Why would you bother with a fast car in Vic?

[Grobbo]

With the latest crop of performance machines being so quick, if you're driving on the road (in Vic at least) you really don't have much time to savour the performance until you're in licence losing land...

Case in point my neighbour, pulled out to pass a couple of slower cars towing boats etc, just squeezed the gas in 4th in his WRX, got pinged at 146km/h.

Licence gone for 12 months. Car impounded etc etc... He's a middle aged white collar worker and it was in the countryside too. Very nice bloke but he said there was no arguing whatsoever.

Any half decent car will get over 140 pretty darn quick... It scares me.

And it's not like you can have any fun cutting loose below the speed limit either - hoon laws will have your car on a flatbed in no time...

So where do you enjoy the power 'worry free' then? At the strip? Is it really worth paying heaps for insurance, fuel, mods etc etc just for the occassional 13 or so seconds of fun?

I dunno, I reckon an auto front or 4 wheel drive diesel for getting about and keeping out of trouble makes the most sense, then a dedicated fun machine for the track or strip... If you can afford it!

Anyone have a different view?

[mik]

there`s places in vic you can go for a club day in your daily for not a lot of money, my young brother goes to Winton on occasion.

[tranquilized]

I dont think its quite that bad, although it is bad...

There are a few roads that I know of on the edges of Melbourne - out near Healsville & Kinglake, or the Great Ocean Road, that can offer a real fun drive- if you pick your time right.

But your right, if you can afford a few cars for different uses thats the best way. A commuter car just needs to be the most fuel efficient practical machine possible, freeing the fun car of any pesky practical needs like interior space, ground clearance, fuel economy etc...

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

I dont think its quite that bad, although it is bad...

There are a few roads that I know of on the edges of Melbourne - out near Healsville & Kinglake, or the Great Ocean Road, that can offer a real fun drive- if you pick your time right.

But your right, if you can afford a few cars for different uses thats the best way. A commuter car just needs to be the most fuel efficient practical machine possible, freeing the fun car of any pesky practical needs like interior space, ground clearance, fuel economy etc...

Yeah there are certainly some good roads around Vic to have a bit of fun on - that's true. Plus I've often thought about doing a weekend in Tassy which is apparently awesome.

Better book it in before I either lose my licence or trade the XR8 in for an econobox!

[XWGT]

Well imagine how shocked I was to be pulled over, for being in the overtaking lane on a popular highway........on a public holiday, in the middle of 10 cars in front and 10 behind to overtake a horsefloat doing 90 for the last 20 klms............in a 2.7 ltr 4 cylinder petrol hilux.............and get done for 126kph...........by an aerial speed check!

And the part that really ****** me off is tha helicopter must clearly have seen the traffic conducting itself nicely except for the 500 metre overtaking lane ............

And the part that ****** me off even MORE..........is that was Vic Pol "intense traffic management" of the last public holiday. Marked car hiding in the bushes awaiting reports from a police helicopter you couldnt see. DAMN GOOD WAY TO MANAGE TRAFFIC YOU IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/rant off

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by XWGT

Well imagine how shocked I was to be pulled over, for being in the overtaking lane on a popular highway........on a public holiday, in the middle of 10 cars in front and 10 behind to overtake a horsefloat doing 90 for the last 20 klms............in a 2.7 ltr 4 cylinder petrol hilux.............and get done for 126kph...........by an aerial speed check!

And the part that really ****** me off is tha helicopter must clearly have seen the traffic conducting itself nicely except for the 500 metre overtaking lane ............

And the part that ****** me off even MORE..........is that was Vic Pol "intense traffic management" of the last public holiday. Marked car hiding in the bushes awaiting reports from a police helicopter you couldnt see. DAMN GOOD WAY TO MANAGE TRAFFIC YOU IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/rant off

So that's you on the bus for a month then? Stink.

Relevant too that you weren't even in a fast car.

I've driven a few modern turbo diesels too actually and I found they tend to surge above the speed limit awfully easily.

Basically in any car in vic, you have to watch the speedo like a hawk and use cruise wherever possible - despite the speed limit changing every 500m...

Dunno how much safer that makes the roads...

[XR_6falcon]

Originally Posted by XWGT

and get done for 126kph...........by an aerial speed check!

How does an aerial speed check even work??

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by XR_6falcon

How does an aerial speed check even work??

times you between two fixed points on the road.

[XWGT]

Originally Posted by XR_6falcon

How does an aerial speed check even work??

As posted above, times you between fixed points.

So if you think of the logistics involved in catching people speeding in an overtaking lane on a major highway..............one police helicopter......2 police interceptors (sitting hidden behind trees).

You would imagine there were better uses for such resources on a holiday weekend. Monash freeway / calder freeway / western highway / hume freeway spring to mind...............

[ST]

146 is considerably over any Vic speed limit. While I don't necessarily agree with speed limits in vic if he is overtaking at that speed he is either going way too hard or overtaking cars already well above the limit.

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by ST

146 is considerably over any Vic speed limit. While I don't necessarily agree with speed limits in vic if he is overtaking at that speed he is either going way too hard or overtaking cars already well above the limit.

True...

My point is tho it only takes a moment in a quicker car and you're walking for a year - even 126 has you walking for a month...

If you pulled out to pass in the new GT at 85km/h, you will be in flatbed territory in well under 3 seconds...

[FPV8U]

Yes it is getting to a situation where any of the "Fun" of having a fast car is pretty much over, i usually wait for overtaking lanes these days, it just saves the issues that have been listed above i use cruise to overtake and have several people sit on my @$$ for doing it, but i won't get nabbed by a radar or chopper above..

Perfect example is the one in the OP, when in my XR8 such speeds are reached if i snease and the car is in 4th gear while overtaking anything larger than a small car.

Is it dangerous in the city on multilane freeway with 30-40 cars within 20 seconds of you.. yes.

On a hwy with bugger all people around and avoiding being on the wrong side of the road for any longer than required.. No.

While not holding my breath im hoping with the new government in Vic we may see the sensible 10% rule come back into effect, the police just enforce the rules so i don't hold it against them as really whats the point.

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Yes it is getting to a situation where any of the "Fun" of having a fast car is pretty much over, i usually wait for overtaking lanes these days, it just saves the issues that have been listed above i use cruise to overtake and have several people sit on my @$$ for doing it, but i won't get nabbed by a radar or chopper above..

Perfect example is the one in the OP, when in my XR8 such speeds are reached if i snease and the car is in 4th gear while overtaking anything larger than a small car.

Is it dangerous in the city on multilane freeway with 30-40 cars within 20 seconds of you.. yes.

On a hwy with bugger all people around and avoiding being on the wrong side of the road for any longer than required.. No.

While not holding my breath im hoping with the new government in Vic we may see the sensible 10% rule come back into effect, the police just enforce the rules so i don't hold it against them as really whats the point.

Huh yeah amazing how many people go right up your date just to go 0.5 km/h faster in Vic - I'm doing 101km/h in the fast lane overtaking someone doing 99, but old matey wants to go 101.5km/h so he's right on my back bumper... A daily occurance!

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Is it dangerous in the city on multilane freeway with 30-40 cars within 20 seconds of you.. yes.

On a hwy with bugger all people around and avoiding being on the wrong side of the road for any longer than required.. No..

it's all very well for city police chief to say that you can't speed while overtaking when (if) he drives, it's on a four lane freeway. I Drive between Canberra and cooma a bit. over the 110kms of highway, there are 3 overtaking lanes. During winter it's bumper to bumper (bloody snow tourists).

i want to spend as little time as possible in the oncoming traffic lane. i regularly do 140 when overtaking. you need a lot of speed to get around some d/h because they speed up when someone tries to overtake, and the farmers that don't like to go over 90. There's also a lot of trucks so overloaded they slow to 30kph up every hill.

Gee, cut us some slack!

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by ST

146 is considerably over any Vic speed limit. While I don't necessarily agree with speed limits in vic if he is overtaking at that speed he is either going way too hard or overtaking cars already well above the limit.

hahaha, way too fast?? We were doing those speeds 40 years ago on cross-ply tyres, leaf spring suspension, and drum brakes on dirt roads... Still stunned I have never had a speeding ticket, ever.

[ST]

Originally Posted by Brazen

hahaha, way too fast?? We were doing those speeds 40 years ago on cross-ply tyres, leaf spring suspension, and drum brakes on dirt roads... Still stunned I have never had a speeding ticket, ever.

You have completely misinterpreted my post.

I said way too hard, not way too fast. As in he would've had to of put some form of effort in order to exceed the speed limit by that extent, or at least noticed the difference on his speedometer.

I also said I don't necessarily agree with the speed limits imposed on us here in Vic.

[hardlynormal]

cop it on the chin.

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by hardlynormal

cop it on the chin.

Bend over and take it like the rest of the serf plebs.... Yep, continue with that track and won't be long before we all have speed limited cars etc.

[UNR8D]

Vic is a joke and ken lay or whoever the police minister is down there needs to be punched in the face.... repeatedly, I have never heard so much CRAP and utter untruths come from one person regarding road toll and speed camera's I don’t even live there and I detest him as much as Anna blight..*Bligh*...

3km and your done is utter revenue and no argument you could conceive will have me believe otherwise, Vic roads were some of the best between 3 states I’ve driven on, Hume for one is a great highway, shame pollies and Vic pol cant pull their head out of their own backside to even grasp the concept of commonsense.

[302 XC]

So did i miss something here ???
The speed limit is 100 and your mates pinned for doin 140 odd
He would be in the deep in any state

Dont understand the arguement here
So i buy a 1 million $$$ Ferrarri ,does that mean i cant drive at 300Ks cause the car will do it ???

[ST]

Yes but it all comes down to control. Your first post more or less says that your friend does not have control of the acceleration of his car, this could be due to inexperience with powerful vehicles or involuntary foot spasms, but either way the problem is not the cars power.

Remember you are on a forum with many members driving cars with some serious horsepower day to day, it all comes down to responsibility and experience.

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by ST

Your first post more or less says that your friend does not have control of the acceleration of his car

No, it says he doesnt have SELF control or patience.

[ST]

Originally Posted by davway

No, it says he doesnt have SELF control or patience.

I'm not sure what else I had meant by control apart from self?

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by ST

Remember you are on a forum with many members driving cars with some serious horsepower day to day, it all comes down to responsibility and experience.

Just saying what's the point in all the horsepower if you can barely ever use it...

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

146 in a 100 zone is not just an accident where he just slipped over the speed limit, he knew what he was doing and got caught doing it.....hope he likes public transport

Chances are he was probably going faster that 146 anyway, as every Highway cop will generally give you 10% leeway unlike speed cameras..

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Grobbo

Just saying what's the point in all the horsepower if you can barely ever use it...

You should have left the bit out about your mate.....

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

You should have left the bit out about your mate.....

Yeah maybe, it is a bit fast to be a really relevant example. Still, it is what got me thinking...

And even 126 will see you walking - that's not much.

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by Grobbo

Just saying what's the point in all the horsepower if you can barely ever use it...

Horsepower or not - there are times/places that you can drive your car in 'whatever' manner you like... no matter what 'flavour' of car you drive...

There are track days (circuits), street/strip meets (drags), 4wd tours (offroad), club meets (classics and collectables), national events (like Summernats, Auzrun etc), and I could list off many more...

So - overtaking and climbing to 146km/h is stupid and illegal... and if that is how 'your friend' wants to enjoy his car... he has paid the price... not only for less 'speeding time' than he WOULD have got at a drag strip... but its also cost him his license for 12 months... bravo...

Many people on this forum have high powered vehicles, enjoy them on a regular basis... and also have licenses (maybe not all... but most would)...

How many people who have purchased a Bugatti Veyron actually will use the 1000+hp it comes with?? Do you think many of them have actually got to 400km/h? I would think not... But they enjoy them where and when they can...

As mentioned - there are many ways of enjoying the experience of driving a great car... high HP or not...

Trying to justify the WRX/146kmh to have fun because there's nowhere else to do it is like trying to justify being caught drink driving because the cab fare was too expensive...

Both results are the same... high risk, illegal, and more expensive than if they had have done the right thing...

Thats my 2 cents...

[Grobbo]

Originally Posted by loftie

Horsepower or not - there are times/places that you can drive your car in 'whatever' manner you like... no matter what 'flavour' of car you drive...

There are track days (circuits), street/strip meets (drags), 4wd tours (offroad), club meets (classics and collectables), national events (like Summernats, Auzrun etc), and I could list off many more...

So - overtaking and climbing to 146km/h is stupid and illegal... and if that is how 'your friend' wants to enjoy his car... he has paid the price... not only for less 'speeding time' than he WOULD have got at a drag strip... but its also cost him his license for 12 months... bravo...

Many people on this forum have high powered vehicles, enjoy them on a regular basis... and also have licenses (maybe not all... but most would)...

How many people who have purchased a Bugatti Veyron actually will use the 1000+hp it comes with?? Do you think many of them have actually got to 400km/h? I would think not... But they enjoy them where and when they can...

As mentioned - there are many ways of enjoying the experience of driving a great car... high HP or not...

Trying to justify the WRX/146kmh to have fun because there's nowhere else to do it is like trying to justify being caught drink driving because the cab fare was too expensive...

Both results are the same... high risk, illegal, and more expensive than if they had have done the right thing...

Thats my 2 cents...

Good point about 'speeding time' at the strip. That was one thing I noticed at the drags: "Man, I'd NEVER be able to keep it nailed this long on the road!"

I am super uber careful on the road - 2 years point free in a manual V8 (touch wood) but it's time for an upgrade, and when I'm weighing up the costs and benefits of a fast car, I start to wonder how people justify quick cars on the street when they only take you to losing licence zones in a matter of seconds...

Appreciate the opinions!

[tweeked]

Until the limits, penalties and enforcement make sense then the toll will little be affected by them. 146 deserves a fine. Doubt he was being more dangerous than the person I saw on the weekend merging without looking, nearly cleaning up another car, all while under the speed limit. Being in control with your wheels spinning in an industrial area, or out of control with them not spinning while in busy traffic. What is worse? I know the only one that gets punished. (calm down - they both should, just one is more dangerous)


All of the "you speed, pay the fine" people - you are not helping road safety. Look at it with more that the moronic, knee jerk, brainwashed by the media mentality.

The only traffic police I have seen in the last week was sitting in a usual place, just past the freeway inbound on Ferntree Gully Road. He will get you driving down hill, 70kph limit divided dual carriageway with no side streets. Makes me angry, even if he was 500 metres up the road getting people speeding where people are merging or merging unsafely at the freeway offramp I would be cool with it. We don't punish bad driving, just fast driving.

Lazy and not solving the problem. But lucrative.