Bahnstorming Speeds
Discussion
matrignano said:
I’m surprised how many said they feel unsafe above 100mph in I assume a modern and well maintained car!
Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
I agree, but I have seen similar on other threads on PH.Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
100mph in almost any well-maintained modern car is a non-event, other than the risk of being caught in most countries.
MC Bodge said:
matrignano said:
I’m surprised how many said they feel unsafe above 100mph in I assume a modern and well maintained car!
Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
I agree, but I have seen similar on other threads on PH.Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
100mph in almost any well-maintained modern car is a non-event, other than the risk of being caught in most countries.
Native here. When I was 24, every journey NEEDED to be annexing speeds. Nowadays, I settle for 160-180 in cruise control if conditions allow. Commuting traffic in metropolitan areas is closer to 120. It doesn't matter if it's two or three lane stretches; it's the density of lorries and numpties that necessitate traveling speeds.
While I prefer to drive demanding stretches on country roads, joy can be had on the Autobahn - but choose the section and the time wisely. There are parts that are both scenic and underused that allow spirited driving.
While I prefer to drive demanding stretches on country roads, joy can be had on the Autobahn - but choose the section and the time wisely. There are parts that are both scenic and underused that allow spirited driving.
JakeT said:
My 31 year old 320i will happily do 100, and is doing less than 4,000 revs while doing it.
My 2005 330i will also do it with no problem at less than 4,000rpm, but it has a 7,000rpm red-line! But it's never going to manage 258mph unless it falls off a cliff.
Although 258kph should be possible.Plenty of small hire cars taken from DUS airport to company meetings around Leverkusen. I know this is a busy part of Germany, but if anything the autobahns are worse than UK motorways. Lots of roadworks and slow sections, not really very much unlimited.
I’ve travelled long distances much faster on French Autoroutes - but you have to keep your eyes open for speed traps.
I’ve travelled long distances much faster on French Autoroutes - but you have to keep your eyes open for speed traps.
cerb4.5lee said:
EmailAddress said:
GeniusOfLove said:
Every 3 series I've tried, including M3s, are clearly well outside of their comfort zone at 200kph. They'll get there just fine, but they are noisy and unsettled.
Mercedes seem excellent at this, in both a little 2003 SLK320 and 2008 SLK350 I've found them very very stable and settled right up to the limiter at 250kph, probably the shortest wheelbase cars least suited to high speed running that Mercedes sold at the time.
I find it a much less taxing experience in something with big power that can get from 160kph back up to 200kph or so in a few seconds rather than the tens of seconds something like a 330d would take.
What are you on about?Mercedes seem excellent at this, in both a little 2003 SLK320 and 2008 SLK350 I've found them very very stable and settled right up to the limiter at 250kph, probably the shortest wheelbase cars least suited to high speed running that Mercedes sold at the time.
I find it a much less taxing experience in something with big power that can get from 160kph back up to 200kph or so in a few seconds rather than the tens of seconds something like a 330d would take.
I've driven at 165mph in my old E92 M3, and it was absolutely rock solid and planted at that speed in my opinion. So that isn't my experience of the 3 series to be honest for sure.
In saying that, my old B5 RS4 felt absolutely planted at big speeds. I did get a tyre warning light coming on at an indicated 165 once though on the way to Cologne which I didn’t enjoy
As for the OP’s question I’ve always felt comfortable in the 130-140 MPH range, but any more and I start feeling a bit less relaxed
MC Bodge said:
matrignano said:
I’m surprised how many said they feel unsafe above 100mph in I assume a modern and well maintained car!
Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
I agree, but I have seen similar on other threads on PH.Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
100mph in almost any well-maintained modern car is a non-event, other than the risk of being caught in most countries.
cerb4.5lee said:
EmailAddress said:
LunarOne said:
... 2009-2011. I had my UK-registered BMW 330Ci with me. I only ever got it flat out once, with a GPS reading of 258mph.
Good effort.158!!! D'oh!
MissChief said:
MC Bodge said:
matrignano said:
I’m surprised how many said they feel unsafe above 100mph in I assume a modern and well maintained car!
Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
I agree, but I have seen similar on other threads on PH.Is it an age thing? Younger drivers perhaps less confident than older ones?
Or is it because of a lack of practice, for those in the UK at least?
100mph in almost any well-maintained modern car is a non-event, other than the risk of being caught in most countries.
Leins said:
cerb4.5lee said:
EmailAddress said:
GeniusOfLove said:
Every 3 series I've tried, including M3s, are clearly well outside of their comfort zone at 200kph. They'll get there just fine, but they are noisy and unsettled.
Mercedes seem excellent at this, in both a little 2003 SLK320 and 2008 SLK350 I've found them very very stable and settled right up to the limiter at 250kph, probably the shortest wheelbase cars least suited to high speed running that Mercedes sold at the time.
I find it a much less taxing experience in something with big power that can get from 160kph back up to 200kph or so in a few seconds rather than the tens of seconds something like a 330d would take.
What are you on about?Mercedes seem excellent at this, in both a little 2003 SLK320 and 2008 SLK350 I've found them very very stable and settled right up to the limiter at 250kph, probably the shortest wheelbase cars least suited to high speed running that Mercedes sold at the time.
I find it a much less taxing experience in something with big power that can get from 160kph back up to 200kph or so in a few seconds rather than the tens of seconds something like a 330d would take.
I've driven at 165mph in my old E92 M3, and it was absolutely rock solid and planted at that speed in my opinion. So that isn't my experience of the 3 series to be honest for sure.
In saying that, my old B5 RS4 felt absolutely planted at big speeds. I did get a tyre warning light coming on at an indicated 165 once though on the way to Cologne which I didn’t enjoy
As for the OP’s question I’ve always felt comfortable in the 130-140 MPH range, but any more and I start feeling a bit less relaxed
Things like my old Griff were much more pleasant around 100-120 just because of noise and that Tivs start to lift around 140. The Typhon had actually seen a wind tunnel due to being the Le Mans car and that still felt planted at 180 but the noise inside a bare carbon fibre container was shocking. Previous TVRs had been quite the opposite at 160-170. Just not really suitable other than for singular moments of fun. I've just been through Germany in a GT3 RS and that was very similar. Planted but the noise becomes annoying.
What does really come into play on modern, conventional cars that are designed to hit 155 and have a decent power output isn't the car itself but the tyres and suspension. What running at high speeds highlights very, very quickly is when a car has uneven or wrong tyre pressures, cheap tyres or tired suspension, even steering play starts to show through quite clearly. One of these cars that would have been perfectly planted a decade ago but now has cheaper tyres, a strut with a slight weep, springs which have lost a little of their uniformity and a tiny bit of play in the steering will feel absolutely fine at 90 all day long but start moving it towards 140 and those inconsistencies of age start showing quite quickly.
Generally speaking in something like a standard German box like a 3 series, A4, C class with one of their 3 litre offerings 200kph is a nice speed to be running along at in suitable conditions. What ends up dominating the most is the wind noise. They all have different points at which the noise just becomes tiresome and easing back finds the sweat spot.
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