When I went for my first test drive a few months ago the MA had me get on the highway. After coming off the entrance ramp and merging into "traffic" he politely asked me to watch my speed. I looked over and was doing 90mph .

I drive a Rodeo 4x4 right now and believe me I know when I'm going fast in that thing, the mini is going to take some getting used to.

Maybe if I argued with the cop that there must be something wrong with his radar because there is just no way something as small and "cute" as the mini could ever be going as fast as he says . . . yeah your right he'd probably never go for it. With my luck he would probably own a mini .

 

It was soooo funny when I see this thread, because I just got home from pulling over by a cop! I was going 75 mph on a 60 mph limit highway, I was listening to music and never knew I was going that fast! The next moment I saw the flashing light in my rear mirror and I was like "crap"! The cop asked if I knew how fast I was going, I honestly told him I don't, fortunately he just gave me a warning and asked me to drive safely!

I just had my 07 MCS for 2 months, I need to beware next time!

Phewwwwwww : P

 

They're literally crawling out there these days. It's all about 'revenue enhancement' and checking for drugs. On my drive home tonight (35 miles) my V-1 detected three speed traps. The hat trick!!

 

Agreed, going fast in the MINI is now easier than ever. Last weekend I was visiting my girlfriend's family, and her mom decided we should go for a hike. The three of us took the MINI and I let my GF drive. (She actually shifts quite well, to my surprise!) Anyway, on a particularly narrow, winding road with some long straights, her mom looks at the giant speedo and says "Honey, do you know you are going 90?" LOL, I was sitting in front and I didn't realize we were going that fast! R56 MINIs really do cruise.

I did figure out how intrepid MINI drivers in smaller states can legally speed... though you might not like this. Get your state to refuse federal funding for your highways. Raise gas taxes in your state to pay for the roads, and raise the speed limits on highways to 90mph, 65 for SUVs and 55 for tractors trailers, which must remain in the right lane at all times. Make it illegal to pass on the right and a requirement to stay right unless you are passing. The feds won't be able to do anything about the speed since they aren't paying for the road! Oh.. and tolls, every .5 hrs of driving at 90, so about every 45 miles along a highway. Essentially, this is what France and Germany have done, and it does work and allows traffic to flow at much higher speeds.

 

just move to germany and don't worry about it...lol

 

Yes, it is easy to speed.

 

[quote=rockridge;2003095]I got my first ticket in 15+ years, after I had my Mini MCS for 2 months. I hope it's the only one.

I'm coming up on one month with my MCS and sense the same thing will happen to me. The first week I was too nervous to push the limits, but now I can't keep my foot off the gas pedal.

 

yeah, i have to say that I easily go over the speedlimit without noticing it... sucks because I live in LA, and it always comes to a haulting stop. But when i'm at my other house in OC. then that's more like it...but cops can easily pull you over as it is more open and spacious in the suburbs of california :P

 

I agree...especially in Western Mass. They're everywhere... Rt 20, Rt 57, Rt 23, Rt 7, Rt 41, Rt 8 ... we even passed a trooper on a remote section of Rt 183 in Sandisfield at 630am on a Saturday morning. He was waiting for the out-of-state skiers who use 183 as an alt route to Rt 7. That's just cruel. And it really takes the fun out of some of the best twisties around. Thanks to my trusty Valentine 1, I'm still free of MA speeding tickets, but it's only a matter of time...

One other thing about MA ... there appears to be this tendency to have really low posted limits in the most unusual places. 20mph, 25mph in places that could easily and safely support 40 - 45mph. Seems like a deliberate attempt to entrap. Then of course, there is this bizarre tendency to put passing stripes on curves. That must be to keep the wrecker crews in business.

I do have a 13 Feb magistrate's hearing for "crossing the white line" on Rt 20 in Chester back in early November. We got pulled over in the TR6 and the trooper said, "I couldn't get a speed fix on you, but I'm ticketing you for crossing the white line." I said, "But we didn't cross the white line" and he responded by walking back to his cruiser and writing up a $93 ticket. I opted for the hearing ... I hope that it works out in my favor (any sage advice from a MA resident?).

 

That BLOWS! Totally unnecessary.

 

Actually, with the gearing ratios on the Getrag-5 in my '05 MC I pay close attention to my RPMs at highway speed. This is especially true when it's really cold out and the engine might still be coming up to its full operating temperature.

At 75 mph I'm turning about 3700 rpm and the engine has a nice, natural, and comfortable sound to it here--almost like it's finding a groove. My cruise control is the gray one between my ears, and I can manage my speed mostly by simply listening to the sound of the engine. Thus, I'm able to avoid excessive speeding on the highway fairly effectively.

Of course, this doesn't work when I'm in the process of passing several vehicles at a time, especially after I've up-shifted into fifth gear after the initial down-shift. The speed seems to increase much faster than the engine whine above normal highway speeds. Just the other day I was effortlessly passing a couple of trucks, and when I merged back into the right-hand lane I glanced down and noticed I was doing 95. If I'm ever tagged while passing, maybe the cops will be sympathetic if I plead that I'm just trying to minimize the time I'm exposing my MINI to potential rock chips...

 

i dont live in MA but i work in a traffic office down here in FL. Cops can be total jerks, and i dont know how it works up there but here it doesnt matter what you say to the Magistrate/Hearing Officer they always believe the officer over you :( good luck though!

 

I found I was speeding so often, that I had to set the speed limit warning in the SAT/NAV to 80 just so I would be aware of being too far in excess of the posted limit. I did this the same day I found myself at just a touch under 100.

 

How about telling the judge that the road was so white with salt neither you or the officer could have possibly seen a tire going over it. Many of the roads around here are literally white for weeks on end. Worth a try-maybe a picture would help your cause. Good luck.

 

I've found the best way to keep my speed in check is to switch the tach display to the current MPG setting. I end up driving to maximize that, go a lot easier on the gas, and thus don't speed nearly as much. Of course there are plenty of times when I switch it back to mph, put it in sport mode, and just have fun.