Why do cars go up to 120-140mph?

[enterthemadness]

Or even higher than that? Why? The fastest speed limit in the States is 75mph.

 

[Motown Marvel]

i've wondered this myself before. but theres a legit engineering answer for it. i just forget what it is.

 

[Mike_D202]

I dunno. Good question.

 

[enterthemadness]

i've wondered this myself before. but theres a legit engineering answer for it. i just forget what it is.

Please don't tell me in this day and age, the only way to have a working engine in a car...is if the speed can be at least 120.

 

[cryptic name]

Or even higher than that? Why? The fastest speed limit in the States is 75mph.

in case you need to escape.

 

[dark_b]

the same question could be asked about motorcycles

 

[enterthemadness]

in case you need to escape.

don't plan on out running the cops or pulling a OJ chase anytime soon.

 

[[A]]

Why do cars go up to 120-140mph?

So people who's afraid of heights or guns can find other ways to kill themselves.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Cars are driven outside of the United States...

 

[chaseter]

People also do other things with cars than drive them to and from work. Take those babies to the speedway one weekend.

 

[Motown Marvel]

Please don't tell me in this day and age, the only way to have a working engine in a car...is if the speed can be at least 120.

would it surprise you? i mean, we ARE still relying on engines that require gas.

 

[Crook]

2 important ones off the top of my head:

1) Consumers crave speedy cars
2) There are situations where going over the speed limit is "necessary" (emergencies and overtaking)

And anyone that's ever gone on a long drive knows how unbearably terrible it would be if the fastest they could go was 75mph. That's a joke.

 

[knowsbleed]

In truth, if a car's max speed was 75 mph and you run your car at that speed constantly throughout it's lifespan... your machine wouldn't last too long. The engine would be burned out so fast from running at max capacity all the time.

 

[enterthemadness]

In truth, if a car's max speed was 75 mph and you run your car at that speed constantly throughout it's lifespan... your machine wouldn't last too long. The engine would be burned out so fast from running at max capacity all the time.

I did not expect a serious answer from you...that actually makes sense.

If the engine didn't rely on gas...what then?

 

[chaseter]

kittens and dreams

 

[enterthemadness]

kittens and dreams

Leave kittens alone, you sick puppy.

Now dreams, well, they always get crushed.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Because 75 mph is too ****ing slow!!!

 

[Majic Walrus]

I don't buy that it's impossible. There are a ton of big trucks that have governors that prevent them from driving in excess of a certain speed. Those are easy enough to remove or bypass and I understand that, but is there really a point of making cars that are able to go 210 MPH and not adding a governor to that car to slow it for regular usage.

Police and other emergency vehicles could simply have those governors legally removed.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Well a lot of the new Merc's are restricted to 155 mph.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Well... 155 miles per hour is like double the maximum legal limit. I really don't see why any car needs to go that fast without special dispensation.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Because not everyone drives on the roads. Some people like to take their cars to tracks or whatever.

And in places like Germany there is no speed limit on the motorways.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Okay so cars in German have their governors removed or disabled. Cars in America that want to legally race in non-restricted areas get special permits to have their governors removed.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

That'll never happen though.

How fast a car goes is part of the reason people would buy a car. The companies won't go for it.

It takes away the prestige of having a Ferrari or Labourghini if they all go no faster than 75 mph. And if a Ferrari or Labourghini was restricted to 75 mph it would burn the engine out withing a few years.

 

[Majic Walrus]

That's right it will never work, but I don't really see why it wouldn't work. Why would restricting the engine to 75 burn the engine out... or restricting it to 80 or 90.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

There is a thing to say about having a fast car and the enjoyment you get from driving it. And 75 mph is pretty slow and not always respected.