What's with the increasingly restrictive speed limiters on new cars?

[DougoMan]

Has anyone else noticed this disturbing trend?

Examples:

360 Horsepower 2011 Ford F-150 - 96mph (seriously?)

320 Horsepower 2011 Ford Mustang - 113mph


That almost seems like a safety hazard, even driving semi-responsibly. You get used to feeling like you have plenty of passing power and make a questionable pass attempt on a one lane road and then unexpectedly slam into the limiter?


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...xlt_supercrew_4x4_5.0_v8-short_take_road_test

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q1/2011_ford_mustang_v6-short_take_road_test

 

[jlee]

That almost seems like a safety hazard, even driving semi-responsibly. You get used to feeling like you have plenty of passing power and make a questionable pass attempt on a one lane road and then unexpectedly slam into the limiter?

Oh no, not this again....if the inability to accelerate past 96mph makes it so you could not complete your pass, you really should not be driving.

That said..I dunno. Liability?

 

[Monster_Munch]

360 Horsepower 2011 Ford F-150 - 96mph (seriously?)

I've driven faster than that in my 120 horsepower Ford Fiesta

 

[DougoMan]

I've driven faster than that in my 120 horsepower Ford Fiesta

Haha I remember being 15 doing my drivers ed training in a Safestway Ford Fiesta. No way that had more than 70 or 80 horsepower, but the nutcase driving instructor had me do well over 100 on a long downhill straightaway.

This while he told me stories about his street racing endeavors and the swinger clubs he and girlfriend liked to visit.

 

[Meghan54]

As far as the truck is concerned.....really not too unusual. Very few tires rated for 4X4 use are speed rated beyond an "S" rating (or many truck specific tires for that matter).


Dunno why for the Mustang.

 

[Kroze]

Lol @ mustang. What a sick joke to put 400+ horsepower in a car and limit it to 113mph

 

[IcePickFreak]

Lol @ mustang. What a sick joke to put 400+ horsepower in a car and limit it to 113mph

He listed the V6, which is factory rated at 305hp, not 400+ or 320 for that matter.

Although they had the upgraded tires on the V6 (which gives you the base GT tires) in the C&D article, "The base Mustang V6 automatic wears relatively narrow, low-rolling-resistance 215/65R17 Michelin A/S Energy Saver tires..." according to an InsideLine article so that would be the reason for the low speed limiter on the V6. They aren't going to go through the trouble of changing the limiter in the tune for a different tire package.

 

[996GT2]

Meh, all Japanese domestic market cars are limited to 180 kmh (112 mph). That includes icons like the Skyline GTR, RX-7 FD, NSX, and even the current R35 GT-R. So it's not like this is really new in the automotive world.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Maybe it's to prevent the transmissions disintegrating...

http://uk.jalopnik.com/5796207/ford-silent-on-broken-mustang-transmissions

 

[Doppel]

Has anyone else noticed this disturbing trend?

Examples:

360 Horsepower 2011 Ford F-150 - 96mph (seriously?)

320 Horsepower 2011 Ford Mustang - 113mph


That almost seems like a safety hazard, even driving semi-responsibly. You get used to feeling like you have plenty of passing power and make a questionable pass attempt on a one lane road and then unexpectedly slam into the limiter?


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...xlt_supercrew_4x4_5.0_v8-short_take_road_test

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q1/2011_ford_mustang_v6-short_take_road_test

If 96 mph isn't fast enough for you you're the safety hazard, not the car.

 

[halik]

Has anyone else noticed this disturbing trend?

Examples:

360 Horsepower 2011 Ford F-150 - 96mph (seriously?)

320 Horsepower 2011 Ford Mustang - 113mph


That almost seems like a safety hazard, even driving semi-responsibly. You get used to feeling like you have plenty of passing power and make a questionable pass attempt on a one lane road and then unexpectedly slam into the limiter?


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...xlt_supercrew_4x4_5.0_v8-short_take_road_test

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q1/2011_ford_mustang_v6-short_take_road_test

The f150 has 112mph tires from the factory and certainly isn't designed to handle at anywhere near those speeds.

People need to realize they probably shouldn't have bought a 4500lb body on frame vehicle if they wanna cruise at 100mph. Nothing scarier than seeing some jackass in a mid-90s cherokee/explorer doing 90 on the freeway.

 

[ayabe]

The f150 has 112mph tires from the factory and certainly isn't designed to handle at anywhere near those speeds.

People need to realize they probably shouldn't have bought a 4500lb body on frame vehicle if they wanna cruise at 100mph. Nothing scarier than seeing some jackass in a mid-90s cherokee/explorer doing 90 on the freeway.

This.

High center of gravity, aerodynamics of a brick, what could go wrong?

 

[JCH13]

113mph speed limiters are nothing new... I recall a number of 'street racers' bragging about how they were bouncing off their speed governors on the interstate, right around 110-120mph. Honestly, I've never found it necessary to exceed 96mph, or really even 80mph (on 75mph limited highways). One never NEEDS to go faster than the general flow of traffic (despite what one may WANT to do).

Having said that, there are a number of cars out there with 155mph limits, that come with z-rated tires and have the suspension and aero to go 155mph.

 

[endlessmike]

The f150 has 112mph tires from the factory and certainly isn't designed to handle at anywhere near those speeds.

People need to realize they probably shouldn't have bought a 4500lb body on frame vehicle if they wanna cruise at 100mph. Nothing scarier than seeing some jackass in a mid-90s cherokee/explorer doing 90 on the freeway.

Come on now! Everybody knows that Trucknuts and Peeing Calvin stickers increase handling characteristics to the point that you are free ignore physics and good judgment and pretend to be Dale Jr. Jr.

 

[Raizinman]

Speed Limiter? Heck, just change out the chip and have unlimited power and speed.

 

[alkemyst]

It's as simple as OEM tire rating people. It's usually a lot cheaper to throw on S rated or worse tires and usually better for ride comfort as well.

 

[exdeath]

Wheels as well. Most OEM alloy wheels are cast and not safe at speeds over the 155 mph most limiters are set to. Can't look up the link now but there is an incident of a Corvette doing a standing mile and the stock cast wheel exploded at speed with catastrophic results. Car had the aero, power, cooling, etc for 200+ mph but it all came down to something as stupid as a cast wheel. The density of the OEM casting lacked the tension required to balance the centripetal forces in the wheel. Many places like that will limit your speed without 200+ mph certified forged wheels and kick you out if you exceed that limit without the proper gear.

The limiter is there because of mechanical limits on the parts of the car that you wouldn't even think about. If you get a speeding ticket, that's your own fault, but if a wheel blew apart before the factory speed limiter, it would be a huge liability for the auto maker. Since any car has to be modified to do over 155, the auto maker is off the hook.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ damn the wheel exploded

My car has 155 limiter but man, I got cast wheels lol

 

[JCH13]

I bet wheels would need special balancing before being 200mph capable too.

 

[exdeath]

As far as that goes, most wheels balanced at tire shops when you get new tires are only spun up to 25-35 mph. That's not on the car to include the rotor or hub either. A few grams is enough to cause vibration at 100+.

 

[exar333]

Meh, all Japanese domestic market cars are limited to 180 kmh (112 mph). That includes icons like the Skyline GTR, RX-7 FD, NSX, and even the current R35 GT-R. So it's not like this is really new in the automotive world.

Not true. My understanding is that the Japanese GT-Rs are limited to this, but the US tops out much higher than this. The top speed as advertised for the US GT-R is 193mph, but I am not 100% sure if any modifications to the limiter were done to get this speed. It is certainly >150mph though.

My Z tops out at 155mph, and it is certainly no GT-R.

 

[996GT2]

Not true. My understanding is that the Japanese GT-Rs are limited to this, but the US tops out much higher than this. The top speed as advertised for the US GT-R is 193mph, but I am not 100% sure if any modifications to the limiter were done to get this speed. It is certainly >150mph though.

My Z tops out at 155mph, and it is certainly no GT-R.

I said "Japanese domestic market" vehicles in my post...meaning cars that are not meant for export markets.

 

[bruceb]

It is done because most vehicles are not equipped with high speed tires or the suspension can not work properly at very high speed. All this is done in the name of cost and to make the vehicle ride nice. A nice ride and superb handling do not usually go together. And in a truck, due to high center of gravity, they are worried about the truck flipping. In the sports car, it is too easy for a new driver to lose control of rear drive, high horsepower cars. So it is done partly to protect idiot drivers from themselves. Most tuner programs can bypass the speed limiters.

 

[zsdersw]

The War on Speed continues unabated..

 

[overst33r]

Wheels as well. Most OEM alloy wheels are cast and not safe at speeds over the 155 mph most limiters are set to. Can't look up the link now but there is an incident of a Corvette doing a standing mile and the stock cast wheel exploded at speed with catastrophic results. Car had the aero, power, cooling, etc for 200+ mph but it all came down to something as stupid as a cast wheel. The density of the OEM casting lacked the tension required to balance the centripetal forces in the wheel. Many places like that will limit your speed without 200+ mph certified forged wheels and kick you out if you exceed that limit without the proper gear.

The limiter is there because of mechanical limits on the parts of the car that you wouldn't even think about. If you get a speeding ticket, that's your own fault, but if a wheel blew apart before the factory speed limiter, it would be a huge liability for the auto maker. Since any car has to be modified to do over 155, the auto maker is off the hook.

Reminds me of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnF1JxZjT1A