[KJT]

Am really amazed that no one seems to have speeded up their G3 MDX at least once to find out the top speed, nobody seems to use it for any kind of sporty driving

Car and Driver tested a 2014 MDX SH-AWD, and it maxed out at 114 mph. You should be able to squeeze another 2 mph out of it.

I don't have enough posts to include a link -- google "site:caranddriver.com 2014 mdx" Link dated August 23, 2013.

 

[mdxstang]

^^ That article states

Top speed (governor limited): 114 mph

It's the governing the OP would like to impeach.

 

[Rsevo]

Car and Driver tested a 2014 MDX SH-AWD, and it maxed out at 114 mph. You should be able to squeeze another 2 mph out of it.

I don't have enough posts to include a link -- google "site:caranddriver.com 2014 mdx" Link dated August 23, 2013.

I found it, 114 mph :frown2:
Also found that the 2017 is limited to 113 mph...

Weird that in the US manufacturers restrict their cars/ customers to such a relatively low topspeed, much lower than is usual in Europe.

Perhaps there is some rediculous reasoning behind it, manufacturers protecting themselves from some idiot owner taking them to court after crashing his car at a higher speed and stating the manufacturer should have protected him from being able to go too fast.....:crazyeye:
In the US, people can go to court and succeed in cases for things that would be laughed away here in Europe..

 

[Rsevo]

MDX, NSX, Miata - what else do you have?

You obviously have good taste in vehicles.

Thanks
I am almost somewhat embaressed to admit to it, but me collecting some unusual nice cars has spinned a bit out of proportion during the last 20 years or so, collecting too many. I really should get rid of a few now, but I love them all for their own different specs, handling and somewhat rarity.

Next to what was already mentioned, I also own some other nice cars;

- 1992 MX-5 (Miata) dedicated track car that I compete with in our Max5 racecup, have done that for 9 years now

- 1999 MX-5 (Miata) 10th Anniversary which directly when new, I modified with FlyinMiata turbokit, several chassis stiffening braces and improved Koni suspension (the original so called special Bilstein"sportsuspension" on it was crap), and some other small bits, making it a very fast and more nimble, nicer car than an S2000.
S2000 is a great car too, but I don't like it's Vtec engine being almost dead under 6000rpm. You have to race that engine to redline all the time to get performance out of it, not my thing.

- 1994 original Japanese spec RHD SW20 Toyota MR2 turbo coupe 245 bhp factory, but put in Mines tuning ECU, Arc full intake, Japanese Phoenix power intercooler, sport exhaust and KW3 coilovers. With these mods running about 16psi turboboost, it makes about 310 fly-bhp and can hold it's own against a standard NSX

- late 2002 fully stock first series W211 Mercedes E55amg which is in almost new condition

- 2007 US imported (also came to my country with someone moving here) A209 Mercedes CLK550 convertible

I also have the somewhat weird BMW C1 200 motorcycle as collectors item.

I can put some pics of these here too, but don't know if that is appreciated as this is a MDX forum...

Have driverslicenses for every type of vehicle on wheels for about 40y now, (jeeszz, am already 58).
Over that period of time having owned about 90 cars and 10 motorbikes, I am (still) a complete car nut, I know....:18: perhaps I need help :crazyeye::ucrazy: but am still having fun

 

[elvisfan]

I found it, 114 mph :frown2:
Also found that the 2017 is limited to 113 mph...

Weird that in the US manufacturers restrict their cars/ customers to such a relatively low topspeed, much lower than is usual in Europe.

Perhaps there is some rediculous reasoning behind it, manufacturers protecting themselves from some idiot owner taking them to court after crashing his car at a higher speed and stating the manufacturer should have protected him from being able to go too fast.....:crazyeye:
In the US, people can go to court and succeed in cases for things that would be laughed away here in Europe..

Maybe Acura determined that no one in their right mind should be going over 114 mph in an almost 5000 lb SUV.

 

[Rsevo]

Maybe Acura determined that no one in their right mind should be going over 114 mph in an almost 5000 lb SUV.

:crazyeye::crazyeye::28:

Next to the MDX this seems to apply for only a few specifically for the US market manufactured SUV models...

Just about all other manufacturers around the world of same or even heavier SUV's even when made for the US market (Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Landrover, Lexus, Mercedes, etc etc) somehow seem to feel this need less.... as almost all SUV models by these manufacturers are able to reach (much) faster top speeds.....

Mind you, I know for a fact that MB models that have topspeeds here in Europe of 140-155 mph (partially also still restricted) are for the US market restricted to a lower 132mph, so perhaps specifically US drivers need to be protected against themselves > and this doesn't apply for the rest of the world

 

[Rsevo]

It may also have to do something with the often mentioned lesser quality roads and different less hectic/ slower general driving style in the US, as compared to usually very good road quality and different/ generally faster driving style in western Europe.., drivers being somewhat more used to higher speeds

 

[Rsevo]

Also, high speed driving when not done more often can feel really scary, things flash by and you get the feeling that you can never react in time on anything happening.

I very well remember in the late eighties I drove up to 120 mph on a motorbike (there weren't many cars that could do that at that time) for the first time, scared the sh#t out me so I quickly slowed down.

After doing this more often however, you get used to it and realise that you do have the capability to do things (within reason) and soon you may get the feeling of: can't this thing do any faster.... (at least, that was with me..)

Mind you, doing 155 mph in the ML63 as I did want to test out things, didn't feel very good, I didn't like that fast in that big car, but at 130 mph it still feels very secure.

Ofcourse events coming from outside can always cause big problems, but this will be the same in a lesser car at lower speeds...

 

[mdxstang]

That's a good collection of vehicles rsevo.

 

[elvisfan]

Ofcourse events coming from outside can always cause big problems, but this will be the same in a lesser car at lower speeds...

reaction time doesn't improve based on what car you're driving.

 

[Rsevo]

reaction time doesn't improve based on what car you're driving.

Nope, that is correct, but the way one is able to react on things, can be very different depending on the type/ model car due to it's roadholding capabilities which with one car can be very different compared to another, one being far more controllable than another.
Even simple things like different tires or worn/good suspension can make a huge difference on how a car can be controlled in an unforseen situation.

And also: it has been scientifically proven that people who are knowingly driving fast usually are very involved/ concentrated/ focussed on what they are doing, thus being able to react much quicker to unforeseen events.
On the other hand, people driving slower (often on cruise, either mentally or physically) are usually much less involved with/ less focussed on what they are doing, thus their reaction will in most cases be much slower.

Driving slow(er) doen't automatically mean safe(r), driving fast doesn't always mean dangerous, there are many other things in the equasion..

I have seen it happen too often: people strolling along at relatively slow speed with no concentration, not noticing things around them like red lights which they on occasion simply drive through, not noticing cross traffic having right of way.... and if something happens, it is never their fault as they were driving slow thus safe.......

It often seems to be the general mindset with people who do not drive fast(er) that other people who do, are irresponsible idiots..

 

[armoured]

And also: it has been scientifically proven that
...
Driving slow(er) doen't automatically mean safe(r), driving fast doesn't always mean dangerous, there are many other things in the equasion..

The most basic scientific equation related to this is that kinetic energy varies with the square of velocity.*

So while driving fast doesn't always mean dangerous, any miscalculation or mistake has greater consequences/potential for damage at higher speed.

The kinetic energy of a car at 160 mph is approximately twice that at 114 mph. There's no question that's more dangerous - whether acceptable or within reasonable limits or compensated by better driving etc is a different question.

I don't mean to be pedantic on this (can't help myself :nerd; overall I agree with the point that the road conditions and other aspects are different in Europe. But on some level I can also understand a manufacturer deciding that 180 km/h is a reasonable maximum they can 'provide for' with a certain model.





*Okay, it's Newtonian and so not technically accurate, or less accurate as speeds approach the speed of light, but a damn good approximation.

 

[elvisfan]

And also: it has been scientifically proven that people who are knowingly driving fast usually are very involved/ concentrated/ focussed on what they are doing, thus being able to react much quicker to unforeseen events.
On the other hand, people driving slower (often on cruise, either mentally or physically) are usually much less involved with/ less focussed on what they are doing, thus their reaction will in most cases be much slower.

Driving slow(er) doen't automatically mean safe(r), driving fast doesn't always mean dangerous, there are many other things in the equasion..

I have seen it happen too often: people strolling along at relatively slow speed with no concentration, not noticing things around them like red lights which they on occasion simply drive through, not noticing cross traffic having right of way.... and if something happens, it is never their fault as they were driving slow thus safe.......

It often seems to be the general mindset with people who do not drive fast(er) that other people who do, are irresponsible idiots..

We could go on forever on this. So when I'm cruising at 75 and a motorcycle passes me at what seems like twice my speed. I can rest assured that it has been scientifically proven that he is much more engaged then I am. And therefore he should be ok.

 

[Rsevo]

Funny, the limited 112 MPH of the MDX is a rare exception, as here in Europe almost all SUV's have topspeeds of +120mph, about 80% of them beeing in the 130-155mph range.

Clearly manufacturers have very different thoughts on the capabilities of their EU spec SUV's than in the US.....

And many US drivers seem to be very frightened of high speed, possibly as they have hardly any or no experience with this..

 

[elvisfan]

Your car is US spec. Since the highest speed limit is 85 mph, in my opinion it would be irresponsible to have a ridiculous max speed of 130 mph. To say nothing of the extra costs of building a truck that would be stable at that speed. Would you be willing to pay $5,000 more. That's my estimate. To be able to go 130 versus 114. It's not just a matter of changing the top speed.

 

[JohnDP]

Have anyone tried to max out a 3G MDX? no matter how I look for on Youtube it doesn´t seem to be anyone that have recorded a top speed run.

On a clear highway, while running at 70 mph, I had a Ford Focus ST come up behind me so I punched it and the Focus went right by me.

 

[AcuraAddicted]

Top speed of my 2014 MDX.. why so low!!!

Because it's not a race or even a sports car.

 

[Rsevo]

Because it's not a race or even a sports car.

You clearly don't get my point.

Here in Europe, ALL SUV's with bigger engines are capable of 125+ Mls, even the US brands, for example EU spec US cars:
2016 Ford Edge diesel has top speed of 131 Mls/h here
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6 top speed 128Mls/h
2016 Grand Cherokee 5.7 top speed 140 Mls/h
What are the US spec speed limits on these cars?? .. probably lower limited too

Seriously.. is a MDX is less high speed capable than a Ford or Jeep.. really??

Many US spec cars are limited even though they are technically capable of going faster.
EU spec similar modals can go faster

For example (may already have written this) : I also have a US spec Mercedes CLK550 convertible with factory AMG pack and sports pack brakes (so the bigger ones), it was US spec limited to 131 Mls/h... why?? ...because it isn't capable of more?!
My MB tuning specialist told me for some weird reason this US version will not allow him to remove the top speed limit like he can on EU versions, but he was able to change it to the EU spec speed limit of 155, which is enough for me for this car.
Here in Europe ALL similar CLK's with capable engines are factory limited to 155 Mls/h (as this is still the old gentleman's agreement with German manufacturers).
Many owners (mostly in Germany as there on some roads there still is no limit) have the limit taken off, making them capable of speeds of 170+ Mls/h (in this car, that isn't something I would enjoy doiing though)..

 

[AcuraAddicted]

Here in Europe, ALL SUV's with bigger engines are capable of 125+ Mls, even the US brands, for example EU spec US cars

There are no roads in North America with no speed limits unlike Germany. There's simply nowhere here to reach those speeds without getting into serious trouble with likely jail time and huge fines that you are going to pay for quite a while.

 

[greggebhardt]

I would think a MDX going 132 mph would need very little to go wrong to crash big time.