# Question: Re: SUPER-High-Performance cars-and the Idiots Who Crash them! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457 "2007-06-18T14:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/1 "2007-06-18T14:00:31Z")
This is because I just had an encounter with the drive of e new MASERAT sprts car (Mucilage?). Anyway, this guy was truly afraid of his car-he entered the highway with the thing lugging-then downshifeted and shot ahead-nearly hit the car ahaed of him! then, he hit the gas and made it to the LH lane-while i was observing this. He then (lugging the engine again0 managed to downshift and took off like a rocket. The NY Times did a great story “HONEY, I CRASGED THE MASERATI”. What is the jsutification for selling high-performance cars to people untrained in driving them? These things are capable of 150 MPH-isn’t allowing some poeple to buy them, tanatmount toselling loaded revolvers to children? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/2 "2007-06-18T14:11:25Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] These things are capable of 150 MPH-isn’t allowing some poeple to buy them, tanatmount toselling loaded revolvers to children? 😕 [/QUOTE] What are you suggesting, special driving tests every time you buy a new car? Because all cars are deadly weapons in the hands of the wrong driver. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/3 "2007-06-18T14:25:22Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] What is the jsutification for selling high-performance cars to people untrained in driving them? [/QUOTE] [Navin R. Johnson] Ah, it’s a profit scheme! [/Navin R. Johnson] ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/4 "2007-06-18T14:33:32Z")
Well, the good news is that if the driver of one of these luxury rockets hits you (and you survive), you know he has the deep pockets to pay a huge lawsuit judgment. [QUOTE=ralph124c] These things are capable of 150 MPH-isn’t allowing some poeple to buy them, tanatmount toselling loaded revolvers to children? 😕 [/QUOTE] You say that like it’s a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/5 "2007-06-18T14:34:41Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] What are you suggesting, special driving tests every time you buy a new car? Because all cars are deadly weapons in the hands of the wrong driver. [/QUOTE] Agreed-but the Maserati model in question has an engine SO powerful, you can smoke the tires in 4th gear! That amount of torge, transmitted to the wheels at the wrong time, can cause a terrible accident. A F-1 race car drive is capable of handling such a car (he has the reflexes and experience to drive something this powerful). But some rich idiot who’s experience is with luxo-barge cars is totally out of his element with such a car. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/6 "2007-06-18T14:39:12Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] What is the jsutification for selling high-performance cars to people untrained in driving them? [/QUOTE] Making money. Any other answer is outside the scope of General Questions. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/7 "2007-06-18T17:26:25Z")
Why are any cars sold in North America capable of driving faster than 80 mph (the highest posted speed limit on the continent)? Seems irresponsible. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/8 "2007-06-18T17:29:33Z")
[QUOTE=Baffle] Why are any cars sold in North America capable of driving faster than 80 mph (the highest posted speed limit on the continent)? Seems irresponsible. [/QUOTE] Because you want to get from zero to 70 in a timely fashion. Some people like to go up hills etc. All of these things take more power than just cruising at 80 on a level road. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/9 "2007-06-18T17:56:40Z")
As a side point, it would be quite easy to set an electrical governor at 79 or 85 or what have you. This is going off into IMHO or GD though. We could start a thread there. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/10 "2007-06-18T18:33:16Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Slant] As a side point, it would be quite easy to set an electrical governor at 79 or 85 or what have you. This is going off into IMHO or GD though. We could start a thread there. [/QUOTE] Some cars already have them. My parents used to have an Aerostar (probably a 94) that had one. The engine would cut out at a little over 100 and then come back on when you dropped back down. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/11 "2007-06-18T18:42:25Z")
[For your guilty viewing pleasure…](http://www.wreckedexotics.com/newphotos/exotics/) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/12 "2007-06-18T20:00:05Z")
Are you sure this was a Maserati ? because you have wrong model name, I wonder if you mean the Murciélago ? The latter is a Lamborghini, which is rather more pricey than anything that Maserati make, unless we are talking of vintage - serious vintage too, they haven’t really done anthing special in supercar terms for quite a while, except for the MC12, and I would be surprised to see something costing around $750k or more conoodling around the streets. Either way 150 mph sound rather low, if you had said something like 200 mph then it would be much more realistic. You also have to realise that these things do not have automatics, and anyone used to autos would get quite a reality check, even if they were to go for one with the paddle shift lever on the underside of the steering wheel. Go for a manual version, and it has a very traditional supercar clutch, very heavy. Here is your Lambo > **[Lamborghini Murciélago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Murci%C3%A9lago)** > > The Lamborghini Murciélago is a sports car produced by Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship V12 of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The car was first available in North America for the 2002 model year. The Murciélago was Lamborghini's first new design in eleven years, and was also the brand's first new model under the ownership of German parent company Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen. …and your Maserati > **[Maserati](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati)** > > Maserati S.p.A. (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Italian: \[mazeˈraːti\]) is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. Established on 1 December 1914 in Bologna, Italy, the company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. The company has been owned by Stellantis since 2021. Maserati was initially associated with ... > **[List of Maserati vehicles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Maserati_vehicles)** > > The following lists contains all Maserati production car, racing car and concept car models. > > The total number of cars built of a certain model prior 2001 often is difficult to determine. Figures vary with the source and even Maserati states different numbers for the same model. This information therefore has been kept off the list. > The following is a list of concept and prototype cars that carry the name of Italian manufacturer Maserati, listed in the chronological order of their presentation... ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/13 "2007-06-18T20:23:33Z")
[QUOTE=casdave] Are you sure this was a Maserati ? because you have wrong model name, I wonder if you mean the Murciélago ? [/QUOTE] I bet the Lamborghini marketing guys are thrilled to hear it called a “Mucilage” 😛 On a side note, 150mph is hardly “supercar” territory. I recently sold my Mazda RX-8, sporty but hardly a supercar, and that had a top speed of 142mph. Allegedly, anyway. Most I got was 136 before I ran out of straight track… ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/14 "2007-06-18T20:48:08Z")
My favorite series from WreckedExotics… [Ferrari Enzo](http://www.wreckedexotics.com/enzo/enzo_20060221_008.shtml) [Another angle](http://www.wreckedexotics.com/enzo/enzo_20060221_006.shtml) [What’s missing here?](http://www.wreckedexotics.com/enzo/enzo_20060221_004.shtml) he should have just signed it over to me ---
**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/15 "2007-06-18T21:00:48Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Agreed-but the Maserati model in question has an engine SO powerful, you can smoke the tires in 4th gear! That amount of torge, transmitted to the wheels at the wrong time, can cause a terrible accident. A F-1 race car drive is capable of handling such a car (he has the reflexes and experience to drive something this powerful). But some rich idiot who’s experience is with luxo-barge cars is totally out of his element with such a car. [/QUOTE] No current stock Maserati sold in the US can smoke the tires in 4th. Nor for that matter can the Lambo. The engineer who picked the gear ratios for any (stock) car that can smoke them in 4th would be summarily fired. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/16 "2007-06-18T21:09:25Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Agreed-but the Maserati model in question has an engine SO powerful, you can smoke the tires in 4th gear! [/QUOTE] I find that very unlikely. Do you have a cite for this claim? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/17 "2007-06-18T21:12:35Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] I bet the Lamborghini marketing guys are thrilled to hear it called a “Mucilage” 😛 On a side note, 150mph is hardly “supercar” territory. I recently sold my Mazda RX-8, sporty but hardly a supercar, and that had a top speed of 142mph. Allegedly, anyway. Most I got was 136 before I ran out of straight track… [/QUOTE] along the same lines a Volvo V70R station wagon is speed limited at 152. They will do it. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/18 "2007-06-19T00:51:12Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] along the same lines a Volvo V70R station wagon is speed limited at 152. They will do it. [/QUOTE] I’ve had my Dodge Charger up to 140, and still had plenty of engine left… ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/19 "2007-06-19T04:22:48Z")
Lots of ‘stupid supercar driver’ videos on YouTube: [Ferrari Modena](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfTSvkcKRy8) [Ferrari Enzo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8SAx9uvTj0) ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457/20 "2007-06-19T07:54:05Z")
All BMWs sold in the US shut off at 155, although I’m told that glitch can be fixed rather cheaply. You don’t need to go Italian to do 150, a crappy old vette or camaro could get there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-super-high-performance-cars-and-the-idiots-who-crash-them/408457.md?page=2)