why do vehicles have speedometers that say 135mph,when you cant actually go that speed?

Answer 1

To make you think they will go that fast before you buy it. Savage bastards!

Answer 2

Here's the correct answer. It's actually a great question...why indeed do cars have up to 200 mph speedometers when you can't legally go faster than 65-75 depending on what state you are in? The answer? SALES Psychology.

Back in the 80's some manufacturers were putting speedos in cars that only read up to about 85...their reasoning was that a lower-number speedo would lead to slower driving and gas savings, less wrecks, etc. They were wrong...it led to less sales because the buyer got the impression that the car was inferior somehow, because it wouldn't "go as fast"...even though it was capable of going significantly faster. An example: I own an '88 Corvette with a digital dash...the analog "bar" part of the speedo stops at 85, but the digital "number" part...well, let's just say it is DEFINITELY capable of reading higher than that. LOL

If you buy a car that looks fast, is supposed to BE fast, and see a speedometer that only goes to 80, you aren't going to THINK it's fast, and thus won't buy the car. So, most cars now have higher-number speedos to at least give the impression that they are capable of driving fast, to sell more cars. It works. (new Vettes speedos go to 200).

I hope this rather lengthy explanation helped a little.

Answer 3

Fact of the matter is, it can go that speed. Likely not safely or under general conditions, but it really can go that speed. For instance, if you are on a steep downhill slope and already travelling at a significant speed, the governor would shut the car off, but the downhill slope would continue speeding up your car. Eventually it would likely reach that speed and your speedometer would show it. It all comes from the concept of wantign to have more than you need rather than not enough. Your needle may not ever make it up to the 135, but it is there just in case anyway.

Answer 4

because the car CAN go 135, just because the law says you cant, dosnt mean that they shouldnt put the speedometer as high as it can go. lets say for somereason you wanted to go 120 or more, wouldnt you want to know how fast you were going? or maybe you take your car on the autobahn, and the speed limit sign changes to 110, because 50 miles ahead there is an accident, which happens, and the next sign reads 95mph, (although it would be Kilometers per hour)

just because the speed limit is 55, dosnt mean the spedometer should stop at 55, if that were true there would be some sort of govener on the car, and you wouldnt be ABLE to go faster than 65, which is (i thnk) the highest speed limit in the US. on thu-ways

Answer 5

Even more awe inspiring though, why do some people actually think that their car will go the speed their speedometer goes up to? I think most people like having a large range on all guages. When speedo's used to only go to 85, some people's would max out and be useless. Would you rather have one that went over your car's speed or one that maxed out at 85.

Answer 6

There is actually no speed limit in some places, like Montana. Also, if the car has a high top speed it can usually maneuver better when passing people and avoiding collisions. I am a very nimble driver and I need a lot of horse power to get around slow pokes in traffic.

Answer 7

In many cases its a marketing gimick. Lets be realistic, most cars cannot do 135mph. If a manufacturer were to produce cars that show 100mph on the speedo, would you still buy one of those?

Answer 8

They can go that speed by modifying your vehicle, but if you hit 135 and your are arrested you are at that point basically a felon.

Reckless endangerment and felonious fleeing, plus what ever other charges they want to place on you at the time, good forbid you had outstanding warrants.

Answer 9

if u fix ur car up it might be able to go that fast..... .

I have a cavalier and the speedometer goes to 120 i think and i got the car to 110 as factory with out pushing hard and quit for fear of a ticket so i think if i had tried it would have went to 120.

Answer 10

It is a force of habit that the speedometers are round or half-round. It would be silly if it was pegged far to the right and you were only doing 75,,,

Answer 11

It keeps auto manufacturers from having to use different configurations/calibrations for speedometers in different models, so that they can use the same setup in all of their models. It's a cost-saving measure.