Cruising Speed / Revs

[Paris 182]

Hello
I'm planning to go for a euro trip around France and Spain so I would like to ask you what is the best cruising speed / revs on motorway. In UK the speed limit is 70mph or 110kph which comes at around 3500rpm. In France is 80mph or 130kph which comes around 4000rpm. Is it ok if I’m cruising with 4000-4500rpm constantly on motorway?

 

[Marc.]

Providing you're not breaking the speed limit in the country you're in, why would it be a problem?

 

[JamesBryan]

I take it you mean best cruising speed for best mpg return?

You'll still get 30+mpg at 70-80. I got 48mpg at 65-70mph on a run to France.

 

[Matt W]

Haha

Have a think about where you are travelling to, and where the car was designed and built and you'll get an answer.

 

[Paris 182]

Providing you're not breaking the speed limit in the country you're in, why would it be a problem?

The only reason that im asking is because all my previous cars they had the same speed in much lower rev range. i.e Audi a3 had 70mph below 3000rpm

 

[JamesBryan]

The only reason that im asking is because all my previous cars they had the same speed in much lower rev range. i.e Audi a3 had 70mph below 3000rpm

It's just down to the gear ratios, these are designed to be sporty/nippy cars, so need shorter ratios compared to cruising barges like Audis.

 

[Chrisgti6]

It'll be fine. Drive at whatever speed/revs you like (within reason of course, you don't want the French 5-0 on your tail)

A sustained 4-5k revs won't do any harm at all.

 

[Paris 182]

It'll be fine. Drive at whatever speed/revs you like (within reason of course, you don't want the French 5-0 on your tail)

A sustained 4-5k revs won't do any harm at all.

because i will do a lot of motorway mileage will be a bit boring to do 70 when i can do 80-85.

Thanks for your answers

 

[alistairolsen]

in a well serviced and maintained car I;d have no issue running it just shy of the limiter all day long tbh.
4000rpm will wear you out long before the car in my experience, its just a very unpleasant place to be.

 

[Chrisgti6]

lol at 70 being boring but 80 being fine.

 

[JamesBryan]

They cruise well at even higher speeds than that in France when you're late for the ferry, so my mate says :wink:

 

[Budgie]

They cruise well at even higher speeds than that in France when you're late for the ferry, so my mate says :wink:

Agreed. Even after being sat in a muddy field for a week.

Manchester to Surrey averaging 110mph when picking up a car. lol.

 

[JamesBryan]

Agreed. Even after being sat in a muddy field for a week.

Manchester to Surrey averaging 110mph when picking up a car. lol.

On the way to Calais from Le Mans last year, my mate had 130mph :tonguewink:

 

[Paris 182]

I’m not planning to cruise on those speeds, more like around 85 but definitely I will attempt to see what the top speed is.

 

[Budgie]

~145Mph in the right circumstances. Allegedly.

 

[JamesBryan]

I’m not planning to cruise on those speeds, more like around 85 but definitely I will attempt to see what the top speed is.

Not really advisable as the Gendarme will slap you with a hefty fine or take your car.

 

[Paris 182]

Not really advisable as the Gendarme will slap you with a hefty fine or take your car.

Im planning to go to Germany as well. i have heard there is no speed limit.

in a well serviced and maintained car I;d have no issue running it just shy of the limiter all day long tbh.
4000rpm will wear you out long before the car in my experience, its just a very unpleasant place to be.

So are you suggesting 70 or flat out? :tonguewink:

 

[Paris 182]

~145Mph in the right circumstances. Allegedly.

Downhill and the wind to pushing you? :tongueout:

 

[Matt W]

Im planning to go to Germany as well. i have heard there is no speed limit.

Triple check that the autobahn that you are on is actually de-restricted first though!

 

[JamesBryan]

As Matt says, not all parts of the Autobahn are de-restricted.

 

[Paris 182]

Triple check that the autobahn that you are on is actually de-restricted first though!

i will do. thanks for the advice.

 

[BoatNonce]

Downhill and the wind to pushing you? :tongueout:

And speedo!

 

[leedsboy]

Awaits the 'I've just been caught speeding in France/Spain, what will happen now?' thread.

 

[Paris 182]

Awaits the 'I've just been caught speeding in France/Spain, what will happen now?' thread.

i hope not

 

[James363]

Awaits the 'I've just been caught speeding in France/Spain, what will happen now?' thread.

Unfortunately, you may be disappointed XD, in France, they do "on the spot" fines. This is where they pull you over, give you a ticket, and expect you to pay in cash on the spot. If you don't have the cash on you, they will escort you to the nearest bank to get the cash out. I go there quite a lot, also, if you are on country roads, the speed cameras are grey and don't stand out, and they aren't always sign posted like here in the UK. I have also seen police with radar guns hiding behind signs and buildings before, so watch out.
Don't wanna sound like the fun police, but it's worth being aware of. Don't forget all the stuff you need to have in your car on the continent too, if they stop you for speeding, they will ask to see it. Ask me how I know...

 

[leedsboy]

A lad that comes on here and PistonHeads got caught speeding France, got escorted to a cash machine to pay 750 euros IIRC and got his DL taken off him. Don't know what happened to his licence and that afterwards. I'll see if I can find the thread.

 

[Paris 182]

Unfortunately, you may be disappointed XD, in France, they do "on the spot" fines. This is where they pull you over, give you a ticket, and expect you to pay in cash on the spot. If you don't have the cash on you, they will escort you to the nearest bank to get the cash out. I go there quite a lot, also, if you are on country roads, the speed cameras are grey and don't stand out, and they aren't always sign posted like here in the UK. I have also seen police with radar guns hiding behind signs and buildings before, so watch out.
Don't wanna sound like the fun police, but it's worth being aware of. Don't forget all the stuff you need to have in your car on the continent too, if they stop you for speeding, they will ask to see it. Ask me how I know...

im guessing how you know that but what i will ask is how much?

 

[RichieJA]

I'm glad I read this because its news to me, I've drove from Scotland to Italy and Germany I was never stopped.
I was stopped in Amsterdam but was driving my uncles car during a visit and they kept me for 45 mins while they contacted the British police to do checks.
Just FYI you can't drive abroad if you been driving less than 3 years this what they were checking apparently

 

[DrR]

As Matt says, not all parts of the Autobahn are de-restricted.

I Lived there for 3 years, never found one that wasn't? They just have speed limit signs all over the place if they want you to go at sensible speeds.

 

[James363]

im guessing how you know that but what i will ask is how much?

I got asked to pay 200 euros and they didnt touch my license. I paid cash at the side of the motorway. I was doing about 110. Apparently they can take your license and post it back to you, and ban you fron driving on the spot for 3 days as well. From what I was reading on the internet, it seems I was unlucky with the amount paid and lucky that my license stayed with me.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Just FYI you can't drive abroad if you been driving less than 3 years this what they were checking apparently

PMSL. Course you can.

They were probably checking you were insured or the car wasn't stolen.

 

[RichieJA]

PMSL. Course you can.

They were probably checking you were insured or the car wasn't stolen.

I'm sure they said something like that to me was a long time ago could of been something to do with insurance or the fact they were convinced I was drunk or stoned I just remembered them asking me if I had been driving for more than 3 years, they weren't hostile like UK police but they made me very nervous

 

[alistairolsen]

So are you suggesting 70 or flat out? :tonguewink:

Im not suggesting you do it, simply saying a modern engine in good condition will have no issues sitting at the rev limit continuously, and certainly wont mind doing 4krpm.

 

[RichieJA]

Im not suggesting you do it, simply saying a modern engine in good condition will have no issues sitting at the rev limit continuously, and certainly wont mind doing 4krpm.

is there any difference between 4k in 1st or 5th I know engine is spinning at same speed but is it under any more or less strain because of gearing ?

 

[leedsboy]

A lad that comes on here and PistonHeads got caught speeding France, got escorted to a cash machine to pay 750 euros IIRC and got his DL taken off him. Don't know what happened to his licence and that afterwards. I'll see if I can find the thread.

Found it - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1547879&mid=0

 

[terryc101]

I got flashed by a camera coming back up through France last summer, never heard anything.

 

[James363]

Yeah often enough the camera tickets never come through, its being caught by a policeman themselves that's the one you want to avoid. It seems they can basically make up the fine and do whatever they want with your license.
In fairness, the guy that got the 750 euro fine was doing 90 in a 30 zone... I think there are few of us that would consider that a minor offense!

 

[BoatNonce]

they weren't hostile like UK police

I've never found UK police hostile.

 

[RichieJA]

I've never found UK police hostile.

not sure if sarcastic or not

 

[DrR]

I've never found UK police hostile.

This. Unless the person they're dealing with is being intentionally awkward.