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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

#131

Post by cpursley »

pickle-wizard wrote: post #93
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…

It is funny that you mention the speedo goes to 140. The speedo on my Miata goes to 150, except in 6th gear you hit the rev limiter at 136. I'd rather them make the top end more reasonable and make the scale s bigger.

Free upvote for Miata. What a fantastic vehicle.

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

#132

Post by modzu »

rhombocombus wrote: post #78
userulluipeste wrote: post #72

Although 180 km/h looks reasonable, I'm not convinced this kind of solutions is the way to go. Speed limiters are not new and were sold on the idea that are improving the efficiency of the engine, burning the fuel better. To do the same thing in regard to safety however, is a bit humiliating or at least patronizing. People already are required to jump through non-trivial hoops in order to legally get behind the drivi…

I don't think it's fearmongering, especially when you consider that children are allowed to drive (at least here in the US, and with minimal training). This isn't about being a nanny state or keeping folks from driving fast cars (I imagine there will always be cars you can take on the track), it's about keeping everyone on the roads safer. Not one single time in my highway driving life have I encountered a NEED to dr…

cuz a kid doing 112 is fine? it seems like a bit of a straw man to me. but volvo is known for making the safest cars on the road and this continues that trend/perception

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

#133

Post by cpursley »

ams6110 wrote: post #94
mrguyorama wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without the speed limiter, I'd guesstimate that any Civic or Accord could brush up against 140 mph. 2.0L 4cyl engines make surprising power nowadays

Most of these cars are not fitted with tires that can safely handle that speed. It would be a dangerous thing to try, even on a track, if the car is not properly prepped beforehand.

Not not sure why you're getting downvotes.

I'm an amateur race car driver (Champcar). Our Honda Civic is fitted with a professional roll cage, hans device and fire suppression system (not to mention the fireproof suit and helmet). I'd be nervous in any vehicle over 100mph without these added protections.

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

#134

Post by itslennysfault »

SurrealSoul wrote: post #12

Pretty cool, by establishing a top speed standard they could run reliable crash tests for the absolute worst case that the car could experience. Looking forward to the future of "No matter how you drive this car, it won't kill you"

I guess this could be true for crashing into static objects, but other cars are in motion too and don't have speed limiters.

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

#135

Post by redsky17 »

pickle-wizard wrote: post #93
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…

It is funny that you mention the speedo goes to 140. The speedo on my Miata goes to 150, except in 6th gear you hit the rev limiter at 136. I'd rather them make the top end more reasonable and make the scale s bigger.

6th gear is usually an overdrive gear (meant for cruising on a highway to preserve fuel). It's very possible that you'll get a higher top speed in 5th.

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

#136

Post by itslennysfault »

teilo wrote: post #73

Even when I was on the Autobahn (in a Volvo S6 no less) my max speed was 108 mph, and most of the time I settled in at 100 mph. But there will definitely be some people pissed off at this, as I saw people clearly going closer to 120 on occasion.

I cleared 150 mph as a teen 'cause the speedometer went that high and part of being in a new car was seeing if you could actually pin the speedometer.

However, that was a very stupid choice, and I'm glad no one got hurt. Outside of a track there is no valid reason to go over 100 mph.

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

#137

Post by benj111 »

sevensor wrote: post #118
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…

What we need here is a log scale speedometer. Goes up to 140 in case your brakes and transmission fail while descending a steep hill, but gives you plenty of resolution at the lower speeds.

Because as I was hurtling down the hill doing 140 with no brakes, my first concern would be knowing what speed I was doing.

Presumably if the speedo only went to 112mph, it would be impossible to go faster (that's how it works, right?), so you'd know what speed you were doing anyway.

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

#138

Post by tristor »

chris_mc wrote: post #108
derp_dee_derp wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what does poor people not being able to afford to get speeding tickets have anything to do with this conversation? should the OP not drive his car in the way that he wants to because of the price of speeding tickets? should people in wyoming, with access to long stretches of highway with little traffic, not be able to drive their vehicles in the way they want to because manhattan doesn't have highways and has lots of…

The only reason to go fast is for thrills. Going fast is dangerous to other people, hence: fuck you, go slower. I don't care what situation you pull from your ass to give a counterexample, 99.99% of people driving over the speed limit by more than 10-20 are driving dangerously.

In vein of your reply, I'll simply say "Stay out of the left lane." The VAST majority of collisions I've seen which involved a driver exceeding the speed limit were caused by people erratically impeding traffic by cutting them off in the left lane. When I say "I've seen", I mean "I've personally witnessed". It happens constantly in traffic here, and it's usually someone doing 50 in a 70 cutting into the left lane in front of someone doing 80, without bothering to look.

You'd blame the "aggressive" driver doing 80, when it fact this is 99% the fault of the slower driver.

I see slow drivers in the left lane CONSTANTLY, and it irritates me both as someone who drives faster, and someone who understands basic principles of driving and statistics.

If you want to drive slow, fine, go for it, but do it in the right-hand lane.

The amount of traffic collisions and fatalities from speed would be drastically reduced if people in the US just drove like decent people. We have a much higher rate of fatalities than even on the Autobahn, because of people impeding the flow of traffic and generally failing to signal intent before making erratic movements much too slow.

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

#140

Post by conductr »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #44
MikeKusold wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's roughly 180 km/h. Your assumption of a 70mph speed limit is based on the US, and it's incorrect. Portions of highways in the US have 85mph speed limits (i70 on the eastern part of Utah comes to mind).

Also, while the speed limit on I-40 through Arkansas is nominally 70 or 75, it's not at all uncommon for traffic to be moving at 85-90 MPH.

In Texas 85 is a thing. At that speed, you really don’t see much speeding. Maybe up to 90. And an occasional need to burst up to 100. Many people start feeling uncomfortable at these speeds even in open road conditions.

I think part of it is they also don’t want people to hit the limit often. It’s for egregious drivers. Driving at that speed and suddenly decelerating to a stop is not the safest thing either.

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