The 'not particularly fast' probably refers to in gear acceleration, and is a relative statement ie it is not particularly fast compared to the competition.

The top speed is of course largely academic, but that doesn't mean the car is "too fast".My car has an aerodynamically limited top speed of 115mph-some 60% over the maximum legal limit. I wouldn't describe the 90 horses as excessive!

at a society which allowed people to freely purchase opium, strychnine and firearms on the high street?

Another member of the "there ought to be a law against it" brigade. Legally owned firearms have never been a major contributer to gun crime, and all the subsequent government gun grabs have been ineffective at curbing violent crime.

As for opium and Strychnine, I have never understood why government feels that personal consumption of a substance, no matter how toxic, is any business of the state.

I think historians will look back in amazement and wonder why the populace willingly surrendered their freedoms for thje narcotic of feeling safe. Benjamin Franklin had little empathy for these sorts-and neither do I.

I've long thought that cars handle too well and have too many safety systems for other peoples good.

The ever faster ever better handling car that can outbrake outmanouever and outperform the Jones' model is great.

Except these modern wonders drive themselves, and thats marvellous...until something goes wrong, then when the inevitable happens the speed and G forces at which all control is lost are too much and disaster follows, unfortunately not necessarily for the person at the wheel, but for other innocents who happened to be in the way, often enough the clever car will protect the guilty.

Our problem, IMO, is that we have large numbers of drivers who haven't really learned to drive, i wonder how many of our speeders could bring a car quickly to a safe controlled stop in the wet from three figure speeds on a set of drum brakes with no ABS or traction control.

Best car safety sytem for other people would be removal of the airbag and the fitting of a steel spike to the centre of the steering column in its stead.

EDIT. The problem with criminalising firearms is that then only criminals have them....hence scum feel free to attack and violate innocent people in their own homes, they'd be thinking twice if the real possibility of the business end of something tasty might greet them as they climbed in the bedroom.

Edited by gordonbennet on 15/07/2012 at 13:46