Speeding in a shed!

HEADRAT

HEADRAT

HEADRAT

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
21,499
Location
Cambridge, UK
Hi,

So I would like to get other peoples opinions on this, is doing 100MPH in a BMW Z4 (or like) safer than doing 100MPH in a 1.1 Micra or Transit Van!

Now my opinion that doing 100MPH in the BMW would be much safer as the car suspension, brakes, tyres etc. are easily rated for that speed and so it is inherently safer e.g. if somebody stopped in front of me I've got more chance of pulling up in time than somebody with weedy tyres and brakes? Even if I couldn't brake in time I've got more chance of steering the car out of the way while staying in control!

Thoughts?

HEADRAT

PS It always annoys me that amount of weedy cars, van's, people carriers soom past liket they have something to prove, most of the time I just think its dangerous!
 
i agree with that doing 90+ in a 2001 punto 1.2ltr makes the car shake quite abit i'd imagine if that we're a proper 1.6 saloon it would breeze at 100+ without judders.
 
I am constantly amazed at the speed some people drive heaps of junk. The amount of time I've wondered in amazement as girls in Saxo 1.1's fly past in the outside lane at 100mph right on the limit.

Doesn't bother me if somebody in a car designed for it flashes past but when you've got a cheap, flimsey, underpowered car right on the limit at 100mph, its just reckless and dangerous, no way is it going to stop any time soon if it needs to.
 
Of course it is safer for the reasons that you stated!

As for doing high speeds in old cars, well you are asking for trouble. The great thing about a car that will do 155mph+ is that it will go at 90-100 without being overly stressed.
 
Last edited:
Ollie's Gadgets said:
Of course it is safer for the reasons that you stated!
Click to expand...

Well obviously lots of people think that speeding in a shed is safe as they whizz past me everyday ;)

HEADRAT

PS Ninja edit on the "pointless post" ;)
 
William said:
70 or a 100 you are pretty much mauled in any car if you crash at that speed.
Click to expand...

Hmm, not really.

Sliding into and bouncing off a central reservation @ 80 mph isn't exactly my idea of fun, but I'd take that over hitting the back of an artic @ 50mph.
 
Friend hit central reservation in a focus at 75ish and just walked away from it. Now there are safer cars on the road than a focus but it is a new car with air bags are safety design.

An old car often will not have air bags/crumple zones etc which make it so dangerous to be driving at those speeds.
 
merlin said:
Hmm, not really.

Sliding into and bouncing off a central reservation @ 80 mph isn't exactly my idea of fun, but I'd take that over hitting the back of an artic @ 50mph.
Click to expand...

Aye, either way you are usually not going to come out without a scratch.
 
William said:
70 or a 100 you are pretty much mauled in any car if you crash at that speed.
Click to expand...

No, not really.

I was reading about 4 men in a BMW 5 Series who crashed off a road in Germany at 90mph, bounced off several trees, and walked away..
 
I can safely say being in the front seat of my mate's dad's transit doing ~100 on the motorway (yes I know, im cool :rolleyes: ) was one of the most pant-wetting experiences I've had.

It felt like one of those wonkey shopping trolleys in asda and the sound of rattling tools knocking in the back really gave you a sense of security.
 
William said:
Aye, either way you are usually not going to come out without a scratch.
Click to expand...

Depends what you were driving really. :)

Barrier @ 80 in an old mini - you just might lose your legs, barrier @ 80 in an old Volvo - you'd be unlucky if you spilt your drink.
 
[TW]Fox said:
No, not really.

I was reading about 4 men in a BMW 5 Series who crashed off a road in Germany at 90mph, bounced off several trees, and walked away..
Click to expand...

But thats one incident where they were lucky.

Generally, if you have a crash at 90mph, you're going to get hurt.
 
My brother is a highways officer, and he sees them all.

For example.

Guy the other day was doing an estimated 75mph in the outside lane, he had a rear tyre blow out. Crossed three lanes, hit a bridge bollard front on after being launched up a barrier.

He was alive when my brother got there, less than 5 minutes after the accident, but his legs were over 40 yards away. He died shortly after still in the car.

Crashing on the motorway is a total lottery, you may be 100 mph in a micra and slide on your roof for half a mile and walk away with nothing but cuts and bruises. However, equally so, someone doing 60 in a lorry can be killed by debris from a bridge.
 
William said:
Aye, either way you are usually not going to come out without a scratch.
Click to expand...
I hit the central reservation at 120 after a blow out. Glanced it with the front and rear as I was spinning.

I walked away from it no problems. Car worked fine too once I'd bent the exhaust back and replaced the tyre.

I dont think it would have been the same if I did it in a saxo though!

Pic00018u.jpg


Pic00019u.jpg
 
Its all to do with the angle you hit the car / crash barrier at, if you hit it head on the front of the car would be through the back window, most cars can take sliding blows alright, my saxo took a much fuller on front impact alright.
 
Alright, alright I'll admit i'm wrong. Next time I plough into the central reservation I'll do it with confidence thanks to OcUK Crash Specialist central. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom