top speed
08-21-2003, 05:18 AM
#77
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Originally posted by rx-ache
That said, I drove in northern Italy for 3 years. As far as I could tell, the laws were only used to determine blame when something went wrong! They had some ridiculous laws. One required that when making a left turn into a private drive on a divided highway and there were cars behind you, you were required to pull over to the RIGHT side of the road wait for all cars to pass, then turn LEFT across both lanes.
So I don't think the EU should cast too many stones
That said, I drove in northern Italy for 3 years. As far as I could tell, the laws were only used to determine blame when something went wrong! They had some ridiculous laws. One required that when making a left turn into a private drive on a divided highway and there were cars behind you, you were required to pull over to the RIGHT side of the road wait for all cars to pass, then turn LEFT across both lanes.
So I don't think the EU should cast too many stones
The UK has one of the best records in the world as far as road safety and no of deaths goes. Having said that we still (despite obviously having more stringent driving tests) have plenty of poor road users. I think that anyone failing their driving test 5 times should not be allowed to drive ever - they obviously don't have the required skills and passing after 13 attempts could just be a fluke!
I think that most owners of performance cars in the UK are sensible enough to know where and when it is safe to break the (far too low IMO) speed limits. We also understand the risks involved as far as policing goes.
My experience of motorway driving (usually around 25,000 miles p.a.) suggests that people driving at or below the speed limit of 70mph are often less aware of other road users and less carefull. I think driving at high speed naturally heightens your awareness and concentration.
I regularly drive at close to 100mph on the motorway as do many others, and in the right conditions have gone close to the 155mph limit of my car but never felt out of control of he car. I'm surprised that some here think that most people would be able to control a car properly at only 120mph.
I don't think speed per se is dangerous, it's lack of experience or concentration that makes higher speeds dangerous.
p.s. RX-ache - I lived in Swansea in the UK for several years (still live very close) and never realised there was one in the states!
08-21-2003, 05:32 AM
#78
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Originally posted by Elara
You may feel you're driving slow, but I have never seen more polite, safe drivers in my life. Everyone was friendly and polite. And the roundabouts have to be the best direction-changing inventions ever. I wish they'd catch on in the US. If all drivers were like the UK drivers we ran into (if you're on a backroad, and you catch up with the person in front of you they PULL OVER and let you past) the world would be a better place.
You may feel you're driving slow, but I have never seen more polite, safe drivers in my life. Everyone was friendly and polite. And the roundabouts have to be the best direction-changing inventions ever. I wish they'd catch on in the US. If all drivers were like the UK drivers we ran into (if you're on a backroad, and you catch up with the person in front of you they PULL OVER and let you past) the world would be a better place.
)Roundabouts are good but there are still far too many road users in the UK that don't understand how to use them correctly.
What are the legal implications for speeding in the States? Can you lose you license or be jailed for speeding, do you have a points system like the UK. Just curious.
08-21-2003, 05:44 AM
#79
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Originally posted by AndyPearce
I regularly drive at close to 100mph on the motorway as do many others, and in the right conditions have gone close to the 155mph limit of my car but never felt out of control of he car.
I regularly drive at close to 100mph on the motorway as do many others, and in the right conditions have gone close to the 155mph limit of my car but never felt out of control of he car.
After all you are going to stick out like a sore thumb when the RX8 arrives?????
08-21-2003, 05:47 AM
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Originally posted by specman
Andy is it wise to mention ones driving habits in this way on a public forum?
After all you are going to stick out like a sore thumb when the RX8 arrives?????
Andy is it wise to mention ones driving habits in this way on a public forum?
After all you are going to stick out like a sore thumb when the RX8 arrives?????
08-21-2003, 05:50 AM
#81
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Originally posted by AndyPearce
As I understand it I can say that I do anything on a public forums, the police still need proof that I actually drive at those speeds!:p
As I understand it I can say that I do anything on a public forums, the police still need proof that I actually drive at those speeds!:p
After all we are a lovely soft touch for collecting money for the Government and........ohhh better get off my soapbox!!!!!!!!
08-21-2003, 05:53 AM
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Originally posted by specman
You are quite correct but one wouldnt like a spot of Police victimisation..................
After all we are a lovely soft touch for collecting money for the Government and........ohhh better get off my soapbox!!!!!!!!
You are quite correct but one wouldnt like a spot of Police victimisation..................
After all we are a lovely soft touch for collecting money for the Government and........ohhh better get off my soapbox!!!!!!!!
:D
08-21-2003, 05:56 AM
#84
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someone somewhere is having a laugh right?
That is about as big a joke as local roundabout that we have.
It is a three laner that is bigger than a 400metre athletic track and would double up as a flat NASCAR oval easily........
All built for Canon UK Ltd who changed their grand plan from manufacturing to reconditioning photocopiers.
Ohh and then pulled out altogether within 2 years once the clauses in the grants had lapsed. Joke
That is about as big a joke as local roundabout that we have.
It is a three laner that is bigger than a 400metre athletic track and would double up as a flat NASCAR oval easily........
All built for Canon UK Ltd who changed their grand plan from manufacturing to reconditioning photocopiers.
Ohh and then pulled out altogether within 2 years once the clauses in the grants had lapsed. Joke
Last edited by specman; 08-21-2003 at 05:58 AM.
08-21-2003, 06:13 AM
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Originally posted by specman
someone somewhere is having a laugh right?
That is about as big a joke as local roundabout that we have.
It is a three laner that is bigger than a 400metre athletic track and would double up as a flat NASCAR oval easily........
All built for Canon UK Ltd who changed their grand plan from manufacturing to reconditioning photocopiers.
Ohh and then pulled out altogether within 2 years once the clauses in the grants had lapsed. Joke
someone somewhere is having a laugh right?
That is about as big a joke as local roundabout that we have.
It is a three laner that is bigger than a 400metre athletic track and would double up as a flat NASCAR oval easily........
All built for Canon UK Ltd who changed their grand plan from manufacturing to reconditioning photocopiers.
Ohh and then pulled out altogether within 2 years once the clauses in the grants had lapsed. Joke
The road planners do seem to have gone a bit roundabout crazy lately. There are two roundabouts in Cardiff that only has one road going to and from them!!!
08-21-2003, 06:18 AM
#86
Originally posted by AndyPearce
The road planners do seem to have gone a bit roundabout crazy lately. There are two roundabouts in Cardiff that only has one road going to and from them!!!
The road planners do seem to have gone a bit roundabout crazy lately. There are two roundabouts in Cardiff that only has one road going to and from them!!!
08-21-2003, 08:12 AM
#89
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The Brits have taken over! :D
Autobahn speeds will never work in North America for a variety of reasons.. Hwy condition/design, driver training is not up to par, most cars have all season
tires not capable of 200+ km/hr speeds, the insurance/government/police agencies love the revenue stream associated with speeding tickets, etc.
It's been well documented in the past that driving fast in itself is not cause of collisions, driving TOO FAST for the condtions, bad driving habits, terrible driving skills are causes of collisions.
Fortunately in Canada speeding enforcement is not nearly as **** as in the US, 120km/hr is the "accepted" average speed on the highways and if you stay around that mark usually you will not get a ticket.
What I would personally like to see is an official increase to maybe 130-140km/hr within city limits and up to 160-180km/hr outside of the city limits. Of course this would mean that police would actually have to enforce the important driving skills like driving only in the right lane, passing on the left only, not following too closely, having two hands on the wheel as opposed to talking on the phone or having one hand stretched behind the passenger seat.. THAT is a personal pet peeve of mine How the **** can you control a car properly at any speed with your hand jammed behind the passenger seat is beyond me.
People in North America just do not take driving seriously.. witness how many things poeple do to take their mind OFF the fact they are driving to make the commute go by faster... :shakes head:
Autobahn speeds will never work in North America for a variety of reasons.. Hwy condition/design, driver training is not up to par, most cars have all season
tires not capable of 200+ km/hr speeds, the insurance/government/police agencies love the revenue stream associated with speeding tickets, etc. It's been well documented in the past that driving fast in itself is not cause of collisions, driving TOO FAST for the condtions, bad driving habits, terrible driving skills are causes of collisions.
Fortunately in Canada speeding enforcement is not nearly as **** as in the US, 120km/hr is the "accepted" average speed on the highways and if you stay around that mark usually you will not get a ticket.
What I would personally like to see is an official increase to maybe 130-140km/hr within city limits and up to 160-180km/hr outside of the city limits. Of course this would mean that police would actually have to enforce the important driving skills like driving only in the right lane, passing on the left only, not following too closely, having two hands on the wheel as opposed to talking on the phone or having one hand stretched behind the passenger seat.. THAT is a personal pet peeve of mine
How the **** can you control a car properly at any speed with your hand jammed behind the passenger seat is beyond me. People in North America just do not take driving seriously.. witness how many things poeple do to take their mind OFF the fact they are driving to make the commute go by faster... :shakes head:
08-21-2003, 08:24 AM
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Originally posted by Quick_lude
The Brits have taken over! :D
The Brits have taken over! :D
Originally posted by Quick_lude
What I would personally like to see is an official increase to maybe 130-140km/hr within city limits and up to 160-180km/hr outside of the city limits. Of course this would mean that police would actually have to enforce the important driving skills like driving only in the right lane, passing on the left only, not following too closely, having two hands on the wheel as opposed to talking on the phone or having one hand stretched behind the passenger seat.. THAT is a personal pet peeve of mine How the **** can you control a car properly at any speed with your hand jammed behind the passenger seat is beyond me.
What I would personally like to see is an official increase to maybe 130-140km/hr within city limits and up to 160-180km/hr outside of the city limits. Of course this would mean that police would actually have to enforce the important driving skills like driving only in the right lane, passing on the left only, not following too closely, having two hands on the wheel as opposed to talking on the phone or having one hand stretched behind the passenger seat.. THAT is a personal pet peeve of mine
How the **** can you control a car properly at any speed with your hand jammed behind the passenger seat is beyond me.
08-21-2003, 09:02 AM
#91
Prodigal Wankler
Originally posted by specman
someone somewhere is having a laugh right?
That is about as big a joke as local roundabout that we have.
someone somewhere is having a laugh right?
That is about as big a joke as local roundabout that we have.
08-21-2003, 09:13 AM
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Originally posted by eccles
No joke, it was built in 1972, and by all accounts it works pretty damned well. See http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm.
No joke, it was built in 1972, and by all accounts it works pretty damned well. See http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm.
08-21-2003, 11:53 AM
#93
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Originally posted by Quick_lude
Autobahn speeds will never work in North America for a variety of reasons.. Hwy condition/design, driver training is not up to par, most cars have all season tires not capable of 200+ km/hr speeds
Autobahn speeds will never work in North America for a variety of reasons.. Hwy condition/design, driver training is not up to par, most cars have all season
tires not capable of 200+ km/hr speeds
I believe when Montana did away with speed limits altogether the average speed was still only about 80mph. Sure some people would do 130+mph, but many still stuck to 60 mph - whatever was comfortable for the driver and car. I will bet that the average (non-traffic jam) speed on a German autobahn is under 100mph (160km/h), with some cars doing 120mph plus and most doing 90mph or less in the right lanes.
Correct me if I'm wrong (not being an American - the Brits strike again!) but I thought that before the federal speed limit of 55mph was brought into effect in the USA in the 1970's (for fuel economy reasons - NOTHING to do with safety) that people used to drive at 70mph and above in their very unsafe 60's and 70's huge Detroit vehicles. Cars and tires and safety (even on Detroit vehicles) have improved considerably since then.
08-21-2003, 02:07 PM
#94
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Last summer I spent 3 weeks in Europe, including over a week in Germany around Munich and Berlin.
Most traffic in the right (trucks) lane was running around 100-120kmh.
In the middle lane around 120-150
In the left ( passing lane) from 160 to ???
The car I was driving would do about 165 (Renault Megane) and I had to be careful passing as some cars would go from a speck in the mirror to "on your butt" in a few seconds!
Little old ladies have no problems in driving it.
What I enjoyed was that since the roads were built properly in the first place ( often in the 30's!) they were easy to maintain, and have lasted.
Over here in N.America all anybody is concerned with is "how cheaply can we make it"
As a result we get highways that are lucky to last 5 years in many cases.
If they were to factor in REAL costs, like the cost of highway downtime and injuries due to the accident caused by constant repairs, I am sure a different approach would develop.
On the other hand the whole N. American "frontier mentality" shows in lots of places like this. Many small things like bathroom plumbing fixtures, door hardware, light fixtures, etc.
Over here we buy the cheapest. Over there they build to last.
Most traffic in the right (trucks) lane was running around 100-120kmh.
In the middle lane around 120-150
In the left ( passing lane) from 160 to ???
The car I was driving would do about 165 (Renault Megane) and I had to be careful passing as some cars would go from a speck in the mirror to "on your butt" in a few seconds!
Little old ladies have no problems in driving it.
What I enjoyed was that since the roads were built properly in the first place ( often in the 30's!) they were easy to maintain, and have lasted.
Over here in N.America all anybody is concerned with is "how cheaply can we make it"
As a result we get highways that are lucky to last 5 years in many cases.
If they were to factor in REAL costs, like the cost of highway downtime and injuries due to the accident caused by constant repairs, I am sure a different approach would develop.
On the other hand the whole N. American "frontier mentality" shows in lots of places like this. Many small things like bathroom plumbing fixtures, door hardware, light fixtures, etc.
Over here we buy the cheapest. Over there they build to last.
09-01-2003, 01:20 PM
#96
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03-04-2005, 10:05 AM
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The only pass in the left lane "law" doesn't exist in most of the US. Also it doesn't make a lot of sense anyway as the average speed of traffic tends to be 5-10 mph over the speed limit anyway. A car doing the speed limit in the left lane SHOULD never get passed and only pass other cars. The constant lane changes would be very dangerous for the monster rollover vehicles that have trouble seeing normal sized cars like the 8's. I'd much rather they stayed where they are instead of wandering back and forth between lanes without a turn signal (I don't think most people around here realize their car has one).
Regardless we can't even seem to get talking on your cell phone banned over here so I can't see how we could let the dumb as a stump soccer mom in her 4 ton rollover vehicle talking on her cell phone with one hand and changing the TV channel for the kids with the other hand to ever drive safely at any sort of real speed.
Yes, I find people who drive SUV's and talk on their cell phone with one hand quite irritating. I find minivans just as irritating. Why do these people need these over-sized vehicles that do nothing but block everyone elses view of the road a head when all they do is drive them back and forth between work anyway.
I also find the attitude of law enforcement irritating. Their job should be to keep traffic flowing at an efficient safe rate and preventing disruptions. On a sunny summer day that rate should be higher than the speed limit that is posted in most areas. On those days people that are driving slower than most traffic are causing a hazzard and they should be ticketed as should people driving well in excess of the speed of the rest of the traffic. Law enforcement that pulls someone over for doing 5 mph over the limit when there is no other traffic or the conditions are perfectly safe should be relieved of his/her job.
Sorry for the rant.
Regardless we can't even seem to get talking on your cell phone banned over here so I can't see how we could let the dumb as a stump soccer mom in her 4 ton rollover vehicle talking on her cell phone with one hand and changing the TV channel for the kids with the other hand to ever drive safely at any sort of real speed.
Yes, I find people who drive SUV's and talk on their cell phone with one hand quite irritating. I find minivans just as irritating. Why do these people need these over-sized vehicles that do nothing but block everyone elses view of the road a head when all they do is drive them back and forth between work anyway.
I also find the attitude of law enforcement irritating. Their job should be to keep traffic flowing at an efficient safe rate and preventing disruptions. On a sunny summer day that rate should be higher than the speed limit that is posted in most areas. On those days people that are driving slower than most traffic are causing a hazzard and they should be ticketed as should people driving well in excess of the speed of the rest of the traffic. Law enforcement that pulls someone over for doing 5 mph over the limit when there is no other traffic or the conditions are perfectly safe should be relieved of his/her job.
Sorry for the rant.
03-04-2005, 12:48 PM
#99
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Originally Posted by thuneon
240 km/h (=150 mph) on flat road and about 268 km/h (167mph) downhill with the EU 192HP Version STOCK, but sport cat-back exhaust.
THUNEON
THUNEON
246 km/h straight line and 253 km/h marginal downhill with the 231 hp (EU) version were my highest speeds so far (on a sunny, near empty german autobahn, to avoid the "irresponsible and illegal driving" ruckus).
03-04-2005, 01:17 PM
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hehe yeah, mine was on a german autobahn without speedlimit, too . My brother is driving the 231 HP version. We tested the acceleration of both cars from 100km/h. Up to 230 (!!!) km/h, i lost only 15-20m. From 230 up, the 192 HP version have no chance against the 231 HP version. I think its possible that a 192HP RX8 will beat a 231 HP version with a good setup. (No cats, modded ECU and other things)
THUNEON
. My brother is driving the 231 HP version. We tested the acceleration of both cars from 100km/h. Up to 230 (!!!) km/h, i lost only 15-20m. From 230 up, the 192 HP version have no chance against the 231 HP version. I think its possible that a 192HP RX8 will beat a 231 HP version with a good setup. (No cats, modded ECU and other things)THUNEON