Just a shower thought; I’m curious what others think.

I’ve been driving for about 15 years. During the first few years, I drove vehicles of a variety of sizes and model years ranging from 1999 to 2005. Nothing luxury. Simply put, most of those vehicles required conscious effort to drive aggressively. Fast turns felt a bit soft and wobbly in all but one (a Mazda Protege), reaching highway speeds took a while, and cruising above 120 km/h (75 MPH) was quite noisy. Driving aggressively required conscious effort and tolerance of unpleasant handling and noise levels.

As I purchased and rented newer vehicles over time (I currently have a 2016 and a 2020), I’ve noticed how much less unpleasant it has become to drive aggressively in regular cars. Many are quite planted and precise in fast cornering. Cruising at 140 (87 MPH) is not much less serene than 110 (70). Many family vehicles now have the power to hit 60 MPH in 6 or 7 seconds, and those that don’t tend to manage engine noise and vibration so well that the sound of flogging the motor is not as gritty or cringe-inducing as it once was.

Along with this perceived change, average speeds where I live have risen. 110-120 used to be the norm, now 120-140 is. Elantras, Corollas, Tuscons, and Civics fly past me at $300 ticket speeds every day and take corners in the industrial park like a go-kart course. New cars make it easy and comfy for suburban moms to blast along at speeds that used to be the domain of sport/luxury brand drivers.

Anyone else share this perception or is it total bunk?

  • Hunt3rj2BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The weaving and passing on the right are due to the lane discipline. Fix that and much less of the other two occurs.

    Ok, but nobody is going learn any of those things in America, end of story.

    And, FWIW, I had 30-series tires on one of my cars and never had a problem with expansion joints and I’m just getting started at 80.

    You have not experienced just how awful some of the expansion joints can be when your local DOT just doesn’t care. Not unusual to have what is effectively a 4 inch curb on the left lane, hitting it at 80 is bad, hitting it at 120 not expecting it you’re going to have a very bad day. The whole subframe can be tweaked, tie rods bent, the whole nine yards.

    State DOTs keeps speed limits low so if you damage your car going faster than the speed limit you have no standing to sue.