[23TT]

our dealer said that if we removed the limiter it would void the warranty. Might have been a quick answer to move us along but who knows. I know in the VW world that is heavily into modding their cars there has been a lot of talk on modding the ECU for performance and to remove the limiter on the GTi. The modification will void the warranty but only on affected parts. For example a Stage 1 tune won't have any effect on the warranty for any part of the car except the engine.

 

[chicagoandy]

All of this talk is warranty is wrong. Lookup the magnussen warranty act. Federal law says a warranty can't be voided by modifications, unless they directly caused the failure.

 

[ERTBen]

All consumer passenger and commercial vehicles should have this. Speed kills, and there's no reason for anyone to drive over 80.

If you are trying to pass someone and relying on going over 80 to survive, you did not have enough room to pass.

 

[ranxerox]

I remember the 1980s when we were all forced to drive 55 mph, Anything under 75 mph is good enough for me.

Everybody cries about the MPG and then they all want to drive over 80.

 

[23TT]

It isn't about driving over 80mph. It's about being able to keep up with traffic, or avoiding other cars that going too slow. And there are several places in the US where the speed limit is 80+ mph so if you don't have the ability to go that fast, you become the hazard. I have no desire to drive over 75mph, but I would like the ability if needed. People say speed kills, but it can also be your friend

 

[Lost_Soul_Ryan]

I think its more of an emotional issue than a practical limitation. Gas mileage drops to about 10MPG or worse at 85 - ask me how I know lol.
However, its a massive black-eye for Ford, they really should have noted it in their marketing and specification materials.

10mpg...wow, looks like ill have to stop speeding soon. lol

 

[avenge]

All consumer passenger and commercial vehicles should have this. Speed kills, and there's no reason for anyone to drive over 80.

If you are trying to pass someone and relying on going over 80 to survive, you did not have enough room to pass.

You can get killed at any speed and doing 80 around here is common. I've had mine over 100 and I had a good reason for it.

 

[ranxerox]

Company trucks, I always ran 20 miles over the speed limit. In a semi truck. But more often then not that was just under 80, Because over 80 mph truck tires fly apart.

 

[bayou2beach]

Speed doesn't kill, irresponsible Drivers kill !!!!!

 

[njvagabond]

Well sarcastically it’s rapid deceleration that kill. But seriously there are studies that show that differential in speeds among vehicles is a significant factor not just average speed. So, sensible speed limits that are strictly enforced might make the most sense. I suppose we are not far away from that being done via technology. Of course the freedom at any cost to society crowd will be “up in arms”. Seems to me that the tough nut to crack is that sensible speed may be quite different for passenger vehicles vs heavy trucks so that would favor the lowest common denominator for the limit. Here is a safety study of roads that have differential speed limits in place.

The Safety Impacts of Differential Speed Limits on Rural Interstate Highways - FHWA-HRT-04-156

www.fhwa.dot.gov

.

 

[surly Bill]

All consumer passenger and commercial vehicles should have this. Speed kills, and there's no reason for anyone to drive over 80.

If you are trying to pass someone and relying on going over 80 to survive, you did not have enough room to pass.

THIS is where I would hit the 80mph ceiling in my Sprinter, trying to pass a truck, or car that speeds up if you attempt to pass (then slows back down to 45 when you can't...). There were a few times where I just had to coast/brake and tuck back behind again because it looked like it would be too close.

 

[asdrew]

... Of course the freedom at any cost to society crowd will be “up in arms”. ...

The current dilemma we have in the US is that this crowd is at odds with the my idea of what's right for society at any cost to freedom crowd.

edit: my point is that neither way is good for all

 

[surly Bill]

Well sarcastically it’s rapid deceleration that kill. But seriously there are studies that show that differential in speeds among vehicles is a significant factor not just average speed. So, sensible speed limits that are strictly enforced might make the most sense. I suppose we are not far away from that being done via technology. Of course the freedom at any cost to society crowd will be “up in arms”. Seems to me that the tough nut to crack is that sensible speed may be quite different for passenger vehicles vs heavy trucks so that would favor the lowest common denominator for the limit. Here is a safety study of roads that have differential speed limits in place.

The Safety Impacts of Differential Speed Limits on Rural Interstate Highways - FHWA-HRT-04-156

www.fhwa.dot.gov

.

You gotta keep the masses filled with the illusion of "freedom" and this is a small concession in the ruse to do so. It's been said that highways are the new evolutionary pressure on the species, so the hot-heads, impotent over-compensators, and the just plain stupid will die off in higher rates than the innocent bystanders they take with them, hopefully. Let's get rid of all speed limits everywhere and see what happens. I don't need to go 20mph by a school when the buses are emptying kids if the road's clear, 75mph is fine, I'll be OK, I'm in a 4 ton truck.

 

[carpen7]

All of this talk is warranty is wrong. Lookup the magnussen warranty act. Federal law says a warranty can't be voided by modifications, unless they directly caused the failure.

This is all well and good, but that is exactly what Ford will say, that removing the limiter caused the failure , and they have more lawyers...................................

 

[surly Bill]

Also on the safety vs speed issue; it's reaction time and distracted driving that compound the accident and subsequent injury/death rates to climb exponentially as speed climb above 50mph. The newer safety features like lane keeping, auto-braking, smart cruise control, etc. will help with that, but fully autonomous driving vehicles in the near future will drastically reduce accidents, especially at speed on the highway. A hive-mind of cars communicating their intentions to each other would enable almost bumper-to-bumper 90mph+ driving. This sounds dangerous to old people, but keep in mind technology has actually improved exponentially over the last 100 years and some things that were considered "unsafe", like being in an aeroplane, we don't even give a second thought about anymore.

 

[njvagabond]

This is all well and good, but that is exactly what Ford will say, that removing the limiter caused the failure , and they have more lawyers................................... Correct. I believe the law says the mfg must prove that the owners actions resulted by in the failure. But in actuality if the frachisee and mfg say no dice then recourse would be difficult/not necessary worthwhile or practical. Best to try and find a service writer that you can have a good report with.

 

[njvagabond]

A hive-mind of cars communicating their intentions to each other would enable almost bumper-to-bumper 90mph+ driving

Eventually traffic signals signs will be obsolete. I suppose maybe some sort of HMI for pedestrians would be needed … or a wearable device. I suppose the same for cyclists. Maybe just implant a chip at birth. 😳

 

[gregoryx]

THIS is where I would hit the 80mph ceiling in my Sprinter, trying to pass a truck, or car that speeds up if you attempt to pass (then slows back down to 45 when you can't...). There were a few times where I just had to coast/brake and tuck back behind again because it looked like it would be too close.

Exactly. And even after years in the Sprinter, it would still make my heart stop when it felt like the engine just quit (again). I try to tell myself that limp-home-mode was good - that at least the thing kept going - but that limiter would kick in mid-passing and I'd think, "crap... gonna be a long drive home again," then realize it was just the limiter.


Reminds me: driving down the freeway in the Tesla before getting the Transit, see a Transit coming in hot. I paced next to him for a while... and told my son (in the car), "heck, yeah! That Transit is doing over 90! Excellent!"

Transit has a 93-94mph limit... or something like that? SO much better for passing.

 

[surly Bill]

I hit 100mph on the speedo when driving mine back from MO, despite people saying it has 95mph limiter.

 

[chicagoandy]

This is all well and good, but that is exactly what Ford will say, that removing the limiter caused the failure , and they have more lawyers...................................

The magnussen warranty act is well litigated. If Ford played that game you'd be entitled to a settlement.

Dealers are quick to play that game though. But Ford knows better.