I can't remember how to drive.

[warren t claim]

I really am somewhat ashamed to admit that Warren T Claim, the 100,000 mile a year trucker is having trouble driving on motorways at over 55-60mph. I know my Micra and 205 were capable of normal motorway speeds of 70-85 but due to the limitations of the 4 speed boxes I would usually cruise a HGV speeds to maintain engine longevity.

 

Even on a deserted motorway in the wee small hours I find myself hogging the inside lane at 56mph in my Merc. Mind you this might explain why I'm not spending a great deal more money on fuel these days than I was with the small Peugeot! 300 miles to £40 of cheapo tesco ulsp!

 

I never thought I would see the day when I became a sunday driver so I thought I would take drastic tactics to overcome this and Vmax the E-Class.

 

I tried and failed! My nerve ran out before top speed. I don't want to go back to the bad old days of W.T.C when I thought nothing of driving an XJS flat out on remoulds but it would be nice to feel safe keeping up with the outside lane once in a while.

 

Is there an advanced driving course that isn't run by retired coppers that would make me more confident?

[lancashireclamper]

I think its just a case of involuntarily maturing Warren;

When I passed my test many moons ago I had a mk2 escort 1100 pop which (I proudly boasted to anyone that would pretend to listen) did a frigging ton no bother.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I bought a Jag XJ40 4.0 that apparently did 145mph, subsequent road testing on the M6 proved that my arsehole seems to do about 95 these days

[Pete-M]

I don't tend to max stuff that often anymore. The 3.5 will still get up there, and the Jag will do very illegal, very easily.

 

Having said that, my average working day involves 4 hours on the motorway in a hurry.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

HEY LADIES, I maxed my Landcrab on the Thorney bypass the other day, cracked the magic 90mph (indicated) with almost no bother.

[VWPowered]

whats a speed limit

[barrett]

Well i've not driven for 6 years, I don't have a fuggin clue. Don't think I ever made it past 65 anyway

 

Next year.....next year....

[FredTransit]

I know what you mean. Neither me, my engines or my chassis are not getting any younger. I don't hare about doing 'more than' (more than the clock will show) any more, did too many engines on the M40. When pintos were cheap it didn't matter, now even a LC one is well over a ton I don't want to be replacing them every year. The darkest year was when the Ford recon pegged out at only 60,000 miles. Getting old is a terrible thing.

[dollywobbler]

Depressingly, I discovered recently that the 70mph I thought I was doing in the 2CV is actually only 63mph in reality. So I'm also not doing the speed limit on motorways!

[ChinaTom]

HEY LADIES, I maxed my Landcrab on the Thorney bypass the other day, cracked the magic 90mph (indicated) with almost no bother.

At what point did you hit the anchors for the speed camera by the sex shop?

[Inspector Morose]

Warren, I understand what you're on about. I seem to be stuck at about 63mph (PSV speed limit)

[Milford Cubicle]

I've found myself driving much too quickly recently, I think free fuel has a lot to do with that.

[MK5 Escort]

Very occasionally I grow a lead right foot but it's usually only on clear runs where I know the chances of being done are very slim. More often than not if I'm in the mood, I'll boot it up to the limit and then slack off...more often that not in paranoia about being caught speeding. I've always been the same, even when I was seventeen.

 

On the motorway, I tend to cruise any car I drive at around 60-65mph. I rarely seem to do much more than that unless I'm on a fast stretch of motorway (often four lane efforts) where I feel if I do less than 70mph I'll be holding traffic up... In the company vehicles I drive, I tend to be a little bit quicker and slightly more 'care free', but not much.

 

My parents have always told me that I was born 70 years old... Even my dad has a (slightly) heavier right foot than I do. The only time I've ever really 'gone for it' was on Oulton Park four years ago - and I knocked myself sick.

[Gompo]

My natural/autopilot speed depends on my mood more than anything else, sometimes I can manage a steady 50-55mph on anything but a motorway and not much more on those. If I am driving my car (rather than my Mum's or works van/car) then it's usually a fair bit quicker but still depends on my mood and other things.

 

The last thing I 'maxed out' was my 1300 Mk2 Escort, which registered 95 on a downhill stretch of the A1 in 2003.

[Dukestar25]

Illogically, I tend to drive faster with smaller engined cars. I've never taken my Synergie to the limit (neither my Volvo 740 or R25 before it) but all my smaller stuff (such as my Matiz and former stuff like the Seicento and Agila) all get pushed a bit, the Agila actually reaching the naughty side of 70mph

 

That said, my hooligan days are long gone and motorway driving is done more sedately these days...

[pogweasel]

Cannot possibly comment at this juncture.

[dollywobbler]

I find it impossible to drive the BX at 70mph or slower. No matter how hard I try, it just feels right at 75-80. Indicated...

 

The mighty Oss-tin likes 60mph, CX rarely works long enough to test...

[garethj]

When I was on the bike commuting to work I used to hit 120 every day on the way in, and have a go for 140+ on the way home. Whilst the bike was more than capable of it and had plenty in reserve it made for a much more exciting journey. Surprisingly I never got stopped for speeding either. Sometimes I’d hear the voice of that irritating twat on Police Camera Action saying “watch as the lunatic gets to speeds of 90mph!†as the speedo approached 140... that’s when I’d back off.

 

Obviously I have no excuse for this disgraceful behaviour, but it only took a few seconds to get from 80 to 120 so when there’s a clear stretch of motorway it’s a shame not to

[Mr Lobster]

I have a Sprinter. Sprinters are very fast

[meggersdog]

According to Messrs Tom & Tom,the indicated speed of 80mph is actually 68mph.The noise levels of a twenty year old Land Rover limits the speed anyway.

[wuvvum]

I don't very often max my cars out any more (apart from the Innocenti, but that only does about 75 so it doesn't really count). The last time I wound a car up was in the Toyota Enema on A11 in early July - it reached an indicated 102mph, which I thought was quite impressive considering. I used to drive a lot faster than I do now, but I think that's more to do with the increased cost of fuel than any result of the ageing process.

[Baz]

I find it impossible to drive the BX at 70mph or slower. No matter how hard I try, it just feels right at 75-80. Indicated....

Yeah, I've had a few BXs....All definitely felt more comfortable cruising at speeds in excess of the limit on motorways and dual-carriageways....Likewise with my CXs: They only truly made sense when cruising at licence-losing speeds!

 

I'm certainly travelling at more sedate speeds as I get older....And the cruise control makes me lazy!

 

I did have a flat-out episode in the MX-5 a week or two back though....Just to see if the oik in the Focus ST was REALLY serious about wanting to race....He wasn't!

[wuvvum]

CX rarely works long enough to test...

From my memories of my 25RI Familiale, it had plenty of poke but the low-geared three-speed autobox coupled with a not particularly revvy big four discouraged high-speed cruising - I used to sit at 65-70 in mine. The DTR Turbo was another matter though, and the GTI Turbo another matter again - that car's natural cruising speed was 110-120.

[maxpower]

i drive like a law abiding tosser in the u.k

 

until i get to france then it's a case of "mingle with the maniacs"

[Skizzer]

I used to run a Porsche Cayman but chopped it in for a Skoda diseasel because I never drove faster than 80 anyway. At anything above that speed a repetitive whining sound started emanating from the passenger seat (Mrs Skizzer doesn't notice the speed in the Yeti).

 

Edit to talk about shite:

Needless to say exceeding motorway speed limits not an issue in the more senior members of the fleet. And on a motorbike with no fairing, 85 mph feels like being beaten to death with a space hopper.

[chaseracer]

i drive like a law abiding tosser in the u.k

 

until i get to france then it's a case of "mingle with the maniacs"

Just got back from a couple of weeks driving around Europe. Much prefer driving there - quicker and less stressful, because lane discipline/awareness/cooperation is much better than in the UK.

 

Discovered Blingo v-max in eastern Germany: about 110...

[CreepingJesus]

Sitting at 56mph for half the day does get into the bloodstream somehow. Even more so now that quite a few motors I drive are limited to less.

In days of yore, my guts maxed out at about 130mph. These days a ton is a rarity, and 85-90 feels like I'm impersonating Wile.E.Coyote on his Acme rocket.

To be fair, the Mondy and the Meg both seem quite comfortable at about 3000rpm - which equals 70 and 60 respectively. Meg gets a bit sulky if pushed past the 80 mark, but the Mondy will hit the ton quite easily.

It's probly down to growing up a bit, and the horrific cost of petrol, not to mention the number of accidents I've seen the aftermath of, which makes me take it easy these days.

I'm well aware that speed doesn't kill, it's the impact that does for you; but inappropriate speed isn't my bag anymore.

[STUNO]

I am very poor and drive a fast gas-guzzler car, speed limits have become very important recently as a cost saving exercise. I also have grey hair so that means I AM allowed to drive slowly.

[warren t claim]

I've sent off for some IAM info in the hope it will give me the confidence to go with the motorway flow.

 

I can't of been far off max speed in the E class 'cos according to the Garmin I had touched 130mph. It's only a two litre with an Arthur Askey box. Scared the hell out of me though and I can't imagine mysely repeating it in a hurry.

[eddyramrod]

I have a Sprinter. Sprinters are very fast

Every Sprinter I've ever driven has gone out of its way (not that it can) to prove how misnamed it is. I wouldn't buy one with your money. Or is this simply prejudice, born of long exposure to the breed?

[CreepingJesus]

Don't knock the IAM; my dad was an examiner for them, and once he'd pointed out that they made extensive use of the 'Police Roadcraft Manual', the penny dropped with me.

I haven't had time to go thro' it myself, but let's just say...you'll pass their test by applying the police's well evolved method. Then apply it at slightly ( ) higher speeds, et voila: fast, properly controlled driving.

You'll get member's discounted insurance, and the smug satisfaction of being probly better trained than the average cop in a diesel Ashtray.

Oh, and the last I heard, there was a special add-on module for HGV/PCV drivers!