Why do americans build cars with such big engines when they have a speed limit of only 55mph?
Answers:
Its just the American way, if we can do something we will. On the other hand there are no speed limits in the desert for hundereds of miles when we travel coast to coast.
The maximum speed limit in the US is 75 mph. And, Montana had no speed limit for a while based on a reasonable speed for the conditions.
So, your premise is wrong.
compensation for small d-cks .!!
The speed limit varies. It's not 55 in most states any more.
In Indiana our speed limit is 70 mph!
Same reason as UK cars can do 120mph+ in a country with a 70 limit.
Less to do with the variable speed limits and more to do with the fact that oil has historically been available at relatively cheap prices in the US (texas oil and all that) - as global resources run out, that may change.,..,
The usual speed limit on highways is 65 MPH, not 55. Americans like the luxury of big cars, and most can afford them. They need no other reason.
Chow!!
Because we are a population currently in the fast lane and need lots of power to beat the next guy out! Americans are obsessed with power in all facets of life!
Because You have to catch me to give me a ticket. And jonny law is NOT allways around to chase me ! :)
good question. people love those muscle cars. my bf wanted a bigger engine on his 65" mustang. the sound is good and the speed is faster, but what's the point if there is always traffic and they waste more gas.
..because we can!?!
they like to feel important
xxx
Because they can I guess?
So you can get to the speed limit QUICKLY
OH!! how fast dem trucks can go!!!
Had a BIG Dodge 440 once.
Passed EVERYTHING ------ except a gas station
What f*ckin' speed limit..?
They don"t need the big engines to go fast. They need the big engines cause the passengers are so efin big and fat the engines have to be powerful to drag the weight about.
American cars are market driven. Most European are tax and gas mileage driven. That said, a 5.7liter and up will sell much better than a 3.9liter simply because it takes that much to run all necessary accessories and carry heavier weight down the road.Rarely have I seen speed limits obeyed. Then there is the psychological aspect of penis size and car. But that's another subject.
Americans have always loved fast vehicles Hence the cars with big engines. not to mention all the after market parts available to make them even faster. Let alone the motorcycles such as the Boss Hoss It comes with either a 350 Chevy rated at 300 horse or a 501 big block with about 500 H.P. That is one hell of a lot of power for a 2 wheeled vehicle The company can not seem to make enough of them. Bottom line is Most Americans are speed freaks
The speed of a car is not so much a function of the size of the engine as it is a function of the engine design and the weight of the car. Most vehicles go faster than 55 mph, big engine or not. And also, in the US, people have to haul not just the one person, but a mom and her kids and their stuff, a whole family all over the place, distances are a good deal greater for people here than in say Britain or France, and so on. So Americans like more powerful cars and in some instances, need them. So the light cars don't sell well.
But for sure, cars could be designed for better milage without sacrificing too much on performance. My 1991 Honda CRX recently went 300 miles at ~70 miles per hour and got 38 miles to the gallon. I'm dying to get a new car, but this one is in too good condition to justify it, and I notice that I would be a bit pressed to find a car that will get the gas milage I'm getting now..
It's not 55 now, most speed limits are much higher.
Yes it's annoying that Americans have such big engines but they are paying the price ( at the pumps) for that now.
To be fair, we aren't comparing like with like. In America distances are HUGE. The scale of everything is different. You wouldn't want to be plodding along in a 1.3 litre car, you'd feel like the landscape had swallowed you up!!
55 Is out dated info, 55mph was only in place for gas restrictions and to conserve during previous times in HISTORY most states are in the 70s here in cali were a 65/ 70 state but like someone else said its about our issues we have with power! lol funny but true, im guilty!
Whats more comfortable and easier to drive, a wretched little 1.0 bug that sounds like a nuclear powered pepper grinder as soon as it encounters a gradient, and has little seats to fit in their little bodies, still sat on by te same size asses, or a 6.0 V8 that you never need to change gear in, and rides so smoothly you forget you are not in your front room sometimes?!!?
Amnd the reason they don't restrict them is te same as here in the UK, you can drive these cars fast. Take them to a track day, costs a little but is really fantastic fun.
Oh God, not this silly question again. go to a track day, or an airfield. That'll answer your question for you.
it`s from the good old days!
when there where very low fuel prices, incredibly heavy vehicles mainly with automatic gearboxes and therefore lots and lots of torque required to give the car reasonable momentum to move forward .
only recently there looking at lower fuel consuption vehicles as the fuel costs are rising, like there European counterparts.
as for the speed limit as you`ll see from previous answers it varies from state to state.
For the same reason the japaneese do, people want performance.
You need 7 litres to achieve 55 mph when yoyu have ridiculous emission Laws and 1/4 ton Americans
To boost their egos
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