How Fast??

[tonyc]

Re: How Fast??

Chuck,I was wondering what happened to the Z4.My buddy just bought one and wants to race me.Should I make a wager?

[Brad]

Re: How Fast??

I used to routinely take the bird somewhere over 120+, however I had several bad experiences where I felt like I was going to lose control on a curve when hitting a bump...kinda felt like the suspension was coming apart or like the wheel was doing a hop.

Based on the recent thread about "laying rubber", I wonder if the traction control was momentarily activating when I hit the bump?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I was thinking about hooking up the traction control to the sensor that turns on the heated windshield wiper pad when it gets under 40 degrees...the one downside to this would be getting it to also come on when raining.

I love the traction control on snow and ice, but I would like to have it off all the time on dry roads, and I normally only remember to turn it off AFTER it does something I don't like

[AZT442]

Re: How Fast??

Had mine up to 140+ the first month I had it. Ran out of road and police would have been comming up soon. Passed one going the other way a min. or so after I backed it down.

140!! lol Now that is how you break in a new engine!

[AZT442]

Re: How Fast??

I've only driven the PCR a few times and those were in town short hops so never over 30....well, 35, okay so maybe 40 tops. LOL I don't dare go out on the open road with it as I have the lead foot in the family. But Pete took it up to 110 for me once on the highway. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE But heck couldn't even tell we were going that fast. lol

Hmmm... 40 eh? In town you say? I guess I'd better pocket the keys whilst I'm away next week in Connecticut. *winks @ Kyphi*

Seriously... the thing just flew up to 110 without even breathing hard. Been a long time since I went that fast in anything that didn't have wings on it.

[DavidA]

Re: How Fast??

I forget exactly what I did, but on the second day I had the car, we were heading to Florida. I had it up to either 120 or 125, I really can't remember. I know the car is limited to 143 and 30 in reverse. When you hit the limiter, you think the car is about to die -- it coughs and sputters and really scared me the first time it happened .... I was going backwards.


Anyway, since then, I've had several high speed runs, well over 110, but have never gotten it over 125. Frankly, it starts to feel a bit light at that speed.

[taflocks]

Re: How Fast??

you should only drive as fast as your angels can fly.......................

[Quickdraw]

Re: How Fast??

you should only drive as fast as your angels can fly.......................

Even old, infirm, angels need an adrenalin rush now and then....

[osckar]

Re: How Fast??

hey man i goto a ford thunderbird 1977 its a little uggly right now but i was running in mexico and the federal de camino (highway patrol) they now have radars and told me i was going 127 mph.. hey fellows you can come to mexico and run they won`t gve a ticket you just have to say that your a tourist and you`r off....

[bob andersen]

Re: How Fast??

Personal experience has shown that N. H. State Troopers add 20% to the speed they clock you at before calculating your fine. Lets see , that makes l40 look like 168. Hey, my bird is faster than your bird. It,s still not as fast as my insurance can up my premiums if I get caught speeding and land on assigned risk for three years. To tell the truth, though, I have been seen sneaking up to 90 and the bird handles great. Please be careful as I enjoy your posts.

[tbirdman]

Re: How Fast??

hey man i goto a ford thunderbird 1977 its a little uggly right now but i was running in mexico and the federal de camino (highway patrol) they now have radars and told me i was going 127 mph.. hey fellows you can come to mexico and run they won`t gve a ticket you just have to say that your a tourist and you`r off....

Sorry, Osckar from Odessa, but when a white boy goes way over the speed limit in Mexico, there's no telling what will happen...especially if you don't have a huge wad of pesos in your pocket. I've seldom driven 10-15KPH over the limit down there...and I've never taken my new bird to Mexico. I'd like to take it back home...if you know what I mean.

[GrayGator72]

Re: How Fast??

Haven't had the Bird on a speed run. Heck on I 95 in DC your lucky if you can hit 25. On the open road she handles great but have not push it up yet, still too new.

A testament for Ford/Lincoln. I had a 94 Town Car I took to Saudi Arabia. Everyday for 3 years I had that beast doing 110 to and from work and in 120 degree heat. Never missed a beat. And gas was 25 cents per gallon 96 oct all leaded fuel.

Also opened up on the road to Kuwait and got her up to 140 but did not want to push it on the street Michelins. Beside a camel at 100 mph/160kph is a real mess clean off your windshield.

[fxstsb]

Re: How Fast??

Thanksgiving 2002 about 5 weeks after taking delivery I was out on Interstate 40 in Amarillo about 2 p.m. and the highway looked like a ghost town. Thought to myself what better time than now to see what she will do. Three lanes to myself and beautiful weather so I put the petal to the metal. Speedo showed just shy of 145 mph so I would guess the 142 mph computer cut off is accurate. Car handled so well I had my right arm on the center console and my left elbow on the door armrest with two fingers and thumb of my left hand gently holding the steering wheel. Felt like I was only cruising around 80 mph it handled the speed so well.

Wonder how much that ticket would have been? I assume you were in TX.

---------------- M E R G E D ---------------

In Georgia, all this talk is, JAIL TIME. And...... Imagine some redneck haulin' ur bird back to tha junk yard.

[jerrym3]

Re: How Fast??

On my "hot list" of performance criteria, top speed is last, but, then again, there's not a lot of places in North Jersey where you can run high speeds without smashing into the car in front of you or spending some quality time with the local or state police.

To me, acceleration is a better measuring stick for a car's performance with handling second.

I rate this car a "9" on acceleration and a "6" when it comes to handling, mainly because of the chassis jiggles. Handling rating goes up on smooth roads. (I rate my LS8 Sport a "9" and "9" respectively.)

I let my son-in-law drive my LS the other day while I followed him in his new BMW 3 series (2004 model/225HP). Handling-wise, at least for the short ride that we took, was very comparable. Acceleration, I think, went to the LS by a whisker.

I don't think I'll be hearing "Lincoln-old man's car" from him anymore.

[tbirdman]

Re: How Fast??

It's interesting....Now that I'm so much more comfortable with my car, and since I purchased a Valentine One Radar Locator...I travel at 100 or so on the freeway now, unless weather or traffic interfere.
Do I need a therapist??

[David III]

Re: How Fast??

Tim: after selling a ton of stuff over the past month (amazing what junk you find when you move)... we ended up with some extra cash and got two Valentine 1 locators this week! My bride already has hers in her Excursion, but I haven't had mine out of the box yet (since you're also in Missouri, you know how it's been raining all week, so no T-bird out).
I really wanted to get a Valentine because I strongly suspect that I'll be enjoying 100 on the interstates in the bird....
Life is good and/or I'm crazy