Why is the rest of the world faster than the USA?

[BoneSawTX]

Well, a slight exaggeration for comic effect…

But there is a truth in it: and not neccessarily a negative one.

I live and drive in the U.K., but have driven a fair bit in the U.S. And the kind of speeding violations I've been ticketed for in the U.S., particularly in Arizona, are incidents that would warrant nothing more than a verbal caution from a British cop...

Point I was making though was that since U.S. traffic cops are generally more intolerant of excessive speed than their European counterparts, this will contribute to driving in the U.S. being safer.

But on the downside, that allows more rubbish American drivers to continue to pollute the U.S. gene-pool, because they're not being culled off in their reckless youth.

No offence intended.

Non taken, just wasn't sure if yall were only seeing the TV show "Cops" and "Worlds Scariest Police Chases". From what i have heard Arizona is the the extreme in traffic law enforcement. Here in Texas it isn't near as bad, been pulled over and told to just slow it down. There some places that will pull you over for 2 miles over but those speed traps are known by most people and avoided if possible.

Now street races will land you in jail no questions asked, but there are 4 drag strips within 2 hours of me.

 

[Andrews]

Well, a slight exaggeration for comic effect…

But there is a truth in it: and not neccessarily a negative one.

I live and drive in the U.K., but have driven a fair bit in the U.S. And the kind of speeding violations I've been ticketed for in the U.S., particularly in Arizona, are incidents that would warrant nothing more than a verbal caution from a British cop...

Point I was making though was that since U.S. traffic cops are generally more intolerant of excessive speed than their European counterparts, this will contribute to driving in the U.S. being safer.

But on the downside, that allows more rubbish American drivers to continue to pollute the U.S. gene-pool, because they're not being culled off in their reckless youth.

No offence intended.

It really all depends on the cop. I've been given 2 speeding tickets in my 8 years of driving and I've been pulled over 5 times.

If you're doing 78 in a 55 then yes you should be pulled over and ticketed, other wise you're just going to do it again. Getting a ticket will at least have you obeying speed limits for a few weeks lol.

I started driving in a red z28 Camaro and only got caught speeding once, the week I buy my GMC Sierra I got a ticket go figure.

 

[RustyNut]

Well, a slight exaggeration for comic effect…

But there is a truth in it: and not neccessarily a negative one.

I live and drive in the U.K., but have driven a fair bit in the U.S. And the kind of speeding violations I've been ticketed for in the U.S., particularly in Arizona, are incidents that would warrant nothing more than a verbal caution from a British cop...

Point I was making though was that since U.S. traffic cops are generally more intolerant of excessive speed than their European counterparts, this will contribute to driving in the U.S. being safer.

But on the downside, that allows more rubbish American drivers to continue to pollute the U.S. gene-pool, because they're not being culled off in their reckless youth.

No offence intended.

Slower does not equal safer. Germany pretty much proves this.

Where I live (Colorado) I see many many more slow driving dangerous drivers than fast. The speed limit on our interstate here is 55 in most places, people generally drive 70mph though and cops will very rarely mess with you at this speed. The people who put others in danger are not the 70mph drivers, it's the 55mph drivers that the 70mph drivers have to go around, people who don't drive with the flow are dangerous regardless of their speed. Slow speed relative to others around you is much more dangerous than everyone driving at a fast speed.

 

[infamousDee]

I would have thought the answer was obvious; American cars can't handle. Evolution took over from there.

 

[mwoodski]

I would have thought the answer was obvious; American cars can't handle. Evolution took over from there.

The Corvette, Viper, and Cobalt SS would like to have a word with you.

 

[logisteini]

And whats the deal with the Japanese? They are allways the best in video games, its like they have super-human-gaming-powers

 

[sumbrownkid]

And whats the deal with the Japanese? They are allways the best in video games, its like they have super-human-gaming-powers

Not the past 5 to 7 years they weren't. I think Hideo Kojima, one of gaming's all time greats, said that the West has surpassed Japanese developers in terms of ideas and overall development.

 

[RustyNut]

So after a long search through my many pics I found an image that shows one of the mountain roads here in Colorado. There's decent driving to be had here, just no one really cares to, every once and a while I'll see a guy on a motorcycle crusing this road and very rarely you'll see a porsche or something akin. It's on the top left of the image.

EDIT: I can't seem to get a proper link from picasa on my android.
EDIT2: GOT IT!

 

[orthow]

I find the countries dominating in certain racing styles is a-typical to what they are used to..ie - Japan dominating the drifting challenges.

 

[andy63]

this might also be a problem: The U.S thinks they are the best. LOL

 

[RouWa]

Slower does not equal safer. Germany pretty much proves this.

We don't have better cars or drivers, but we have much better roads and the TÜV.

From Wikipedia:
No German-registered road vehicle may be operated on public roads without a certificate from the TÜVs or one of their competitors. In most cases the certificate has to be renewed every two years. A pass in the mandatory roadworthiness and smog test is indicated by tamper-proof decals on the license plate.

You will not find unsafe/dangerous cars like the ones from MTVs "Pimp my ride" on a German road.

 

[GTRL_Junior]

Not really that good if you look at leaderboards. French or Spanish (can't tell the difference) people seem to do real well also.



<--- Your profile says you live in Florida?

I currently live here, I have 4 car/boat, airplanes detailing business down here. Trying to expand my business!

 

[speedthrill]

We don't have better cars or drivers, but we have much better roads and the TÜV.

From Wikipedia:
No German-registered road vehicle may be operated on public roads without a certificate from the TÜVs or one of their competitors. In most cases the certificate has to be renewed every two years. A pass in the mandatory roadworthiness and smog test is indicated by tamper-proof decals on the license plate.

You will not find unsafe/dangerous cars like the ones from MTVs "Pimp my ride" on a German road.

After 5 years a vehicle here in Belgium even needs to get such a pass every year...

Indeed, cops here would go mental if they see pimped out razorblades hanging on cars, even tinted windows are sometimes a nono.
Stickers on a car can be a problem too...

But a little bit speeding is answered with a little flash of the bulbs or a flash of a speeding camera. nothing big... As long as you won't go big.

 

[Andrews]

this might also be a problem: The U.S thinks they are the best. LOL

Typical European. Show me one post where an American said the US has the best racers.

 

[dc16a2]

The act of driving is taken more seriously in other parts of the world. In the US, people seem to think driving is a right. In other places, it's a privilege.

 

[infamousDee]

The Corvette, Viper, and Cobalt SS would like to have a word with you.

Funny you should say that, because I'm told the MX-5, M3 and just about every other vehicle with origins outside the US would really like to have a word with them.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Funny you should say that, because I'm told the MX-5, M3 and just about every other vehicle with origins outside the US would really like to have a word with them.

The Corvette ZR1 is supposedly a handling machine though. I think it's got magnetic dampers, or some other black magic/wizardry.

 

[Andrews]

Funny you should say that, because I'm told the MX-5, M3 and just about every other vehicle with origins outside the US would really like to have a word with them.

You do realize that your first comment was ignorant right? I really didn't think I'd find a "US vs the World" thread on gtplanet, but I was clearly wrong. I realize the OP was questioning the leader boards on GT5, but I knew the thread would quickly turn into what it has become.

 

[thedeester1]

I dont know about the sales figures in America but maybe there just arent as many Americans playing. I would think that the most popular racing in America is Nascar? Likewise if a Nascar game was released in the US it would outsell other racing titles. For instance if a Nascar title was released in the UK it probably wouldnt sell at all well. I can only name one oval in the UK! Like wise although we get NFL and NHL games I dare say our sales dont come anywhere near those of the USA even if you work it out on percent of population (since we have a much lower population). I dare say this works the other way around for Soccer games. I know soccer is getting big in the US but its not a national game like it is in most of Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

If there are a lower number of actuall Americans playing compared to the rest of the world, Even if there are drivers that match skill levels throughout the board less will actually show.


My second point may or may not be relevant: Transmission types. Ive only driven in the USA once but when I asked for a manual transmission, the hire car lady looked at me as if i just made a rabbit appear from the air. They just arent that common over in the US compared to the rest of the world. OK I know some use em before any of you post your pictues of heel and toe and clutch shifting. Again though through percent of population they are less common than in the rest of the world. So gamers in the US are less likely to go for manual shifting to make their experience more "realistic"? Since the fastest times are usually wheel and manual transmission this could be a factor also?

 

[thechosenwonton]

I think you also might ponder that even in real life american racers in many ways lag behind their s american and european cousins.

I got no clue why that is but watching racing over the years when eu or sa drivers come to american sports they usually do well, even if they did not do so well in their home countries, but if americans go over to eu to race etc they tend to not do well at all.

I mean i would really like a logical reasonable study of the topic and find out why exactly those tenants hold true in the vast majority of cases. There has to be some root reason why, maybe junior motorsports over here is not nearly as big as other places in the world? maybe the general competition over he is much lower and drivers do not develop to the degree that drivers in other parts of the world need to be competitive?

There is some mechanic at work here and would be interesting to delve into.

It's not that mysterious - we have basically zero grass roots kart racing here in the states. That builds great road racers from the ground up. What we do have is extremely limited, and not that competitive. In Europe, cart racing is huge - hell, Finland has a government sponsored karting program - if the US had that kind of road racing support that kids could jump in at an early age, trust me - we would be just as competitive in road racing as the Europeans.

And please don't flame me saying "We has teh kart racingz in the USA DOOD" - I know we do, but it isn't even in the same planetary region of the access, level of competitiveness, and regional availability as anywhere in the EU.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I dont know about the sales figures in America but maybe there just arent as many Americans playing. I would think that the most popular racing in America is Nascar? Likewise if a Nascar game was released in the US it would outsell other racing titles. For instance if a Nascar title was released in the UK it probably wouldnt sell at all well. I can only name one oval in the UK! Like wise although we get NFL and NHL games I dare say our sales dont come anywhere near those of the USA even if you work it out on percent of population (since we have a much lower population). I dare say this works the other way around for Soccer games. I know soccer is getting big in the US but its not a national game like it is in most of Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

If there are a lower number of actuall Americans playing compared to the rest of the world, Even if there are drivers that match skill levels throughout the board less will actually show.


My second point may or may not be relevant: Transmission types. Ive only driven in the USA once but when I asked for a manual transmission, the hire car lady looked at me as if i just made a rabbit appear from the air. They just arent that common over in the US compared to the rest of the world. OK I know some use em before any of you post your pictues of heel and toe and clutch shifting. Again though through percent of population they are less common than in the rest of the world. So gamers in the US are less likely to go for manual shifting to make their experience more "realistic"? Since the fastest times are usually wheel and manual transmission this could be a factor also?

It's the culture too. America is indeed in it's own world when it comes to cars. For better, or for worse, is all a matter of opinion.

And you are very right about people here and auto transmissions. Whenever someone like a friend or family member asks to borrow my car, they see it's manual and they look at me as if I'm foreign, or that I know how to really drive a car properly.

Edit: Having a manual rocks because no one else in my family nearby me or my friends know how to drive the stick.

 

[infamousDee]

You do realize that your first comment was ignorant right? I really didn't think I'd find a "US vs the World" thread on gtplanet, but I was clearly wrong. I realize the OP was questioning the leader boards on GT5, but I knew the thread would quickly turn into what it has become.

I'm not denying cars from the US that handle decently exist, however, American cars aren't best known for their handling ability to say the least. You do realise my first comment was (mostly) sarcastic, right?

 

[sleepy-z]

Well its xmas time and I haven't had a chance to touch gt5 in 4 days personally with family here for me. Haven't touched the update load yet.

 

[sumbrownkid]

It's not that mysterious - we have basically zero grass roots kart racing here in the states. That builds great road racers from the ground up. What we do have is extremely limited, and not that competitive. In Europe, cart racing is huge - hell, Finland has a government sponsored karting program - if the US had that kind of road racing support that kids could jump in at an early age, trust me - we would be just as competitive in road racing as the Europeans.

And please don't flame me saying "We has teh kart racingz in the USA DOOD" - I know we do, but it isn't even in the same planetary region of the access, level of competitiveness, and regional availability as anywhere in the EU.

Just the word government will throw the conservatives into a hissy fit.

 

[RustyNut]

The act of driving is taken more seriously in other parts of the world. In the US, people seem to think driving is a right. In other places, it's a privilege.

That's not true. I've had it drilled into my head since I was a kid that driving is a privilege, not a right. Which is total BS since the government taxes us all for the roads and then goes and says it's a privilege for us to use them, utter nonsense.

 

[RedSuinit]

It's the culture too. America is indeed in it's own world when it comes to cars. For better, or for worse, is all a matter of opinion.

And you are very right about people here and auto transmissions. Whenever someone like a friend or family member asks to borrow my car, they see it's manual and they look at me as if I'm foreign, or that I know how to really drive a car properly.

Edit: Having a manual rocks because no one else in my family nearby me or my friends know how to drive the stick.

It's true, the only time you will find a manual around here anymore is when you look for a car that is branded as a sportier car. Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, BMWs, Benzs, sporty Mazda cars, Subarus, and the like. Most if not all family cars are going to be automatics, because most soccer moms can't drive a stick.

Also, one of the best handling cars ever made was American. The Chaparral 2J.

 

[thechosenwonton]

I'll post it again because it bears repeating.

We have basically zero grass roots kart racing here in the states. That builds great road racers from the ground up.What we do have is extremely limited, and not that competitive. In Europe, kart racing is huge - hell, Finland has a government sponsored karting program - if the US had that kind of road racing support that kids could jump in at an early age, trust me - we would be just as competitive in road racing as the Europeans.

And please don't flame me saying "We has teh kart racingz in the USA DOOD" - I know we do, but it isn't even in the same planetary region of the access, level of competitiveness, and regional availability as anywhere in the EU.

 

[mwoodski]

Funny you should say that, because I'm told the MX-5, M3 and just about every other vehicle with origins outside the US would really like to have a word with them.

I know it's a stupid way to judge a car, but the 'Ring times don't lie. The only FWD car faster around the 'Ring than the Cobalt SS is the Renault Mégane RS R.26 R.

The Viper ACR holds the verified production car record(Porsche's lap time is just a manufacture claim).

Oh, and the Corvette ZR-1 was the first car to eclipse the Nissan GT-R;s record.

 

[Supercheyenne]

nm...... I don't feel like it today.

 

[RobGT81]

The Corvette ZR1 is supposedly a handling machine though. I think it's got magnetic dampers, or some other black magic/wizardry.

So has pretty much any kind of sporty European car for the last 5 or 6 years