Poor MB's suffering with a 55mph limit... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 06-25-2006, 11:23 PM

I really hate speed limits. I had my car out on a nice open highway the other day, a very rare thing indeed. 70, 80, 90 I had to stop myself the poor old W126 just itched to stretch her legs and do some triple digit running. You really start to see the breeding of these cars on the open road, they absolutly love speed.

If only in this country we would post more sane speed limits and have better traffic laws and enforcment that actualy made driving safer.

I imagin hell is driving an S65 with a 55mph limiter on it...

AustinsCE · #2 06-25-2006, 11:42 PM

Amazing that in 50? 60? years despite all the safety improvements, vehicle responsiveness, technology, alleged driver education, tire quality, etc. the speed limits stay the same. I would like to see the exact amount states make on speeding tickets. But I know what you mean, they dont even feel right below 90.

AustinsCE · #3 06-25-2006, 11:50 PM

It wouldnt matter if they were all moving faster.

t walgamuth · #4 06-26-2006, 06:20 AM

there is some truth to that, but given the low quality of our drivers, even though i love the autobahn idea, it may not work here.

tom w

croftynsteph · #5 06-26-2006, 10:14 AM

In many areas, the traffic is terrible. And there simply isn't an opportunity for the traffic to move faster...much of it is standstill or crawling. In NJ at least, they give licenses out like vitamins for the most part. In our country, it doesn't matter if one person is doing the right thing...b/c he/she has to worry about someone else killing them on the road. And raising the speed limit in this country will only cause those that already speed on their crotch rockets and beater Honda ricers to only raise their bar and zig in and out of traffic at an even higher pace.

One also has to consider the fact not everyone drives a vehicle that is extremely stable at higher speeds...and some on the roads drive vehicles that would struggle to stay at 75. I might be driving a Mercedes or Corvette at 80 but I probably wouldn't feel very safe when I have 87 Honda Civics whizzing by at 95...if only b/c their car is more likely to do something the driver isn't prepared to react to...

To raise the speed limit in our country would require new license testing among other things...which our country probably has no interest in doing...

just my .02

Mistress · #6 06-26-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I really hate speed limits. I had my car out on a nice open highway the other day, a very rare thing indeed. 70, 80, 90 I had to stop myself the poor old W126 just itched to stretch her legs and do some triple digit running. You really start to see the breeding of these cars on the open road, they absolutly love speed.

If only in this country we would post more sane speed limits and have better traffic laws and enforcment that actualy made driving safer.

I imagin hell is driving an S65 with a 55mph limiter on it...

Hatterasguy- You need to move to the washington, DC area . On the beloved Beltway if your doing 60 you'll be crushed. I know what you mean about "the need to speed" i can't wait for my next highway drive so I can open her up (1990 420 sel) especially since I had the front end re-done.

raymr · #7 06-26-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croftynsteph

In many areas, the traffic is terrible. And there simply isn't an opportunity for the traffic to move faster...much of it is standstill or crawling. In NJ at least, they give licenses out like vitamins for the most part. In our country, it doesn't matter if one person is doing the right thing...b/c he/she has to worry about someone else killing them on the road. And raising the speed limit in this country will only cause those that already speed on their crotch rockets and beater Honda ricers to only raise their bar and zig in and out of traffic at an even higher pace.

One also has to consider the fact not everyone drives a vehicle that is extremely stable at higher speeds...and some on the roads drive vehicles that would struggle to stay at 75. I might be driving a Mercedes or Corvette at 80 but I probably wouldn't feel very safe when I have 87 Honda Civics whizzing by at 95...if only b/c their car is more likely to do something the driver isn't prepared to react to...

To raise the speed limit in our country would require new license testing among other things...which our country probably has no interest in doing...

just my .02

It seems state governments want to get and keep people licensed to drive no matter what. As a parent, try to get your kid's license revoked if you have second thoughts about his readiness to drive. Short answer is, you can't without making it look like a criminal record. It's a one-way deal. Same thing with highschools graduating kids. Last thing they want to do is keep anyone back and then having to deal with it. They will jump thru all kinds of hoops to get that kid through in his allotted time.

Gotta say though, the old w126 turns into a magic carpet at around 80 mph, with still plenty of space under the gas pedal.

Jim B. · #8 06-26-2006, 03:09 PM

There are just too many abysmally bad drivers out there, and too much traffic to make it any more than the limit. Out here you see jacked up crew cabs pulling horse trailers going over 80 mph, tailgaters, people chatting on cell phones at 75 mph, it's just awful

That said, I once found a long stretch of highway where I was able to run at 145 for a few minutes, on Interstate 5 early in the morning (no cars in either direction, I was rested relaxed and alert.) Would never do it again, but was fun to probe the limits that one time. No surprises, the car tracked well, more wind noise, but nothing else. You had to remember the cars were engineered to go at their top speed all day. The speed rating (Z) of the tires I think was 149 mph, and that
defined the permissible speed limits- of the car. I could only begin to imagine the fines, possible confiscation of the car, maybe jail time, cancelled insurance and all that. Never again. In Germany with the TUV inspections, required driving and first aid classes, general traffic discipline, and well kept up cars, and attentive drivers, higher autobahn speeds make sense. It would be fun to drive there I bet

After that little bout with high speed driving, the PERFECT cruising speed, on a flat uncrowded interstate felt like about 90-120 mph in the car.

The car positively dozes at 65 mph. But that's OK I guess, top priority is to arrive safely, every time

It was REALLY terrible when the speed limit was only 55mph back in the 1970s, hope to never return to that again. That would be hell

#9 06-26-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

There are just too many abysmally bad drivers out there

Amen, brother....as my father has always said the most important part of the car is 'the nut behind the wheel'.

I have driven my 1985 300D on a three lane section of interstate were everyone was moving well over 75mph. I kept Margaret at 84mph for about 40 minutes. She was in her glory.

I got a lot of jaw dropping looks as the 'older than everything else' cruised past the main stream cars.

Granted my E300 is nicer at higher speeds overall, however, to me the glory of Mercedes engineering is shown when my 300D is crsuising on the highway.

Hatterasguy · #10 06-26-2006, 05:31 PM

The SDL's heat a sweet spot at around 105. That seems like the prefered fast cruising speed.

Considering the junk on the road it is probably a good thing that the speed limits are sane. Sometimes you forget what 75 feels like in an old Ford Ranger or a tired Chrysler van.

What bothers me the most is that speed limits are just used to make money. I love how the limit will go from 65 to 55 for a few miles then back to 65. Guess who is waiting to fine all the unsuspecting drivers?

I pay enough in road tax when I fuel my car up, I don't need the local idiots zapping me with there radar gun and sucking another $70 out of me.

iwrock · #11 06-26-2006, 05:43 PM

I stretched the legs on the wagon, and cruised at 135 for 20 minutes.... You could watch the gas gauge drop though. I was on a nice long stretch of Interstate 5 at 2.30 in the morning. I was on full alert. This car was stable and quiet.... Then I paced a highway patrol car for the next 50 miles... I followed him going 105+.... That was cool.

Hat, stretch those legs. She will love it.

And paul, that Chebby is going to explode is you push it over 100 miles per hour.

iwrock · #12 06-26-2006, 05:45 PM

Its cool to go fast, only when conditions permit. I had my Bridgestone Tires on, and those were V-rated.

Oh, the Cruise works at 135 too.

BENZ-LGB · #13 06-26-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinsCE

Amazing that in 50? 60? years despite all the safety improvements, vehicle responsiveness, technology, alleged driver education, tire quality, etc. the speed limits stay the same. I would like to see the exact amount states make on speeding tickets. But I know what you mean, they dont even feel right below 90.

Austin, the big limiting factor remains the quality (or lack thereof) of our highways.

When I make the trip from So. Calif. to Santa Fe, NM, I have to constantly hold back my speed on the California portion of the trip. Even through the Mojave stretch of I-40, the highway is not conducive to high speed motoring. Once I get to Arizona and New Mexico I can let her fly.

I have to say that the roads in Arizona are great. New Mexico has pretty decent highways. I have no experience with the rest of the Southwest.

So no matter how good or how safe our cars might be, it is still the quality of the road that limits speed.

BENZ-LGB · #14 06-26-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinwrock

Then I paced a highway patrol car for the next 50 miles... I followed him going 105+.... That was cool.

Justin, you obviously have a death wish...pacing a Highway Patrol car, for 50 miles? At 105 mph?

I may do the same to the 300TE...stretch her legs out for a bit and burn off some of those pesky carbon deposits that have been causing a slight ping, under acceleration, when the engine is running hot!

iwrock · #15 06-26-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Justin, you obviously have a death wish...pacing a Highway Patrol car, for 50 miles? At 105 mph?

I may do the same to the 300TE...stretch her legs out for a bit and burn off some of those pesky carbon deposits that have been causing a slight ping, under acceleration, when the engine is running hot!

Its regular practice. They are usually cool about it. After 40 miles, he started to play with me on the freeway. He would take off, slow down, and see if I would bite. He had to flip around to patrol his section, and all I heard "slow down"... Never saw him again.