Fast cars - what's the point?
Discussion
Reading the staggering thread about the motoring journalist banned for 15 months for driving fast on a straight road at 1am, I wonder, is there any point whatsoever in building cars that exceed the UK speed limit?
Why don't we retrospectively apply 80mph speed limiters to all cars (to allow for a squirt of speed beyond the very sensible 50 year old speed limit), that way we wouldn't have to ask people to be mindful of their social responsibilities when driving?
Whats the point of them? You can't break the laws of the land, because they are for everybody to observe 100% of the time. I once taped the Top 40 off the radio but I think I got away with it.
So folks, what exactly is the point. Why let people have the freedom to enjoy something when deers, children and lollipop ladies are being needlessly killed and maimed every day, due to a handful of PH'ers and motoring journos travelling at suicidal speeds at 1am on a single lane road in f
king Inverness?
I'm selling all cars and buying a Segway.
Why don't we retrospectively apply 80mph speed limiters to all cars (to allow for a squirt of speed beyond the very sensible 50 year old speed limit), that way we wouldn't have to ask people to be mindful of their social responsibilities when driving?
Whats the point of them? You can't break the laws of the land, because they are for everybody to observe 100% of the time. I once taped the Top 40 off the radio but I think I got away with it.
So folks, what exactly is the point. Why let people have the freedom to enjoy something when deers, children and lollipop ladies are being needlessly killed and maimed every day, due to a handful of PH'ers and motoring journos travelling at suicidal speeds at 1am on a single lane road in f
king Inverness?I'm selling all cars and buying a Segway.
Why let people have the freedom to enjoy something when deers, children and lollipop ladies are being needlessly killed and maimed every day, due to a handful of PH'ers and motoring journos travelling at suicidal speeds at 1am on a single lane road in fking Inverness?
Can you point me to the source of that claim ? Many thanks
king Inverness?Can you point me to the source of that claim ? Many thanks
I've taken part in a reasonable amount of motorsport, both motorcycle and car, in my entirely road-legal vehicles. And I don't mean road legal in that they are stripped out track-toys that retain just enough equipment to pass the MOT, I use them frequently on the road to do the shopping and whatnot. The only exception is my competition rally bike, but even that is road legal.
I think the market for trackdays would collapse rather quickly, and club-sport is already finding it hard to bring in new blood to the sports.
The question shouldn't be "why do we have fast cars" the question should be "why do SOME people feel the need to own fast cars when they are unlikely to use the performance" and beyond that "why do folk occasionally take such stupid risks with speeds like that"
And I think you'll find the answer is human nature... and it's very hard to legislate against human nature.
I think the market for trackdays would collapse rather quickly, and club-sport is already finding it hard to bring in new blood to the sports.
The question shouldn't be "why do we have fast cars" the question should be "why do SOME people feel the need to own fast cars when they are unlikely to use the performance" and beyond that "why do folk occasionally take such stupid risks with speeds like that"
And I think you'll find the answer is human nature... and it's very hard to legislate against human nature.
Acceleration, effortless passing, never wondering if you have enough power.
A rollercoaster probably only reaches speeds of 60mph but it's the acceleration that is the thrill.
It's not just fast, either, it's how it goes fast.
I find that hairy handling cars are actually far more fun. Nobody ever talks about how competently and undramatically, a car took a series of bends.
A rollercoaster probably only reaches speeds of 60mph but it's the acceleration that is the thrill.
It's not just fast, either, it's how it goes fast.
I find that hairy handling cars are actually far more fun. Nobody ever talks about how competently and undramatically, a car took a series of bends.
bqf said:
Why don't we retrospectively apply 80mph speed limiters to all cars (to allow for a squirt of speed beyond the very sensible 50 year old speed limit), that way we wouldn't have to ask people to be mindful of their social responsibilities when driving?
Could you tell me what percentage of the seventeen hundred & odd road deaths last year were due to vehicles driving in excess of 80mph? I'll give you a clue; very very low.If, therefore the vast majority of road deaths involved vehicles being driven at less than 80mph how many children/lollypop ladies/deer do you think will be saved by your proposal?
Why would anyone in their right mind think that not asking people to be mindful of their social responsibilities while driving is a good thing?
...and how much for the 348?
Because any bloke with a normal amount of testosterone in them just likes to go for it once in a while- weather with women or cars.
Lets be honest- day to day living is boring and dull and so sometimes it makes you feel alive to push the boundaries.
Years ago, i remember hitting 145mph up the arse of a Honda S2000 on a A road with a 60mph limit. I passed him when he backed off and although i wouldnt do that now (over my boy racer days now) it did get the adrenalin pumping and felt better than driving along at 60mph in zombie mode.
To be PC - yes of course it was wrong and it could have caused big problems but hey, no one was hurt and the roads were quiet but for all the " Holier than Though" brigade, i guess i just liked the rush at the time .
Now i am a mature man in his forties who drives a pickup truck at slow speeds. (though did do a sixth gear driving experience in surrey where i ragged the st out of 6 supercars!) Nice!!
Lets be honest- day to day living is boring and dull and so sometimes it makes you feel alive to push the boundaries.
Years ago, i remember hitting 145mph up the arse of a Honda S2000 on a A road with a 60mph limit. I passed him when he backed off and although i wouldnt do that now (over my boy racer days now) it did get the adrenalin pumping and felt better than driving along at 60mph in zombie mode.
To be PC - yes of course it was wrong and it could have caused big problems but hey, no one was hurt and the roads were quiet but for all the " Holier than Though" brigade, i guess i just liked the rush at the time .
Now i am a mature man in his forties who drives a pickup truck at slow speeds. (though did do a sixth gear driving experience in surrey where i ragged the s
t out of 6 supercars!) Nice!!I once hit a Dear whilst speeding, it hit the side window of the X5 I had and bounced off, if I had been going slower it would have been the front and near certainly would have been killed + damaging the car (the only damage was a door mirror cover on the underside of the mirror and it hobbled away) Speed saves 
Anyway limiters at 80pmh would cause more accidents than they save due to more head on's when overtaking and running out of puff!
Anyway limiters at 80pmh would cause more accidents than they save due to more head on's when overtaking and running out of puff!
bqf said:
Reading the staggering thread about the motoring journalist banned for 15 months for driving fast on a straight road at 1am, I wonder, is there any point whatsoever in building cars that exceed the UK speed limit?
Why don't we retrospectively apply 80mph speed limiters to all cars (to allow for a squirt of speed beyond the very sensible 50 year old speed limit), that way we wouldn't have to ask people to be mindful of their social responsibilities when driving?
Whats the point of them? You can't break the laws of the land, because they are for everybody to observe 100% of the time. I once taped the Top 40 off the radio but I think I got away with it.
So folks, what exactly is the point. Why let people have the freedom to enjoy something when deers, children and lollipop ladies are being needlessly killed and maimed every day, due to a handful of PH'ers and motoring journos travelling at suicidal speeds at 1am on a single lane road in fking Inverness?
I'm selling all cars and buying a Segway.
You haven't visited here, have you.Why don't we retrospectively apply 80mph speed limiters to all cars (to allow for a squirt of speed beyond the very sensible 50 year old speed limit), that way we wouldn't have to ask people to be mindful of their social responsibilities when driving?
Whats the point of them? You can't break the laws of the land, because they are for everybody to observe 100% of the time. I once taped the Top 40 off the radio but I think I got away with it.
So folks, what exactly is the point. Why let people have the freedom to enjoy something when deers, children and lollipop ladies are being needlessly killed and maimed every day, due to a handful of PH'ers and motoring journos travelling at suicidal speeds at 1am on a single lane road in f
king Inverness?I'm selling all cars and buying a Segway.
ETA.. I am nowhere near Inverness.
CO2000 said:
I once hit a Dear whilst speeding, it hit the side window of the X5 I had and bounced off, if I had been going slower it would have been the front and near certainly would have been killed + damaging the car (the only damage was a door mirror cover on the underside of the mirror and it hobbled away) Speed saves
Anyway limiters at 80pmh would cause more accidents than they save due to more head on's when overtaking and running out of puff!
Anyway limiters at 80pmh would cause more accidents than they save due to more head on's when overtaking and running out of puff!
Old Dear?
or did you mean deer?
Twenty years ago I would have said are you mad asking the question , not any more. I often wonder why governments allow the sale of products that have the facility to break the national limit by 130 mph ,.
Every time I take my car out 10 seconds of madness could see me locked up , just a thought
Every time I take my car out 10 seconds of madness could see me locked up , just a thought
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