Top Speed restriction...

[SpudRacer]

We are back at last in California.

I have so much to tell, so many pictures to post, but I'm afraid much of that will have to wait until we are in North Carolina as we have three days to pack our house, then we'll be driving across the country.

For those interested (I'm sure I'll take a little heat like Barry did) we did a Top Speed test on the XC70 while safely on the German autobahn. Mind you I cannot state our "actual speed", but only our indicated speed.

With the gas pedal fully depressed, the car accelerates rather quickly to over 100mph. At this speed, wind resistance takes over and acceleration seems to slow somewhat, though certainly not sluggish, to the top speed of 119-120mph. Once we reached that speed you could feel the speed governor take over and the car just stops accelerating. It feels as though the car has enough power to hit around 130mph if it were allowed by the ECU. With a little testing at top speed, it seems that if you back off the accelerator slightly when the governor is engaged, you actually pick up 1mph and that was how we hit 120mph. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif

At speed, the car feels very smooth and safe, there is no darting or shaking/shuddering. If you didn't look at the speedometer, you wouldn't know you were going that fast at all. 80mph vs. 100 mph feel pretty much identical.

Many times in Germany we were cruising for extended periods over 100mph just to keep up with the flow of traffic. I will say that those with some experience driving at higher speeds will not feel the least bit apprehensive at speeds over 100mph, but those with no experience at those speeds may.

Obviously gas mileage at speed is less than 10mpg, but who cares when you're going that fast.

Lastly, I did have the wife take a somewhat blurry photo of the dash with the car at top speed, but I cannot recall the tachometer reading, I can post that picture when I get to NC.

Any questions please let me know (please be kind with any flames, I did it for the sake of testing... http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif

Tom

[Raynald]

Glad your back Tom. Seems you had a nice trip.

IMHO, speed is not a problem. The question is where and/or when your speed. The autobahn is a good place: it's permitted by law and everybody knows it. But, and I'm sure you'll agree, in a snowstorm in front of a school is not the perfect place to do 100 mph http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif . Speed doesn't kill. Bad judgement does... http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

BTW, your "indicated" speed was probably very near the actual speed, dixit the officer's radar and my wife who got a ticket at 130 km/h (80 mph) http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ... and, may I point out, on a clear sunny day on the freeway with no traffic at all... http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif. And you're right: you don't feel the speed says Mrs R http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif !

[bigtomhammer]

When we were traveling from Gothenburg to Copenhagen there was an open strech of road and my wife got our car up to 115. I have heard that some R's have it limited to 130 and some at 155 but don't know if it is different in my V70 AWD or not.

And I totally agree, it didn't "feel" like we were going that fast.

Tom

[Chipshot]

The top speed difference of the R's might (repeat, might) have to do with their original equipment tires.  Cars delivered with ultra high performance tires could be limited to 155 and those with lower performance "all-season" tires limited to 130.  Just a thought.

Where does Sweden rank in the "list of European countries not to speed in?"  I wonder how the police would react to the truth: "Officer, we purchased this car overseas delivery and wanted to see what it would do before it is shipped home."  Perhaps the cop might give a lecture on Volvo's break-in procedures.

Has anyone here crossed the new bridge between Sweden and Denmark?  What's the speed limit on it?

[bigtomhammer]

From what I remember it was 90 kph or about 55 mph.  

Tom

[AWD*V70XC]

WOW Tom

Welcome back, get those photos downloaded or uploaded, asap and now what speed did you say you were doing, oh forgot the no lectures bit http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

But, NO http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif it is good that you know what your car is capable of doing as you never know when you might need that little bit of something to get you out of trouble! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif and the reverse is also true of what your can can do the other way as well, as in stopping quickly and how good your brakes are http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif again you never know when you might have to do something out of the ordinary and put the beast to the test.

I guess you have it run in now so you will be booking your first service shortly http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif

Happy motoring http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[John@CdnRockies]

While we are speaking of personal guilt, I might as well admit that I LOVE driving on those German Autobahns. Did Euorpe again this year and was surprised that France was rolling along in the consistent 160 Kph (far right hand lane) category as well. They sure fly down there.

[John@CdnRockies]

Just an added thought to my prior post. It was incredible to see that everyone observed the posted speed limits on the Autobahn. If it was 90 kph, no one drove even a kilometer more.

As soon as the restriction area was passed you would swear we were a pack of greyhounds ...

[AWD*V70XC]

John, (no I'm not following you around the board) but my expericence of France and the Gendarmerie http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif was that of intimidation.

I pulled out of a siding/rest area on the main motorway and did not see them in their blue trafic van as they were in my blind spot but as soon as I pulled onto the main carraigeway/lane they sat and I mean SAT on my rear. I put CC on and took her up to the max and held her there, they were still on my rear and I knocked the speed back down, either they hit me or they backed off. Luckily the latter happened. But for them an English plated car travelling South would have little knowledge of how they operate and would try and push us over the top which would result in, an on the spot fine and I bet they would have made life hell as well.

I cannot say what the German police are like but I think one of our members is a member of the squad and has given his thoughts on the subject in other posts. All of which were very fair if I remember correctly. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[gary]

Spud Racer,

I hope you enjoyed your time in Germany. I think it's a wonderful country and have really enjoyed living here over the past few years. What parts of Germany did you visit? Most of my time has been spent in the southern German stats of Baden-Wurttemburg and Bavaria.

As one who has driven on German autobahns for a few years now, I have to say that "recognizable" Polizei cars is certainly not something I've witnessed in a large amount while driving the autobahn. But I assume the Polizei are out there and I assume predominantly in unmarked vehicles.

As for the autobahns themselves - great roads, but most stretches of the autobahn these days do have speed limits (in my area of Stuttgart it varies between 80 and 120 kmh.) For those areas that don't have a posted speed, my understanding is that there is a "recommended" top speed of 130 kmh, and that you could be given a citation if you were exceeding that speed.

And yes, I can attest that the XC70 likes to cruise very easily at the 80-90mph and higher categories. I find that 80-85 mph is fast enough for me. And I agree with Raynald, conditions and surroundings are key deciders in how fast (or slow) one should dirve.

And for those of you who drive your USA spec vehicle over here, be sure to keep an eye on the kmh portion of the speed dial rather than the mph part of it. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Drive safe and smartly out there, the XC70 is a beautiful wagon.

[hd70]

Just a short comment to the previous post:
*For those areas that don't have a posted speed, my understanding is that there is a recommended top speed of 130 kmh, and that you could be given a citation if you were exceeding that speed. *

Not citation is given if you drive faster than the recommended top speed of 130 kmh, but if you involved in an accident you might be partly at fault. This means that you could pay part of the damage. Higher speed higher risk, which you could have avoided with the recommended speed.