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Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

arstechnica.com

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Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#121

Post by AWildC182 »

zamadatix wrote: post #18
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

The Fit's estimated top speed is 115. Applying logic to the problem I'd say it goes to 140 because it probably supports switching to km/h mode (e.g. if you need to drive through Canada) and 140 km/h = ~85 mph which as you say is probably the reasonable limit to take the vehicle

Can confirm, I've gotten my fit up to 115 on the PA turnpike for giggles.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#122

Post by woxe »

leetcrew wrote: post #67
jbob2000 wrote: post #25

I've always wondered why the government sets speed limits but then doesn't enforce them on manufacturers. You can solve 99% of speed "crime" by making it illegal to sell a car that can break the speed limit.

the (US) government doesn't actually care about setting reasonable speed limits. they knowingly set the limit lower than most people will drive. this generates a lot of revenue for fines and gives police officers yet another justification to pull people over at any time.

Another way of seeing it is that "most people" intentionally drive at a higher speed than the limit is.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#124

Post by cpursley »

tracker1 wrote: post #14
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100, though the max is 201. I'm not sure I'd be bothered by a regulator for the top speed. That said, I don't think speeding is even close to the number 1 killer these days... Cell phones seem to be the leading cause of accidents these days. Maybe they should detect motion over 5mph and turn off display of messaging apps, only bluetooth…

> I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100

I don't see the point of a vehicle like this unless you drag race it on a regular basis. It has limited utility, is larger than an Abrams tank, guzzles fuel like it's 1998 and couldn't make it around a slalom cone course even with a skilled driver. It's a make a lot of noise and go really fast in a straight line car. That's what it does (nothing wrong with that).

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#125

Post by JustSomeNobody »

snvzz wrote: post #116

Suddenly can't accelerate because of stupid speed limit -> Death. Due to this fear, many a person (including myself) will simply never buy one such car.

If one is in a situation on a typical road where accelerating beyond 112MPH is going to cause death, I'm not completely sure that limiting to 112 is the real issue.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#126

Post by julianz »

lawlessone wrote: post #15
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

>that range is only 43% of my analog speedometer. I don't know why electronic display isn't more of a thing. My 13 year old Toyota displays the number using LED lights, it's far easier to read.

Many studies show that's not really true, it takes you longer to read and process the number than an analog dial. You don't notice the time it takes though.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#127

Post by piptastic »

cpursley wrote: post #124
tracker1 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100, though the max is 201. I'm not sure I'd be bothered by a regulator for the top speed. That said, I don't think speeding is even close to the number 1 killer these days... Cell phones seem to be the leading cause of accidents these days. Maybe they should detect motion over 5mph and turn off display of messaging apps, only bluetooth…

> I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100 I don't see the point of a vehicle like this unless you drag race it on a regular basis. It has limited utility, is larger than an Abrams tank, guzzles fuel like it's 1998 and couldn't make it around a slalom cone course even with a skilled driver. It's a make a lot of noise and go really fast in a straight line car. That's what it…

it's fun to drive

entertainment has value to some people

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#128

Post by moonbug »

tristor wrote: post #120
jacquesm wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all of my 32 years of driving and over many many miles I've had exactly one situation where acceleration helped me avoid an accident and it wasn't anywhere near the local speed limit. On the way to visiting another HN user I was about to turn left and looking into the low sun waiting for a vehicle that was barely visible to pass. Then I moved across the lane and another vehicle appeared quite close behind the prev…

Meanwhile, I find that acceleration has helped me to avoid accidents numerous times in my ~17 years driving. Everybody has different experiences.

Then you're probably a much worse driver than you think you are. Sorry.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#129

Post by moonbug »

serf wrote: post #110

Bummer for track folks. It's easy to get a new set of rubber that has a speed rating higher than what the factory provided; It's a lot more difficult for a layman to flash out a speed limit. It's a shame that less and less companies are producing products that take into account that perhaps the potential buyer might actually know better.

Which is practically no-one, to within experimental error.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#130

Post by itslennysfault »

serf wrote: post #110

Bummer for track folks. It's easy to get a new set of rubber that has a speed rating higher than what the factory provided; It's a lot more difficult for a layman to flash out a speed limit. It's a shame that less and less companies are producing products that take into account that perhaps the potential buyer might actually know better.

I feel like if you're putting higher rated tires on it, and plan to be doing over 112 mph you can also bypass the limiter.
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