Why are cars built to go so fast?

Post by **Vympel** » 2006-04-19 02:43am

Our state just had another big Easter long weekend death toll, and on the radio yesterday, some sort of driving safety advocate or whatever asked why cars were available on the market that could go 220km/h when the highest speed you can legally drive in the State/country was 110km/h. I thought it was a good question- is it feasible/right/reasonable/etc to require car manufacturers to build cars that don't have the capability to drive at speeds so over the legal limit it's obscene?

The only exception I can think of is for law enforcement, ambulances, etc.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2006-04-19 02:49am

From a German point of view, because I am legally allowed to drive that fast... Some groups try to get a general speed limit imposed here, but they always fail.
Though German car companies limit the maximum speed electronically to 250km/h voluntarily here.

Post by **Vympel** » 2006-04-19 02:50am

Dahak wrote:From a German point of view, because I am legally allowed to drive that fast... Some groups try to get a general speed limit imposed here, but they always fail.
Though German car companies limit the maximum speed electronically to 250km/h voluntarily here.

Yes, I often here petrolheads over here talk about the German Mecca

The groups that try to impose a general speed limit, what's their motivation?

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2006-04-19 02:50am

because there are places other than public roadways in which people can drive and those are not governed by state/federal traffic law. Also it is called personal responsibility, more people should have it.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2006-04-19 02:57am

Vympel wrote:
Dahak wrote:From a German point of view, because I am legally allowed to drive that fast... Some groups try to get a general speed limit imposed here, but they always fail.
Though German car companies limit the maximum speed electronically to 250km/h voluntarily here.
Yes, I often here petrolheads over here talk about the German Mecca

The groups that try to impose a general speed limit, what's their motivation?

There are local speed limits. Where the accident numbers are very high, possible risks are there, or for noise protection, but not generally.

The reasons range from environmental reasons (less fuel consumption, noise protection,...) to the numbers of accidents due to not suitably adjusted speed. But it just won't fly here. Some say that what gun control is to Americans, the no-speed-limit is to Germans...

Post by **Beowulf** » 2006-04-19 03:12am

For efficency reasons, you want cars to have low drag. For safety reasons, you want cars to have a reasonable amount of horsepower(passing on a two lane road, for ex.). Combine those two, and you end up with a car that can go fairly fast.

Post by **Vympel** » 2006-04-19 03:13am

Death from the Sea wrote:because there are places other than public roadways in which people can drive and those are not governed by state/federal traffic law.

You've got to be kidding. Like where? You think this no doubt small class of areas not governed by the law (and, therefore, not likely to be an area where there's potential for serious accidents) should determine how fast cars should go?

Also it is called personal responsibility, more people should have it.

And how does "personal responsibility" work when you pulverize someone else's car and kill everyone in it because you were driving too damn fast?

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2006-04-19 03:17am

Because its fucking awesome, obviously. Anyway, I have a feeling it has much to do with the neccessity of being able to accelerate to highway speeds fast enough not to be plowed into by a cranked up semi driver on the often ludicrously short onramps to many US freeways.

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2006-04-19 03:19am

Well, perhaps one reason is that car manufacturers make fast cars to cater to the emotional desires of the consumer, thus brining in more $$$

Even if people cannot go that fast normally in most places, they often love the idea of having a lot of "power" and "speed." This seems to relate to the mental fixation many people have with large SUV's when they really have no need for them. It's psychological partly, on behalf of the consumer. Lots of young males like fast, hot cars. By making them go "really fast" they appeal to that male desire, thus companies milk it for what it is worth.

Lots of people break the law anyway and speed, although not always at such extreme limits as some cars go.

It seems like a marketing gimmick. Of course, that probably is not the only reason, since I do know that some people do race cars they buy legally. We have a track around here (not a huge one, but a private track) where people can go to race their cars. I think the name of the place is ATCO and the New Egypt raceway around here.

Post by **Vympel** » 2006-04-19 03:30am

The need for acceleration in some circumstances I can accept as valid at least off the top of my head, though I would be interested to see what sort of acceleration you'd safely require for driving in the range of normal/legal traffic conditions. It would depend on the legal speed limit too, I guess.

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2006-04-19 03:36am

sted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:30 am Post subject:
The need for acceleration in some circumstances I can accept as valid at least off the top of my head, though I would be interested to see what sort of acceleration you'd safely require for driving in the range of normal/legal traffic conditions. It would depend on the legal speed limit too, I guess.

True, you do need acceleration on the highway, but I wonder how much you really need. I have only a four banger Wrangler, and so far, it seems good enough for highway travel. I don't know if other people have problems.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2006-04-19 05:57am

People like cars that go fast and accelerate quickly. Me included. Damn if anybody's gonna come and put some sort of artificial restraint in my Firebirds engine. We're supposed to lessen goverment regulation of our lives, not increase it.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2006-04-19 07:54am

God... whats next.. Top speed governers at 60...

please.. no more Nanny state

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2006-04-19 07:57am

I would like to see some information showing the speeds people are most often driving at when they have an accident. My policeman neighbour once commented idly that he'd seen more crashes from people going 60kph in a 40 zone or even 20-40 in an intersection than tearing up at 140kph in a 100 zone.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2006-04-19 08:26am

Thats I've been told in loads of safety programs and shows on TV about traffic safety. Most accidents happen around 40kph and you really want to be wearing a belt then.

Post by **weemadando** » 2006-04-19 08:35am

Why are cars built to go so fast?

Because some people worry that their penises are too small.

Mrs Kendall · Post by **Mrs Kendall** » 2006-04-19 08:45am

Yeah accidents happen at those speeds cause the people slowed down when they knew they were gonna crash, it happened to us, totally unavoidable, stupid woman at the top of a hill in the middle of the road on a rainy day, we came to the top of the road and crashed into her cause we didn't have time or the room to slow down any more or swirve. That was a 40 km/h crash and yes you need to be wearing a belt. We were doing the speed limit of 60 km/h so we were not in the wrong at all. Which is why we got a brand spanking new bumper and paint job for free.
I think limiting the speed a car can go at is an excellent idea because I mean honestly how many people drive over the 200 km/h anyway? Our car can go to 220 km/h but I don't think that car has ever gone over 120 km/h at the very most. Unless of course the previous drivers did so and since it was a rental car before the hubby bought it it is highly likely.
Anyway, I think it should be capped at 160 km/h because I think that people would drive much slower that they would normally.

Boyish-Tigerlilly wrote:Well, perhaps one reason is that car manufacturers make fast cars to cater to the emotional desires of the consumer, thus brining in more $$$

I totally agree, it's all about the money they can make by making it go faster sooner, hence the "it can go from 0 to 60 in 2.4 seconds!" selling tactic.

EDIT:

weemadando wrote:Why are cars built to go so fast?

Because some people worry that their penises are too small.

That is so true , so true

Thanks for the laugh

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2006-04-19 08:45am

weemadando wrote:Why are cars built to go so fast?

Because some people worry that their penises are too small.

So liking to go fast has nothing to do with it? Acceleration? Aesthetics? It's all just penis envy?

EDIT: Driving in my Opel Astra with a shitty little engine with maybe 80HP made me appreciate driving with my other car with more than twice the engine strenght of it. It's a godsend if you need to pass someone. And with all the geriatric drivers you do need to.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-04-19 08:49am

This sounds like a question for The Straight Dope.

Mrs Kendall · Post by **Mrs Kendall** » 2006-04-19 08:51am

His Divine Shadow wrote:
weemadando wrote:Why are cars built to go so fast?

Because some people worry that their penises are too small.
So liking to go fast has nothing to do with it? Acceleration? Aesthetics? It's all just penis envy?

Yup, admit it, you have a small pee pee so you drive fast

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2006-04-19 08:55am

Vympel wrote:The need for acceleration in some circumstances I can accept as valid at least off the top of my head, though I would be interested to see what sort of acceleration you'd safely require for driving in the range of normal/legal traffic conditions. It would depend on the legal speed limit too, I guess.

Given some of the poorly designed highway on-ramps in my area, you need a car that'll do 0-100km/h in about 5 seconds to safely merge onto the highway without holding up traffic. My car does 0-100 in a bit over 8 seconds, even when I floor it on the on-ramp I'm only going about 80km/h when the lane runs out and I have to merge into traffic which is moving at least 20km/h faster, 100km/h being the highway speed limit here.

As for top speed, well, the unofficial speed limit that cops let you get away with is about 120km/h, but depending on the highway & time of day traffic can zoom along at 150km/h or more.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2006-04-19 09:03am

Mrs Kendall wrote:I think limiting the speed a car can go at is an excellent idea because I mean honestly how many people drive over the 200 km/h anyway? Our car can go to 220 km/h but I don't think that car has ever gone over 120 km/h at the very most. Unless of course the previous drivers did so and since it was a rental car before the hubby bought it it is highly likely.
Anyway, I think it should be capped at 160 km/h because I think that people would drive much slower that they would normally.

That totally depends on the country you live in

You're basically a mobile road block if you drive at anything below ~120km/h on a German Autobahn. 140-160 is the norm. When I'm on the Autobahn, I do as is German custom and drive 20km/h more than current speed limit on a part with speed limit. When I have no local speed limit on the Autobahn, I usually go about 180-200km/h. And I get tailgated at such speeds, here...

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2006-04-19 09:03am

To get faster to places?

(I love living in Germany)

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2006-04-19 09:05am

aerius wrote:
Vympel wrote:The need for acceleration in some circumstances I can accept as valid at least off the top of my head, though I would be interested to see what sort of acceleration you'd safely require for driving in the range of normal/legal traffic conditions. It would depend on the legal speed limit too, I guess.
Given some of the poorly designed highway on-ramps in my area, you need a car that'll do 0-100km/h in about 5 seconds to safely merge onto the highway without holding up traffic. My car does 0-100 in a bit over 8 seconds, even when I floor it on the on-ramp I'm only going about 80km/h when the lane runs out and I have to merge into traffic which is moving at least 20km/h faster, 100km/h being the highway speed limit here.

As for top speed, well, the unofficial speed limit that cops let you get away with is about 120km/h, but depending on the highway & time of day traffic can zoom along at 150km/h or more.

Thats true, whenever I go to the city I need to use the high way, pulling onto it is sometimes downright scary because of the lack of acceleration my car posess. Ofcourse soon it's summer and when I feel I can afford the gas usage I'm pulling out the firebird.

I admit it's a fucking wonderfull car, beatifull like hell, sounds like a dream, lovely to drive. I don't feel bad about my penis(quite the opposite) but ofcourse I can't go around with my fly open in public, so this will have to
do instead.

P.S. I loved to drive in Germany. Autobahn FTW.

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2006-04-19 09:05am

Dahak wrote: You're basically a mobile road block if you drive at anything below ~120km/h on a German Autobahn. 140-160 is the norm. When I'm on the Autobahn, I do as is German custom and drive 20km/h more than current speed limit on a part with speed limit. When I have no local speed limit on the Autobahn, I usually go about 180-200km/h. And I get tailgated at such speeds, here...

I love having to keep a cruise speed ~ 190 Km/h just to keep with the flow. The bad thing is that this country has spoiled me complety.