How Fast Can We Go?

[scotth_uk]

Modern cars have more ability in many areas than old cars - speed, handling, safety, etc. It makes sense (to me at least) that a modern car would react with more talent at higher speeds than some of some of the old dungers that were daily drivers when the speed limits were put into place. As such, I am surprised that speed limits have not gone up over the years.

Last time I looked, it wasn't compulsory to purchase the highest horsepower car manufactured.

People buy cars for multiple reasons too - shock horror, but some folks actually drive the high powered cars safely on the road, and also enjoy thrashing the R's off them at the track. Nothing wrong with that from where I sit.

You'll never stop people doing what they want, with the things they purchased. You can make it illegal, but it will not stop.

 

[BTB 500]

That's only how the display is set. The true reading off the wheels is exact.

No it's not. It's based on the circumference of the tyre ... which varies depending on how worn it is, temperature, tyre pressure, etc.

 

[Dieselman]

What's the relevance of that?

Astras kill far more people and emit far more CO2 than Ferrari Enzos. So if you want to save lives and the environment then there's a much bigger payback in regulating / improving the Astra than the Enzo.

Ah, so put all the regular drivers into Enzo's then. There will be no more bad accidents. Get real, there would be loads more.

The relevence is that the number os supercar accidents is low because;
1. there aren't many and
2. they don't get driven much.

So per volume of usage the supercar is probably far worse than the humble saloon.

 

[BTB 500]

The relevence is that the number os supercar accidents is low because;
1. there aren't many and
2. they don't get driven much.

Exactly. So they aren't a problem really, are they?

 

[Dieselman]

No it's not. It's based on the circumference of the tyre ... which varies depending on how worn it is, temperature, tyre pressure, etc.

I didn't think we needed to be exact to umpteen decimal places. 1mph is good enough for this.

As far as tyre wear etc the effect is fairly negligible. Total wheel tyre diameter say 643 mm. Is 5 mm of tyre wear in total going to be significant.? No as it's less than 1%, so less than 1mph per 100mph.

 

[scotth_uk]

Judging by the number of broken-in-two, and smashed-to-pieces Enzos out of the very small number that were made, I'd say they are driven poorly by very wealthy people.

Some time back we counted 13 or 14 written off, out of 500 I think.

 

[recycled]

i do not see a limiter coming.
Imagine how much money the plodd and the HM treasury will lose.
Anyway what about track days enthusiasts who drive fast legally? where would that leave them. Oh i can not go to santapod as my car is limited to 80. hello

 

[television]

On a visit to the Maserati factory I stepped out of line by peeping into the basement, I soon got hauled back out, there were hundreds of smashed beyond recognition car. The guy said you must not look there,it is bad for you to see those.

Never forget that.

 

[BTB 500]

As far as tyre wear etc the effect is fairly negligible. Total wheel tyre diameter say 643 mm. Is 5 mm of tyre wear in total going to be significant.? No as it's less than 1%

Yup I was being pedantic about the use of the word 'exact'

Continuing in that vein, it's the circumference that matters ... which of course is the diameter multiplied by Pi. And 5mm of wear will give a bigger error on a small wheel than large wheel.

 

[stats007]

To me this whole argument is a waste of time. There are countless things in life that are unecessary - however we have freedom of choice and thankfully so do car manufacturers.

 

[Dieselman]

Yup I was being pedantic about the use of the word 'exact'

Continuing in that vein, it's the circumference that matters ... which of course is the diameter multiplied by Pi. And 5mm of wear will give a bigger error on a small wheel than large wheel.

I sort of guessed..

As you rightly say the circumference will have a greater effect on a small tyre, but the percentage difference will stay the same, which is why I chose a fairly standard size, 295/25/20.

only joking, I used 215/55/16.

The percentage is 0.7% so is well within any required tolerance.

 

[television]

To me this whole argument is a waste of time. There are countless things in life that are unnecessary - however we have freedom of choice and thankfully so do car manufacturers.

Apparently human beings are the only species to have this ability

 

[Sp!ke]

That's only how the display is set. The true reading off the wheels is exact.

Its only exact at that moment in time. 50 miles down the road there's less rubber on the tyre and it less than exact.

I believe this will one day all be enforced by PAYD insurance linked to GPS. You can drive as fast as you like but if you do, the insurance will cripple you if you dont kill yourself first.

 

[Dieselman]

Too late Sp!ke..we've already been there..

 

[stats007]

Apparently human beings are the only species to have this ability

I don't think that's true. A lot of animal species show unnecessary behaviour.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The car is not yet in production, in spite of rave reviews from car shows across Europe.

Not yet in production?? A little optimistic if you ask me.

Given the AMG/M/RS power wars, there's probably a place for a fairly high-power VW if it wants a piece of the action. Probably cheaper than engineering another Veyron too.

 

[crockers]

Global Warming is a load of B****cks , Save the V8!

Actually a very sensible statement...

Tests in Antartica using core samples have proven that carbon increases 50 - 90 years AFTER global temperatures rise not as people think that global temperatures are caused by carbon levels its the other way around.

And I can remember all the panic about there being a new ICE AGE just around the corner (mid 70's)....

So lets not blame the poor motorist for all the worlds ills.......

And as an aside --- how much money is now committed to government research and industry to fight global warming - all a load of b*ll*cks...

IMHO....


Crockers off his soap box..:bannana:

 

[crockers]

On a visit to the Maserati factory I stepped out of line by peeping into the basement, I soon got hauled back out, there were hundreds of smashed beyond recognition car. The guy said you must not look there,it is bad for you to see those.

Never forget that.

Did he make you an offer you couldn't refuse ?

 

[61jason61]

if the government demand speed limiters, who's gonna pay for them, do you really think its viable to have them fitted to all cars? brand new ones maybe, but some of us can't afford brand new motors, so is a non starter. plus why 80 mph when the speed limit is 70? dont' you think they'll limit the cars to the actual top speed possible?

 

[Rob77]

The supermarket car parks are not going to be filled with these cars. They will exist in order to demonstrate engineering excellence by the makers, so that the "lesser" models will sell better by association. Same as involvement in racing.

Hawk20 sure seems to have a thing about those fat and unfit over 50s doesn't he