Which vehicles feel like they're going slower than they really are?

[Tacenda]

I have a little dilemma, that is huge to me. I've been driving a 2009 Honda CRV and on the highway it feels like I'm going super fast, very noisy and shakes a little at certain speeds. I've driven it for over 5 years. I love Honda's and didn't want a car payment, liked it on sight and bought it, but now have come to this cross road in my life of not liking it at all for that one reason. 

I have anxiety on the freeways and thought it had something to do with my thyroid. But had a bad experience with the vehicle before the Honda in a snowstorm and my wipers weren't functioning and was trying to drive on the freeway all the while reaching out and trying to get the wipers free of compacted snow, it nearly did me in. So now I'm asking for help, don't dare do it on FB because I'm a little embarrassed but feel safe asking here. 

What vehicles do you drive or do you have knowledge of a vehicle that feels like they're going slower than they really are. Those vehicles that people drive on the freeway/highway and they look down at the speedometer and realize they're going ninety and need to slow down. My vehicle, they'd know it! Thanks in advance for any suggestions on vehicles. I need to buy one before I'm totally afraid. I read recently an article that said it could be a sign of dementia when people choose not to drive at high speeds. Also, it could be that the freeway/highway is so bad because the state you live in was rated 2nd worst speeders in the nation, haha.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions. 

 

[bluebell]

We have a car like that. It’s a 2008 Range Rover Rover with a super charger.  It’s incredibly fast, but you don’t feel it at all. 

[Tacenda]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

We have a car like that. It’s a 2008 Range Rover Rover with a super charger.  It’s incredibly fast, but you don’t feel it at all. 

Thanks bluebell!! 

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

What vehicles do you drive or do you have knowledge of a vehicle that feels like they're going slower than they really are.

Our latest car is quieter and has a smoother ride than previous cars, so I have to be careful not to push the pedal harder to make it feel right.  
 

I also need to get used to having the speed as a number, which ultimately will be nicer than estimating by position, but my brain isn’t used to it yet and it tends to ignore the speed given looking for a speedometer dial…or is it a gauge?  Or either?

Edited December 9, 2025 by Calm

[teddyaware]

17 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I have a little dilemma, that is huge to me. I've been driving a 2009 Honda CRV and on the highway it feels like I'm going super fast, very noisy and shakes a little at certain speeds. I've driven it for over 5 years. I love Honda's and didn't want a car payment, liked it on sight and bought it, but now have come to this cross road in my life of not liking it at all for that one reason. 

I have anxiety on the freeways and thought it had something to do with my thyroid. But had a bad experience with the vehicle before the Honda in a snowstorm and my wipers weren't functioning and was trying to drive on the freeway all the while reaching out and trying to get the wipers free of compacted snow, it nearly did me in. So now I'm asking for help, don't dare do it on FB because I'm a little embarrassed but feel safe asking here. 

What vehicles do you drive or do you have knowledge of a vehicle that feels like they're going slower than they really are. Those vehicles that people drive on the freeway/highway and they look down at the speedometer and realize they're going ninety and need to slow down. My vehicle, they'd know it! Thanks in advance for any suggestions on vehicles. I need to buy one before I'm totally afraid. I read recently an article that said it could be a sign of dementia when people choose not to drive at high speeds. Also, it could be that the freeway/highway is so bad because the state you live in was rated 2nd worst speeders in the nation, haha.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions. 

 

Try the new 70 ton M1A2 SEPv4 Abrams Tank. Even if there is an accident, all the other cars will just bounce off!  

[JVW]

19 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I have a little dilemma, that is huge to me. I've been driving a 2009 Honda CRV and on the highway it feels like I'm going super fast, very noisy and shakes a little at certain speeds. I've driven it for over 5 years. I love Honda's and didn't want a car payment, liked it on sight and bought it, but now have come to this cross road in my life of not liking it at all for that one reason. 

I have anxiety on the freeways and thought it had something to do with my thyroid. But had a bad experience with the vehicle before the Honda in a snowstorm and my wipers weren't functioning and was trying to drive on the freeway all the while reaching out and trying to get the wipers free of compacted snow, it nearly did me in. So now I'm asking for help, don't dare do it on FB because I'm a little embarrassed but feel safe asking here. 

What vehicles do you drive or do you have knowledge of a vehicle that feels like they're going slower than they really are. Those vehicles that people drive on the freeway/highway and they look down at the speedometer and realize they're going ninety and need to slow down. My vehicle, they'd know it! Thanks in advance for any suggestions on vehicles. I need to buy one before I'm totally afraid. I read recently an article that said it could be a sign of dementia when people choose not to drive at high speeds. Also, it could be that the freeway/highway is so bad because the state you live in was rated 2nd worst speeders in the nation, haha.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions. 

 

I drove a used, 2005 Mercedes for about 6 months (complicated story) a few years back and it was super smooth and felt slower than it was. I don't have much experience with European cars but I imagine that VWs, BMWs, etc. feel similar since it's the same country. In general I feel like larger cars feel slower than bigger cars. If I'm driving a Chevy Tahoe or a Kia Carnival I feel more comfy and slow than if I'm driving a Mazda 3, as an example.

[Stargazer]

3 hours ago, teddyaware said:

Try the new 70 ton M1A2 SEPv4 Abrams Tank. Even if there is an accident, all the other cars will just bounce off!  

The fuel mileage on that one is a tad pricey, but it has the best road-safety rating in the world. As long as you stay on the road, that is.

[JVW]

33 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

The fuel mileage on that one is a tad pricey, but it has the best road-safety rating in the world. As long as you stay on the road, that is.

I hear it's great for off-roading too!

[Calm]

9 hours ago, JVW said:

I imagine that VWs, BMWs, etc. feel similar since it's the same country.

Not the VWs I have been in, lol (classic Beetles, though we didn’t call them classic at the time)

 

[Tacenda]

Thanks for the comments. Looking at the Subaru Outback, not too sure.

[Calm]

For comfort, I love our Outback except when it is adjusting the driver’s seat.  Sometimes my knees start getting squished, just a bit, but it’s claustrophobia adjacent.  The back is great support where I need it.  Individual temp controls right and left are very nice as well, 

The screen right in front of the driver is fine, but the busyness of the central dashboard is distracting to me.  I wish there was a way to hide many of the unused functions.  It is not particularly user friendly imo.  Taking us way too long to figure out all the variations of heating, cooling, and defrosting and since it may reset them, frustrating to have to repeat.  Like having maps on it but my husband says better to use a phone app (I assume he means using that on the screen rather than whatever it comes with).

I find it very inappropriate that it’s sending alerts for texts while driving while scolding me for my eyes leaving the road.

I love when it has the speed limit, though that’s not every where yet.

And the automatic stopping if getting too close to a stopped car does work.  My husband got careless last week or so going way too fast off a freeway dismount, I don’t think I have ever been as scared in a car as I was that moment. (There were more dangerous times but didn’t have a chance to get scared before figuring out the danger was passed or slamming into the dashboard).

Don’t know if we would had completely avoided a fender bender without the car taking over (he said he could feel it engaging the brake harder than he was).  He loves the cruise control on the freeway as it keeps him a certain distance from cars in front of him.  It may be a little too sensitive about veering too far left and right.

Edited December 12, 2025 by Calm

[Tacenda]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

For comfort, I love our Outback except when it is adjusting the driver’s seat.  Sometimes my knees start getting squished, just a bit, but it’s claustrophobia adjacent.  The back is great support where I need it.  Individual temp controls right and left are very nice as well, 

The screen right in front of the driver is fine, but the busyness of the central dashboard is distracting to me.  I wish there was a way to hide many of the unused functions.  It is not particularly user friendly imo.  Taking us way too long to figure out all the variations of heating, cooling, and defrosting and since it may reset them, frustrating to have to repeat.  Like having maps on it but my husband says better to use a phone app (I assume he means using that on the screen rather than whatever it comes with).

I find it very inappropriate that it’s sending alerts for texts while driving while scolding me for my eyes leaving the road.

I love when it has the speed limit, though that’s not every where yet.

And the automatic stopping if getting too close to a stopped car does work.  My husband got careless last week or so going way too fast off a freeway dismount, I don’t think I have ever been as scared in a car as I was that moment. (There were more dangerous times but didn’t have a chance to get scared before figuring out the danger was passed or slamming into the dashboard).

Don’t know if we would had completely avoided a fender bender without the car taking over (he said he could feel it engaging the brake harder than he was).  He loves the cruise control on the freeway as it keeps him a certain distance from cars in front of him.  It may be a little too sensitive about veering too far left and right.

I was researching a few days ago on which vehicle feels like you're going slower than you are on the highways and one of the vehicles they listed was the Outback!  And I believe Lexus was also on the list. And some high end European vehicles. Thanks for the information about your Outback too, and thinking I will have to adjust to these newer safety devices on vehicles now.

[rodheadlee]

On 12/9/2025 at 1:21 PM, Tacenda said:

I have a little dilemma, that is huge to me. I've been driving a 2009 Honda CRV and on the highway it feels like I'm going super fast, very noisy and shakes a little at certain speeds. I've driven it for over 5 years. I love Honda's and didn't want a car payment, liked it on sight and bought it, but now have come to this cross road in my life of not liking it at all for that one reason. 

I have anxiety on the freeways and thought it had something to do with my thyroid. But had a bad experience with the vehicle before the Honda in a snowstorm and my wipers weren't functioning and was trying to drive on the freeway all the while reaching out and trying to get the wipers free of compacted snow, it nearly did me in. So now I'm asking for help, don't dare do it on FB because I'm a little embarrassed but feel safe asking here. 

What vehicles do you drive or do you have knowledge of a vehicle that feels like they're going slower than they really are. Those vehicles that people drive on the freeway/highway and they look down at the speedometer and realize they're going ninety and need to slow down. My vehicle, they'd know it! Thanks in advance for any suggestions on vehicles. I need to buy one before I'm totally afraid. I read recently an article that said it could be a sign of dementia when people choose not to drive at high speeds. Also, it could be that the freeway/highway is so bad because the state you live in was rated 2nd worst speeders in the nation, haha.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions. 

 

BMW 530xi station wagon. 100mph feels like 70mph.

Edited December 22, 2025 by rodheadlee

[Tacenda]

14 hours ago, rodheadlee said:

BMW 530xi station wagon. 100mph feels like 70mph.

Thanks for the input!! I took a look at the Outback, and wasn't happy with a few things. So I'm still in need of suggestions.

[rodheadlee]

10 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Thanks for the input!! I took a look at the Outback, and wasn't happy with a few things. So I'm still in need of suggestions.

Are you looking for brand new or low mile used? It looks like BMW stop making the 330xi station wagon and they now have the M5. The M5 is very fast and very expensive. If I could afford it I would get a Mercedes E-Class station wagon like the E350. They're all wheel Drive and so were the BMWs. If you can find a really low mile 2019 BMW xi 330 or 328 station wagon, they drive very well. They are very expensive to work on I had a warranty Forever on mine. It wasn't forever but it was good for $280,000 miles. I didn't change the oil within 6 months so they canceled it. But they paid a lot of money on stuff like oil leaks on a camshaft and things like that. They were very good about paying out. The warranty I have on my Jeep is terrible. The big German station wagons handle very well. I have never driven the Volkswagen station wagons. The Audi station wagons I have driven drive very well too. I think my next ride might be a Audi Q5 or Q7. I don't know if they still make the Audi Allroad but it was a very good car it had seats like a Rolls-Royce. It's an actual station wagon rather than a SUV.

Edited December 23, 2025 by rodheadlee

[Tacenda]

2 minutes ago, rodheadlee said:

Are you looking for brand new or low mile used? It looks like BMW stop making the 330xi station wagon and they now have the M5. The M5 is very fast and very expensive. If I could afford it I would get a Mercedes E-Class station wagon like the E350. They're all wheel Drive and so were the BMWs. If you can find a really low mile 2019 BMW xi 330 or 328 station wagon, they drive very well. They are very expensive to work on I had a warranty Forever on mine. It wasn't forever but it was good for $280,000 miles. I didn't change the oil within 6 months so they canceled it. But they paid a lot of money on stuff like oil leaks on a camshaft and things like that. They were very good about paying out. The warranty I have on my Jeep is terrible. The big German station wagons handle very well. I have never driven the Volkswagen station wagons. The Audi station wagons I have driven drive very well too. I think my next ride might be a Audi Q5 or Q7.

I'm kind of a tightwad and can't bring myself to buy a brand new vehicle. 

Sounds like wagon types are good smooth riding machines.

That has always been my drawback on the BMW etc. the pricey upkeep. 

I've been looking for so long to get a vehicle. Is there a medical term for me, lol. Funny not funny. Seriously, the other day I was talking to a saleswoman who said she remembers me inquiring this same time last year! But sadly, it's been over two years of looking. 

 

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I've been looking for so long to get a vehicle.

Decision paralysis…too many choices leads to no choice, very common.  It was probably the biggest reason I rarely went out to eat once I realized I could not make just as good a meal as a restaurant if it was something besides waffles (better than any restaurant I have gone to) or chicken and dumplings (definitely as good as and much cheaper) and a few other dishes.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-of-parallels/202406/navigating-your-way-out-of-decision-paralysis#:~:text=Fear of judgment.,or could lead to criticism.

I hate, hate, hate it when my husband says “whatever you want” (especially when it’s not really whatever I want since I love Asian and other cuisines he’s not that fond of).

Edited December 23, 2025 by Calm

[Kenngo1969]

On 12/22/2025 at 9:44 PM, rodheadlee said:

... If you can find a really low mile 2019 BMW xi 330 or 328 station wagon, they drive very well. They are very expensive to work on I had a warranty Forever on mine. It wasn't forever but it was good for $280,000 miles. ...

With the price of gas these days, what's that, like, 5 miles?!   

(Sorry!  Had to do it!)