Why do they keep making faster cars if in most roads the speed limit is under 120km/h?

It doesn't make sense to me that we have all these new cars with ever more powerful engines that can go over 300 km/h when there are speed restrictions in place and you can never really use the full potential of your car.

The EU Parliament's environment committee is considering banning buiding cars capable of exceeding 162 km/h. Why wasn't that done before? Despite, cars that can go faster have to be built heavier for safety reasons, they polute more and are less fuel efficient. So why has the government allowed manufacturers to continue building faster cars for all this time?

BMWSGOD

All about EGO and Bragging rights. Plus some people actually go as fast as the car can go once in awhile. What if you rob a bank you need that power to get away...

john n

Traditionally man tries to build faster, more powerfull machines as new technology is applied. When the first cars were built, you had a fast car if you could hit 35 mph, and since then the emphasis has been on getting cars to go faster.
It is only recently that the notion of energy conservation is becoming an important feature, and car manufacturers are struggling to find new technology that will incorporate "greener" performance.
The mindset is slow to change, and some still hold fast to the idea that faster is better.

I think people like the power more than the speed. I like it when i can go from zero to 60 under 5 seconds, but i very rarely go over 100 mph.

bungee

for the same reason I have to buy 12 eggs when I only need 6. money................

prodriver

Very good question, I have wondered this for a long time. It is not like the average driver is even capable of handling a vehicle with that kind of power. Most of the time I end up behind people in high performance cars that drive them like a Chrysler New Yorker out for a Sunday drive. Either that or the morons let the power go to their heads and wrap them around poles/trees or worse, injure or kill other innocent drivers that 'get in the way'.

I like one person's post about devices on the side of the road limiting speed, I came up with the idea about 15 years ago but the technology just wasn't there. Now we have cars that can park themselves, can driving themselves via GPS be that far off?

Fast cars should be regulated and there should also be licensing requirements like IMSA credentials or the like to own certain high perfomance vehicles. One should have to be certified in order to own a vehicle capable of speeds greater than 130 MPH, at least here in the U.S. anyway.

It has to make me wonder what kind of power the police cars have what with production vehicles capable of such speed. I would like to see a Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser go up against a WRX or a Pontiac G8. I guess the only thing the cops have going for them is numbers and perhaps more driving skill, not to mention helicopters and radios.

Another comment about acceleration is also valid, it is nice to be able to jump from a stop light to 60 MPH in 5 seconds or less. So long as you stay under the speed limit and drive safely there is nothing wrong with a powerful car.

hot_ef

I like speeding and fast cars but I am with you on this one. There should be restrictions built into the road side and the car that automatically limit the the speed of the car.

UCANTCME

It is very simple...........speed sells cars......

The Blockader

For the track, for Auto Barns in Germany, the NÃ¼rburgring, all of that. Also because driving fast just pumps adrenaline into your entire body and makes you feel great.

I have a miata. it's not powerful, but it can exceed 120mph. how could it be made slower? 1: excessively long gear ratios, but a 3 speed automatic would be no fun. 2: excessively short gear ratios, but it already spins 3000 on the highway it would be really annoying at 5000. 3: very small engine, but then the car would be 600 pounds too heavy. 4: detuned engine, 90 hp at 4500 rpm what is this 1975?

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