civic top speed continued
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,031
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Rep Power: 401 
civic top speed continued
I figured we can start a new thread, rather than have to sift through 17 pages of posts of which more than half were from 2002.
People want to know the top speed of the civic. I'm pretty sure it's governed, but at what speed seems to be a debate. However, I can pretty much gaurantee you that it's governed somewhere before 130mph. why? because a civic comes with H-rated tires, which have a safe top traveling speed of 130mph. It would be (if memory serves me right) illegal for honda to sell a car that was not governed at a speed that is BEFORE the rated safe speed for the OEM tires.
Now since this is done by ECU it probably doesn't go by rpm in your 5th gear (or 4th for autos).
Now... let's say you could remove the speed governor limit and actually get a ton more HP into your civic. What is the ceiling then? (with stock tires)
here you go:
manual EX, top speed is 159mph
AUTO EX, top speed is 176mph
now you EX owners are gonna be pissed.....
manual LX, top speed is 167mph
AUTO LX, top speed is 177mph
(oh and since it's interesting to me, an S2000 top speed is 174. fortunately they aren't governed at all, so all we'd need is a few extra hp to get us there, since the car is drag limited at about 164mph)
k, have fun kids.
People want to know the top speed of the civic. I'm pretty sure it's governed, but at what speed seems to be a debate. However, I can pretty much gaurantee you that it's governed somewhere before 130mph. why? because a civic comes with H-rated tires, which have a safe top traveling speed of 130mph. It would be (if memory serves me right) illegal for honda to sell a car that was not governed at a speed that is BEFORE the rated safe speed for the OEM tires.
Now since this is done by ECU it probably doesn't go by rpm in your 5th gear (or 4th for autos).
Now... let's say you could remove the speed governor limit and actually get a ton more HP into your civic. What is the ceiling then? (with stock tires)
here you go:
manual EX, top speed is 159mph
AUTO EX, top speed is 176mph
now you EX owners are gonna be pissed.....
manual LX, top speed is 167mph
AUTO LX, top speed is 177mph
(oh and since it's interesting to me, an S2000 top speed is 174. fortunately they aren't governed at all, so all we'd need is a few extra hp to get us there, since the car is drag limited at about 164mph)
k, have fun kids.
Last edited by S2000man01; Dec 14, 2004 at 12:55 AM.
Registered!!
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, Illinois
Rep Power: 0 really? i dont think ur LX auto is correct. i mean im revving at around 4500rpm when my speed limiter kicks in at 112 i dont see how i could get another 65mph out of 2300rpm.
One Slow Civic.... But I can take turns pretty well :-)
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 0
From: Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Rep Power: 0 
Originally Posted by ricergribbs
really? i dont think ur LX auto is correct. i mean im revving at around 4500rpm when my speed limiter kicks in at 112 i dont see how i could get another 65mph out of 2300rpm.
/me cannot beleive his LX Auto will ever go anywhere close to 177 mph = 284.853888 kph
the f uckin H would probably fall off at that speed :P
im glad I smell a bit of sarcasm in this post
My car gives me a kind slow the f uck down right as I hit 180
the f uckin H would probably fall off at that speed :P
im glad I smell a bit of sarcasm in this post
My car gives me a kind slow the f uck down right as I hit 180
Last edited by AggressiveAdam; Dec 14, 2004 at 01:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,031
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Rep Power: 401
Originally Posted by ricergribbs
really? i dont think ur LX auto is correct. i mean im revving at around 4500rpm when my speed limiter kicks in at 112 i dont see how i could get another 65mph out of 2300rpm.
EDIT:
i double checked the numbers and yes it's right. in fact, your 3rd gear tops out near your speed limiter, so my guess is you auto LX's hit your top speed pretty much in 3rd, and then the car shifts to 4th. (kinda like an LS1 camaro or firebird)
the 4th gear on the lx is REALLy tall (0.674) so yes it's perfectly believeable that it could wind to 177mph.
also do you have stock tires on?
Last edited by S2000man01; Dec 14, 2004 at 01:52 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,031
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Rep Power: 401 lol well you'd be drag limited probably around 125mph anyways, so unless you've got a lot more power (and remove the limit set by the governor) you could be at it til you run out of gas and you'd still never get there.
wow 176mph id have to have 400+ hp and like no interior whatsoever to get there i think the car will start to fall apart after 150mph lol civics can't handle that much speed
this is one of the things u have to see to believe
this is one of the things u have to see to believe
Registered!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Rep Power: 289 straight out of the 2002 civic manual:
Engine speed limiter: If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter the tachometers red zone. if this occurs, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engines cmputer controls. the engine will run normally when you reduce the rpm below the red zone.
to understand why certain civics cut off a different speeds, one needs to know that the different civic engines run at different rpms to achive the same speed. Say an EX runs at 4K at 80mph and a LX runs at 3.8k at 80mph. If the speed increases proportionately to the rpms, the LX will redline at a higher mph. the type of tranny also changes the top speed before the limiter kicks in since 4th gear in an auto will have a different gear ratio compared to a 5th in manual. ok thats what i think...
Engine speed limiter: If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter the tachometers red zone. if this occurs, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engines cmputer controls. the engine will run normally when you reduce the rpm below the red zone.
to understand why certain civics cut off a different speeds, one needs to know that the different civic engines run at different rpms to achive the same speed. Say an EX runs at 4K at 80mph and a LX runs at 3.8k at 80mph. If the speed increases proportionately to the rpms, the LX will redline at a higher mph. the type of tranny also changes the top speed before the limiter kicks in since 4th gear in an auto will have a different gear ratio compared to a 5th in manual. ok thats what i think...
Last edited by mrchowmein; Dec 14, 2004 at 10:24 AM.
Autocross Junky
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,211
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Rep Power: 382
Originally Posted by nindoo
I can understand why the LX could go faster without the governer I think the EX has a shorter final drive ratio.
Yup, but! although the LX could technically go faster... The EX would get to its top speed quicker.
Why is my vagina bleeding?
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 0
From: Montreal
Rep Power: 306
Originally Posted by Zzyzx
Yup, but! although the LX could technically go faster... The EX would get to its top speed quicker.
And our engines sound much better doing it too. After 4 k rpm I love how our engine snarls. Its not your average ecno box.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,031
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Rep Power: 401
Originally Posted by mrchowmein
straight out of the 2002 civic manual:
Engine speed limiter: If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter the tachometers red zone. if this occurs, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engines cmputer controls. the engine will run normally when you reduce the rpm below the red zone.
Engine speed limiter: If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter the tachometers red zone. if this occurs, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engines cmputer controls. the engine will run normally when you reduce the rpm below the red zone.
Its gonna take long time before you hit high MPH
try it your self, floor your gas! after 90MPH, speedometer moves really slow and if you have a counter wind or uphill, I dont think you can even continue with 115 HP engine
try it your self, floor your gas! after 90MPH, speedometer moves really slow and if you have a counter wind or uphill, I dont think you can even continue with 115 HP engine
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 
Originally Posted by S2000man01
that is your REV limiter. NOT your speed governor. engine speed is to prevent you from going beyond the safe amount of revs for your engine. has nothing to do with the speed limiting governor
Good post by the way.
My penis is just like all my posts, very very short
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 7,594
Likes: 0
From: SF Area
Rep Power: 350
Originally Posted by HustleLikeM0FO
when you see vin diesel's RX7 in your rear view mirror
Back From The Banned!
iTrader: (13)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,226
Likes: 0
From: Queens, New York, US
Rep Power: 339
Originally Posted by nindoo
And our engines sound much better doing it too. After 4 k rpm I love how our engine snarls. Its not your average ecno box.
