Restrict cars to 70mph?

LiE · 15 Jan 2009 at 19:36

Begbie said:
Because a car isn't always sold to be taken on the road. Can be used for tracks, or private road. So the goverment surly can have no control over this?

I'm sure they could implement a system that involves a GPS which removes the restriction when you take it on a track. I believe the GTR has something like this?

Freefaller · 15 Jan 2009 at 19:37

Because it's dangerous. If you're travelling at 70 and need to do an emergency manoeuvre or a quick overtake, you need to be able to exceed 70 at times. If i'm driving along an A or B road which is single lane though the speed limit may be 60, if I overtake I can guarantee you that I will exceed 70 as I take a run up to overtake the vehicle as quickly as possible to minimise my time exposed to danger i.e. my time on the other side of the road.

Limiting cars at 70 would be foolish.

Furthermore as has been said driving on the continent would be a pain, and ultimately 70mph is just a ridiculous speed limit - they just need to train people to drive better.

Barks · 15 Jan 2009 at 19:37

They wouldn't dare do that anyway. It would cause serious damage to the economy and the market.

It's like a campaign to make all cars equal. What next, an acceleration limiter!?

CliffyBiro · 15 Jan 2009 at 19:41

msm722 said:
I'm sure they could implement a system that involves a GPS which removes the restriction when you take it on a track. I believe the GTR has something like this?

If GPS worked all of the time, yes.

Yor're right though, the GTR does have something similar but it's pretty buggy from what I've heard and only recognises certain tracks.

mattpc · 15 Jan 2009 at 19:46

(In response to the OP)

Whatever. :rolleyes:

LiE · 15 Jan 2009 at 19:47

mattpc said:
(In response to the OP)

Whatever.

Yea I know :rolleyes:

I'm a little bored in my hotel room.

DannyDan · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:13

Freefaller said:
Because it's dangerous. If you're travelling at 70 and need to do an emergency manoeuvre or a quick overtake, you need to be able to exceed 70 at times. If i'm driving along an A or B road which is single lane though the speed limit may be 60, if I overtake I can guarantee you that I will exceed 70 as I take a run up to overtake the vehicle as quickly as possible to minimise my time exposed to danger i.e. my time on the other side of the road.

Limiting cars at 70 would be foolish.

^^ this

BigglesPiP · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:19

Cars aren't limited to 150. Although German cars are limited to 155 (electronically or by the laws of physics), yet they still have unrestricted roads.

6thElement · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:28

OllyM said:
Because you can cross the channel and then travel in France at 130km/hour legally, which is 80mph

I thought it was 130mph :confused:

gareth.e · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:29

I can see a 100mph limit working and being reasonable (well sort of) But I still wouldnt like it.

OllyM · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:29

6thElement said:
I thought it was 130mph

Most of the Brits near to the ports seem to think so - it's insane

6thElement · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:32

Why does being near the ports come into it

I get around · 15 Jan 2009 at 20:38

4 reasons as far as i can tell
1. marketing for car companies
2. everyone speeds now and again
3. speed limits go higher in foreign countries
4. track use

David _b · 15 Jan 2009 at 21:05

I hate slow cars. That are that slow its dangerous to complete overtaking, pulling away sharp onto a carriageway from the central reservation, nipping around junctions. The lack of power in lost of situations gets you in more trouble than not having enough power. By a massive margin i find too.

Flukester · 15 Jan 2009 at 21:27

I remember hearing from somewhere that the 155mph limit on most big saloons is because though they are capable of a lot more most of their running gear like brakes / chassis etc are not up to the job.

Engine power advances all the time for very little end user cost, but manus cant afford to spec up the rest of the car to be safe at 200mph while keeping costs low for us, which makes sense.

Flukester · 15 Jan 2009 at 21:29

OllyM said:
Most of the Brits near to the ports seem to think so - it's insane

last time I crossed channel I was on R1, sat at a steady 125mph and I was constantly overtaken.. was just plain scary, and that was before trying to get round the arch de whatever in paris, brown trousers time.

rypt · 15 Jan 2009 at 22:27

gareth.e said:
I can see a 100mph limit working and being reasonable (well sort of) But I still wouldnt like it.

Autobahn...

Flukester said:
I remember hearing from somewhere that the 155mph limit on most big saloons is because though they are capable of a lot more most of their running gear like brakes / chassis etc are not up to the job.

Isn't the BMW and Merc limit a gentlemans agreement, same way as the Japanese limit of 300bhp.

gareth.e · 15 Jan 2009 at 22:38

rypt said:
Autobahn...

Isn't the BMW and Merc limit a gentlemans agreement, same way as the Japanese limit of 300bhp.

Is 100mph on an autobahn slow?

And how often do you personally drive autobahns?

And do you think you would struggle to remove the electronic limmiter?

PinkFloyd · 15 Jan 2009 at 22:39

rypt said:
Isn't the BMW and Merc limit a gentlemans agreement, same way as the Japanese limit of 300bhp.

Pretty sure that is the case. Cars like the BMW M3 clearly are capable of more with brakes and chassis to match, its just an agreed speed. Not sure that VW and Audi stick by it? (Don't think VW have anything fast enough to really beat it anyway do they? Have no idea xD)

Fett · 15 Jan 2009 at 22:53

skippi90 said:
If GPS worked all of the time, yes.

Yor're right though, the GTR does have something similar but it's pretty buggy from what I've heard and only recognises certain tracks.

This only applies to JDM GT-Rs. Euro/UK-spec are unrestricted.

rypt said:
Isn't the BMW and Merc limit a gentlemans agreement, same way as the Japanese limit of 300bhp.

That went out the window awhile ago I believe.