Does a low top speed in a performance car bother you?

[cerb4.5lee]

We've been discussing the top speed on another thread about the new electric MG Roadster, and its top speed is only a 125mph, yet it has over 500bhp though.

For me personally I'd want it to go quicker than a 125mph, and I don't like Volvo anymore because they limit their cars to only a 112mph as well.

So would a low top speed in a performance car bother you?

[cerb4.5lee]

raspy said:

No because the limit is 70mph here.

End of the thread then!

[cerb4.5lee]

Doofus said:

Aren't all Japanese cars (including stuff like Nissan GTRs) limited to 112mph in their home market?

They are(or at least they used to be), and that used to wind me up a bit as well to be fair.

[cerb4.5lee]

ecsrobin said:

cerb4.5lee said:

We've been discussing the top speed on another thread about the new electric MG Roadster, and its top speed is only a 125mph, yet it has over 500bhp though.

For me personally I'd want it to go quicker than a 125mph, and I don't like Volvo anymore because they limit their cars to only a 112mph as well.

So would a low top speed in a performance car bother you?

How often are you above 125?

Not too often, but I will go over a 100 most days though. I think it is more that I'd be pegged back to just 125 if I did want to go quicker though, and that bothers me.

[cerb4.5lee]

Mr E said:

I own an elise. Straight line speed isn’t what it’s for

I've got an F82 M4, and that is all about its straight line speed for me(and going sideways should you wish). I do also have a Caterham 7 though, and that is much more about the corners in comparison, because its top speed is only 122mph.

[cerb4.5lee]

blank said:

Wouldn't bother me with something like that.

Performance EVs are likely to always have this "problem" unless they move to multi speed transmissions (Taycan has 2 gears) as there is a direct trade off between top speed and torque multiplication (and therefore acceleration).

Think I'd rather have better acceleration I'd use regularly than a 155mph top speed that I wouldn't.

Might think differently if I drove in Germany a lot.

That is a good way to look at it I think, and it is the acceleration that excites me too. Even if a car can do 155mph(or more), I'd only blast up to that speed and then drop back down though. Rather than being sat at that speed for a prolonged period.

[cerb4.5lee]

Silvanus said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Mr E said:

I own an elise. Straight line speed isn’t what it’s for

I've got an F82 M4, and that is all about its straight line speed for me(and going sideways should you wish). I do also have a Caterham 7 though, and that is much more about the corners in comparison, because its top speed is only 122mph.

So top speed in a performance car doesn't bother you then, unless a Caterham isn't a performance car? Guess that opens up, what is a performance car.

The Caterham was an odd move for me really to be honest, because generally in the past I'd go for bigger engines and more power.

It could be argued that my Caterham isn't a performance car really, because it only has a 140bhp. But Caterham do offer much faster/more powerful versions though to be fair.

[cerb4.5lee]

raspy said:

ecsrobin said:

How often are you above 125?

It's clearly a bragging contest down the pub. My car can do 155mph, and if I pay to get the limiter removed, it could do 168mph. Blah!

It isn't that for me, because the majority of performance cars can do 155mph nowadays and they have done for years, or are at least limited to that speed. So that isn't anything to brag about is it?

I've personally pretty much maxed out all the performance cars that I've had over the years though(maybe I'm just a lunatic?!), just because I've always enjoyed doing that. So I would(or will) notice if a car has a low top speed...because of that.

I'm not saying that it is big and clever, but it is just something that I've always done. I remember seeing 138mph on the clock in my XR4x4, and that was 31 years ago now for example(it was probably only doing about 125mph in reality though).

[cerb4.5lee]

Nomme de Plum said:

cerb4.5lee said:

The Caterham was an odd move for me really to be honest, because generally in the past I'd go for bigger engines and more power.

It could be argued that my Caterham isn't a performance car really, because it only has a 140bhp. But Caterham do offer much faster/more powerful versions though to be fair.

I disagree that the Caterham is not a performance car. What does it weigh 550kg maybe so 250 bhp/Tonne which is probably not dissimilar to your M4.

Of course the handling characteristics will be completely different. The M4 is brutish to the Caterham’s nimbleness.

That is a great way of putting it I think. The trump card with the Caterham is definitely its power to weight as you say. I also absolutely loved my Cerbera from a power to weight perspective as well(that was supposed to be 380bhp/Tonne). Although that felt like it wanted to take off at 160mph though in fairness!

The Cerbera was a great car when it worked...but the problem was that it didn't work very often though!

[cerb4.5lee]

colin79666 said:

Top speed wouldn’t put me off.

Stupid annoying speed limit warnings would, it’s putting me off changing to something new.

The speed limit warnings in new cars are annoying I agree, you can at least switch them off currently though. I recently had a 2024 Merc EQA350 as a loan car, and the first thing I did in that was turn the speed limit warning bong off. It was easy to do as well thankfully.

[cerb4.5lee]

Nomme de Plum said:

Well I think you know I owned one as well.

It as without doubt the most shoddily built car I ever owned and driveable for about 25% of my ownership. The rest being in for repair of one thing or another.

When it did go it was terrifying at speed and the handling a bit unpredictable. I was lucky and received a full refund plus interest. IMO it was less than the sum if it’s parts and could have been a really good car.

There are far more important characteristics than top speed that make a great car.

Yes and I knew that you had one.

It is sad I reckon that it was so troublesome for you. Mine was a pain as well, but I did at least persevere with it for 6 years though. Some folk do seem to get lucky with them from what I read/hear though.

I'm glad I had one, but it would take a lot to get me back into another TVR to be fair now. I do still love the bloody things from a distance though for sure.

[cerb4.5lee]

Dunbar871 said:

Nomme de Plum said:

Dunbar871 said:

Little reminder on why top speed is important, before this forum fully converts into Mumsnet...

Why is that important? Surely it doesn’t take much talent, if any, to drive fast in a straight line on a motorway just being mindful of other road users.

Very odd attitude to think there is something special about it.

Why are you a member of an enthusiasts' motoring site ? Speed Matters damn it !

hand that PH card in TODAY

I still cling onto the old days of "Speed Matters" too!

[cerb4.5lee]

Exasperated said:

I have a theory, with which I'm sure many people will disagree, that if a car isn't fun at legal speeds, it's not a fun car. I honestly can't remember the last time I broke a speed limit.

Ideally it needs to be both for me. I remember my Cerbera being fun at 30mph and 130mph for example, but that isn't a trick that many cars can pull off in my experience though.

[cerb4.5lee]

DonkeyApple said:

If you take your M4, it is a massively heavy car that has been fitted with huge tyres and generally set up to be stable at 155+. But in doing so it is shockingly dull at 50. An absolute snooze fest and when bumbling along at 50 it's more dull than the most base model BMW of the same shape while heaping on frustration at having to travel so slowly. Conversely, the Caterham is fun at fifty and at every mph up to 100.

Funnily enough I only experienced this yesterday. I was out in the Caterham, and I was accelerating up to around 80mph and I couldn't keep the bloody thing in a straight line! It did make me realise how stable the M4 is(and the 370) in comparison at the higher speeds for sure.

[cerb4.5lee]

J4CKO said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Silvanus said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Mr E said:

I own an elise. Straight line speed isn’t what it’s for

I've got an F82 M4, and that is all about its straight line speed for me(and going sideways should you wish). I do also have a Caterham 7 though, and that is much more about the corners in comparison, because its top speed is only 122mph.

So top speed in a performance car doesn't bother you then, unless a Caterham isn't a performance car? Guess that opens up, what is a performance car.

The Caterham was an odd move for me really to be honest, because generally in the past I'd go for bigger engines and more power.

It could be argued that my Caterham isn't a performance car really, because it only has a 140bhp. But Caterham do offer much faster/more powerful versions though to be fair.

Not sure that car is the thing lacking performance here Lee

More to driving than aim, plant foot and receive acceleration and speed, its a big part of it but sounds like you need to calm down a bit if you are regularly doing well over 100 mph trying to enjoy your cars. If you cant enjoy them below 100 mph on the roads then you are on borrowed time, license wise.

Seriously, do a track day in your Caterham, get it fettled beforehand and book some tuition and you will get more out of that than doing 150 in an automatic BMW. On track you can consistently get near the limit and explore the car, on the road its little glimpses every now and again, frustration and potential for prosecution.

Any car I can buy will have enough top speed, the roads however dont, you can push the envelope a little but a top speed of 125 is academic unless playing Top Trumps, or it should be.

You make some great points there Mark for sure.

Only yesterday I was thinking that I'd like to really get to know the Caterham more, and I don't think that will ever really happen just on the road to be honest.

They are track cars first and foremost for sure, so I really need to put my big boy pants on...and finally get myself on a track I think as you say.

[cerb4.5lee]

DonkeyApple said:

In a way it's like buying a plane thinking you'll be free to just go and fly but then realising there is no freedom and that you must plan where you go and follow the prescribed rules. It's why pilots are some of the dullest people at the party, essentially actuaries who weren't good enough at maths so had to operate sky trucks to a living.

You made me chuckle with this. One of my neighbours is an ex pilot, and he is an intelligent chap to be fair to him, but he is as boring as hell though!

[cerb4.5lee]

Alex_225 said:

Like most numbers with cars be it 0-60, top speed, in gear acceleration times, bhp etc. It's all about numbers that make you happy as an owner and they don't always equate real life. I meant my CLS is limited to 155, with the limiter off one guy got 190 out of one on an autobahn. I've not taken a car over 100mph in years (for a variety of obvious reasons).

So really high top speed is really for people who are taking a car on track which is a tiny percentage of people and even then I suspect top end isn't the priority.

In short, I'm not too bothered.

That is what I love so much about roads, because you can actually drive at a higher top speed on the road than you ever could on most tracks. Plus most tracks turn their noses up at you if you go sideways, and they don't like loud exhausts either.

It is weird, because tracks are meant to be fun, but you have to adhere to a tank load of rules and regulations though, and it kind of defeats the object in many ways I think.

[cerb4.5lee]

wc98 said:

Another thing from this discussion i can't comprehend is enthusiasts owning cars or bikes they have never maxed out. Every single vehicle i have ever owned i have had flat out (the bikes every time i was out on them bar the odd occasion,usually when it was raining) although i've only owned one car that would do 140mph to now and every motoring enthusiast i know is the same, including those owning Mclarens, Ferraris etc. These days i don't have a bike and my motoring fun is reduced to driving a slow car quickly on some great roads and i enjoy that a lot but i can't deny it is as fun as ragging a sports bike down some nice a or b roads all day.

I've always done the max out thing too. Although I was only brave enough to see 160mph in the Cerbera though, because it felt like it wanted to take off! I did see 165mph on the clock in the E92 M3 though, and that was rock solid and very stable in comparison.

I've only been to 147mph in the F82 M4 though...so I must try harder I reckon!

[cerb4.5lee]

cliffords said:

cerb4.5lee said:

ecsrobin said:

cerb4.5lee said:

We've been discussing the top speed on another thread about the new electric MG Roadster, and its top speed is only a 125mph, yet it has over 500bhp though.

For me personally I'd want it to go quicker than a 125mph, and I don't like Volvo anymore because they limit their cars to only a 112mph as well.

So would a low top speed in a performance car bother you?

How often are you above 125?

Not too often, but I will go over a 100 most days though. I think it is more that I'd be pegged back to just 125 if I did want to go quicker though, and that bothers me.

What country are you in?

They call it Mexico nowadays I think!

[cerb4.5lee]

CKY said:

cerb4.5lee said:

That is what I love so much about roads, because you can actually drive at a higher top speed on the road than you ever could on most tracks. Plus most tracks turn their noses up at you if you go sideways, and they don't like loud exhausts either.

It is weird, because tracks are meant to be fun, but you have to adhere to a tank load of rules and regulations though, and it kind of defeats the object in many ways I think.

I think the trackday issue you highlight is due to the number of 'road warriors' over the years who have booked a trackday off the back of doing 150mph or whatever on the motorway and thinking they can drive a bit. A few exploratory laps of the circuit with the TCS/stability control keeping them on the black stuff then imbues a false sense of security, the systems get slackened off or switched off, 5 minutes later a length red flag to pull some bright spark's BMW out of the gravel trap.

To answer the "Does a low top speed in a performance car bother you?" - not in the slightest, driving fast in straight lines is boring and effortless, corners are where the fun is to be had sorting the men from the boys.

It is always a funny one for me, because I don't lack confidence on the road, but I don't feel like I have enough confidence for a track if you know what I mean though. Plus I've always been pretty crap in the corners as well, and I think that it why I've generally always gone for pretty quick performance cars, so that I can at least have a bit of fun in a straight line.

I've always been different to the majority with that too, and I prefer straight lines to corners. I ought to move to America really!