A F458 should not be subject to speed limits

+1

 

Migas:

Germany is a shorter drive away for you than me. What are you waiting for?

Life is good.
Life is better driving a Ferrari.
Life is best driving a 458 in Germany.

 

Thanks for assuming that Germany is 458-driver's heaven.

Sorry, not so (anymore).

Most of our highways ("Autobahn") are speed regulated by now, too.
Common is 100 to 120 km/h (do the conversion to mph yourselves).

Moreover, we have a "recommended" highway speed of 130 km/h, which is usually referred to as an integral part of judgements in accident-trials in courtrooms. Effectively this means, that once you've been going at speeds ABOVE 130 km/h when having an accident, YOU are usually the one left holding the (legal-consequences-) bag.

Also, WHEN you DO find a part that is still NOT regulated ( there are some VERY nice ones ), be sure to find yourself back on a regulated part after a couple of kms further down the road. NOT very funny having to brake from 300 km/h to 80 km/h just because of an accident-prone highway-junction or bumpy road-surface coming up...

Anyway, still better in 458-sense than many other countries, I guess. Especially as drivers over here are generally used to quicker cars and (apart from the usual dumbheads moving over without checking their rear-mirrors) show good lane-discipline.

Best,
Ulli

 

I don't know...I think the higher rate of highway speeds would require considerable acclimation for the general population (esp in USA) so the small increments make sense imho.

I cringe at the thought of any of us in USA legally driving at 100mph around the overwhelming number of drivers who sit at a 60 degree angle and with the wheel only 5in away from their chests and who can barely make a lane change without having to do 5-6 shuffles of their hands around the wheel since it's so close to their chests and their elbows are hampered by the negatively reclined seat...

Faster speeds require quicker reaction time, more distance/cushion between other motorists and more acute spatial awareness by the drivers, all of which I have little or zero faith that the general motorist population have over here. I'll be happy when everyone on the road actually looks to their sides before changing lanes...

 

Cruising at 100 mph + on the highway is boring IMO. The fun is in the acceleration from 0 to 100 mph and the cornering at high speeds and you don't get that on any highway. I wish there would be a law that would allow fast acceleration 0-80 mph at stop lights -

 

We have stoplights on highway 82 with a speed limit of 65 mph. when I am stopped at the light and first in line, 0-70 mph is fun.

the other cars are way back when I hit 70 in under 4 seconds.

 

There is a "Germany" of sorts in the US. It's called Texas. Though there are speed limits everywhere, Texans have a more enlightened practical approach to speed limits Texas opens highway with 85 mph speed limit, fastest in America -- is it too fast? | Fox News FYI 85 mph = 137 kph.

PS South Texas was settled by German farming folks. Part of the culture.

 

For a few miles on a drive from LA to Las Vegas, I drove my coupe once at about 120 mph. It is amazingly smooth and controllable at those speeds.

Extremely impressive.

 

I thought he meant an interstate highway, which would be the equivalent of the autobahn. There are state roads with stop lights like the one you described everywhere, it's not a CO novelty.

 

speed limit on the Interstates is 75 mph in the least winding parts. After about 10 minutes the novelty wears off and it is pretty boring. More cops on the Interstates and many people want to pass a red Fcar, especially motorcycles. they give a thumbs up and seem to like the car.

 

Same for me, 2 miles before state line where you can see a loooong way down hill for CHIPIES, a brief stint at 165mph. No surprises as I've had other 458's at higher speeds on a track (184mph), BUT good to know the personal ride gettyups! I would not do this again without a helmet, just old habits die hard.

To the OP, I still remember the dreaded 55mph debacle here in the US not too long ago. I think many states got rich in those years with all the cites handed out! :-/

 

Our most remote area (Northern Territory) have now reverted back to a trial of unlimited speeds in at least 1 section..

It's still 130 kmh/80 mph for the rest after being strong armed by states with threats of funding if not brought back to step with them as NT was unlimited and every other state was peddling the "speed kills" (and lucrative) mindless mumble.

I was driving up there recently and found people just drove at their and their vehicles comfortable speed anyway.. mostly well under since 4WD, caravans etc.. and they certainly didn't go "nuts".

I think they also found the speed limit was pretty independent to fatalities on the road which are mainly drunk pedestrians in town in reality..

So come on down with your 458s.. Australia is open for business again for some disciplined sensible driving where the open horizon beckons.

 

IMO the speed "differential" is most hazardous. Secondly, thorughout much of the U.S, contrasting my expeeriences thorughout Europe, few people look in their rear view mirrors frequently enough to see you coming up on them at speed requiring braking or maneuvering (also risk at high speed). Then, again within the U.S. many of the roads have bumps and potholes. There are those who change lanes and then turn on their blinker lights (a real challenge) I love to drive fast but spend most of my time looking in the rear view mirror for a cop car coming down an off ramp while relying on my radar detector/laser jammer for a front "view". A bit distracting taking some of the fun our of the venture. Bottom line, speeding is challenging in my experience.Best

 

You are a lot of fun. How old did you say you are?

 

Completely agree. Variance of speed is the single most important factor, excluding those under the influence.

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/newsl-I81-winter00%20.pdf

 

68

Old enough to know better.
Too young to care.

 

Yeah well, I know in Europe you speed and you get a speeding ticket, here in some states, if you speed too much over the limit, you go to jail.

In Italy last summer, I was driving pretty much at 150-200 kph on the highway all the time except for when slowed down by traffic in front of me. Never saw a cop car anywhere. Recession has its advantages I guess.

 

I have made a decision that i no longer care if i get a ticket. I simply do not care, i don't do anything i would consider stupid, but i simply do not care. Not gotten a ticket yet!

 

Agree that cruising at 100 mph is boring especially in a Ferrari BUT doing it at 300 km/h is great fun.
So put your foot down and the those long sweeping curves actually become corners and you are committed...

By the way, what's a "speed limit"? I always thought that it was how fast a car could go?....

 

In the uk, less than 30mph over gets you 3 points on your licence, 12 points and you get a ban for a year or more normally. Over 30mph, automatic ban. They can stick you in the big house if they deem it dangerous, but I've only heard of that for 150+

 

15 years ago in Italy you wouldn't dare to move to the left (fast) lane on the Autostrada if you were doing less than 200 kph. People would run over you! Now they have slowed down a bit from what I am told but 200 kph is still not far from the norm. Italians love their speed and I regard them as the best drivers in Europe.

 

Are you kidding? Italy is in Europe on 3rd place regarding fatalities per million inhabitants.