I seriously need to ask this question.
With a Green-led government in Germany becoming very likely at the end of September, us car guys have to get used to even more bans, fault finding and of course massively higher fuel prices. The worst part will be that the Greens want to enforce a nationwide 130 km/h speed limit on the entire Autobahn network. They claim it's better for the environment (climate bla bla bla bla) and "safer" - which is all bullshit on their part as any halfway serious car expert can tell you.
Personally, I find cruising at 130 km/h for longer periods to be an absolute nightmare.
Why?
First of all, this speed is really slow. It's not speeding as far as I am concerned - it's crawling. Then there's the fact that I drive a car with a lot of power and which at its top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) is still very stable and well-planted. For such a car, driving at 130 km/h is nothing special at all - and you as the driver feel it. It's boring and comes across as slow, because I don't feel like I am going fast at 130 km/h in my car.
Second, for long periods, this sustained 130 km/h speed actually makes me become sleepy and my mood becomes aggressive. You're driving on a road which has been engineered for higher speeds and you're forced to drive at a pathetic 130 km/h. The new Autobahn from Munich to Mühldorf had for a short time a 40 km long section that was limited to 120 km/h (thankfully that's gone now). Whenever I drove here, I set my cruise control to 125 km/h and became utterly enraged and pissed off after not even a kilometer. This speed is slow. Really slow. Pathetically slow.
Without trying to sound arrogant, I am a good driver. I follow the rules (mostly). My situational awareness is very good - I never drive in a way that hinders or angers motorists behind me for example. I know my limits and the limits of my car. And - I am at my best when I am driving fast. That's where my concentration is at its best.
Also, it's not like I drive fast all the time. For longer journeys I actually like to cruise at a comfortable speed - which for me is 150-160 km/h - with the occasional burst into the 200 km/h+ zone for shorter periods. I've tried forcing myself to cruise at 120-130 km/h for some periods and I just can't... I always end up driving faster and feeling better and like I am actually getting somewhere on time.
For me, the point of a highway is for you to get as quickly and comfortably from A to B. And when I am cruising at 150-160 km/h, I find that speed to be quick (and my car is still quite fuel efficient at that speed) and comfortable. 120-130 km/h is slow and uncomfortable to me, primarily because my emotions turn sour and I become aggressive, moody and after awhile sleepy.
So, any tips on how to deal with the boredom and sleepiness that will come when the Greens win and we're penalized with pathetic 130 km/h (or even slower!) speed limits are greatly appreciated! How do you guys cope with speed limits on a long road trip across the vastness of your nation? That would interest me!
And yeah, the cops-will-clock-you argument does not count. That's a given if speed limits are in place.
And yeah, I listen to good music which relaxes me - good old 1970s and 1980s pop music! Kenny Loggins "DANGER ZONE" is especially thrilling at 250 km/h! :tounge: :praise:
Americans generally fly a lot to get to other parts of America rather than drive.
Munich to Mühldorf is only like 80km. Hardly a long drive, even at only 120 km/h.
Americans just ignore speed limits
How do I cope? Adaptive cruise control and resigning to the fact that A) most people are terrible, distracted drivers and B) it's far easier to enact killjoy laws than it is to deal with the driver skill deficit.
130 km/h is 80 mph and us Americans are THRILLED when the speed limit is that high. It's only 80 mph in western states when you're driving through rural/desert areas. And 80 mph speed limit means you're pretty safe going 90 mph (144 km/h)
Although we ignore the 70 mph (112 km/h) limits and go 80 mph most of the time anyway. I see no need to go more than 80 mph frequently, and certainly don't want idiot drivers around me all going 100 mph. They crash & flip their giant trucks enough at 70-80 mph.
I did get more tickets when I lived around Cincinnati, because the speed limits were typically 55-65 mph and I like going 70-80 mph.
I just drive however the hell I want to, and don't worry about it. I generally do the speed limit (or ~5 mph over which is basically the same thing far as I'm concerned) and follow other common traffic laws on surface streets. Generally, I keep it to 130 kph/80 mph on freeways. Sometimes I'm up to 145 kph/90 mph on occasion. The last number of times I've gotten tickets I had lawyers get them dropped and have had 100% success - I view it as a driving fee, and one over the course of my driving career is just a few pennies a day. Well worth it (i.e., this is how I live with it).
One does have to be mindful - getting popped for 200 kph/125 mph in the US is probably criminal offense (arrest, jail time, car impounded, big fines, insurance penalties) and what with car black boxes and smart phones excess speeding WILL be used against you in criminal and civil court cases should you be involved in a crash. Also, outside that my bet is 99% of our freeways are not designed for 200 kph/125 mph even absent traffic - from the curves, to crowning, to ruts, to road surface. I'd say that 80% of our freeways are not even designed for speeds above 130 kph / 80 mph
Quote from: GoCougs on May 19, 2021, 01:21:19 PM
I just drive however the hell I want to, and don't worry about it. I generally do the speed limit (or ~5 mph over which is basically the same thing far as I'm concerned) and follow other common traffic laws on surface streets. Generally, I keep it to 130 kph/80 mph on freeways. Sometimes I'm up to 145 kph/90 mph on occasion. The last number of times I've gotten tickets I had lawyers get them dropped and have had 100% success - I view it as a driving fee, and one over the course of my driving career is just a few pennies a day. Well worth it (i.e., this is how I live with it).
One does have to be mindful - getting popped for 200 kph/125 mph in the US is probably criminal offense (arrest, jail time, car impounded, big fines, insurance penalties) and what with car black boxes and smart phones excess speeding WILL be used against you in criminal and civil court cases should you be involved in a crash. Also, outside that my bet is 99% of our freeways are not designed for 200 kph/125 mph even absent traffic - from the curves, to crowning, to ruts, to road surface. I'd say that 80% of our freeways are not even designed for speeds above 130 kph / 80 mph
Road design is probably a big difference between us and Wimmer. If he's driving on autobahns built for easy 130 mph cruising, yeah he'll feel like 80 mph is slow. Even little things like the length of the road lines influence the visual feeling of speed.
Quote from: MX793 on May 19, 2021, 01:03:52 PM
Americans generally fly a lot to get to other parts of America rather than drive.
In a Green-run Germany that won't be possible for many since they want to ban domestic flights. First they will tax the shit out of kerosene in order to prevent the masses from enjoying affordable flights.
Rail is not an alternative if you ask me. The German rail system is overrated, unreliable, slow, overpriced, prone to delays and breakdowns (or the occasional suicide on a track which means hours of delay...), malfunctioning A/Cs during the summer, malfunctioning heaters during the winters and since 2015 unsafe.
The Japanese are doing it right. The Shinkansen system is phenomenal, especially since those trains can theoretically reach 400 km/h or more and actually drive at those speeds.
Quote from: MX793 on May 19, 2021, 01:03:52 PM
Munich to Mühldorf is only like 80km. Hardly a long drive, even at only 120 km/h.
The route I take is around 95 km, but even then I find driving at a steady 120 km/h to be incredibly agitating and infuriating. I know it's because of the German car feel I am spoiled by. The ex-BMW 118i and current A250 AMG Line are very stable at higher speeds, so slower cruising speeds cannot be felt in them. Even lesser German cars which I have driven drive well on the Autobahn.
I remember when I was tasked to shoot an early 2010s Dodge Durango V6. The company dropped the car off at my place and the next day I drove down to Kitzbühel in Austria to photograph it. The handling of that SUV was so terrible on the Autobahn that I actually didn't mind driving at 120 km/h. 120 km/h was the speed this thing felt safe at because of the lifeless steering feedback and soft suspension. Drive it any faster and I felt like I wouldn't be able to control it.
Quote from: r0tor on May 19, 2021, 01:04:58 PM
Americans just ignore speed limits
Same.
I mean I tend to drive 3-5 km/h over the speed limit in the city, and on the Autobahn 10-15 km/h over the limit. If I am caught on radar paying the fine is worth it to me.
Quote from: Laconian on May 19, 2021, 01:13:46 PM
How do I cope? Adaptive cruise control and resigning to the fact that A) most people are terrible, distracted drivers and B) it's far easier to enact killjoy laws than it is to deal with the driver skill deficit.
We have our share of crappy drivers here, which in recent times have become more.
Supporters of speed limits claim that a nationwide speed limit of 120-130 km/h equates to more safety. Well, I've had some pretty nasty situations in which I was overtaking a convoy of trucks on the Autobahn at 125 km/h in a 120 km/h speed-limited zone and the dumbass trailing a truck decides to change lanes out of the blue. Even at 125 km/h, that is a harrowing situation.
What the pro-speed limit wackos ignore is that in Germany most car accidents and car-related deaths happen on state roads (100 km/h speed limit), NOT on the Autobahn. But even here the Greens want to piss us motorists off. They want to reduce the speed limit from 100 km/h to a pathetic sleep-inducing 70 km/h. I mean
WHAT THE FUCK!? :banghead:
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 19, 2021, 01:17:54 PM
130 km/h is 80 mph and us Americans are THRILLED when the speed limit is that high. It's only 80 mph in western states when you're driving through rural/desert areas. And 80 mph speed limit means you're pretty safe going 90 mph (144 km/h)
Although we ignore the 70 mph (112 km/h) limits and go 80 mph most of the time anyway. I see no need to go more than 80 mph frequently, and certainly don't want idiot drivers around me all going 100 mph. They crash & flip their giant trucks enough at 70-80 mph.
I did get more tickets when I lived around Cincinnati, because the speed limits were typically 55-65 mph and I like going 70-80 mph.
Is there a tolerance system from the police?
Like here it's generally if I am driving 130 km/h in a 120 km/h zone, the cops will automatically subtract 7 km/h from my speed meaning I was driving 123 km/h in a 120 km/h zone.
Quote from: GoCougs on May 19, 2021, 01:21:19 PM
I just drive however the hell I want to, and don't worry about it. I generally do the speed limit (or ~5 mph over which is basically the same thing far as I'm concerned) and follow other common traffic laws on surface streets. Generally, I keep it to 130 kph/80 mph on freeways. Sometimes I'm up to 145 kph/90 mph on occasion. The last number of times I've gotten tickets I had lawyers get them dropped and have had 100% success - I view it as a driving fee, and one over the course of my driving career is just a few pennies a day. Well worth it (i.e., this is how I live with it).
One does have to be mindful - getting popped for 200 kph/125 mph in the US is probably criminal offense (arrest, jail time, car impounded, big fines, insurance penalties) and what with car black boxes and smart phones excess speeding WILL be used against you in criminal and civil court cases should you be involved in a crash. Also, outside that my bet is 99% of our freeways are not designed for 200 kph/125 mph even absent traffic - from the curves, to crowning, to ruts, to road surface. I'd say that 80% of our freeways are not even designed for speeds above 130 kph / 80 mph
:ohyeah:
One thing I forgot to think of is that our Autobahns are designed and engineered for high speeds, while the highways of the rest of the world are not. In essence it's probably easier to drive "slower" on your highways because of this. Here it's the opposite. The Autobahns are designed for high speeds so driving slow on them is something which you tend to notice, especially if you're passionate about cars like me.
The Autobahn is a great place to get to know your car and simply enjoy speeding (while still being situationally aware and respectful of other drivers) and feel a little automotive driving passion inside your heart while you do. Driving fast to me these days is not so much about thrill-seeking (it gets "old" after awhile...), but getting the feeling that I am actually making progress and getting somewhere fast and comfortably. A high speed in my opinion helps keep drivers altert while getting them from A to B in a shorter time.
You say 70kph is snore inducing, but the prospect of going so fast during rush hour is a fantasy where I live.
But yeah, a lot of the speed limit shit is bogus. From an environmental POV there are bigger fish to fry first -- I'm looking at you, cruise and container ships!
Quote from: cawimmer430 on May 19, 2021, 01:31:46 PM
In a Green-run Germany that won't be possible for many since they want to ban domestic flights. First they will tax the shit out of kerosene in order to prevent the masses from enjoying affordable flights.
Rail is not an alternative if you ask me. The German rail system is overrated, unreliable, slow, overpriced, prone to delays and breakdowns (or the occasional suicide on a track which means hours of delay...), malfunctioning A/Cs during the summer, malfunctioning heaters during the winters and since 2015 unsafe.
The Japanese are doing it right. The Shinkansen system is phenomenal, especially since those trains can theoretically reach 400 km/h or more and actually drive at those speeds.
The route I take is around 95 km, but even then I find driving at a steady 120 km/h to be incredibly agitating and infuriating. I know it's because of the German car feel I am spoiled by. The ex-BMW 118i and current A250 AMG Line are very stable at higher speeds, so slower cruising speeds cannot be felt in them. Even lesser German cars which I have driven drive well on the Autobahn.
I remember when I was tasked to shoot an early 2010s Dodge Durango V6. The company dropped the car off at my place and the next day I drove down to Kitzbühel in Austria to photograph it. The handling of that SUV was so terrible on the Autobahn that I actually didn't mind driving at 120 km/h. 120 km/h was the speed this thing felt safe at because of the lifeless steering feedback and soft suspension. Drive it any faster and I felt like I wouldn't be able to control it.
US rail is straight out of the Victorian era. Any time I've looked at taking a train, even a relatively short trip like 350 miles, it's a multi-day trip (due to layovers).
I used to commute 90 km, each way, every day. It's not that far.
You need to remember that most Americans drive pickups and SUVs like the Durango. Vehicles like that are not meant for high speeds and can be downright unsettling above 130 km/h.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on May 19, 2021, 01:31:46 PM
The Japanese are doing it right. The Shinkansen system is phenomenal, especially since those trains can theoretically reach 400 km/h or more and actually drive at those speeds.
They work well, as do the other Japanese rail systems, but they're colossally expensive and monolithic, and are principal in the slow and steady decline of Japan.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on May 19, 2021, 01:42:04 PM
:ohyeah:
One thing I forgot to think of is that our Autobahns are designed and engineered for high speeds, while the highways of the rest of the world are not. In essence it's probably easier to drive "slower" on your highways because of this. Here it's the opposite. The Autobahns are designed for high speeds so driving slow on them is something which you tend to notice, especially if you're passionate about cars like me.
The Autobahn is a great place to get to know your car and simply enjoy speeding (while still being situationally aware and respectful of other drivers) and feel a little automotive driving passion inside your heart while you do. Driving fast to me these days is not so much about thrill-seeking (it gets "old" after awhile...), but getting the feeling that I am actually making progress and getting somewhere fast and comfortably. A high speed in my opinion helps keep drivers altert while getting them from A to B in a shorter time.
Can you imagine, once all safety issues, etc. are sorted out on EVs, maybe in the next 15 years or so, blasting down the autobahn at maybe 300+ kph on Autopilot.
Without knowing the current "pulse" of the people in Germany my hunch is that the majority of Germans are proud of the Autobahn and what it represents. So I do not think the high speed limits on it will be easily neutered. Political parties not in power promise all sorts of things but when they actually come to power and have to legislate, what they promise and what actually ends up happening is often very far apart.
.
If it does happen, then there will probably be ways for you to obtain your desire for speed but it will not be for getting from point A to point B. Track membership will probably become more popular so people will have a way to drive very fast for pleasure and justify the cost of their high powered German luxury cars. My guess is collectively, the big money and clout of Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Porsche etc will come up with ways to justify selling high powered cars to their German clients. It's their home turf after all.
Audiobooks is how I deal with long commutes by myself. It's the only "reading" of books I do and I usually get through a few books a year. I actually look very forward to hour long commutes because I enjoy "reading".
Quote from: MX793 on May 19, 2021, 03:01:33 PM
US rail is straight out of the Victorian era. Any time I've looked at taking a train, even a relatively short trip like 350 miles, it's a multi-day trip (due to layovers).
You need to remember that most Americans drive pickups and SUVs like the Durango. Vehicles like that are not meant for high speeds and can be downright unsettling above 130 km/h.
I really use to limit my speed in the Grand Cherokee to 70mph... The brakes (especially before installing some better pads) were just not up to any emergency braking move.... and we'll swerving probably means instant death so your better off driving through something.
The RX8 barely would be driven above 70-75 mph since that's pushing 4k rpms in 6th gear... While still being smooth, the sound wears you down.
The Alfa though - 80mph is 2k rpms and feels like 60mph. Even above 100mph it's sedate and buttoned down.
I would be OK raising some speed limits if they would keep commercial trucking limited to current limits or lower
LOLOLOL
Germany= the size of Montana, with 80+million people. Go look at a map. ;)
America just cannot have higher speed limits, even in Wyoming/ Texas because people are dummies and don't pay attention, left lane camp, drive too fast for weather conditions, etc...
I do miss the Autobahn though. Nothing like doing 120mph+ with a guard rail a couple feet to your left. (seriously go look at pictures.......)
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on May 19, 2021, 08:33:37 PM
LOLOLOL
Germany= the size of Montana, with 80+million people. Go look at a map. ;)
America just cannot have higher speed limits, even in Wyoming/ Texas because people are dummies and don't pay attention, left lane camp, drive too fast for weather conditions, etc...
WOW! Never realized Germany was that small! And I agree with the rest!
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C7 on May 20, 2021, 08:35:51 AM
WOW! Never realized Germany was that small! And I agree with the rest!
I would think of it as Montana being that big. :lol:
Berlin to Frankfurt is about the same driving distance as SLC to Las Vegas, which is basically the nearest "big city" (has major league sports team, big concerts, etc)
So yeah, Germany is basically 1-2 western states big, but with a denser population.
It truly amazed me once I really read up a bit on the country. Because you literally have lots of farmland and parks and open spaces but TONS AND TONS of people, too!
We lived on the edge of Mannheim. If the weather was good we walked about a mile to church- left base and through some area where many middle class people buy a tiny plot of land (maybe 10mx20m), build a shed and a garden and come out and chillax during the weekend. I assume they all lived in the big high rise apartment buildings.
ALSO, when we set the cruise at 90mph on the Autobahn, we were passing 85% of the cars and trucks are speed limited to 62mph. Most people just didn't drive super fast (like Wimmer does :lol: ).
And also I assume that A LOT of people there don't own cars. Probably triple or quadruple the amount of the people in the US who don't have one. Because if you're in an apartment in the city with public transportation, you just don't need the expense.
Quote from: Laconian on May 19, 2021, 02:55:21 PM
You say 70kph is snore inducing, but the prospect of going so fast during rush hour is a fantasy where I live.
But yeah, a lot of the speed limit shit is bogus. From an environmental POV there are bigger fish to fry first -- I'm looking at you, cruise and container ships!
Laconian,
It depends on which road you are. Some of the "highway-like connection roads" in the cities are boosted from 50 km/h to 60-70 km/h and that's plenty fast.
But our state roads are, like the Autobahns, engineered for high speeds - and 100 km/h (62 mph) is perfectly ok here. Yesterday I was driving back to Munich and on the way to the Autobahn I was on the state road B12 behind a truck. Trucks are allowed a maximum speed of 80 km/h on state roads and Autobahns. This guy was traveling at 70 km/h - and man, was it SLOW. It was literally crawling speed. Unbearable.
I am generally a logical-thinker and there is absolutely no reason in my mind for a road that has a 100 km/h speed limit to be reduced to 70 km/h.
Quote from: MX793 on May 19, 2021, 03:01:33 PM
US rail is straight out of the Victorian era. Any time I've looked at taking a train, even a relatively short trip like 350 miles, it's a multi-day trip (due to layovers).
That's insane.
My belief is that if rail travel was quick, efficient and brought you directly from A to B without any changeovers, and if the pricing was attractive, then it would easily be a substitute for domestic air travel. But that's clearly not the case in the US nor in Germany/Europe.
Plus, I like to be in control of my own mobility. That means if I have a project in Hamburg or another far-away city, by default I prefer to drive there because it gives me control of my mobility in that city. And, I need my car because of the equipment I need to carry.
Quote from: MX793 on May 19, 2021, 03:01:33 PMYou need to remember that most Americans drive pickups and SUVs like the Durango. Vehicles like that are not meant for high speeds and can be downright unsettling above 130 km/h.
I understand that. The handful of Dodge RAMs and Durangos I've driven when I worked with AEC Europe taught me that these cars are not very fun to drive at anything over 120 km/h on the Autobahns.
However, don't you personally own a Ford Mustang and owned a Volkswagen Jetta which surely have great handling and can easily be driven and enjoyed at higher speeds? It must be hell for you to drive a Mustang on the highway knowing that you have so much power under the hood while being legally limited to a rather slow cruising speed.
Quote from: veeman on May 19, 2021, 07:04:48 PM
Without knowing the current "pulse" of the people in Germany my hunch is that the majority of Germans are proud of the Autobahn and what it represents. So I do not think the high speed limits on it will be easily neutered. Political parties not in power promise all sorts of things but when they actually come to power and have to legislate, what they promise and what actually ends up happening is often very far apart.
.
If it does happen, then there will probably be ways for you to obtain your desire for speed but it will not be for getting from point A to point B. Track membership will probably become more popular so people will have a way to drive very fast for pleasure and justify the cost of their high powered German luxury cars. My guess is collectively, the big money and clout of Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Porsche etc will come up with ways to justify selling high powered cars to their German clients. It's their home turf after all.
The Germans these days are not the Germans of the 1960s and 1990s who were proud of their country's achievement after World War II. Have you heard of
Cancel Culture? That stuff is like "woke" here now and it's unbearable.
I'm waiting for the day when one of those cultural Marxists realizes that the Autobahn network was expanded (not invented) by the Nazi party before World War II and thus is something "negative" and needs to be banned.
Like I said, speeding is only one part of the Autobahn for me. I like to quickly get from A to B, and a cruising speed of 150-160 km/h is enjoyable and comfortable for me and makes me feel like I am actually getting somewhere. In between I'll speed up to 200 km/h+ for some short bursts of fun. Just yesterday I was all alone on a straight Autobahn and floored it. I hit 240 km/h (150 mph) and then a warning came up that I still had the 240 km/h winter tire limit on - awww man, I was planning on hitting 250 km/h (155 mph), the top speed of my car. :lol:
Track driving is not for me, it's also not the forte of my car. My car handles nicely and is fun to drive on twisty country roads, but for the track even in
Sport Mode (I have the Advanced Suspension which stiffens the suspension in sport mode) it's still rather soft and in extreme curves the body roll is quite heavy. For track driving the A35 AMG and A45 AMG are the cars to get.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on May 20, 2021, 07:49:01 PM
ALSO, when we set the cruise at 90mph on the Autobahn, we were passing 85% of the cars and trucks are speed limited to 62mph. Most people just didn't drive super fast (like Wimmer does :lol: ).
:praise:
Indeed. Most drivers on the Autobahn will cruise at a slow 110-120 km/h (hopefully on the right lane).
Like I said, I enjoy cruising at higher speeds - 150-160 km/h are ideal. And for my car, which is still incredibly stable at 250 km/h top speed, a speed of 120-130 km/h is simply... nothing, hence my boredom and aggressiveness at those speeds if I am forced to drive them for longer periods.
The biggest problem these days on Autobahns are not the "speeders", but the idiots who hog the middle lane. As you know, there is a
Rechtsfahrgebot (stick to the right) on thr Autobahn meaning that it's essentially a one-lane-road with the two left lane roads being only for overtaking purposes. In recent years there's been an increase in middle-lane-drivers, many foreign, but also many German, and they are a true danger on the Autobahn. When you encounter these drivers, you have to overtake them on the left since overtaking on the right is illegal. Thus, if some middle-lane-driver is crawling around at 100 km/h and the guy behind him is doing 105 km/h and pulls out left to overtake, that 105 km/h driver will slow down the traffic on the left lane that is driving much faster than 105 km/h. It's a vicious cycle and I experience it all the time. Whenever I encounter these idiots I feel like flashing my lights - but I think they're too dumb to understand what I mean. Maybe I need to put this sticker (which I designed myself) on the back of my car... :lol:
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MKnKLyF/E07-F63-EA-7-B1-E-43-FA-AF28-6-D6584481-AD6.jpg)
Find new ways to enjoy driving
To me anything above 140kmh on the street is just a bigger number. When I went to France all the highways has that 130kmh limit. Everyone was zooming by at 150+and I found myself at the limit on the show lane. It was relaxing
My inlaws live near a bunch of speed cameras :(
Americans' driving skills are borderline Third World. There's no way in hell we could have unrestricted freeways.
In fact, on urban freeways, in the rush hours, I'd ruthlessly enforce a 40 mph (65 km/h) limit. Lane jumpers & weavers would be shot.
You'd move more traffic and stop the concertina stop/start jams. Outside the rush hours the limits could go back up to normal. But roadside executions would remain.
I am pro speed cameras
I heard that in my city.... a muni with like 2 million people.... there are 7 state troopers covering 200 miles of interstate. Needless to say it's the wild wild west. Tons of accidents. If I wasn't a racer boi it would be stressful. We have toll roads so the tech is already there. Bump the highway speed limits by like 10MPH and put the cameras out.
Also needs to be some kind of software lockout on phones when a car is in motion. No social media on the road. That would probably save like 10K lives a year and god knows how much money.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 05, 2021, 05:52:53 AM
Also needs to be some kind of software lockout on phones when a car is in motion. No social media on the road. That would probably save like 10K lives a year and god knows how much money.
That will make for a lot of unhappy children. They'll have to rediscover Roadkill Bingo or something.
Quote from: r0tor on May 19, 2021, 01:04:58 PM
Americans just ignore speed limits
Generally you can get away with doing 85 in a 65. 90+ typically gets the attention of cops.
Quote from: MX793 on June 05, 2021, 06:45:17 AM
That will make for a lot of unhappy children. They'll have to rediscover Roadkill Bingo or something.
They can unlock kid's games, YT kids etc. I am certain Apple/Google know exactly what apps people are using while driving. Hell they probably know what apps people use before they crash. Lock those up
Learn to embrace the Broughamic Luxury of the classic full size American sedan.
Say what you will about their looks, efficiency, handling, performance, and build quality- hours on low speed freeways will bring about your love for softly sprung overstuffed couches on wheels designed by engineers that never heard the phrase "steering feedback" and wouldn't care for it if they did.
Quote from: Submariner on June 05, 2021, 07:05:38 AM
Generally you can get away with doing 85 in a 65. 90+ typically gets the attention of cops.
The 12 MPH over rule has served me well for years.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 05, 2021, 01:13:26 PM
...designed by engineers that never heard the phrase "steering feedback" and wouldn't care for it if they did.
:lol:
Quote from: SJ_GTI on June 05, 2021, 01:27:20 PM
:lol:
Wait? Feeling what the tires are doing on the road? Oh no, we'll put an end to that!
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 04, 2021, 08:52:11 PM
Find new ways to enjoy driving
To me anything above 140kmh on the street is just a bigger number. When I went to France all the highways has that 130kmh limit. Everyone was zooming by at 150+and I found myself at the limit on the show lane. It was relaxing
Welcome back!
That will be difficult since the Greenies plan on lowering the speed limit in the city from 50 to 30 km/h and on state roads from 100 to 70 km/h. The whole point of their speed limit campaign and plans is the take the fun out of driving.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 05, 2021, 01:13:26 PM
Learn to embrace the Broughamic Luxury of the classic full size American sedan.
Say what you will about their looks, efficiency, handling, performance, and build quality- hours on low speed freeways will bring about your love for softly sprung overstuffed couches on wheels designed by engineers that never heard the phrase "steering feedback" and wouldn't care for it if they did.
My god... that sounds so highly erotic and arousing. Seriously. :praise:
Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 05, 2021, 01:41:01 PM
Wait? Feeling what the tires are doing on the road? Oh no, we'll put an end to that!
Based on my Jetta, the Germans have already figured that out. Now they just need to embrace over-boosted steering for that "can steer with your little finger" experience.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on June 06, 2021, 02:13:20 AM
My god... that sounds so highly erotic and arousing. Seriously. :praise:
Those cars had to be helmed that way - the suspension, chassis, and most notably, the tires, would be 100% useless with a modern rack and pinion steering system - performance advantages or even steering feel/feedback. And it all works quite well. Drive a car from the era in perfect working order and I think many would be shocked at how well it all works for what it is, esp. compared to the relatively harsh ride and road noise of the average new vehicle. Engineers in the '70s were at least as smart as engineers today, and they knew the scoop. Rack and pinion steering came into being for plebeian vehicles because it was simpler, more reliable, and probably cheaper to make, not because of steering feel/feedback or performance. Plus, as we know, same then as now, 98% of the driving public has no concept of steering feel/feedback.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 06, 2021, 10:53:32 AM
Those cars had to be helmed that way - the suspension, chassis, and most notably, the tires, would be 100% useless with a modern rack and pinion steering system - performance advantages or even steering feel/feedback. And it all works quite well. Drive a car from the era in perfect working order and I think many would be shocked at how well it all works for what it is, esp. compared to the relatively harsh ride and road noise of the average new vehicle. Engineers in the '70s were at least as smart as engineers today, and they knew the scoop. Rack and pinion steering came into being for plebeian vehicles because it was simpler, more reliable, and probably cheaper to make, not because of steering feel/feedback or performance. Plus, as we know, same then as now, 98% of the driving public has no concept of steering feel/feedback.
And at the end of the day they were designed for comfort and straight-line interstate cruising. :praise:
I would imagine that you didn't want to drive fast[er] in those cars since they obviously were not designed for this. In such a car, I'd probably want to drive slow[er] as well. :tounge:
You can buy recirculating ball steering boxes that have good feel. The Nascar boys developed 600 series boxes with a heavier, better feel. So the Big 3 could have put them on the cars, they just decided not to. Cost may have been a factor, but I think it was mainly an engineering and marketing decision. They wanted the cars to have light, overboosted steering with no feel. They were meeting their goals perfectly. I'm not sure when the goal shifted. Maybe after the oil embargo, when small sport cars become more sensible than land yachts? Then once the Europeans and Japanese started to win more customers, everyone had to start competing with their new and different driving style. The Japanese had light but good steering feel, and the Germans like heavier steering from my experiences.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on June 07, 2021, 02:29:57 AM
And at the end of the day they were designed for comfort and straight-line interstate cruising. :praise:
I would imagine that you didn't want to drive fast[er] in those cars since they obviously were not designed for this. In such a car, I'd probably want to drive slow[er] as well. :tounge:
You'd get the same sensation of speed driving a '76 "land yacht" at 80 mph as you would in your car doing 130 mph, especially when you tried to stop. :huh:
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 05, 2021, 05:52:53 AM
I am pro speed cameras
I heard that in my city.... a muni with like 2 million people.... there are 7 state troopers covering 200 miles of interstate. Needless to say it's the wild wild west. Tons of accidents. If I wasn't a racer boi it would be stressful. We have toll roads so the tech is already there. Bump the highway speed limits by like 10MPH and put the cameras out.
Also needs to be some kind of software lockout on phones when a car is in motion. No social media on the road. That would probably save like 10K lives a year and god knows how much money.
No and no :lol:
Regarding software lockout, why would you consent to give the phone companies and/or govt the ability to determine when and where you can use your own phone? Yes, it will save lives. But not at that extreme cost. Anytime there's a perceived "riot" when it's just a BLM march, they'll just curtail everyone's smart phones in the area. A lot of things can be designed/implemented to save lives but the cost to personal liberty is deemed to great. That's why every car does not have a breathalyzer you must blow into before you start it to prevent intoxicated driving. And why the car will start even if your seatbelt is not on. This is not a totalitarian state. As it is the govt and the billion dollar companies control our lives too much.
Same with speed cameras and similar such measures. They are there to make money for municipalities and private companies. Speeding has always been a cat and mouse game. When I visited Dubai 25 some years ago my uncle's car came equipped with an internal buzzer which buzzed whenever you exceeded the speed limit. It was horrid.
The one thing which will make everyone safer is quit encouraging bikes to share the same path as cars. Spend the money and make a separate bike lane.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on June 07, 2021, 02:29:57 AM
And at the end of the day they were designed for comfort and straight-line interstate cruising. :praise:
I would imagine that you didn't want to drive fast[er] in those cars since they obviously were not designed for this. In such a car, I'd probably want to drive slow[er] as well. :tounge:
Oh, I'd argue that cars of the era were designed for high speed sustained driving if so equipped, it just wasn't that popular to buy the cars so equipped. With the drive train options available one had to choose your operating speeds - drag race gears, street gears or highway gears. Rarely was a vehicle ordered with the biggest motor and highway (tallest) gearing. One would have to look at the police packages - the 1978 Plymouth Fury 440 was good for ~130 mph, and the 1969 Dodge Polara 440 was certified at 140+ mph (and was not beaten till the 1994 Camaro Z/28 (and then not by much)) for such an animal. The police packages typically didn't have anything that aided in high speed driving (but needed the right options, such as tall gearing and biggest motor). So, cars of the era could be equipped and driven fast within the bounds of the what was consider safe and prudent for the era (but still death traps by modern standards). Obviously after 1974 or so that mostly went away (i.e., powerful motors in big cars) outside the oddities such as the aforementioned Fury and some rare Pontiacs and maybe a few others, and didn't start to return till the late '80s.
Quote from: veeman on June 07, 2021, 09:35:11 AM
No and no :lol:
Regarding software lockout, why would you consent to give the phone companies and/or govt the ability to determine when and where you can use your own phone? Yes, it will save lives. But not at that extreme cost. Anytime there's a perceived "riot" when it's just a BLM march, they'll just curtail everyone's smart phones in the area. A lot of things can be designed/implemented to save lives but the cost to personal liberty is deemed to great. That's why every car does not have a breathalyzer you must blow into before you start it to prevent intoxicated driving. And why the car will start even if your seatbelt is not on. This is not a totalitarian state. As it is the govt and the billion dollar companies control our lives too much.
Same with speed cameras and similar such measures. They are there to make money for municipalities and private companies. Speeding has always been a cat and mouse game. When I visited Dubai 25 some years ago my uncle's car came equipped with an internal buzzer which buzzed whenever you exceeded the speed limit. It was horrid.
The one thing which will make everyone safer is quit encouraging bikes to share the same path as cars. Spend the money and make a separate bike lane.
There is already precedent for restricting cell phones (e.g. airplanes) when there are safety concerns.
As for speed cameras, there are some benefits vs the "cat and mouse" game. Camera tickets don't add points to your license or otherwise affect your driving record. Just pay your fine and move on. Also means speeding can't be used as a pretext to sniff around for other violations (those windows look kind of dark, and I see your inspection expired last month...).
There's no seatbelt interlock because seatbelt use isn't nationally mandated in the US.
Quote from: veeman on June 07, 2021, 09:35:11 AM
No and no :lol:
Regarding software lockout, why would you consent to give the phone companies and/or govt the ability to determine when and where you can use your own phone? Yes, it will save lives. But not at that extreme cost. Anytime there's a perceived "riot" when it's just a BLM march, they'll just curtail everyone's smart phones in the area. A lot of things can be designed/implemented to save lives but the cost to personal liberty is deemed to great. That's why every car does not have a breathalyzer you must blow into before you start it to prevent intoxicated driving. And why the car will start even if your seatbelt is not on. This is not a totalitarian state. As it is the govt and the billion dollar companies control our lives too much.
Same with speed cameras and similar such measures. They are there to make money for municipalities and private companies. Speeding has always been a cat and mouse game. When I visited Dubai 25 some years ago my uncle's car came equipped with an internal buzzer which buzzed whenever you exceeded the speed limit. It was horrid.
The one thing which will make everyone safer is quit encouraging bikes to share the same path as cars. Spend the money and make a separate bike lane.
I agree with cameras at intersections with traffic lights. Too many collisions seem to happen when drivers run lights after turning red and crash into someone making a left turn. For some reason, some drivers seem to think that "beating the red light" by flooring it when it's yellow is an acceptable thing to do.
As for speed cameras, I think that it's debatable...maybe in some slow speed areas, but not on highways. The danger on highways is when people indiscriminately change lanes when traffic is heavy.
Quote from: MX793 on June 07, 2021, 10:01:10 AM
There is already precedent for restricting cell phones (e.g. airplanes) when there are safety concerns.
As for speed cameras, there are some benefits vs the "cat and mouse" game. Camera tickets don't add points to your license or otherwise affect your driving record. Just pay your fine and move on. Also means speeding can't be used as a pretext to sniff around for other violations (those windows look kind of dark, and I see your inspection expired last month...).
There's no seatbelt interlock because seatbelt use isn't nationally mandated in the US.
Restricting cell phones in airplanes is a verbal reminder for everyone to turn off their phone or put it in airplane mode. The phone company or government does not disable your phone. That's a whole different ballgame.
There is no benefit for speed cameras other than municipalities and the speed camera makers getting money. Whether they reduce accidents is questionable at best. There was some talk about preventing Waze from showing where the cops and speed cameras are. Talk about government intrusion! Thankfully it has not come to fruition, yet... I did not sign up to live in China.
There is no seatbelt interlock because there is a general understanding that people would get so pissed off that they would throw out of office the elected official who tried to mandate one.
Quote from: veeman on June 07, 2021, 11:28:16 AM
There is no seatbelt interlock because there is a general understanding that people would get so pissed off that they would throw out of office the elected official who tried to mandate one.
Seatbelt use is governed by state law (no federal seatbelt use laws) and isn't required in every state. Some states only require them for certain ages, NH doesn't require them at all. There's no grounds for an interlock.
On that note, cell phone use laws while driving vary by state as well.
Lots of people talk about the danger of smart phones and distracted driving and how to curtail it. There are already severe penalties for hitting someone and it's found the driver was on their cell phone (especially texting). Generally a manslaughter charge. As a generalization, although I have no proof, I think an equivalent number of pedestrians are probably hit by cars because the pedestrian was on their cell phone compared with the driver being on their cell phone.
The smart phone has become an extension of our mind/body so much that it's almost integral to daily living. It's great to let it go for periods of time (like at a dinner party) but I'll be damned if I'm going to willingly agree for the government or a billion dollar company to decide when my device is able to turn on and when some of it's functions automatically go to sleep. That is, and I am not exaggerating, un-American. We enjoy our liberty even if that means more morbidity and mortality.
You think people who balk at wearing a face mask because of a nasty pandemic are going to willingly agree for the government or Verizon to decide, through some sort of location/velocity/altimeter algorithm when and where people can activate their cell phone? That is a set up for government control and abuse. Whoa... you're near a prison, your cell phone turns off. Whoa... you're near Monsanto headquarters, you're camera/video recorder turns off. F__k no! Give me my phone, and get off my lawn!!
Quote from: veeman on June 07, 2021, 11:45:10 AM
Lots of people talk about the danger of smart phones and distracted driving and how to curtail it. There are already severe penalties for hitting someone and it's found the driver was on their cell phone (especially texting). Generally a manslaughter charge. As a generalization, although I have no proof, I think an equivalent number of pedestrians are probably hit by cars because the pedestrian was on their cell phone compared with the driver being on their cell phone.
The smart phone has become an extension of our mind/body so much that it's almost integral to daily living. It's great to let it go for periods of time (like at a dinner party) but I'll be damned if I'm going to willingly agree for the government or a billion dollar company to decide when my device is able to turn on and when some of it's functions automatically go to sleep. That is, and I am not exaggerating, un-American. We enjoy our liberty even if that means more morbidity and mortality.
You think people who balk at wearing a face mask because of a nasty pandemic are going to willingly agree for the government or Verizon to decide, through some sort of location/velocity/altimeter algorithm when and where people can activate their cell phone? That is a set up for government control and abuse. Whoa... you're near a prison, your cell phone turns off. Whoa... you're near Monsanto headquarters, you're camera/video recorder turns off. F__k no! Give me my phone, and get off my lawn!!
Meh, that's nothing compared to what WtP already let or expect government to do to us (particularly with the help of Big Tech).
Saw this at Whole Foods today (now owned by Amazon) - not my pic FYI:
(https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Amazon-One-1-630x473-1.jpeg)
Quote from: Laconian on May 19, 2021, 02:55:21 PM
But yeah, a lot of the speed limit shit is bogus. From an environmental POV there are bigger fish to fry first -- I'm looking at you, cruise and container ships!
That's changing, too: https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/batteries-storage/first-battery-powered-tanker-coming-to-tokyo
Just watch, Insurance companies are going to bring about that awesome future. They've already floated the trial balloons with those GPS dongles. The ratchet's in place, now they just need to crank it a few times. It's going to cost serious money to remain invisible.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 05, 2021, 05:52:53 AM
Also needs to be some kind of software lockout on phones when a car is in motion. No social media on the road. That would probably save like 10K lives a year and god knows how much money.
I want my passengers to be able to use their phones, especially my wife who manages her business while on road trips (including using the phone as a mobile hot spot for her laptop). My own phone, which stays in my pocket, still does nav using carplay and music instead of using XM. And I want to be able to use my phone while at driving speeds when I'm riding the bus or train, too.
We have distracted driving laws. Enforce them instead.
Quote from: ChrisV on June 07, 2021, 12:38:01 PM
That's changing, too: https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/batteries-storage/first-battery-powered-tanker-coming-to-tokyo
Loud stinky recreational boats and PWCs are a big problem on lakes and rivers, so there is some possibilities there, there but they're very short haul, and a small part of the problem. That particular ship is just a pipsqueak demonstrator - there will never be legit full-size ocean-going container ship (50,000 - 100,000 hp) powered by batteries for both cost and packaging reasons, and small such ships is not economically viable. Nuclear is well proven of course but still not commercially viable for container ships (despite ~70 years of extensive development and use ;))
Quote from: GoCougs on June 07, 2021, 01:20:58 PM
Nuclear is well proven of course but still not commercially viable for container ships (despite ~70 years of extensive development and use ;))
Due to governments more than the market, probably...
Also, of course, WtP could buy a WHOLE lot less stuff - from overseas and otherwise. Plus a WHOLE lot less travel (jetliner use is a ginormous global polluter too).
Enabling these activates with new tech only encourages more use of it, and even if environmentally more friendly, overall the environmental toll will only continue to climb despite the new tech.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 07, 2021, 01:49:08 PM
Due to governments more than the market, probably...
I'm sure there would be regulation hurdles but there have been nuclear sources in use in industry for decades, such as research, power generation and medical device/procedure, but it's definitely the market. Container ship business is super lean - operators fight over a few dollars per container, the crews are basically indentured servitude and the fuel used is the cheapest, nastiest stuff produced (literally the bottom of the barrel).
Quote from: MX793 on June 07, 2021, 10:01:10 AM
There is already precedent for restricting cell phones (e.g. airplanes) when there are safety concerns.
As for speed cameras, there are some benefits vs the "cat and mouse" game. Camera tickets don't add points to your license or otherwise affect your driving record. Just pay your fine and move on. Also means speeding can't be used as a pretext to sniff around for other violations (those windows look kind of dark, and I see your inspection expired last month...).
There's no seatbelt interlock because seatbelt use isn't nationally mandated in the US.
Yep all these things
I think veeman is not into it because NYC just dropped all their already ridiculously low speed limits down another 10 MPH. That's not my problem :lol:
Phones already track you via cell phone towers and all kinds of other shit.... a social media lockout is peanuts and would actually do something positive
Quote from: MX793 on June 07, 2021, 11:40:15 AM
Seatbelt use is governed by state law (no federal seatbelt use laws) and isn't required in every state. Some states only require them for certain ages, NH doesn't require them at all. There's no grounds for an interlock.
On that note, cell phone use laws while driving vary by state as well.
Of course there was a seatbelt interlock law- in 1975.
It was quickly repealed
Quote from: GoCougs on June 07, 2021, 01:54:01 PM
Also, of course, WtP could buy a WHOLE lot less stuff - from overseas and otherwise. Plus a WHOLE lot less travel (jetliner use is a ginormous global polluter too).
Enabling these activates with new tech only encourages more use of it, and even if environmentally more friendly, overall the environmental toll will only continue to climb despite the new tech.
When did Cougs start acknowledging pollution?!?? I distinctly remember the belief that governments have no place in regulating pollution. Although now it seems some company leaders recognize that if they kill off their customers they are reducing potential sales.
Front page story from the local Sunday paper.... "Death In the Fast Lane"
Lots o Hellcats doing 180+
Local racetrack was doing a roll racing event last weekend. Might be helpful to get people off the streets more. I think the Hoonigan youtube stuff is making stuff like that more popular.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 08, 2021, 06:15:03 AM
Front page story from the local Sunday paper.... "Death In the Fast Lane"
Lots o Hellcats doing 180+
Every warm summer evening, I hear the guys on sportbikes running to redline in 3 or 4 gears on the interstate. As I suspect they are starting their roll in 2nd, that would put them at the top of 4th gear, which is well into the triple digits.
Quote from: MX793 on June 08, 2021, 09:30:37 AM
Every warm summer evening, I hear the guys on sportbikes running to redline in 3 or 4 gears on the interstate. As I suspect they are starting their roll in 2nd, that would put them at the top of 4th gear, which is well into the triple digits.
Some things don't change.
Quote from: MX793 on June 08, 2021, 09:30:37 AM
Every warm summer evening, I hear the guys on sportbikes running to redline in 3 or 4 gears on the interstate. As I suspect they are starting their roll in 2nd, that would put them at the top of 4th gear, which is well into the triple digits.
I used to hear that too but it looks like they have been cracking down
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 09, 2021, 02:26:29 PM
I used to hear that too but it looks like they have been cracking down
I hear a lot of crackling pipes in the early morning hours around here. Got a parkway close by with a good level straight.
I live on the closest thing my region has to an Initial D hill climb, so I hear mega Doppler shifted sportbikes going triple digits late every Friday and Saturday night.
These days I'm just speeding all the time - enjoying potentially the last few months of PURE DRIVING PLEASURE AND FREEDOM before the disgusting eco terrorist car-hating Greenie bastards take over and ruin this country for good. :cry:
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMNYZ2vh/C3805-B54-FFA9-43-AD-B18-E-CDBC85-A3283-E.png)
TBH, I find going really fast in a straight line kind of boring. Anybody can mash the go pedal in a straight line. Tearing up a canyon/gorge road is far more engaging.
Quote from: MX793 on June 09, 2021, 04:15:57 PM
TBH, I find going really fast in a straight line kind of boring. Anybody can mash the go pedal in a straight line. Tearing up a canyon/gorge road is far more engaging.
I hear you, but it was the perfect opportunity to quickly take the photo; straight line and nobody around. The Autobahns are not only straight roads with plenty of curves of varying degrees of curvature. Those are the real fun parts.
Nevertheless, I love driving fast with my car - it's just so well-planted, stable and fun at high speeds. :wub:
The car far ahead in the photo was a Porsche Boxster by the way. I wouldn't say we were racing but I could "keep up" with him for most of the journey until he was forced to slow down by slower vehicles and countless "truck races" - that's when I caught up... :tounge:
With the new 5 speed transmission, I can cruise at 100 mph at about 3000 rpm. Used to go 70 mph @ 3000 rpm.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on June 09, 2021, 04:10:31 PM
These days I'm just speeding all the time - enjoying potentially the last few months of PURE DRIVING PLEASURE AND FREEDOM before the disgusting eco terrorist car-hating Greenie bastards take over and ruin this country for good. :cry:
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMNYZ2vh/C3805-B54-FFA9-43-AD-B18-E-CDBC85-A3283-E.png)
They won't last long. Too fucking crazy. And Marxist. :ohyeah:
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 09, 2021, 08:02:01 PM
With the new 5 speed transmission, I can cruise at 100 mph at about 3000 rpm. Used to go 70 mph @ 3000 rpm.
I call it "Perfect Symmetry" on my car - when I cruise at 160 km/h (100 mph) and set it to cruise control the RPMs will go down to about 2500 RPM and as you can see on my speedometer the needles would literally be in the same position if one of them were flipped.
Quote from: shp4man on June 09, 2021, 08:15:15 PM
They won't last long. Too fucking crazy. And Marxist. :ohyeah:
The problem in Germany is that all of the taxes and prohibitions introduced will never ever go away. We're still paying the
Schaumweinsteuer which was introduced in frigging 1902 to finance the Kaiser's plans to build up his navy and battleships! :cry:
Quote from: MX793 on June 09, 2021, 04:15:57 PM
TBH, I find going really fast in a straight line kind of boring. Anybody can mash the go pedal in a straight line. Tearing up a canyon/gorge road is far more engaging.
Wimmers complaint really isn't about the driving... It's about how people he's doesn't like are affecting his life
Street driving is as boring as it gets and high speed street driving is not much better IMO. If he really wants to enjoy
PURE DRIVING PLEASURE AND FREEDOM he should look into track days, go karting and other forms of driving that are actually unencumbered.
This whole thing reminds me of my kids. We all know the stories of a young kid grabbing a toy the older one has no interest in, and the older one suddenly wanting that exact your. I remember when Wimmer made fun of high performance; now apparently it's the only thing that brings joy to his life. I get that the changing situation sucks but Wimmer your attitude isn't really helping.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 10, 2021, 05:28:34 AM
Wimmers complaint really isn't about the driving... It's about how people he's doesn't like are affecting his life
Street driving is as boring as it gets and high speed street driving is not much better IMO. If he really wants to enjoy PURE DRIVING PLEASURE AND FREEDOM he should look into track days, go karting and other forms of driving that are actually unencumbered.
This whole thing reminds me of my kids. We all know the stories of a young kid grabbing a toy the older one has no interest in, and the older one suddenly wanting that exact your. I remember when Wimmer made fun of high performance; now apparently it's the only thing that brings joy to his life. I get that the changing situation sucks but Wimmer your attitude isn't really helping.
Everyone has a different interpretation of driving fun.
I know I won't like track driving because my car is not made for it - it's still too soft (suspension wise) for hardcore sporty driving, even in
Sport Mode. If I was serious about driving fun on the track then I'd have to step up to an A35 AMG 4Matic or A45S AMG 4Matic.
But I enjoy driving fast on the Autobahn. That's not saying I am blasting down the roads at high speed all the time. A typical Autobahn drive of mine will actually include a lot of cruising at 150 km/h with the occasional speed burst into the 200 km/h+ zones for 2-3 minutes if possible which means fun requirement satisfied for the time being.
I'm just saying with things changing maybe you need to be more flexible in how you define driving fun. OK a track day might be too much, but you can do autocross, or maybe some high speed runs at an airfield etc. With stuff like that you get the added benefit of interacting with other car people
Fixating on the Autobahn knowing the greenies are going to take it away is a recipe for disappointment and anger..........
Quote from: cawimmer430 on June 10, 2021, 07:20:29 AM
I know I won't like track driving because my car is not made for it - it's still too soft (suspension wise) for hardcore sporty driving, even in Sport Mode. If I was serious about driving fun on the track then I'd have to step up to an A35 AMG 4Matic or A45S AMG 4Matic.
Seems like overkill to me - @CaminoRacer autocrosses his Bolt. "Run what you brung" can be a lot of fun even if your car's performance limits aren't that high
Quote from: Speed_Racer on June 15, 2021, 10:07:49 AM
Seems like overkill to me - @CaminoRacer autocrosses his Bolt. "Run what you brung" can be a lot of fun even if your car's performance limits aren't that high
Yup. I've seen people show up in all manner of completely stock non-performance cars. I brought my Jetta, riding on crappy Chinese all-seasons, to an event once.
Some guy used to win those "guess your time drag races" in rental Taurus when he was traveling for work.
Keys were:
-keep the car running in between heats for consistency
-practice the same launch every time
-rent the same trim car every time
I've autocrossed rental cars before. Always a hilarious time.
It's a shame the bolt pattern for the Bolt is different than the Miata or El Camino, it would be awesome with sticky tires.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 07, 2021, 04:15:20 PM
Yep all these things
I think veeman is not into it because NYC just dropped all their already ridiculously low speed limits down another 10 MPH. That's not my problem :lol:
Phones already track you via cell phone towers and all kinds of other shit.... a social media lockout is peanuts and would actually do something positive
Haha no though. I generally don't speed too much on local roads and NYC roads are usually too congested to speed anyways (unless early early morning before sunrise or late late at night). Outside of back and forth to work I hardly drive in NYC anyways as my local driving is in Connecticut.
I mostly get pissed off when I get mail indicating I was caught by a speed camera somewhere in NYC a month earlier. Hasn't happened very often (maybe three times in 15 years) but it didn't do anything enlightening for me because I never remember the circumstances of it and in general I'm just driving with traffic flow in the city.
Regarding having anyone else or agency be able to control the operation of my personal smart phone.... yeah no thanks. I'm good. In all honesty if that ever came to fruition in my lifetime in some dystopian future,I'd throw away my smart phone. I'd get an old flip phone with a wired one ear headset, use satellite navigation in my car, and carry around an IPAD like device with an internet connection that I would keep in a backpack and use if necessary.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 15, 2021, 07:16:36 AM
I'm just saying with things changing maybe you need to be more flexible in how you define driving fun. OK a track day might be too much, but you can do autocross, or maybe some high speed runs at an airfield etc. With stuff like that you get the added benefit of interacting with other car people
Fixating on the Autobahn knowing the greenies are going to take it away is a recipe for disappointment and anger..........
My Plan B would have been to take country and state roads - 100 km/h top speed. But even here the Greenies are trying to rape us motorists with a 70 km/h speed limit. That's not driving, that's CREEPING. :cry:
Quote from: Speed_Racer on June 15, 2021, 10:07:49 AM
Seems like overkill to me - @CaminoRacer autocrosses his Bolt. "Run what you brung" can be a lot of fun even if your car's performance limits aren't that high
Tires ain't cheap here. :lol: