Speed Control Suggestions

[daniel]

Actually what he is talking about is setting the bong at like 70 mph so that you will know when you are speeding on the highway. It only bongs once when you pass the set limit not continuiously. And never bongs at lower speeds unless you set it very low.

But if you set it at 70 because the limit is 65, and then you hold your speed close to 70 because you want to drive as fast as you can get away with, it will bong every time you exceed 70. You'll slow down to 68 or 69 in response, and then it will bong again when you pass 70 again. Presumably on the highway you'll be using cruise control, so you don't need the warning anyway. But if you use the warning, rather than c/c, in order to help you stay close to your own chosen limit, you're likely to be constantly edging over and under that limit.

I use c/c when no other cars are nearby, and I follow the speed of traffic if there are. No warning bongs needed.

[jerry33]

I recall that the Pontiac Tempest had that. Very annoying.

[Doug_G]

But if you set it at 70 because the limit is 65, and then you hold your speed close to 70 because you want to drive as fast as you can get away with, it will bong every time you exceed 70.

That's why it's got to be user-programmed. On our 400-series highways here, the speed limit is 100 kph, most traffic goes 110-120 kph, and most cops won't give you a ticket unless you're going 130 kph. So I'd probably set mine to 125 kph. It will only go bong when I'm going faster than I intend to, but before I have a large risk of a ticket. And yes, it would only bong once.

Of course if you don't like this feature, you can leave it turned off.

[NigelM]

That's why it's got to be user-programmed. On our 400-series highways here, the speed limit is 100 kph, most traffic goes 110-120 kph, and most cops won't give you a ticket unless you're going 130 kph. So I'd probably set mine to 125 kph. It will only go bong when I'm going faster than I intend to, but before I have a large risk of a ticket. And yes, it would only bong once.

I'm all for silence; but only having it bong once doesn't make sense. You top 125kph and you get bonged, then 5 minutes later you slow down but after a short while you can speed up again without realizing and this time...what no bong? Or did I misunderstand and you get bonged every time you top 125kph in your scenario?

[Doug_G]

I'm all for silence; but only having it bong once doesn't make sense. You top 125kph and you get bonged, then 5 minutes later you slow down but after a short while you can speed up again without realizing and this time...what no bong? Or did I misunderstand and you get bonged every time you top 125kph in your scenario?

No, it would reset if your speed dropped back below the threshold. I'd probably suggest that it have a little hysteresis, so you'd have to drop say 3 kph (2 mph) below the threshold before it would reset.

[jerry33]

Instead of a bong, why not have the background of the speedometer display change colour? You could still set the speed where it becomes the alert colour of your choice and the 95% colour of your choice. So if the background is normally blue and you've set it to 60 mph, then at 54 mph the background becomes magenta or something and when you get over 60 it becomes yellow or red.

[NigelM]

No, it would reset if your speed dropped back below the threshold. I'd probably suggest that it have a little hysteresis, so you'd have to drop say 3 kph (2 mph) below the threshold before it would reset.

So if you hovered around the limit, sometimes faster, sometimes slower you do risk getting bonged every few minutes?

P.S. I decided I dislike the idea but do like the word "bonged"

[William13]

The car will be quieter than other cars but tire noise and even wind noise still exist. The motor either makes a whine and/or produces RF noise that can be heard through car speakers even when they are turned off.

[roblab]

Instead of a bong, why not have the background of the speedometer display change colour? You could still set the speed where it becomes the alert colour of your choice and the 95% colour of your choice. So if the background is normally blue and you've set it to 60 mph, then at 54 mph the background becomes magenta or something and when you get over 60 it becomes yellow or red.

In Napa Valley we have a couple permanent radar signs. Under 55 they shine yellow. At 56, they shine red. At 60, they flash red. At 65 and above, they go blank. That's what I like to do: Blank the radar signs!

[Doug_G]

The car will be quieter than other cars but tire noise and even wind noise still exist. The motor either makes a whine and/or produces RF noise that can be heard through car speakers even when they are turned off.

I've had a ride in a beta - twice. With the radio off I could not hear the drive train. With it on I did not hear any whine from it either. I couldn't hear the tires.