Has anyone ever asked you how far your speedometer goes?

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Mine goes to 160 which is a perfectly reasonable place for it to end. Electronic limiter cuts at 155 and it can go faster if removed, but not really safe without some serious aero and cooling system upgrades. World speed record on the salt flats is 213 mph for the 2003 Cobra, with the aforementioned upgrades.

I've never had it over 100, which can be reached before the top of third, on public roads. Fortunately for me I got my raw speed bug out with much slower cars before I ever got my Cobra. Now I just enjoy the g-force and acceleration and smoking the tires more than watching how high my speedo can go.

I've started even taking a liking to cornering. Amazing how not so fast you can go around a right hand corner and still feel yourself wanting to eject out of the driver side window with the seat belt digging into your shoulder Though I still like to know I can experience the same forces under my own power as well when there isn't a corner.

How is the seat belt digging into your shoulder on a turn that has you against that door?

Also the guy that hit 200+ in a 2003 Cobra had more than Aero and cooling upgrades. There was not much aero on that car.

It boiled down to:

MY MOTOR WAS A 614 RWHP/612 LBS. OF TORQUE MONSTER, BUILT BY MV PERFORMANCE. IT WAS BORED AND STROKED TO EXCEED THE 5.01 LITERS REQUIRED FOR THE C/PS CLASS, A WHIPPLE SUPERCHARGER INSTALLED, A METCO PULLEY SETUP, AND BASSANI AND BORLA FOR THE STREET LEGAL EXHAUST SYSTEM.

 

[Xyclone]

My Tundra goes to 110 (V6 model). I can probably reach that, but I don't want to try. A sudden movement (in the case of an emergency) in a truck at that speed is asking for a rollover.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
My Tundra goes to 110 (V6 model). I can probably reach that, but I don't want to try. A sudden movement (in the case of an emergency) in a truck at that speed is asking for a rollover.

My dads Tundra seemed pretty stable at speeds around 90. It was a 2000 v8 supercab or whatever it was called. His 2004 SCrew F150 was much more stable and nicer though.

Now he is sticking to his 1996 Eddie Bauer Bronco with a built 408...

Fastest I have been was the speed limiter in my 97 GTI VR6...with chip ~145, following an M3 and Corrado to Moroso...in a light rain

I once ran out of road in a 88 GT at about 130...I have no idea how I survived without any damage to myself or others...freaking road went from 4 lanes paved to all dirt/gravel with no signs or warnings...not even a speed limit change (which was only like 40mph anyway).

 

[imported_Devine]

My bike has a digital speedo but since its a crotch rocket I get asked that question all the time. I've had it up to 130 and I've realized something, anything past 85ish on an open road seems the same, the only difference is that number gets bigger.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

you were probably concentrating pretty hard. i noticed quite a large difference between 60 and 120. wind noise, the road was considerably smoother compared to slower speeds(kinda just floating over bumps, which is not good). just had to barely turn the wheel to make a turn, pretty smooth.(fairly long, smooth bending turns with a slight slant to them)

 

[LS20]

i drive a roadster. sometimes people on the next lane ask me how fast my car goes. i modestly shrug and say i dont know , after which they'll ask "the speedo--what does it go to?"


its digital, so i should say 999

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: LS20
i drive a roadster. sometimes people on the next lane ask me how fast my car goes. i modestly shrug and say i dont know , after which they'll ask "the speedo--what does it go to?"


its digital, so i should say 999

telling them 666 would be more entertaining.

 

[Regs]

I think mine is at 140 MPH. Max speed ...I don't know. Not that crazy. Though I imagine a 212 hp car with 6 gears could maybe reach around 170 MPH.

 

[Fenixgoon]

spedo goes to 160 on my passat. based on the gearing, it should be able to hit that, barring any drag limitations.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: woodie1
Wasn't there a time in the USA when 85mph was the limit? Yes, I have been ask but it was a long time ago.

my 1991 sable went to 85 mph. I pegged it a few times, it was a wild ride at those speeds.

My 1997 town car's digital dash will display up to 120 mph (I think in metric it goes to 199 kph, but I don't know), but the car is governed to 106 or so.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: Regs
I think mine is at 140 MPH. Max speed ...I don't know. Not that crazy. Though I imagine a 212 hp car with 6 gears could maybe reach around 170 MPH.

power and gearing have less to do with top speed, it's more about aerodynamics.

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: Regs
I think mine is at 140 MPH. Max speed ...I don't know. Not that crazy. Though I imagine a 212 hp car with 6 gears could maybe reach around 170 MPH.

if that car could hit 170 that would be mighty impressive. Realistically think more around 135-145



I think my speedo goes up to around 160 or so. Won't get close to that speed though. Supposedly tops out around 135ish, which seems reasonable. Car doesn't have much once it gets above 85 or so, more of a acceleration machine than top end.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I think mine goes up to 190 or so. Unrestricted the car can do just over 180mph, AFAIK.

 

[Josh123]

Mine says 120 MPH but I've only got it to 110 MPH.

 

[jdoggg12]

I've been asked that on my streetbike... i had a digital speedometer so all i said is that it's shown an "indicated" speed of 171mph on the race track, probably closer to 163 actual speed

 

[Arcanedeath]

I have an I4 '06 accord, had it up to about 115 its drag limited at aprox 120 and spedo tops out at 160.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Regs
I think mine is at 140 MPH. Max speed ...I don't know. Not that crazy. Though I imagine a 212 hp car with 6 gears could maybe reach around 170 MPH.

power and gearing have less to do with top speed, it's more about aerodynamics.

And power... power goes up as a cube with velocity when it comes to fluid drag.

Thats why you see diminishing returns with drag racing. A 1000 HP car can run 8 seconds, a 2000 HP car can run 6s, but it takes 8000 HP to run 4s.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Regs
I think mine is at 140 MPH. Max speed ...I don't know. Not that crazy. Though I imagine a 212 hp car with 6 gears could maybe reach around 170 MPH.

power and gearing have less to do with top speed, it's more about aerodynamics.

And power... power goes up as a cube with velocity when it comes to fluid drag.

Thats why you see diminishing returns with drag racing. A 1000 HP car can run 8 seconds, a 2000 HP car can run 6s, but it takes 8000 HP to run 4s.

Yup, drag increases with the square of speed. So to double your speed you need 8x the power. (2x the power to double speed absent of drag, multiplied by 4x the power to overcome the drag, means overall 8x the power to double your speed.)

This has interesting implications for how much power a car really "needs". My 951, for example, dynos at 275 RWHP (roughly 300 at the crank). It will redline in 5th at 170 mph. Half that is 85 mph. If it takes 300 HP at the crank to go 170 mph, then it only takes 37.5 HP at the crank to go 85 mph. Amazing to think that when driving down the highway you're only actually using less than 40 horsepower.

Of course, small decreases in drag have huge payoffs at high speed since they compound quickly, while small increases in power have little effect.

ZV

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Regs
I think mine is at 140 MPH. Max speed ...I don't know. Not that crazy. Though I imagine a 212 hp car with 6 gears could maybe reach around 170 MPH.

power and gearing have less to do with top speed, it's more about aerodynamics.

And power... power goes up as a cube with velocity when it comes to fluid drag.

Thats why you see diminishing returns with drag racing. A 1000 HP car can run 8 seconds, a 2000 HP car can run 6s, but it takes 8000 HP to run 4s.

Yup, drag increases with the square of speed. So to double your speed you need 8x the power. (2x the power to double speed absent of drag, multiplied by 4x the power to overcome the drag, means overall 8x the power to double your speed.)

This has interesting implications for how much power a car really "needs". My 951, for example, dynos at 275 RWHP (roughly 300 at the crank). It will redline in 5th at 170 mph. Half that is 85 mph. If it takes 300 HP at the crank to go 170 mph, then it only takes 37.5 HP at the crank to go 85 mph. Amazing to think that when driving down the highway you're only actually using less than 40 horsepower.

Of course, small decreases in drag have huge payoffs at high speed since they compound quickly, while small increases in power have little effect.

ZV

I think that's precisely the logic behind all of these 'cylinder deactivation' techniques. Good stuff, IMHO. Kudos to GM for bringing this to the marketplace, and I hope it really catches on.

 

[Homer Simpson]

i get asked this alot. My Grand National has an 85mph speedo. those that know its fast (but thats all they know) think its weird it only goes to 85. ive been asked a few times on the gto too. 200mph and they're like keanu reeves, "whoa" LOL. the 85mph speedo on the GN is the least of the stupid questions im asked about that car though. LOL.