owe it to the planet! Even more thermodynamic goodness; the supercharger absorbs less than a quarter of the power of a Roots. Look good in green too. :) > That and the 500bhp of course... Ho yuss... A > [...] > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > B5 you mean? I owe it to the planet! I do indeed mean that. I think the planet should buy you one for its own sake, in fact we should all have one. > Even more thermodynamic goodness; the supercharger absorbs less than a > quarter of the power of a Roots. > > Look good in green too. :) Looks better in black, silver or blue. SignatureQ. How do you get a goth down from a tree? A. Cut the rope. [...] >> B5 you mean? I owe it to the planet! > > I do indeed mean that. I think the planet should buy you one for its > own sake, in fact we should all have one. I think you may well be right. :) Form an orderly queue... >> Even more thermodynamic goodness; the supercharger absorbs less >> than a quarter of the power of a Roots. >> >> Look good in green too. :) > > Looks better in black, silver or blue. I'm currently thinking that 70s acid yellow with purple leather, yellow piping and rhombs, but it'll pass... Alpinablau and black buffalo is hard to beat. A > I'm currently thinking that 70s acid yellow with purple leather, > yellow piping and rhombs, but it'll pass... See your consultant about reducing your meds. > Alpinablau and black buffalo is hard to beat. That's better. SignatureQ. How do you get a goth down from a tree? A. Cut the rope. >> I'm currently thinking that 70s acid yellow with purple leather, >> yellow piping and rhombs, but it'll pass... > > See your consultant about reducing your meds. ...or perhaps increasing... 8) >> Alpinablau and black buffalo is hard to beat. > > That's better. I rather like this, especially the interior - just a little leftfield: http://tinyurl.com/958t8 Two would be good - one subtle, one *LOUD*. A >>> I'm currently thinking that 70s acid yellow with purple leather, >>> yellow piping and rhombs, but it'll pass... [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Two would be good - one subtle, one *LOUD*. Therein lies the problem - to have /two/ BMW based cars you need to do either an M5 and a B5, or an M3 and a Hartge V10 3 series thingy.... SignatureQ. How do you get a goth down from a tree? A. Cut the rope. >>> So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >However, fuel/pollution profigacy is no joke, so I guess it makes your car a >sick joke at any speed . But on the plus side, Alistair, you owning it really upsets people like Owen here. That's almost reason in itself. SignatureSteve Walker [...4.6l, 340bhp...] >> However, fuel/pollution profigacy is no joke, so I guess it makes >> your car a sick joke at any speed . > > But on the plus side, Alistair, you owning it really upsets people > like Owen here. That's almost reason in itself. Glad to be of service. :) A Alistair J Murray <news@fluffy.f9.co.uk> wrote on Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:40:06 +0000: >> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The >> speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > benighted UK this performance is a useful aid to safety as it makes the > car more responsive at our low highway speeds. It needs to be capable of going that fast, but even if it was electronically limited to 71mph it'd get to 70mph just as fast, and be just as responsive, except it'd stop accelerating at 71mph. SignatureDavid Taylor > It needs to be capable of going that fast, but even if it was electronically > limited to 71mph it'd get to 70mph just as fast, and be just as responsive, > except it'd stop accelerating at 71mph. Which is stupid. Look at the pathetic situation we have now with two trucks, one doing 56.5 mph, one doing 56.0, both on the limiter, one struggling past. You'd end up with three lanes of cars unable to get past one another. You'd be unable to accelerate to create a gap for someone joining the motorway or change lane. You would of course be able to brake, which would make everyone else brake too. Chris Bartram <news@delete.me.piglet-net.net> wrote on Sat, 28 Jan 2006 11:30:06 GMT: >> It needs to be capable of going that fast, but even if it was electronically >> limited to 71mph it'd get to 70mph just as fast, and be just as responsive, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > motorway or change lane. You would of course be able to brake, which > would make everyone else brake too. I wasn't suggesting a 71mph limiter was sensible, merely that it would not cause acceleration below that speed to be harmed. SignatureDavid Taylor > Chris Bartram <news@delete.me.piglet-net.net> wrote on Sat, 28 Jan 2006 11:30:06 GMT: >>> It needs to be capable of going that fast, but even if it was electronically [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > I wasn't suggesting a 71mph limiter was sensible, merely that it would > not cause acceleration below that speed to be harmed. I did actually get that David. Maybe my post would have been better directed to the OP, who seemed to think no-one being able to exceed 70 would be a good thing. "Alistair J Murray" wrote in message >> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. >> The [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > benighted UK this performance is a useful aid to safety as it makes the > car more responsive at our low highway speeds. You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to have good performance at the speed limit. it is more about gear ratios and power to weight ratio. Take the Classic Caterham 7, accelerates very well at normal road speeds but has a top speed of only about 110. Ian > You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to have good > performance at the speed limit. it is more about gear ratios and power to > weight ratio. Take the Classic Caterham 7, accelerates very well at normal > road speeds but has a top speed of only about 110. > > Ian Yes, but while it's a very nice car, it wouldn't make a good motorway cruiser, would it? The gearing would presumably be too low, as there's a fair bet it's set up to pull max revs in top gear at 110ish. If you provide a car with enough torque and power to be bearable to drive in most situations and a high top gear for motorway cruising, unless you make that one gear very widely spaced, it will easily exceed the legal limit, unless very aerodynamically poor. If you *did* make that one gear very high, you'd slow drastically on any gradient. >You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to have good >performance at the speed limit. it is more about gear ratios and power to >weight ratio. Take the Classic Caterham 7, accelerates very well at normal >road speeds but has a top speed of only about 110. That's also because it has the aerodynamics of a brick. For most cars, acceleration below the national speed limit is almost entirely determined by the ratio of power to weight. Top speed is largely unrelated to weight and determined by power and drag (most cars are not rev-limited). As cars get heavier, due to the pressure for them to have ever greater comfort and crash safety, and more powerful to retain the power to weight ratio, and more aerodynamic to meet green objectives, the unlimited top speed will increase. You're right that a Caterham, with lousy aerodynamics, no crash protection, no comfort features, a modest 100 horsepower and seating two people will have great acceleration within the national speed limit and will only be able to exceed it by about 60%. Doesn't work with a 1500kg saloon car, though. In any case, how many speeding convictions are for exceeding 110 on the motorway? How many accidents? SignatureSteve Walker > "Alistair J Murray" wrote in message >>> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > accelerates very well at normal road speeds but has a top speed of > only about 110. You do a 1000 mile day in a Caterham and tell me it wouldn't be better with more weight, softer springs, bigger seats and running at half the RPM... SignatureJust remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving And revolving at 900 miles an hour That's orbiting at 19 miles a second, so it's reckoned, A sun that is the source of all our power. The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see, Are moving at a million miles a day In an outer spiral arm, at 40,000 miles an hour, Of the galaxy we call the Milky Way. > You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to have > good performance at the speed limit. it is more about gear ratios and > power to weight ratio. Take the Classic Caterham 7, accelerates very well > at normal road speeds but has a top speed of only about 110. If it was even slightly more aerodynamic than the brick it's modelled on, it's do a fair bit more than 110mph. > You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to have good > performance at the speed limit. it is more about gear ratios and power to > weight ratio. Take the Classic Caterham 7, accelerates very well at normal > road speeds but has a top speed of only about 110. So you think a Caterham 7 is a good choice for a long motorway drive? Does your psychiatrist let you out into the community at weekends? > "Alistair J Murray" wrote in message [...] >> To be usable at 70mph you need a bit of headroom. >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to > have good performance at the speed limit. It does make the car responsive in top gear at the limit, even though the engine is turning at only 2300rpm. ...not as responsive as it is just below peak power in 2nd admittedly. > it is more about gear ratios and power to weight ratio. 200bhp/ton and a close ratio 5-speed autobox geared for Vmax at peak power in top doesn't hurt. :) > Take the Classic Caterham 7, accelerates very well at normal road > speeds but has a top speed of only about 110. Yes, but you'd not want to do a 1000miles in a day in one. A > You don't need a car capable of more than twice the speed limit to > have good performance at the speed limit. it is more about gear > ratios and power to weight ratio. Take the Classic Caterham 7, > accelerates very well at normal road speeds but has a top speed of > only about 110. Have you ever driven one with a top speed of 110? Performance around 70 is pretty crap (compared to the 0-60 performance), it takes forever to accelerate from 70 to 100, and forever again to get to 110 - if the straight is long enough. For motorway driving, give me a car with twice the power and twice the weight any day. > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? The legal limit on motorways in my country of residence is 90mph (150kph). When I drive backwards and forwards to the socialist banana republic of England, I pass through countries where the speed limit varies, but is mostly 130kph (about 80mph) and in Germany it is unrestricted for much of my route. I don't see why the fact that I own cars in Britain whould mean that they have to be handicapped to a speed limit that geriatrics can cope with. Signature"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. > The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you > can do. So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. > +100mph? Because we live in a small island that has very slow speed limits. -- zaax >> I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. >> The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you >> can do. So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. >> +100mph? > > Because we live in a small island that has very slow speed limits. Ah. So it's to stop us falling off the edge? > I have never understood this, so I hope someone can explain it to me. The > speed limit on the motorway is 70mph - which is the top speed you can do. > So why do cars have limits on their cars to go faster e.g. +100mph? A policeman has told me that it's because the government get a lot of tax from fast cars. |
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