On my way home Friday, I got a speeding ticket in the Accord. I wasn't really driving very fast but I was in a residential zone and so I was flagged.
It's easy to drive over the limit in the Accord without realizing it. It's so quiet and comfortable and smooth on the road, that you don't get a sense of how fast you are really going...
Since that incident, I've been adhering to a strict observance of the speed limits. A lot of Los Angeles is marked at 30 mph. You wouldn't know it by the way people drive in this town. It's kind of fun maintaining the proper speed limit at all times. Other drivers get really bewildered and rebellious.
Actually, it's very difficult to drive at only 30 mph, especially with other frustrated and angry drivers flying past you and honking, especially on a road with "highway" in its name. It's not Pacific Coast HIGHWAY's fault that urban planners went wild and allowed developers to build strip malls on every inch of the HIGHWAY right up to the curb. So we have to drive at 30 mph in case someone wants to pull into one of the five CVSs I pass on the way home.
But anyway, am I bitter? No. I will only grow into a better driver from this experience, as long as I don't get rear ended by all of those other drivers who haven't been stopped by the coppers yet.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 7,035 miles
ewilfong says:
04:24 PM, 01/22/08
Bummer. Driving a reasonable speed really is a challenge these days. Many modern cars remain well composed at high speed on a nice, open road. And when there's traffic, everyone is driving so aggressively it's almost dangerous to drive the speed limit!
desmolicious says:
05:06 PM, 01/22/08
I thought that there was something wrong with the photo. I was expecting the needle to be somewhere north of 120mph with a caption claiming it was under the tutelage of a professional driver on a closed course.
Anyway, buck up Donna! It happens.
estreka says:
05:14 PM, 01/22/08
Never have I seen speed limits so low as I have in California. It was a grueling commute from Santa Maria to Lompoc. And that's mostly "highway"
tlcruz says:
05:41 PM, 01/22/08
I know exactly what you mean, Donna! I have a lead foot so I'm usually over the speed limit by 5, maybe more but I try not to. Of course, occassionally, We all go over the speed limit whether we notice it or not! I miss freeways with three plus lanes!!! I moved from CA to PA and man, does it suckkk! Haha, As far as driving goes. I'm still getting use to a two lane highway and and a speed limit of 55, whereas, in Los Angeles, I was on the 405, 605, 91, 105, three or four lanes, with a speed limit of 65 and everyone's flowing along at 75. If anyone can call God, tell him I need a freeway here!!
tackepj says:
06:59 AM, 01/23/08
A 160 mph speedo? What's the Accord's top end?
I may be Captain Slow, but I never understood the purpose of speedometers in which the car spends 99% of their time in the first 50% of the reading. 120? Seems reasonable. But 160? In a mainstream four door?
banhugh says:
11:49 AM, 01/23/08
I am sorry for your ticket. It could happen to anyone. BTW, do you have an estimate of the gas consumption of the Accord? Is the VCM actually any better than a 6th gear? Thanks.
aurakr says:
09:24 PM, 01/23/08
Donna
Don't get upset at yourself. Remember, speed limits are ARBITRARY numbers. Unfortunately, these ARBATRARY numbers can have a very negative impact on our wallets.
When my wife and I first bought our 2000 Venture LT, she was used to driving a 93 SL2 and a 88 Chevy Nova. Within one month, she got a ticket going 53 in a 35 zone. When the sheriff asked her if she knew how fast she was going, she stated about 35. She had no clue. The van was quiet and rode so smoothly compared to the little cars she had previously driven.
To this day, I can not drive that stretch of road without a warning or look from her.
Believe it or not, the Camry, Altima, Accord and Aura are all probably capable of at least 130-140, if ungoverned. The Aura is governed to 115. FYI, the Aura is only turning 2600-2700 rpm at 100 mph. I would love to know how fast it would go. I would bet close to 140. I am sure the Accord, Altima and Camry would be close, if not higher.
stephen987 says:
07:20 AM, 01/24/08
Even the Sonata will top 140. . .
http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/12563/the-147-mph-hyundai-sonata.html
jerrywimer says:
02:15 PM, 01/24/08
Usually you're safe to exceed the posted limit so long as you're only going with the flow of traffic (in other words, don't be the FASTEST ;o) ). If I'm in my Avalanche, I tend to stay 5 over the limit up to 55, at which point I go the limit in the far right lane and let all the others in a bigger hurry go on by. So far it's worked out great.
hondacura4 says:
07:29 PM, 01/25/08
"A 160 mph speedo? What's the Accord's top end?"
I believe they are governed to 130 but a ungoverned V6 Accord (especially a 6 speed manual) should be able to do 145 pretty easy.