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Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

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Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#301

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I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

The main reason car companies don't put (un-overridable) governors for 85mph in cars is that their sales would instantly plummet. That said, all "fast" cars sold in the US do have governors at 140 mph if memory serves. The same car sold in Germany has no such governor.

As much as I remember there is a gentleman's agreement between the German car makers that they restrict the motor power after 300 km/h (about 190 mph). A teacher told me that this should be the velocity a normal untrained person is safe to drive on the German autobahn.

They circumvent this with their own car tuners which release the cars without this restrictions (AMG for Mercedes Benz as an example)

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#302
post #207

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Do we want noisy side streets? In some European countries, streets are configured to prevent through traffic. That leaves them quiet for the enjoyment of residents.

Side streets need to support their fair share of traffic. Most cars these days are very quiet, barring the occasional beater, utility truck, and ricer. That being said, if they slow cars down Waze will direct less drivers to them.

Side streets need to support their fair share of children walking to school, bicycles, conversations and not-polluted air.

Their fair share of traffic is very low, only traffic to or from a building on the street.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#303
post #272

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Sure, but I expect Google could make a kazillion dollars with some kind of licensing deal to provide Android and a stripped down offline version of Google Maps as a backup if there's no data available to car manufacturers. Customizing an existing Android-for-cars platform sounds like a way better plan than whatever junk these manufacturers are shipping today. I've seen better systems in the 1990s in terms of responsi…

>some kind of licensing deal to provide Android and a stripped down offline version of Google Maps as a backup I don't think a default offline android will ever be in the picture. If everyone is offline, how will it make money? (android is free, so its far fetched to think it will start charging for that). It is risky for google to just give away lot of map data. Google spent a lot of money trying to acquire it. If i…

I refuse to believe that Google can't pre-fetch ads and monetize their maps in other ways. Want your company logo to appear on the map itself? Pay up. I'm sure fast food chains and places like Starbucks would fork out to get custom pins.

Garmin has tons of map data too, and they "give it away" when you download it for your device. The offline mode might not have all the detail of the live version, but it could be good enough for travelling in remote areas without reception.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cars can generally go much faster than the maximum speed limit, so it wouldn't be the first time the car allows you to do something against the law.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

Simplest explanation - because a car can be taken on a private road(off road track, racing circuit) and driven as fast as you like. Yeah, you are not going to do that in a prius, but theoretically, you could.

All new cars in EU have to be limited to 155mph by law, but manufacturers are allowed to remove that restriction if you complete an advanced training course. So for example - mercedes will remove the speed limiter on your AMG vehicle, if you finish their advanced amg handling course.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#306
post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

There were, until very recently, some roads in Montana that didn't have any speed limit during the day. They provided at least a legal justification that there was a legitimate on-road use case for going more than 85MPH. I believe Montana gave that up in the last few years, so there wouldn't be much of a case against putting an 85MPH governor in cars, except I guess against the possibility that some state might at so…

Poland has recently bumped up the speed limit on all motorways from 80 to 90mph(140km/h).

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

I've always been puzzled as to why cars don't come with speed governing as a (default off) option. I'd love to be able to lend my car to my child with the max speed set to 60mph or govern my speed to 65 on long freeway trips so I don't have to constantly check my speedometer (this is different from cruise control because I could easily slow down below 65, just never go above it).

Most cruise control systems come with a limiter as well though, so you can set a limit and then the car will never exceed it.

Also, no offence, but if you can't trust your kid with a car, then maybe you shouldn't be lending them it in the first place? Or get them a less powerful car for the start?

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#309
post #258
post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always wondered why it took manufacturers so long to put in a 3.5mm jack into head units--it would have saved us a lot of awful tape adapters in the 90s and CD changer emulators in the 2000s.

Ha, and apple just removed the 3.5mm jack from their phones. Perhaps the entire reason for it was to get CarPlay into more cars :P

No. It wasn't. And by the way, the iPhone 7 can still output to a 3.5mm aux jack just fine, which you probably already knew, or should know.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

There are situations when going above the speed limit could save your life, at least where I live. It could be for passing or to escape from a robbery

You have to weight it against the gain at the other end. I'm nearly certain that more lives would be saved from inability to exceed speed limit, than would be lost by speeding away from something.
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