Bahnstorming Speeds
Discussion
LunarOne said:
MC Bodge said:
UK motorways do appear to have been designed for high speeds.
UK motorways have been designed for exactly 100mph, as that is the design speed. The radius of all bends are such that they should allow any vehicle capable of 100mph to negotiate them without needing to slow.There's a lot of variables, but given good conditions I'm happy at around 220-230 kph for long periods with the occasional squirt further around the speedo.
I go through a mental checklist before going quickly. I enjoy the responsibility and challenge of making progress, there's lots of subtleties to doing it which simply don't really apply in normal motorway driving. For example gentle righthanders result in a large area ahead of trucks which is unsighted and you need to build that into your plan. If you find yourself braking frequently then it might be a sign that you aren't anticipating far enough ahead etc
So I'll put my neck out and offer this. A 5 minute bit of Autobahning which I'd consider quite representative of a quick day.
Light traffic, some worn patched areas of the surface not particularly smooth, half-joints on bridge sections require respect, good weather and light winds although on the valley sections you still get crosswinds.
I go through a mental checklist before going quickly. I enjoy the responsibility and challenge of making progress, there's lots of subtleties to doing it which simply don't really apply in normal motorway driving. For example gentle righthanders result in a large area ahead of trucks which is unsighted and you need to build that into your plan. If you find yourself braking frequently then it might be a sign that you aren't anticipating far enough ahead etc
So I'll put my neck out and offer this. A 5 minute bit of Autobahning which I'd consider quite representative of a quick day.
Light traffic, some worn patched areas of the surface not particularly smooth, half-joints on bridge sections require respect, good weather and light winds although on the valley sections you still get crosswinds.
M11rph said:
There's a lot of variables, but given good conditions I'm happy at around 220-230 kph for long periods with the occasional squirt further around the speedo.
I go through a mental checklist before going quickly. I enjoy the responsibility and challenge of making progress, there's lots of subtleties to doing it which simply don't really apply in normal motorway driving. For example gentle righthanders result in a large area ahead of trucks which is unsighted and you need to build that into your plan. If you find yourself braking frequently then it might be a sign that you aren't anticipating far enough ahead etc
So I'll put my neck out and offer this. A 5 minute bit of Autobahning which I'd consider quite representative of a quick day.
Light traffic, some worn patched areas of the surface not particularly smooth, half-joints on bridge sections require respect, good weather and light winds although on the valley sections you still get crosswinds.
That video reminds me how much I like being able to decide my own speed.I go through a mental checklist before going quickly. I enjoy the responsibility and challenge of making progress, there's lots of subtleties to doing it which simply don't really apply in normal motorway driving. For example gentle righthanders result in a large area ahead of trucks which is unsighted and you need to build that into your plan. If you find yourself braking frequently then it might be a sign that you aren't anticipating far enough ahead etc
So I'll put my neck out and offer this. A 5 minute bit of Autobahning which I'd consider quite representative of a quick day.
Light traffic, some worn patched areas of the surface not particularly smooth, half-joints on bridge sections require respect, good weather and light winds although on the valley sections you still get crosswinds.
120mph is fairly common typical 'fast lane' speeds. Bear in mind trucks and vans (and those that hang around with those vehicles) are all travelling insanely slower.
Fastest I've been was 135mph in an audi Q5 ...when i realised the baby wasn't properly belted in...
to go quicker you don't need more power you need stronger brakes.
Fastest I've been was 135mph in an audi Q5 ...when i realised the baby wasn't properly belted in...
to go quicker you don't need more power you need stronger brakes.
Blown2CV said:
120mph is fairly common typical 'fast lane' speeds. Bear in mind trucks and vans (and those that hang around with those vehicles) are all travelling insanely slower.
Fastest I've been was 135mph in an audi Q5 ...when i realised the baby wasn't properly belted in...
to go quicker you don't need more power you need stronger brakes.
To be fair, in my 1.0L polo, I would need both Fastest I've been was 135mph in an audi Q5 ...when i realised the baby wasn't properly belted in...
to go quicker you don't need more power you need stronger brakes.
Red Devil said:
Masterclass by Reg Local of this parish. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moJKWetL5O0
Certainly one of the better autobahn videos. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moJKWetL5O0Some patronising guff at the start, but gets onto the important
stuff like watching for closing gaps in lane 1.
He keeps good distance to the car in front, too.
Having said that, I wouldn't be doing 250 kph on the two lane bits,
even when it's quiet. I usually keep it downto about 200 kph there
and put dipped beams on over about 160 kph.
I travel to Germany every couple of years for a holiday / to see family. I find cruising around 120 to be the sweet spot personally. I don't like to relax when I'm driving, relaxing is for the bath. I'd rather be alert and find it very satisfying munching up the miles so quickly. We sat at an indicated 145 for mile after mile the last time I was there in my S5 - it feels very odd doing this completely legally so I always embrace it 
Speeds will definitely drop this year as I'll be in a hire car with around 100bhp.
Speeds will definitely drop this year as I'll be in a hire car with around 100bhp.
I would urge some caution on the tone here, a lot of blustering. It takes a lot of mental effort to drive at 200km/h+ safely. It can be done, and I have done it, but it isn't a relaxing way to make progress. As per the Reg video you have to be on high alert all the time.
More contraversial statements - most people don't have the driving skill to safely do 200km/h+ either, and it probably shouldn't be allowed for those people.
More contraversial statements - most people don't have the driving skill to safely do 200km/h+ either, and it probably shouldn't be allowed for those people.
The odd thing about the Autobahn for me is that, despite doing well over 200mph quite a few times in my 950hp RS6 (filmed one 206mph run and put it on YouTube) I've still never comfortable doing that speed for more than a few seconds, with even 150mph feeling unsafe for "cruising" on an empty road and, when there's traffic, even going past someone at say 100mph just felt wrong, so all my high speed runs were done at night just to avoid traffic as I could never imagine passing someone at 200+ like I see others do in videos!
IanH755 said:
The odd thing about the Autobahn for me is that, despite doing well over 200mph quite a few times in my 950hp RS6 (filmed one 206mph run and put it on YouTube) I've still never comfortable doing that speed for more than a few seconds, with even 150mph feeling unsafe for "cruising" on an empty road and, when there's traffic, even going past someone at say 100mph just felt wrong, so all my high speed runs were done at night just to avoid traffic as I could never imagine passing someone at 200+ like I see others do in videos!
I'm a little bit similar to that as well, and I'm not necessarily massively interested in staying at really high speed, but I really enjoy the acceleration getting there though. Although I did like the lighter traffic from years ago in the UK though, and I remember a time when I could sit for ages in the outside lane of the M1 in my XR4x4 at a 100mph. Plus every Saturday morning when I had the 200SX years ago, I'd touch 140mph going to work on the M1. I used to start at 7am, so the motorway was always pretty much empty back then.
No chance of that happening now though, speed cameras/smart motorways and traffic volume have stopped that. Going to car shows for an early start years back on the motorway used to be enjoyable as well.
I wonder if there will ever come a time when the cars we drive are all limited to 70mph. I can see that happening one day I reckon, maybe not in my lifetime, but definitely one day I think.
I saw a little news story in the local news of the police proudly boasting about booking some "maniac" doing 110MPH on the M4 at 5 in the morning, complete with a picture of aforementioned "maniac" on the totally empty motorway.
Comments section full of knobbers going on about how he should be locked up, how insane that is and so on.
When did we become so pathetic?!
Comments section full of knobbers going on about how he should be locked up, how insane that is and so on.
When did we become so pathetic?!
GeniusOfLove said:
I saw a little news story in the local news of the police proudly boasting about booking some "maniac" doing 110MPH on the M4 at 5 in the morning, complete with a picture of aforementioned "maniac" on the totally empty motorway.
Comments section full of knobbers going on about how he should be locked up, how insane that is and so on.
When did we become so pathetic?!
I fell really lucky once in the 330d regarding that on the M4. It was when I lived down south(back in 2009) and I flew past an unmarked copper at around 130mph. I absolutely crapped myself, however he just waved the slow down signal at me though. I was a very lucky boy that day I reckon. Comments section full of knobbers going on about how he should be locked up, how insane that is and so on.
When did we become so pathetic?!
I had my missus in with me at the time as well, although she is like a handbrake nowadays though, and she'd go mental at me now if I went fast with her in with me. I have to drive quickly when I'm on my own now in comparison to back then, and she even still moans at me for doing that!
Debaser said:
LayZ said:
most people don't have the driving skill to safely do 200km/h+ either, and it probably shouldn't be allowed for those people.
Right now thousands of people are safely doing just that.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff