But there are children aboard!!

[craigt]

...but speed in and of itself isn't remarkably dangerous.

I disagree with this when on public roads. They mostly aren't designed (or maintained) to support excessive speed (at least in New England), others don't expect a car to approach at that speed, animals run across the road, etc. So many things that can't be anticipated and speed will play a factor in the end result.

Again, just my opinion.

 

[Mark_888]

I enjoy living my life to the fullest, even if I arrive 15 minutes later than the guy in the ambulance.

"I watched the Indy 500, and I was thinking that if they left earlier they wouldn't have to go so fast."

Steven Wright

 

[Fast55]

I disagree with this when on public roads. They mostly aren't designed (or maintained) to support excessive speed (at least in New England), others don't expect a car to approach at that speed, animals run across the road, etc. So many things that can't be anticipated and speed will play a factor in the end result.

Again, just my opinion.

Actually, most interstate highways were designed with traffic speeds of 75-85 mph in mind. As far as approach speed, that is exactly my point, speed differential is dangerous, not the speed itself. Speeding doesn't make animals any more or less likely to run into the road. Anything that "can't be anticipated" is just that. On a decent road at 100 mph with no traffic or everyone traveling at 100 mph, people tend to be a lot more attentive than poking along at 55.

 

[craigt]

That's exactly my point as well. The OP mentioned 95 and going beyond that. Most interstates were not designed for that, nor maintained for that, and all have on and off ramps. There is guaranteed so-called speed differentials.

While speed doesn't make animals not run across, I certainly would rather be doing 70 than 95 if something does appear in the road. Though it's just 25 mph difference, the physics, and resulting effects, are a lot different than comparing 20 and 45.

Your description of a decent road at 100, and everyone doing 100, is a fairy tail. Except for the race track.

It's silly to argue this as we're obviously not going to agree. While it may not sound it, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I do respect that.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

WOW! Didn't mean to drag this so far off topic with my comment. It was just an observation. Nothing more.

 

[Fast55]

You're right, we're not going to agree. In so. Cal. traffic routinely travels at 80+. I've driven 165+ mph on a few sections of what's left of the unregulated Autobahn. Everyone is paying attention in those areas, trust me.

Wrecks are not at all as common as here because of that and the fact that compared to US drivers, there are exponentially fewer douchebags taking chances, putting on make up, talking/texting etc., while there are far more people traveling at speed. It's not the speed or wild animals causing the problems, it's the driver.

And my fairly tale road? Obviously you've never driven the 15 on the way to Vegas.

 

[craigt]

If Southern California drivers routinely drive 80+ with their kids in the back seat, then the stereotypes perhaps are true.

I'm not against driving fast. I hit top speed in my '90 Honda CRX Si on Route 128 (aka 95) in MA - about 135. I also have had runs of 140 in my '11 Acura TL AWD 6 speed manual. But the topic here is "with kids in the car".

 

[dareckibmw]

You're right, we're not going to agree. In so. Cal. traffic routinely travels at 80+. I've driven 165+ mph on a few sections of what's left of the unregulated Autobahn. Everyone is paying attention in those areas, trust me.

Wrecks are not at all as common as here because of that and the fact that compared to US drivers, there are exponentially fewer douchebags taking chances, putting on make up, talking/texting etc., while there are far more people traveling at speed. It's not the speed or wild animals causing the problems, it's the driver.

And my fairly tale road? Obviously you've never driven the 15 on the way to Vegas.

Amen!

Guys from the east coast will not understand how Californians drive .

As I travel a looooot to the west coast I agree with you, I know exactly how the traffic flows on I-15 ....only problem I see is that too many are driving in left lane with no reason! they don't even care when they are being passed on the right side by CHP!

 

[craigt]

Guys from the east coast will not understand how Californians drive .

Probably because they're always 3 hours late.

 

[carlosinseattle]

I still like everything that happened with the OP...He was driving a really cool car, has a wifey who totally understands men, and had the restraint to do the right thing.

I'd prefer to be traveling 95 mph in a new R-spec, than going 50 mph in a 1980 beater with worn brakes and tires. And what do you see on the road most often?

Speed isn't the problem, speed differential, poorly maintained cars, and driver competence are the problems.

If I were on a highway and knew the unexpected was going to happen I'd choose going 95 in my R-spec over going 50 in a beater any day. I understand some people don't have the resources to maintain cars well, totally understand why and pray for them all the time, but that's a social question not a physics question.

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[craigt]

Personally, I disagree with almost everything you mentioned. But alas, I'll drive my way with my kids in the car, you drive your way with your kids in the car.

 

[leadfoot rspec13]

Has anybody noticed the V6 guys err on the safe side and the Rspec owners are in favor of testing the limits?

My rules of thumb?

1-When possible, drive 5 mph faster than everybody else. This will keep you out of some numb nut's blind spot.

2-Be a little bit psychic. 3-5 seconds will do fine.

3-Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly. Lucky for me, mine is supersonic.

 

[DRS]

Everything about your story is cool

^^ +1

I know first hand (and as a Ford fan, pains me a little), what a stock SHO (performance package) on premium, will do. It does not have a chance against a 5.0..

However, there are a ton of tuner packages for it. And the motor is built for much more power. Doing nothing but a programmer can yield 440hp and gobs of torque.

A buddy who has one that was toasted by me (many many car lengths at up to warp speeds) programmed his. After his tuning, I will not say how fast we were going, he had me by 2 car lengths at warp speed. I was very impressed. He was impressed too.. As his massive torque and AWD got the 2 car lengths from a slow start on the onramp. I was behind him and after that was able to match in different lane.

I have seen reports of over 600+ street HP mods with the SHO. That is one advantage with turbos. Tuning.... Still, his sounds like a V6.. Not the magic of the V8 quiet deep sound.

 

[leadfoot rspec13]

I know this is off-topic , but I have to throw my $.02 in on the SHO Taurus.

A friend of mine was a Ford engineer who worked on the Eco-Boost project several years ago before jumping over to Mazda.

Ford purposely limited the HP to 360ish in the spirit of self-preservation because the rotating assembly was not stout enough for much more and still be warrantable.

Push that number to 500+ and be sure to bring a broom and dust pan along in case the basement falls out.

Great car if you don't push it too far.

 

[DRS]

Well, they are doing it. And the durability test videos that are out there, I believe it. Plus what the the abuse on videos in the truck were very impressive. Does not matter... We do not need no stinking sputtering tuning to outrun or keep up with most all T or TT V6 out there.

 

[dg_moore]

Has anybody noticed the V6 guys err on the safe side and the Rspec owners are in favor of testing the limits?

My rules of thumb?

1-When possible, drive 5 mph faster than everybody else. This will keep you out of some numb nut's blind spot.

2-Be a little bit psychic. 3-5 seconds will do fine.

3-Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly. Lucky for me, mine is supersonic.

According to Will Rogers, "Everybody who drives slower than me is a moron; everybody who drives faster is a maniac."

 

[DRS]

 

[craigt]

Has anybody noticed the V6 guys err on the safe side and the Rspec owners are in favor of testing the limits?

I love to push the limits, but not with my kids in the car, which is the topic of this thread. *Big* difference.

I pushed my '11 TL SH-AWD Tech (manual trans) pretty hard, both highway and back country roads. But again, not with kids in the car.

When I get real tires on my Genesis, I'll be pushing it as well.

 

[leadfoot rspec13]

No comentary, sir. Just an observation.

We all have a little bit of The Stig in us.

 

[DRS]

^^ +1. And then others who tamp "The Stig" down with their outside life long brainwashing do not know what they are missing.