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Post by enpassant on Apr 29, 2002 16:44:23 GMT -5
Does anyone know why they limit top end of the S4? Do they do this with all cars? Are they afraid we will outrun the cops?
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Ringo
Junior Member
"Cannibals prefer those who have no spines." - S. Lem
Posts: 125
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Post by Ringo on Apr 29, 2002 17:59:37 GMT -5
Good question, my first inclination is that it has something to do with the abundance of lawyers, no disrespect to any lawyers on this board. However, it might be something like the speed rating of the tires that "could" be put on the cars. Don't know what the limit is for some of those all seasons but I can't imagine it's more than the 142 limitation.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 29, 2002 23:43:06 GMT -5
It is my understanding that this practice actually stems from old German regulations (from the late 1970s and/or early 1980s) that asked manufacturers to "voluntarily" place limits on how fast their cars could go. BMW, Mercedes and Audi (among others) jointly agreed to place a 250 km/h upper limit (translates to 155 mph) on all of their vehicles. In return the German Government did not legislate slower speeds (on the Autobahn) or engineering restrictions (on the cars themselves). Remember, this was the era of speed restrictions especially in the USA where they imposed a national speed limit of 55 mph or else your state lost road repair funding. After doing this for a few years the German manufacturers realized that doing this was beneficial for marketing as well because consumers started to measure automobile performace using criteria other than top speed. Hence, the explosion in the 1980s and 1990s of the German Sport Sedan market that offered performace defined by cornering and driver feel. And it's still ongoing... thus one credible reason why top speeds on German cars are "electronically limited". (note: Germans are world leaders in this segment largely because they've had a 20 year jump on the rest of the world in creating balanced high-performance vehicles. In MBA parlance this is called Competitive Advantage) Now that doesn't directly answer why they chose 142 mph (except that it equals roughly 230 km/h) but I suspect that marketing again has its hand in it... or maybe the US DOT - now that they they know cars can be limited electronically I wouldn't put it past them to "suggest" top speed limiters on these brands in return for easier domestic vehicle safety / environmental / etc. approvals.  Comments are welcome... this is just my observation on the issue (and an explanation as to why I've only ever owned German Sports Sedans - I'm a marketing sucker) Brian |
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Post by a4spinner on Apr 30, 2002 0:21:42 GMT -5
Honestly if 142 Mph isn't fast enough where does it stop. Just feel lucky I believe a lincoln Markviii is goverend at 118mph.
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Ringo
Junior Member
"Cannibals prefer those who have no spines." - S. Lem
Posts: 125
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Post by Ringo on Apr 30, 2002 7:39:34 GMT -5
Can I change my answer? My new answer is: "What Brian said."  |
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 30, 2002 7:46:57 GMT -5
What you guys saw was the first and only time I've ever combined my History degree and my MBA with my love of German cars.
B
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Post by Ray_Khan on Apr 30, 2002 9:14:53 GMT -5
I thought it had to do with the limitations of the tires.
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Post by AluminouS4 on Apr 30, 2002 10:07:09 GMT -5
The S4s come with Z-rated tires, which have no theoretical speed limit. But you may be right as the Germans probably account for Americans and their love of all-season tires. I thought it had to do with the limitations of the tires. |
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dotorg
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Post by dotorg on May 1, 2002 8:46:27 GMT -5
The S4s come with Z-rated tires, which have no theoretical speed limit. But you may be right as the Germans probably account for Americans and their love of all-season tires. You mean no practical speed limit -- they do absolutely have a theoretical speed limit. If you want I can dig up my organic chemistry book, and my physics books from college and I can probably work out the point at which the chemical bonds in the rubber start to break down. |
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Post by AluminouS4 on May 1, 2002 9:12:23 GMT -5
You are correct sir...and you can spare me the organic chemistry. Yuck You mean no practical speed limit -- they do absolutely have a theoretical speed limit. If you want I can dig up my organic chemistry book, and my physics books from college and I can probably work out the point at which the chemical bonds in the rubber start to break down. |
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Post by enpassant on May 1, 2002 11:48:34 GMT -5
My degree is in Clinical Biochemistry and Perrelli, did set the limit for the the Z rated tires. It is the speed of light when all matter turns to energy.
Hope this helps,
Albert
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dotorg
Junior Member
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Post by dotorg on May 1, 2002 11:58:00 GMT -5
My degree is in Clinical Biochemistry and Perrelli, did set the limit for the the Z rated tires. It is the speed of light when all matter turns to energy. Hope this helps, Albert Actually as you approach the speed of light, all energy turns into matter. |
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Post by DoctorNo on May 1, 2002 12:04:31 GMT -5
Enpassant, are you a chess player  |
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Ringo
Junior Member
"Cannibals prefer those who have no spines." - S. Lem
Posts: 125
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Post by Ringo on May 1, 2002 13:08:07 GMT -5
Actually as you approach the speed of light, all energy turns into matter. Ok, Ok, Ok, I can take the girls, the beer, the jokes, the personnel assaults, but this is just too far OFF TOPIC. Where are the moderators when you need them? ;D |
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Post by enpassant on May 1, 2002 13:50:30 GMT -5
As speed increases, time slows down. That is why because I drive an S4, I act like an 18 y.o.(immature) even thought chronologically, I’m 55.
Einstein said if you ever hit the speed of light you will turn into energy, thing about it, it makes no sense for energy to turn into matter, if that was the case light would be solid.
Dr. No, in answer to your ? I am a chess player, how about you?
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&&Mark C. - Hopkinton, MA
