Hmmm… some of the small cars (“Chevys” in particular) in Mexico do this binging bell thing right at 100KM/h. I wonder if it was an Arab model, since some of the rental Malibus I used at the time had Arabic on the passenger rear-view mirror (I assume it meant objects are closer than they look).
FWIW, Malibus DO HAVE a chip that limits them to 180KM/h, and Suburbans are limited to 200KM/h, at least in Mexico. This I know from personal experience and daily driving 
And since the automotive industry is a multibillion dollar one, don’t think that they’ll let any regulatory action go by without a hell of a fight (the fastest cars generally cost the most). And, that being said, I’d say there are damn few legislators that will ever see it as a fight worth fighting. Just my two cents.
The speed limit on I-90 in Washington is 70 mph most of the way… but a car that’s limited to 70 would get in the way, since most drivers are going 75 to 85.
My apologies, Sua, but this is a load of hooey. If one is driving at the maximum speed their car will go, with or without a governor, this scenario can take place. I understand the need to accelerate out of a potential collision, and have done so numerous times, but this rarely occurs at 100 MPH. If it’s safety you’re worried about, then one shouldn’t be driving that fast in the first place, let alone dropping it in to 4th and jumping up to 125 to avoid a collision at 100.
Padeye, thanks for clarifying the weapon supposition. But if weapons can be regulated and taxed in excess because they are assumed to be more dangerous than a normal rifle or handgun, why not cars that are significantly faster than the norm? Their taxes could help offset the costs of something for the masses.
So why don’t vehicles that travel faster than 100 MPH be put in the same category as automatic weapons and be used without the governor only on private tracks. Special taxes and licensing fees could be applied just like they are for weapons. If the owner of a car wants to take it out of the country, the governor could be turned off.
I know that most newer cars have a governor on them at some speed, even if it’s a high one. My Yukon cuts off at about 105 MPH. But my assumption is that this is because the rest of the truck isn’t safe at higher speeds, even though the engine could keep pushing it up there, rather than because GM has been mandated to have their vehicles average a certain top speed or anything.
If Corvettes are outlawed, only outlaws will have Corvettes.
My BMW has a speed limiter just as you describe that stops me from going faster than 120 miles per hour. I have had it kick in a few times when I was late for work. How frustrating!
I’m pretty disappointed with all the extremelly obvious comments such as “… they’re legal because they haven’t been made illegal” and because of capitalistic reasons; it wouldn’t be an issue if all cars are limited in this manner. However, I think starfish and Sua (in a sense) summed it up.
For safety reasons, as Sua said, short bursts of acceleration are needed to change from cruising speed (however, having to accelerate more at 100mph is quite different…) which would have to make it so that the limit is around 110mph (or have some chips that allow short bursts of speed around that speed - which would be too troublesome) in which case someone could still be doing 110 in a 50 zone, as starfish said. Also most people (I would imagine) don’t cruise along at 120mph which would therefor only prevent speeding past this point for only a few people, even then, they would probably only be doing it on a highway further limiting the usefulness - basically, it’s not worth it.
Same on the interstates here in Texas. On the way home from school today (rural hiway, but still 4 lanes + grassy median, and in a straight line for miles; speed limit 65), I was doing 90, and people were passing me. Gotta love the '71 Nova sedan…same engine as the musclecar 2-door Nova, but nobody suspects a 4-door (especially not a refrigerator beige 4-door)…
The speedometer on it goes up to 120, and it’ll bend the needle against the peg. Don’t ask how I know (wink,wink,nudge,nudge).
Gunslinger, reminds me of IMHO when they asked people what’s the fastest they have driven. Sigh.
I was assuming the 65 mph figure the OP stated. If the speed limit was 65, and the governor was the same, I think it’s a very safe bet that that, traffic allowing, most everyone would be going at the maximum the governor would allow. Under those conditions, the lack of ability to accelerate out of danger would be a real consideration.
Sua
Well, I think it’s all about going fast.
Really, going fast, and making money.
See, there are cars sold right now that can go 200 MPH in the right conditions, and they proudly say so… but when they are sold, you don’t sign anything saying you won’t go fast.
Americans at least, and most other folks from what I’ve seen, like to drive fast. And as soon as a regulator of chip is come up with to make it difficult to do, the aftermarket businesses will come up with ways to go around it… just like they have with CARB restrictions and “Smog legal” parts out here in Cali.
[hijack]
Hey, Gunslinger… we raced an old skool Nova right after my friend got his 2000 Civic Si. Pulled up to the light, revved, he revved… the light went green, we dropped it, he dropped it… I looked over, and we were hanging!!! That’s right, dead even with this monstrous old primered Muscle car!!! Yes!! And right when I looked over, the driver grinned, waved, and REALLY stepped on it…
However, now we smack 5.0’s on a regular basis… someday, I’ll get a license of my own…
[/hijack]
I’m not. For purposes of General Questions, the answer to a question of “why isn’t something illegal” is “because no legislature has made it so.” Everything else is background.
#1) Performance: A car that can reach 180 mph can generally go from 0-60 in no time flat.
#2) You can drive faster than 65 all over the country. It’s only a 10 minute drive from where I live to a long stretch of 75 mph highway. That limit may go up further. Then what happens to all the poor SOBs who’s cars only go 65 when the speed limit is 85?
#3) There’s a demand for it. People like speed.
Fenris
Fast cars are legal because the public is tired of excessive governmental regulations and meddling.
The OP was asking why car are made that can go much faster then the speed limit. It did not ask why there are no speed limits on private property. I answered the question that was asked.
I disagree, starfish. The OP asked:
(emphasis added) As manny pointed out, the proper GQ answer is that they can be built because no legislature has made it illegal.
Your post seemed to state that cars must be made with either no speed governors or governors with on/off switches because they can be driven on private property and/or race tracks. My reply was to the effect that this fact has no bearing on the legality of manufacturing automobiles without governors. And it still doesn’t.
The answer to the question is of course one word: Autobahn.
Speed limits differ between countries, or can be non-existant. And even a driver who obeys the speed limit might need the extra speed sometimes. Rushing an injured person to the hospital: would you stop at 100 km/h? I wouldn’t.
Of course, there’s such a thing as overkill. It’s great that my car can do 170 km/h should I need it, but who needs 300+ km/h top speeds that Ferraris offer?
The answer is again simple: those who love speed, and the cars that are the personifications of speed.
German carmanufacturers (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, but NOT Porsche) have agreed upon a limited top speed of 250 km/h for their cars. It’s a safety issue, like the motorbike example casdave supplied. There’s really no justification for 300 km/h, even on the Autobahn.
(Which is not to say it doesn’t happen, and which is not to say I wouldn’t cream my pants should I ever have the opportunity to make a 360 Modena scream at 290 km/h. Oh yes, oh MAN.)
“The Sky is NOT the limit, 75 is.”
The “no speed limit” policy in Montana has been superceded by a new law for over a year now (May 28, 1999).
Under the new law, the maximum speed under any conditions is 75 miles per hour, on interstate highways.
Please read the Montana Highway Patrol’s FAQ sheet for more information.
I’d hate for anyone to get a ticket for speeding/reckless driving due to having read erroneous information here, especially in GQ.
Tires, most likely. There aren’t all that many Z-rated (or whatever the 100+ mph rating is these days) truck tires on the market, and definitely not the ones that came on it. You’d want the cutout to be before the tires go…
FWIW, Camaros are governed…to 145 mph.
[sub]Another good thing about my 30 year old car…it’ll keep accelerating until the pistons literally fall apart…[/sub]
Tristan: I wish my mom had kept her Nova…a '73 2-door 350 SuperSport
Mmmmmmm… sounds like a sweet car, Gunslinger… I love Nova’s, always have.
So do we declare a truce? I admit to harbering a grudge for a while on our disagreement on cars… I’m a schmuck, I admit it…
Back to the OP…
It’s also interesting to note that there are American car companies selling cars in Europe that they won’t sell here… I don’t remember the name right now, but I know Ford sells a sports car that is faster than the Mustang, that they won’t sell here to keep the Mustang as the Flagship of American Muscle (at least from a Ford POV… hehe)…
So what’s the deal? Are we being cheated out of speed for economic purposes?
ba
Bullshit! I have a class 3 (that’s full auto to you) rifle. It’s stored at my shop, but I most certainly could use it for self defense. And having a machine gun is legal if you get a class 3 license. Getting a class 3 license isn’t as difficult as you would think! I’m bored with the ignorance so many people exhibit when it comes to fully automatic weapons!
Here are the facts:
*Machine guns are NOT banned per federal law
*Machine guns are legal to posses in most states.