Jaguar XJ 2004

[thepolarfoxqx]

porsche does so limit a good number of their cars.

[kleinefisch]

But not all, which would suggest that there isn't a federal law mandating it.

[LateNightCable]

I think a lot of it has to do with plain and simple " politics ", or maybe not so simple. The Vauxhaul Lotus Carlton, and Opel Lotus Omega of the early '90s is one example of safety watch dogs having a fit over a supposed four door " family car " capable of 175 mph and up. Something about the sound of " 175 miles per hour " makes them freak. Where as a sportscar is expected to be fast, so its' okay, or else we would have 155 mph Ferraris'.
If a car is readily available to the public in great numbers, and it fits the description of a " normal " car, certain people get antsy about top speed, and hence, they limit it.

Politics.

[kleinefisch]

Well then maybe these "family sedans" from Jag, Bimmer, Merc, Audi,etc. that can do 175 should be expected to be fast as well.

[thepolarfoxqx]

why do you need to take a 4,000lb sedan that fast anyway?

Any faster than that in that car, no matter who you are, is becoming wreckless.

[kleinefisch]

Why do you need any car to go that fast? You don't. We like it because its there and we could do it if we find the stretch of road, or a track. And driving those speeds in any car is wreckless.

[izzyloveslizzy]

Yeah, but once you go 250, you're already going insanely fast. What's the pint of limiting it there? Heck what's the pint of limiting it at all? It's pointless. Why have all that power and not use it? I don't like being babied by having a car that limits what I can do with it. I may never do more than 250 on the road, but I still don't want the limiter there. Kapisch?

[thepolarfoxqx]

why not use it? you realize stopping distance grow exponentially with speed, at any speed well past 155, you have ZERO ability to respond to anything. So much as a big gust of wind hits you, it could be disasterous. For your sake and others, 160+mph isn't really a safe idea for anyone not experienced.

Maybe they figure, if you are a talented enough driver to handle it, you'll either own a car without a limiter or know how to remove it.

[kleinefisch]

Yes, the forces go up by the square of the velocity. Im probably not going to go over 160 mph in a sedan, but who knows, I live near Nevada and huge expanses of rarely or lightly travelled highways. I've sped many a time in my cars on those roads, they're perfect.