Why do cars have speedometers that go up to at least 130 mph

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when it's not legal to drive that fast on any road?

There are race tracks, and many people like to use them for that reason.

While Germany has a 130 kph speed limit, there are rural areas in which there is no posted limit--you can go faster if conditions allow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_Germany

why would the auto companies care about the law?

Because it looks cool.

My speedo goes up to 300km/hr. The engine bay would probably melt before it managed to get to that speed, but I suppose they wouldn't put the max at 300 if the car wasn't capable of it.

Its a sneaky way to sell a car by making it look more powerful than it really is.

I once had a superbike that had a speedo that went up to 200 mph, but it did have a top speed of 175 mph. I never actually rode it above 140 mph though. Wouldn't dare that speed nowadays, the roads just aren't safe enough, I'm less reckless and there are too many speed cameras.

In case of a murderer chasing you?
I have absolutely no idea, just seems dangerous and stupid to me. Race cars should have their own breed of cars and not allowed on the roads, but that will never happen because of narcissism.

I like this answer because so many cars do not go anywhere near the speeds on the speedometer.

cars nowadays, even economy cars, have these ridiculously optimistic speedos that go to 140 miles per hour and to fit all those numbers around those itty-bitty round dials [no more big speedos these days] they have to make them practically microscopic. I MISS LARGE 85 MPH SPEEDOMETERS!

you're wrong, im german. The autobahn works the following way: There is no speed limit except for when there is a limiting sign. By law 130 KmH is the "recommended speed", and crashing over that speed will get you some % of the fine even if its not your fault. But if you know what you are doing you can go for it at free will. Overtake a cop car at 250 KmH/155 MpH? No problem, they couldnt care less. Ofcourse most bigger highways like A1 & A2 consist mainly of limited sections but about 50% of autobahn roads all over germany are unlimited...

For most speedos its the same reason why things in the supermarket cost 9,99€ instead fo 10€. Selling psychology. A car doing 155 KmH VMax with a 220 KmH Speedo seems faster in the showroom then a car with a 160 KmH speedo. Plus its cheaper to only manufacture one speedo for a car with different engine options, so they manufacture only one thats enough for the biggest engine and use it with all engine options...

Peace
TK

you're so lucky to live in such a speeder's heaven

I'm sure there's really no "need" other than people wanting them (even sport is unneeded).

Wanting is a valid enough reason in da world of freedom.

I used to commute from Sonoma County CA to rural AZ once a month when I was changing units in unexpected move.
My 5 speed 1977 Toyota was pegged 2/3 the whole trip. I got off work in Santa Rosa at 5pm on a Friday and needed to be in formation no later than 8(second formation). I did this for 5 months until we were deployed to Kuwait.
The summer route was 911 miles. Had less survelliance. The weather route was 866 but went through LA and PHX adding 4-5 hours to the trip. SF also took a good 2 hours from the available time. Sacto was not too bad. Soon as I passed Bakersfield I was fired like a rocket. It has been so long but I think the top speed marker was at 120.

I miss that car. I had it personally tricked out. It was slated to be painted pink to keep my x out of it. i was a month too late and he wrecked it while I was deployed. Only vehicles I have loved as much was a same year GMC Suburban and an 83 Germany sold BMW528e

I had 15 hour to dress up, gas up, oil up, and one rest stop of 3-5 hours. I was often pegging my speedometer.
There was a plane crash that looked like slow motion and took me 50 miles to slow down to find place to even make a call over it.
It probably had come from Bakersfield.
Would I suggest doing this? no. One flub and there probably wouldn't be anything to identify but dog tags and license plate.

My X tried to peg the 300Z his mom gave him. I got out and he had to retry. He chickened out at 100 for a short moment. It was so unstable and felt so scary at 80. No way that car was sound enough. Don't care what engine can create. The Shelby on other hand he did some insane things with.

Ironically, I hate driving. After that I never broke a limit by more than accidental 3-5 miles again. I am a rather pokey driver on my own schedule.

Most new cars these days have a digital speedo as well as the old style dial. Makes it really easy to see them in LCD on the dash.

On a random note since my car is American I'm able to set it to either km/hr or MPH. The other day I accidentally had it set on the latter after fooling around and showing Wowserboy all the buttons on the steering wheel. So here I was on the way home from work on a 100km/hr stretch of road, getting up to 80 (MPH, unbeknown to me!) and wondering why the car is roaring yet not getting up to speed as quick as usual. Then I looked closer at the speedo....