# The Batmobile vs. the powerful Mach 5 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528 "2003-02-12T05:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/21 "2003-02-12T16:48:37Z")
…and the award for the thread least likely to have any females posting to it goes to… We’re just talking the cars, right? Batman and Speed aren’t there…I’m assuming it’s just two equally adept drivers. One thing to remember is that, in a pinch, when the money’s on the table and every moment counts - the Batmobile is damn complicated. If you want the machine guns out, or the windshield armor down, you’ve got to look through the owner’s manual for like 5 minutes before you can get it done. With the Mach 5, it’s 5 buttons, and they’re all right on the steering wheel. You can master the thing in a minute - slash the bat tires with the buzz saw and you’re out of there before the other driver has the bat sensors turned on. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/22 "2003-02-12T17:00:30Z")
In the Batman with Michael Keaton many of the batmobile’s controlls were voice activated. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/23 "2003-02-12T19:27:52Z")
[Don Adams Voice] “Go, go Batmobile S. A. M.'s” [/Don Adams voice] ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/24 "2003-02-12T19:42:39Z")
And what is the race course, here? Urban (Batmobile wins?), mountain course (maybe the 5?), something involving underwater caves (Mach 5 wins), up the sides of buildings (Batmobile)? You get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/25 "2003-02-12T21:00:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by broccoli! \* > \*\*WHOA! hold it hold it hold it! I think we’re missing a huge chunk of question here… > > The Adam West Batmobile (which sucked raw sewage through a rusty pipe) or the Tim-Burton-or-later Batmobile (which the Mach 5 stands not a chance against)? \*\* Hold on a minute!!! Damn it you went too far… this requires a new thread! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/26 "2003-02-13T18:05:23Z")
All this is fun but remember, in the final analysis, that Speed Racer is just a cartoon while Batman is real. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/27 "2003-02-13T18:50:09Z")
Kitt would still outperform both. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/28 "2003-02-13T21:21:02Z")
But an Imperial Star Destroyer would beat Batman, Speed Racer, and Kitt. ---
**Author:** ![Psi\_Cop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Psi\_Cop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psi_Cop)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/29 "2003-02-13T22:34:03Z")
I have my doubts about an ISD beating Batman… but the Enterprise could take out an ISD any day \. -Psi Cop ---
**Author:** ![Psi\_Cop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Psi\_Cop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psi_Cop)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/30 "2003-02-13T22:35:40Z")
I have my doubts about an ISD beating Batman… but the Enterprise could take out an ISD any day \. Sorry, couldn’t resist. -Psi Cop ---
**Author:** ![Psi\_Cop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Psi\_Cop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psi_Cop)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/31 "2003-02-13T22:37:23Z")
Bah. -Psi Cop ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/32 "2003-02-14T12:28:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*But an Imperial Star Destroyer would beat Batman, Speed Racer, and Kitt. \*\* Good luck finding a place to park in the city. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/33 "2003-02-15T04:02:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferrous \* > \*\*That’s Racer X. What kind of dork are you? Obviously not up to _my_ level of dorkiness, or you’d know the proper names of all those obscure characters from 70’s Japanimation…😛 > > And **FabioClone** , > Bravo! That was hilarious. I’m cracking up here! \*\* Sure they called him Racer X, but he had a big freaking M on his chest. I say it was a translation error when they did the overdubs. Course speed had a G ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/34 "2003-02-15T04:26:50Z")
\ The Japanese title of _Speed Racer_ was **“Mach Go Go Go”**. It was a double-entendre: The English word “go” means to, you know, **go!** (Presumably to “go” really fast, like a racing car would.) But the Japanese word “go” means 5. “Mach go” = “Mach 5”, get it? That’s why Speed had a “G” on his shirt, and why the “G” button in the middle of the steering wheel was so much more prominent than the A-F buttons. The “G” stood for GO. \ ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/35 "2003-02-15T07:16:32Z")
Don’t forget, the Batmobile allows Batman to do amazing DJ tricks, like hand scratch a CD. So he’s got that going for him, which is nice. Batmobile easy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/36 "2003-02-15T08:04:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > **…and the award for the thread least likely to have any females posting to it goes to…** _post_😛 P.S. **FabioClone** , you’re my hero. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/37 "2003-02-15T13:40:52Z")
The Mach 5 really shows dirt worse. Requires washings much more frequently. Let’s not forget that. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/38 "2003-02-15T13:54:27Z")
That’s because they painted it wussy white instead of sporty red or brooding black. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/39 "2003-02-15T14:54:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > **…and the award for the thread least likely to have any females posting to it goes to…** :: jumps in :: This is a tough call. I’m gonna have to tip the hand to the Mach 5, in general. Sure, the BatMobile helps Batman save the day, and the Mach 5 does too. But the BatMobile has so many little gadgets and trinkets, where the Mach 5 is impressive in its simplicity and stream-linedness. The Mach 5 gets the job done (have we ever seen Speed _not_ triumph in the end?) with better efficiency. And it’s not because I have every single episode of Speed Racer on tape. No, of course it’s not because of that… [sub]Or the fact I have a copy of the Japanese intro either[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528/40 "2003-02-15T16:28:59Z")
Anybody ever think about what would happen if Speed got in a wreck and his head hit the steering wheel? The damn thing would start jumping up and down cutting stuff up, and the bird would start flying around…Speed head would probably get chopped off by that shield thing. ITs a menace [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-batmobile-vs-the-powerful-mach-5/154528.md?page=3)