70 MPH in 80 MPH Zone ???

[burtandnancy]

Forest, maybe not officially, but when tens of thousands of your best friends surrounding you are all going the same speed, there's not much chance of ticket. You don't have to worry about speeders, they have no lane open to cut into. BTW, when I was a very young guy going to Las Vegas, there was no speed limit on the highway in NV (before freeways, and not so many travelers). The big boomers were Caddies, Buick (straight 8's,) Packards and other 6 ton sleds. I doubt if many of those tanks could hit 100, but they all tried...

[Terry Stibal]

When last we wandered through Oklahoma, the turnpikes had speed limits of 75 mph. The regular interstates in New Mexico up around Santa Fe were posted with an 85 mph limit back in the early years of this decade. And, Montana still has (I believe) no limit during daylight other than "reasonable and prudent".

The de facto limit on open area interstates here in Texas is just under 80 MPH. Similarly, the turnpike limits in Oklahoma are just a hair under 85 MPH, and the locals out in New Mexico were blowing by us like we were standing still when we were set right at the legal limit.

We've not yet had our Smart up above 70 MPH, not having made any lengthy trips in same since we got it a week or so ago. We'll not likely be doing any high speed runs until after we get a working Smartmadness-sourced cruise control, but the car certainly feels stable at the speed limit.

[NCC1701]

I just discovered today that my Nav unit keeps a record of my vehicle's maxium speed (until reset). At the same time, I discovered the maximum speed I've driven my smart, as determined by GPS. 90.4 MPH. For shame!

[brett2658]

I TOPPED IT OUT @ 92 GETTING AWAY FROM A CRAZY WOMAN IN A MUSTANG TRYING TO TALK MY PICTURE WITH HER PHONE AND DRIVING AT THE SAME TIME SHE WAS GOING FOR A CLOSE UP AND COMING INTO MY LANE.

[HerrZ]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

It is rare that I go on the New Jersey Turnpike. I do not remember ever going that fast. I have gone up to 70 mph on I-95 but only briefly.

i guess your warp speed is from a different dimension....

[The Rigger]

Originally Posted by Terry Stibal

And, Montana still has (I believe) no limit during daylight other than "reasonable and prudent".

Not any more. The Interstate speed limit for cars in Montana was set at 75mph* about ten years ago.


*Except for the urban areas around Missoula, Billings, and Great Falls, where it's 65.

[burtandnancy]

Terry, you're going to love the smartmadness cruise control...

[forestacademy]

I Love living in this fantasy land where the speed limit is 65MPH on on the interstate and 55 on the Highways and you can go that speed with plenty of company. If you want to go faster their is usualy plenty of room to do that as well. Watch for the speed traps


Looking at a lot of the Speeds on this thread, No wonder so many folks complain they are not getting the same MPG others can. You don't have to be a Hypermiler, You just have to live where shaving 5 min off your commute doesn't have to translate to cutting 5 off your MPG as well.
Not to mention time off your life

Slow down folks,
Life shouldn't be a race to the Finish

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

...Slow down folks,
Life shouldn't be a race to the Finish

I must agree Forest....

It's the journey that matters, NOT the destination

[Terry Stibal]

Originally Posted by burtandnancy

Terry, you're going to love the smartmadness cruise control...

I already have, to a limited extent. When I installed it, the cruise system apparently worked just fine. However, the engine/transmission was apparently thrown into "limp home mode" (apparent, since I only did a self-diagnosis) and the vehicle would not get above 50 MPH while it remained installed.

Within those limits, the cruise worked wonderfully. I had not yet installed the LED where it was easily seen, so I had to rely on a relay of the signals from my lovely wife, who was never quite sure of what color it was showing. But, all seemed to run well.

The original unit has been returned to SmartMadness (and should reach there today), and I hope to have a new one by the middle of next week.

On the minus side, I've already been into and out of the area below the dash two times now - a lot of contortions for no visible end result at this point. On the plus side, I've already been into and out of the area below the dash two times now - valuable experience for when I put it in (and, hopefully, leave it in) the next time.

I have to admit that the [u]way[/i] that the unit installed was wonderful. The Smart is my second experience with a "fly by wire" vehicle (our Scion xB is that way to a limited extent), but the first upon which I have attempted some serious modifications. This business of pulling out a plug, seating a new plug, and then cleaning your hands is a lot easier than all of the grief that we went through with welding and tapping and rewiring with earlier cruise controls.

It's a brave new automotive world...