sports cars quarter mile times image
thliop
If the speed limits (at least in the US) go to most 70mph (and 80mph in some parts of Texas), why are cars built to go up to 140mph+?
This is just something I've wondered for some time.
Answer
Well, there's more to that question than you think. Cars need power to accelerate quickly enough. It would be pretty hard to merge onto a busy interstate from a standstill if you were in a 5000 pound SUV with a tiny 150 hp motor. Now, that SUV might, after a while, get up to the speed limit, but you'd probably get rear ended in the process of merging.
As for transmissions and gearing, I know that the gearing on my Infiniti G35 can go up to around 185 mph. The car can't go that fast, but the gearing is that high for fuel economy reasons. The higher the gearing, the lower the rpms of the engine, meaning less fuel is burned. If not for this, cars would be downing gas faster than Kobayashi downs hot dogs.
So, engines need the power for necessary acceleration, and gearing for fuel economy (acceleration is affected by gearing too). However, it is possible to put speed limiters on cars, which several manufacturers do. I believe a teacher of mine told me that some Ford vehicles can may eventually with special keys that limit top speed to around 80 mph, as that would be the fastest anyone would need to go.
One more thing to remember is the thrill factor. Why do people buy sports cars? Not because they have the most headroom, smoothest ride, or most storage for groceries, but because you want to step on the gas and feel your eyes get pushed into the back of your head (just a little). Also, motorsports are popular. I personally have taken my car down to drag strips on Friday nights, where in a quarter mile, I would be traveling close to 100 mph.
Fact is, it's the USA, home of American Muscle, big block V8s, and drag racing. Go big or go home.
Well, there's more to that question than you think. Cars need power to accelerate quickly enough. It would be pretty hard to merge onto a busy interstate from a standstill if you were in a 5000 pound SUV with a tiny 150 hp motor. Now, that SUV might, after a while, get up to the speed limit, but you'd probably get rear ended in the process of merging.
As for transmissions and gearing, I know that the gearing on my Infiniti G35 can go up to around 185 mph. The car can't go that fast, but the gearing is that high for fuel economy reasons. The higher the gearing, the lower the rpms of the engine, meaning less fuel is burned. If not for this, cars would be downing gas faster than Kobayashi downs hot dogs.
So, engines need the power for necessary acceleration, and gearing for fuel economy (acceleration is affected by gearing too). However, it is possible to put speed limiters on cars, which several manufacturers do. I believe a teacher of mine told me that some Ford vehicles can may eventually with special keys that limit top speed to around 80 mph, as that would be the fastest anyone would need to go.
One more thing to remember is the thrill factor. Why do people buy sports cars? Not because they have the most headroom, smoothest ride, or most storage for groceries, but because you want to step on the gas and feel your eyes get pushed into the back of your head (just a little). Also, motorsports are popular. I personally have taken my car down to drag strips on Friday nights, where in a quarter mile, I would be traveling close to 100 mph.
Fact is, it's the USA, home of American Muscle, big block V8s, and drag racing. Go big or go home.
Im thinking about getting a motorcycle how to the rates of accidents compare to auto accidents?
luke k
i really want a bike but im worried about the dangers but then i think about how many car accidents there are all the time does anyone know the percents involved in the difference of the two?
Answer
Statistically, on a per mile driven basis, a motorcycle is three and a quarter times more likely to be involved in an accident than an automobile. Oh Horrors!!!
There are three types of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.
Those statistics do not take into account:
The average annual mileage for a motorcycle is under 2,000 miles a year. To average that when many of us ride 10,000 miles and more a year means the vast majority of bikers only ride a few hundred miles a years. You are *NOT* going to maintain proficiency riding just a few hundred miles a year. The vast majority of bikes are ridden for pleasure -- racing through the twisties, bar hopping, etc..
The statistics for cars averages all sorts of people. Those who chose to ride motorcycles tend to be risk takers and thrill seekers. When comparing motorcycles to cars you should limit the cars to those chosen by risk takers and thrill seekers -- high performance sports cars.
If you don't drink and ride, don't speed excessively, ride enough to maintain proficiency, you are, IMHO, less likely to have a collision on a bike than when driving a car. I wouldn't ride otherwise.
Statistically, on a per mile driven basis, a motorcycle is three and a quarter times more likely to be involved in an accident than an automobile. Oh Horrors!!!
There are three types of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.
Those statistics do not take into account:
The average annual mileage for a motorcycle is under 2,000 miles a year. To average that when many of us ride 10,000 miles and more a year means the vast majority of bikers only ride a few hundred miles a years. You are *NOT* going to maintain proficiency riding just a few hundred miles a year. The vast majority of bikes are ridden for pleasure -- racing through the twisties, bar hopping, etc..
The statistics for cars averages all sorts of people. Those who chose to ride motorcycles tend to be risk takers and thrill seekers. When comparing motorcycles to cars you should limit the cars to those chosen by risk takers and thrill seekers -- high performance sports cars.
If you don't drink and ride, don't speed excessively, ride enough to maintain proficiency, you are, IMHO, less likely to have a collision on a bike than when driving a car. I wouldn't ride otherwise.
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