Every New Volvo Model Is Now Electronically Limited To 112 MPH (autoblog.com) 169
Starting in May 2020, every new Volvo will stop accelerating when its speedometer displays 112 mph. It also announced a feature named Care Key that lets owners set additional speed-related restrictions when letting another motorist drive their car. Autoblog reports: This number wasn't chosen at random, or because it's thought to bring good luck in Swedish folklore. It simply corresponds to 180 kph, which is well above the speed limit in nearly every country around the world. The exception to the rule is Germany, where motorists are free to press the accelerator until their car runs out of breath -- or gas. The latter is a finable offense on the autobahn, so we recommend keeping the tank full.
Volvo also announced its cars now come with a Care Key that allows users to set a lower speed limit. Volvo previously offered this as an accessory called the Red Key, but it is now standard equipment. It's similar to the teen driving profiles already offered by many automakers. Parents concerned about putting a 16-year old behind the wheel of an XC90 can use the Care Key to limit it to 65 mph, for example. "We believe we have an obligation to continue our tradition of being a pioneer in the discussion around the rights and obligations of car makers to take action that ultimately save lives, even if it means losing potential customers," the company wrote in a statement. Autoblog learned from a spokesperson that there will not be a way to override the speed limiter, even in the event of an emergency.
Volvo also announced its cars now come with a Care Key that allows users to set a lower speed limit. Volvo previously offered this as an accessory called the Red Key, but it is now standard equipment. It's similar to the teen driving profiles already offered by many automakers. Parents concerned about putting a 16-year old behind the wheel of an XC90 can use the Care Key to limit it to 65 mph, for example. "We believe we have an obligation to continue our tradition of being a pioneer in the discussion around the rights and obligations of car makers to take action that ultimately save lives, even if it means losing potential customers," the company wrote in a statement. Autoblog learned from a spokesperson that there will not be a way to override the speed limiter, even in the event of an emergency.
The exception to the rule is Germany (Score:2)
Re:The exception to the rule is Germany (Score:5, Informative)
Huh? Canadians may drive though Montana like there's no speed limit but there is assuredly a speed limit posted on every paved road and freeway. It's currently 80 mph on the freeway, as it is in several other states.
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at the repeal of the 65, Montana initially returned to basic speed law (rather than posted speed) during the day, and a posted speed at night. (Prior to the 55, it was basic speed law around the clock.)
Unfortunately, they ended up with "speeding tourism"--people coming to Montana just to drive fast.
It was always possible to get a speeding ticket in Montana and Nevada, but the tends to get left out of these tales.
hawk
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Re: The exception to the rule is Germany (Score:2)
Hint, hint, sentences start with a capital letter.
Re: The exception to the rule is Germany (Score:2)
Complains about existence of apostrophe, completely misses point.
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Indeed. The proper way is "the '01011010s.".
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constitutionally vague? (Score:2)
That's an interesting concept.
Perhaps "unconstitutionally vague"?
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They have been working on that for as long as I live and probably longer. So don't get your hopes up, or down.
Who knew they went that fast? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Who knew they went that fast? (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't think any Volvo owner has tried to drive faster than 55, so it remains a mystery.
Re:Who knew they went that fast? (Score:5, Informative)
I don't think any Volvo owner has tried to drive faster than 55, so it remains a mystery.
Saab JAS 39 Gripen, powerplant: Volvo RM12, Maximum speed: Mach 2.
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Dude, that a Saab.
I remember reading an article a looong time ago where a new road was constructed and no speed limit signs were put up with a photo radar system set up so they could record average speeds to set an 85th percentile speed limit.
Saab drivers were usually 10mph faster than the other makes.
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Dude, that a Saab. I remember reading an article a looong time ago where a new road was constructed and no speed limit signs were put up with a photo radar system set up so they could record average speeds to set an 85th percentile speed limit. Saab drivers were usually 10mph faster than the other makes.
No, the engine that makes it go fast is a VOLVO without the VOLVO engine that Saab would have a maximum speed of 0.0 Mach. If you paint it red the VOLVO engine will make the Saab go even faster than Mach 2 since painting anything red is well known to make it go faster.
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And I could put a Yugo motor on my motorcycle and make it go Mach 2.
Re:Who knew they went that fast? (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't think any Volvo owner has tried to drive faster than 55, so it remains a mystery.
The speedometer on my 1984 Volvo 242 Turbo w/ Intercooler [pinimg.com] (image for illustration purposes only, mine has classic plates) only goes up to 120MPH, but the needle has gone past that many times. And my stock sleeper is nothing next to Mother F*cker Jones [youtube-nocookie.com]. There are a number of ridiculously fast 240 Series Volvos out there, You should look into R-Sport racing if you want to see fast Volvos. [youtube.com] Lawyers really don't drive them anymore... now instead only intelligent people that want to go fast without drawing too much attention. Buy Volvos. They're boxy, but they're good. [youtube.com]
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Jeremy Clarkeson drives a volvo IRL.
Re:Who knew they went that fast? (Score:4, Funny)
That's a lie. He doesn't have a real life.
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My favorite car ever was a 1986 Volvo 240. For years, the Car Talk guys would tell every caller who asked about getting a car for their college-bound child to find a 240 and send them to university with that. They're stupidly reliable, easy to fix if you have half a brain, and pretty darn safe even if old.
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Can confirm. My S60R is pretty quick. AWD, over 300hp, it's basically an STi without the bad association, high insurance or knack for catching speeding tickets.
God damn it (Score:2)
No more drag racing my Volvo down at the mall parking lot on Friday nights.
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The Volvo S80, I think it was, the model with the turbo, was pretty hilarious to drive. Turbo lag like whoa, plus you needed it to outrun your children.
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I owned an 1998 S80 Turbo and while comfortable and zippy enough it had many major problems. All the cam seals dumped oil one day, the steering rack would pour fluid if it sat longer than a weekend. Water leaked into the doors and shorted the electric locks. They would buzz and oscillate until I cut the CAN bus wires. For a while it always seemed like the car was pulling out in second gear. Turns out it was because the transmission went into limp mode shortly afterward. Sold it for $700 on craigslist.
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Sold it for $700 on craigslist.
You made out well. Other good options would've included demolition derby. I have a soft spot for that one, even as shit as it was.
Probably more to do with the driver than the car.
LoL (Score:2)
I have been over 100mph. It was in a Colt, going uphill. Didn't find the max since I had to slow down for the instant town. It was a gutless wonder so it took forever to get it going that fast.
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100 MPH on an empty freeway or out on the interstate in Montana isn't particularly fast. Cars are stable at speed these days, and if you have the tires, what exactly are you going to hit? Nothing to dodge if you pick a quiet morning.
You could cruise for an hour at 100 and barely notice a difference from 80 in plenty of places.
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So animals don't exist, eh?
No deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, bears, coyotes or wolves that may pop out and either directly cause serious damage or injuries or startle the driver causing them to swerve into say a tree?
Re: LoL (Score:5, Funny)
Stick a tampon in that bleeding hole and grow a fucking pair.
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Stick a tampon in that bleeding hole and grow a fucking pair.
Dude, funniest comment I've read all night long. Looked it up on Google to see if you'd copied it from anywhere, and the only link that came up was your post. Ferris Beuller, you're my hero!
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Classic internet comment.
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Nope, no moose here, no elk, no bighorn sheep, no bears, no coyotes, no wolves.
There are deer. Times I've seen deer on the road while driving or as a passenger in a car: 2.
Times those deer didn't see the car I was in first and flee the fuck off the road before I got even close: 0.
I slow down for sheep, cows, horses, pedestrians and cyclists. I don't slow down for deer because they're entirely fucking irrelevant.
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Montana doesn't have deer? Or broken down cars? Or potholes? Or big chunks of shredded tires from 18 wheelers?
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I was in the passenger seat of a Ford Windstar that got pulled over just outside of Phoenix for doing 100...
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Didn't used to be, not everywhere. Not 30 years back.
All the fun done been ruined. No sense risking it now. That, and I'm turning into a cranky, conservative old fuck.
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Top speeds are based on tire speed ratings (Score:4, Informative)
Older Volvos were limited to 130mph, or H speed rating.
The S speed rating corresponds to 112mph. I wonder if they are putting cheap tires on new Volvos now?
My Volvo came with Michelin V speed rated tires (149mph)
The 155mph limit on Euro cars was based on a gentleman's agreement, you'll find those in several limits (which are cheated).
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I've done 55 on a bubble spare with 3 "good" tires--but in a car with AWD. Did a similar trick later in its life with a tire the wrong size. Man, you wanna hear the AWD fuckin' scream, try 25 MPH of that.
That car also came with a rotted out brake line. Drove it back across 3 states while stopping to dump in fresh fluid. Used the hill and the (cable) ebrake to stop at the end. Mirror fell off at some point. Hole through a rear strut tower the size of your fist and the manifold was bent before the engine and
Re:Top speeds are based on tire speed ratings (Score:5, Insightful)
I wonder if they are putting cheap tires on new Volvos now?
The way you use the word "cheap" makes it sound like Volvo is skimping. The answer is most likely yes. There's no point putting enhanced speed rated tires on cars which aren't capable of it. The speed rating has nothing at all to do with the quality of the tire in any of the factors that matter (traction in its various measured scenarios, noise, and fuel consumption).
It is just silly to waste money on tires rated for a higher top speed than your car, but that doesn't make the tires cheap.
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112 mph is 180 kph, which has been the limit for Japanese cars for decades. Long ago Japanese manufacturers came to a gentlemen's agreement that their cars would be limited to 180 kph, partly to avoid being regulated.
I'm not sure how they came up with 180 kph. Maybe something to do with reaction times.
In Volvo's case it might be the limit of their safety technologies like lane keeping.
Re: Top speeds are based on tire speed ratings (Score:5, Interesting)
It has everything to do with the safety systems and car design. This is related to their Vision 2020, which is that nobody dies or is seriously injured in a crash in a Volvo anymore. In excess of 180km/h, the probability of death or serious injury in any accident is extremely close to 1. Volvo wants to sell a car that is not going to kill its driver or passengers, regardless of how stupid the driver may be.
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I wonder if they are putting cheap tires on new Volvos now?
My Volvo came with Michelin V speed rated tires (149mph)
Volvo could also be using tires that give more fuel efficiency or longevity, either of which might not be compatible with high speed.
Not enough (Score:2, Insightful)
In the UK, The National Police Chiefs Council stated that speeding is believed to be a significant factor in 17 fatalities and 126 serious injuries on the country's roads each month.Globally speeding is killing thousands; every day, every month every year, year on year a f*ck*ng huge pile of dead bodies and misery. Volvo's effort is not enough. Why are any of the manufactures still getting away with producing vehicles that kill people needlessly by not obeying speed limits - while at the same time they've a
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speeding is believed to be a significant factor in 17 fatalities
Is that all? Shit, that's nothing.
Why are any of the manufactures still getting away with producing vehicles that kill people needlessly by not obeying speed limits
Because the speed limits are too fucking low. 40 on an empty dual carriageway at 2am? Get fucking real. It's dangerous to drive that slow!
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Why are any of the manufactures still getting away with producing vehicles that kill people needlessly by not obeying speed limits
It's not the manufacturer's responsibility to actively enforce laws. All the do is follow the laws, they don't get to enforce them.
In your world, you think it's a good idea that laws are enforced by corporations, but you'll pretty soon stop that line of thinking when my clothing company (in your world) produces clothing that automatically zaps you with an electric charge each time you break a law (and you break multiple laws per day!)
So how about you try to stop signalling your virtue and just let regular l
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Re: Not enough (Score:2)
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People always die eventually therefore no one should ever do anything to reduce any kind of risk under any circumstances. Good logic.
Re: Not enough (Score:2)
This seems like a challenge.. (Score:2)
I'd imagining that some hotrodder is reading this story right now and is now thinking about doing an LS1 (Big Chevy V8) Engine and control unit swap on one of these new Volvos for their next Cannonball attempt. Why? Because when a cop pulls you over, you can tell them that Volvo's are electronically limited to 112mph so there is NO way that MY car could have possibly go that fast, Officer :)
Gotta admit... it would make for the ultimate sleeper car for street racing!
Re: LS swap (Score:2)
Not a new idea. My long dead mentor got out of a speeding ticket earned driving his T Model Ford (which had an OHV conversion head and other antique speed bits used in the "gow jobs" which preceded the hot rod era) in the 1970s because the equally old judge didn't believe the car would go that fast.
This is nothing new (Score:2)
I put a lot of miles on it at 94mph.
This should spawn a nice industry for hacking the electronics in the cars.
Not enough, not enough... (Score:3)
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Some cars do actually punish bad behaviour already, e.g. Tesla will disable autopilot temporarily if it doesn't detect your hands on the wheel for prolonged periods.
2006 Toyota Yaris 1.3L (Score:2)
I live in an Arab Gulf GCC country, and my company car is a 2006 Toyota Yaris 1.3L sedan. About 10+ years ago on a deserted newly opened expressway, I put the pedal to the floor and reached 183 km/hr (113mph). Maybe Volvo should limit the degrees of steering wheel movement because, hey, why does anyone need more than 10 degrees movement of the front wheels?
Good. Now do the same for all motorbikes. (Score:5, Insightful)
And next, (Score:2)
In Germany 180kph is a pretty common speed (Score:2)
Nigel Tufnel moment (Score:2)
every new Volvo will stop accelerating when its speedometer displays 112 mph
The Spinal Tap fan in me wishes they'd chosen 111 mph.
Old Saab Joke (Score:3)
Which will make new Volvos a hazard in Germany (Score:2)
From experience, on less travelled Autobahns, Volvos will become slow speed hazards on the left lane ;)
What works in Sweden can't possible work in here (Score:2)
Thanks for letting me know... (Score:2)
Otherwise, I'd never have known, given I don't think I've hit 90 more than once or twice in my life, and that was to get out of a dangerous situation.
And if you break that speed, well, why don' t you tell us when and where, and add in your license plate number for the nice state trooper over there....
Re:Very BAD idea (Score:4, Interesting)
112mph is really fast and is extreme speeding in 99% of the USA. That said, I agree with you. Just because I don’t know of a reason to go 120mph doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. It just means that I don’t know of one. There are a lot of people in the world, all with different situations. Maybe someone lives next door to a track?
Crippling technology that someone paid for is not something that I think is a swell idea in general.
Since large corporations could not care less about the customer’s well-being, I wonder why they’re really doing this?
Legal liability?
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Just because I donâ(TM)t know of a reason to go 120mph doesnâ(TM)t mean that there isnâ(TM)t one.
I can think of one [minutemediacdn.com].
Re:Very BAD idea (Score:4, Insightful)
I think they are talking more about the parental lock and a parent setting it to 65mph, for example.
112 should be enough for nearly anything, and the vast majority of drivers would be more of a liability at that speed than anything it might help. Even in the case of someone trying to chase you down to harm you, look at how police car chases tend to turn out bad for the driver being chased.
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112 should be enough for nearly anything
On public roads, sure. But what you do on your own private property with your own private property is your own business. The GP mentioned the example of a track. Sure if you're racer you can buy cars just for that and not do it in a Volvo - but I don't pretend to understand other peoples' hobbies and I sure as hell don't want to start prescribing them. Just don't affect other people and I'll stay out of it.
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Anyone that would take a Volvo out on a track needs their head read. But most Japanese cars have been limited to 180km/h and most German cars to 250km/h since the 1990s, so I'm not sure why we need a Slashdot story about Volvo doing it in 2020.
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Keep in mind that until relatively recently most cars couldn't even do 112 mph. In the 80s cars like the Quatto could do 130 mph but not for very long.
Many modern cars still can't do those speeds in fact, especially in Europe. A popular car like a Ford Focus can do it on paper when new but in practice 112 mph is really pushing it and probably not very safe in a car like that. The latest generations, hybrids and EVs, are often max 95-110 mph as well. In the case of EVs with a fixed reduction gear there are e
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Re:Very BAD idea (Score:5, Interesting)
No so much the 112mph limit, but the parental lock..... There might be a rare instance you may HAVE to accelerate in order to avoid an impending collision or other unforeseen situation. It is tragic to think you could step on the gas in a moment of swerve or avoidance, only to feel your car isn't responding. Very BAD idea....
Strongly agreed.
I mean, ostensibly, if the owner sets the maximum speed at 70 MPH, it's probably a moot point, because (unless it's a Tesla) your car won't have enough acceleration at that speed to avoid much of anything.
But the problem is, you're guaranteed that at some point, some paranoid helicopter parent will set the limit at 25 MPH, and then wonder why his/her kid got sideswiped and killed by another vehicle in a situation that could easily have been avoided without the limiter, and that parent is going to sue and win.
Being able to set a speed limit above which the vehicle refuses to accelerate has a real risk of killing more people than it saves, at least as described. A safe implementation must allow for several seconds of acceleration above such a limit before slowing the car back down to the threshold. Otherwise, this feature potentially turns the car into a death trap.
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I mean, ostensibly, if the owner sets the maximum speed at 70 MPH, it's probably a moot point, because (unless it's a Tesla) your car won't have enough acceleration at that speed to avoid much of anything.
My car has lots of acceleration at 70 MPH, thanks to a 420 HP V8. Electric motors have great torque from a standing start, but are nothing special at high speed.
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My Regal GS also had quite a bit of pep left at 70, and that was even without a big-block. The lo-pro blower in it might have had something to do with it, though. Damn thing had enough torque steer to yank the wheel out of your hands if you romped on the pedal from a standing start.
Your point is valid - it's not that hard to find ICE cars that still have lots of "wanna go faster NOW" on tap, even at highway-or-faster speeds.
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I mean, ostensibly, if the owner sets the maximum speed at 70 MPH, it's probably a moot point, because (unless it's a Tesla) your car won't have enough acceleration at that speed to avoid much of anything.
My car has lots of acceleration at 70 MPH, thanks to a 420 HP V8. Electric motors have great torque from a standing start, but are nothing special at high speed.
Cars with 420hp V8s also have great torque from a standing start; rev up to 5000rpm and pop the clutch[1] out :-)[2]
Notes:
[1] You *DO* drive a stick, right?
[2] Maybe not such a good idea to dump that much torque on the wheels while stationary. You'll light both (or all) tires without actually accelerating much
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Strongly agreed.
Strongly disagree with your example and assessment of the implementation.
Firstly, speed limiters are nothing new. They exist in many European car models and already do have an override. I can actually feel the resistance at what seems like a sane end of travel on my accelerator pedal, but with a bit of force I can push it further and in this point it overrides any speed limit currently set.
Secondly if your some kid whose parent has set a speed limit for 25MPH then you are in no way capable of making a decis
Re:Very BAD idea (Score:5, Insightful)
There is rarely ever a situation where accelerating is better than braking.
Re:Very BAD idea (Score:4, Insightful)
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It is tragic to think you could step on the gas in a moment of swerve or avoidance, only to feel your car isn't responding. Very BAD idea....
A safe implementation must allow for several seconds of acceleration above such a limit before slowing the car back down to the threshold.
I'm pretty sure I could push my foot to the floor at 70 and my 2004 Dodge Neon wouldn't leap ahead of the truck swerving into my lane.
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If you're going so fast that stepping harder on the gas has no effect, then you're probably flooring the accelerator. How can you be unaware that you're flooring the accelerator?
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Got to dodge the oncoming traffic. Too busy to bother with keeping track of how far I've mashed the pedal through the floor.
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According to insurance companies' statistics and UK Police's "national speed awareness course", unless you're in a movie escaping a tornado/avalanche/meteor shower/swooping vampires, it's ALWAYS safer to brake (bleed energy) in emergencies rather than accelerate.
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I really don't know. There have been situations where a lorry moves into my lane without looking and I have the option of accelerating or slaming on the bakes. If there is someone too close behind me slamming on the brakes may well cause them to rear-end me. Sure, legally that's their fault but it would still ruin my week.
Almost always I'd brake as it's the fastest way to get out of danger.
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There might be a rare instance you may HAVE to accelerate
There is never a situation where you HAVE to accelerate. There is only a situation where you dedicate a few hundred milli seconds to thinking about your response and then wake up in hospital as a result. There's a reason why they teach people to *instinctively* step on the brake in an emergency.
Thinking in an emergency is incredibly dangerous.
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You can steer to avoid, you can brake to avoid, you can accelerate to avoid.
Removing a third of the options does indeed increase the risk of breaking.
Re:112 mph? (Score:4, Funny)
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I believe it's more a case of "You can't goddam tell me what to goaddam do!"
The exact length of a US mile is the same as the british measurement, but the name is from the Roman empire - mille passus - thousand pases.
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My gripe has always been the max speed on speedometers, it is always too high and appears to be getting worse. My '77 olds cutlass had a speedometer that topped out at 90(mph). Honestly I never saw a reason that wasn't plenty. My parent's '70 cutlass supreme went up to 120(mph) and I doubt the car could ever do that, though maybe close. Now I have a brand new Escape and the meter goes up to 160(mph) - wtf n
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85. I had one. They stuck the needle on at a different angle than in previous years; the printed part of the gauge didn't sweep through as much angle. I found a '73 Cutlass in the junkyard, swiped its 120-mph speedometer, swapped odometers between them so I didn't lose that reading, and put it in my '77. Problem solved.
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Common parts...
A lowend car from the 70s probably wasn't available in any model that could go much more than 90, so that's how the speedo was made, and a sports car from the 70s probably had a different speedo.
Nowadays all but the lowest end cars can do 100+, and most cars are available with a range of engines.... The bottom of the range basic engine model may struggle past 100 but they probably make a "sport" version with a more powerful engine that can easily do 150.
Lets take an example like a honda civic
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Audi [ytimg.com] has a nice solution to the scale problem. 0-80 km/h are given in 5 km/h increments. Above 80, the needle travel is halved, so the same angle now covers 10 km/h. So I get high precision where necessary, combined with the ability to indicate up to 250 km/h.
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Probably. But then what are you doing on a track in Volvo sedan?
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