about that acceleration...
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Winching
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 741
Likes: 55
From: South Flatistan
"Have a look at the accident statistics for the autobahn - the rate is quite low, but the accidents they do have are real doozies - and the Germans have the sense to know that if you are going to drive at those speeds, do it in a stable vehicle."
it's my understanding (having never driven on an autobahn) that the roads are well engineered and maintained. a bit different from our philosophy here in many places in the states of "here's some asphalt- go for it!"
it's my understanding (having never driven on an autobahn) that the roads are well engineered and maintained. a bit different from our philosophy here in many places in the states of "here's some asphalt- go for it!"
It's a simple matter of common sense. The likelihood of the crash being fatal is related to the structure of the vehicle, and its ability to absorb the energy of the crash before deforming to a point where the interior is compromised, and before exerting dangerous forces on the occupants. So the chances of being killed pretty much are proportional to the square of the vehicle's speed.
My vehicle does feel perfectly steady at 90mph but I realise that this is an illusion. It just takes one blown out tire, or one fool in another lane to make a lane change without seeing you.
The fact that you don't understand the difference between the vehicle FEELING steady, and it's potentially instability at that speed when making sudden direction changes, speaks volumes.
This is precisely the problem with modern cars - they can cruise at 90-100mph and feel like they are hardly moving, but the Physics have not changed since the invention of the motor car.
Have a look at the accident statistics for the autobahn - the rate is quite low, but the accidents they do have are real doozies - and the Germans have the sense to know that if you are going to drive at those speeds, do it in a stable vehicle.
My vehicle does feel perfectly steady at 90mph but I realise that this is an illusion. It just takes one blown out tire, or one fool in another lane to make a lane change without seeing you.
The fact that you don't understand the difference between the vehicle FEELING steady, and it's potentially instability at that speed when making sudden direction changes, speaks volumes.
This is precisely the problem with modern cars - they can cruise at 90-100mph and feel like they are hardly moving, but the Physics have not changed since the invention of the motor car.
Have a look at the accident statistics for the autobahn - the rate is quite low, but the accidents they do have are real doozies - and the Germans have the sense to know that if you are going to drive at those speeds, do it in a stable vehicle.
You keep coming back to the, "if something happens" comment. Why? That's a useless argument, you're screwed if anything happens over 50, that's just luck of the draw. Yes there will be situations that could be avoided if you're going 65 vs. 90, but you realize how incredibly rare that is and it's useless fact to present.
"the rate is quite low, but the accidents are doozies"
Of course they are, THEY'RE ON A HIGHWAY! Most any accident I've seen on the highway unless during a snow storm are doozies. We're not talking about 35 vs. 90 here, we're talking about 65 vs. 90.
"Have a look at the accident statistics for the autobahn - the rate is quite low, but the accidents they do have are real doozies - and the Germans have the sense to know that if you are going to drive at those speeds, do it in a stable vehicle."
it's my understanding (having never driven on an autobahn) that the roads are well engineered and maintained. a bit different from our philosophy here in many places in the states of "here's some asphalt- go for it!"
it's my understanding (having never driven on an autobahn) that the roads are well engineered and maintained. a bit different from our philosophy here in many places in the states of "here's some asphalt- go for it!"
Baja
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,845
Likes: 368
From: Near Bordeaux, France
Motorways, autobahns, autoroutes are all inherently safer than normal two way congested roads - generally, you are all headed in the same direction 
with crash barriers separating vehicles from a head on crash . The death stats support that these roads are generally safer but sometimes when a BIG crash happens it's often BIG and people get killed due to the higher speeds. The worst time is winter in the ice and snow or even heavy rain. It always appears that many cannot judge time, distance and their stopping capabilities or are just plain careless. Boredom and concentration is also a limiting factor on long autoroute journeys. Always bear in mind any vehicle accident is a human failure somewhere along the line. 
with crash barriers separating vehicles from a head on crash . The death stats support that these roads are generally safer but sometimes when a BIG crash happens it's often BIG and people get killed due to the higher speeds. The worst time is winter in the ice and snow or even heavy rain. It always appears that many cannot judge time, distance and their stopping capabilities or are just plain careless. Boredom and concentration is also a limiting factor on long autoroute journeys. Always bear in mind any vehicle accident is a human failure somewhere along the line.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 16
From: San Antonio,Tx
Wow.... This got really off topic.
The guy was just asking if low acceleration and power is normal. Not if it's safe to drive fast or not. It appears that half the people on here are able to drive plenty fast over 70mph and the other half feel maxed out around 60-70.
Perhaps all of our Disco's are able to drive that fast but only half of us have the steel foot to make it happen.
I wish I could drive faster in my disco, but my wife won't let me.
The guy was just asking if low acceleration and power is normal. Not if it's safe to drive fast or not. It appears that half the people on here are able to drive plenty fast over 70mph and the other half feel maxed out around 60-70.
Perhaps all of our Disco's are able to drive that fast but only half of us have the steel foot to make it happen.
I wish I could drive faster in my disco, but my wife won't let me.
Baja
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,845
Likes: 368
From: Near Bordeaux, France
Wow.... This got really off topic.
The guy was just asking if low acceleration and power is normal. Not if it's safe to drive fast or not. It appears that half the people on here are able to drive plenty fast over 70mph and the other half feel maxed out around 60-70.
Perhaps all of our Disco's are able to drive that fast but only half of us have the steel foot to make it happen.
I wish I could drive faster in my disco, but my wife won't let me.
The guy was just asking if low acceleration and power is normal. Not if it's safe to drive fast or not. It appears that half the people on here are able to drive plenty fast over 70mph and the other half feel maxed out around 60-70.
Perhaps all of our Disco's are able to drive that fast but only half of us have the steel foot to make it happen.
I wish I could drive faster in my disco, but my wife won't let me.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 798
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas Nevada
The first inch and a half of the Rover's pedal feels like I'm juicin' it, further down is where it turns into a slug, kind've like a 2 stroke dirt bike with a bad top end...
P.S. - Too add what Mark said, most accidents are fatal upwards of 45MPH. My brother is a Paramedic and he swears by it. I've run into a tree playing football running at like 9mph and that knocked me on my bum, imagine 5x that in a steel box or like 8 or 9 times that on the freeway! But I have also seen people flip a car ten times then get hit by a semi and walk away with a scratch...
P.S. - Too add what Mark said, most accidents are fatal upwards of 45MPH. My brother is a Paramedic and he swears by it. I've run into a tree playing football running at like 9mph and that knocked me on my bum, imagine 5x that in a steel box or like 8 or 9 times that on the freeway! But I have also seen people flip a car ten times then get hit by a semi and walk away with a scratch...
Last edited by Dane!; Apr 9, 2014 at 12:04 AM.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 446
Likes: 3
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii had slow cars in mind and the Disco fits in just dandy.
Most roads are 35 MPH max, most highways are 55, with a few sections of 65. However there is not a single stretch of roadway that one can legally do 70 [or more] MPH. I've done 100 in my Disco once and it was downright dreadful. I'd rather leave the speed to my rotary powered vehicles.
To the question at hand, I find the Disco actually kind of preppy. Its certainly not quick, but I like the response from the line. For as heavy as it is, its no surprise how it feels.
Most roads are 35 MPH max, most highways are 55, with a few sections of 65. However there is not a single stretch of roadway that one can legally do 70 [or more] MPH. I've done 100 in my Disco once and it was downright dreadful. I'd rather leave the speed to my rotary powered vehicles.
To the question at hand, I find the Disco actually kind of preppy. Its certainly not quick, but I like the response from the line. For as heavy as it is, its no surprise how it feels.
