Why do speed-o-meters on cars go past the speed limits and yet we can't drive that fast?

Christopher H

Just because it isn't LEGAL to drive that fast doesn't mean the car won't GO that fast.

JD_in_FL

Many car models are sold to many countries, where speed limits differ. They put different engines, transmissions, differentials, and other parts in these cars, but why should you have to make two different speedometers?

If I can drive 200 KPM in Germany, then fine...if not, I suggest you respect the speed limit in your local area.

luisamapacha

So we feel cool in our cars.

schizoguitar

its not really the speedometer its the hp in the engine. so in that case why dont we all drive 3 cylinder geo's. it'd be safer cheaper and save a lot of gas. but who the hell wants to drive one of those. its all about making the cars look flashy and for bragging rights. so dudes can say yeah my car can go 195.

kfhilltop_48

So you are able to tell the police investigator how fast you were going before you crashed, rolled, hit the car in front of you or the freight truck as you were spinning out of control...which of course depends on your abilitiy to converse at that time and place.

Anthony P

Not only are the speed limits in countries different but they also differ from state to state. Some areas in this country did not even have a posted speed-limit but relied on the "reasonable and prudent" rule. Driving fast doesn't necessarily mean driving unsafe. The Autobahn has no speed limit in most areas and it one of the safest highway systems in the world.

StephenWeinstein

The speedometer goes higher in case either (a) you take the car to a country with a higher speed limit, (b) they raise the speed limit, (c) there is an emergency such that speeding is allowed (for example, to away from a bomb that is about to explode).

The better question is why my speedometer goes beyond the speed at which the owner's manual says that the tires will blow out.

Laid back

Depends on where you live and how bold you are. Get on an open California freeway some time and make sure you are at least 10 over the posted and stay in the right lane. You will be left sitting still by some of the people trying to prove their car can go as fast as the speedometer maximum. Have run into the same in many states no matter how well enforced the posted limit.

Steven H

I love looking at my Spedo in my VW touareg tha says 160mph or my G500 that says 140mph. I done 135mph in my Touareg and 110mph in my G500. Driving at 100mph is not really dangerous as long as your not stupid and do it on an empty mostly straight road with good driving conditions. My touareg is limited to 135mph but if I took the governor out I am sure I could hit 145mph since at 135mph the car is in 5th gear and still has another gear to use and you can just tell the 4.2l 310hp engine wants to go faster. It is an amazing car.
Some people speed and its nice to know how much you are speeding.

Stefano

Well one reason is that different states have different limits and different countries have different limits (speed limits in Europe are higher). In reality this is somewhat of a weak reason though. The real reason is marketing. Cars represent freedom, adventure, escape from the mundane. So the faster and the more powerful your product is, the more you will sell against your competitors. Of course this is all day dreaming because in reality we all sit in traffic going nowhere fast. Still the allure of "I have the fastest toy" sells very well. Further all engines are measure by two physical dimensions, torque and horsepower. Torque is what gives you good acceleration and allows you to carry a lot of cargo. Horsepower is what pushes the vehicle at speed against the air resistance. In order to get enough torque to move a sedan capable of carrying 5 adults and luggage, you end up with enough power to also move significantly faster than any speed limit in the US or Europe, where applicable. Of course the technology exist to limit the speed of the car. For example my wife's car is limited to 125Mph, that is, the computer that runs the engine will monitor your speed and cut the gasoline to the engine if you go past a predefined speed. So in theory we could have cars that never exceed the speed limits but we are back to marketing, people want to be in control and they will not spend tens of thousands of dollar for a vehicle they do not control. I did no say human beings are smart =)

UCANTCME

I GUESS YOU WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION IN DRIVERS ED.

Gustard

Conspiracy

rogueriverbob

it is a conspiracy that the cops and the car makers have done to the public,.....they put it on there in the hopes that you will speed,.....the car makers get a kick back from every one who gets a ticket for speeding,.....

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