Comments on: Episode 124: Car vs. Rain

By: connie

connie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:04:02 +0000

well, I was driving my 96 camaro with the top down on a highway going 65 MPH when a severe downpour began and lasted around 6 minutes. The faster I drove the less wet I got, In fact there were just a few droplets of rain in the car when it finally stopped.

By: Luc Botes

Luc Botes — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:16:40 +0000

Can you guys test if a 2 milliwatt laser can burn/set off matches. (i saw it on youtube and want to buy one)

By: William Lower

William Lower — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:09:13 +0000

Just letting you know that the Mythbusters actually used a 110 kilowatt laser, not a 10 watt laser, as this was the highest wattage that was available to them.

By: kevin

kevin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:45:12 +0000

They were not using the wipers what about that

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:37:35 +0000

hey mythbuster guys i watch u show every time i get a chance i made a paper cross bow i kill a rabbit with it it works so gd i love it

By: James Garner

James Garner — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:19:27 +0000

I drive a mazda miata in Montgomery Alabama.
In light rains, I do not bother with the roof becuase, I WILL not get wet (until I stop)
I only have to be doing 25 or 30 MPH to see this impact in light rain. In heavy rain, it is another story. I must be doing 40 or faster to notice this affect. Others have pointed to the shape of the car, whcih makes sense, as the aerodymamics will set up aroud a car (even at low speeds) and carry the water over the driver.

Your results confirmed for me someting that I had suspected after watching the show. The potential legal implications of your determiations impct your determinations. You should separate results from iplications. State for example. Confirmed byut a BAD IDEA. (not recommended)

The affect discussed is real. The show demonstrated it, but your chosen test mechanism showed the affect only at high speed, leaving you in the quandry, do we say yes, and leave people thinking it’s a good idea to speed in the rain (speeding is a bad idea, wet or dry, and worse wet!) or simply decare it plausible. Better testing would have shown the affect at slower speeds, avoiding the quandry.

Please take time to determine the full nature of the myth and devise a proper test for it. I would recommend some scientifically trained staff members review tests for plausability of determining the nature of the myth in question.

I do enjoy the show and the kids love it immensly.
Keep it up!

Plese take a little more time to understand the inssue and devise a test that acurately answers the question.

By: Rod Davison

Rod Davison — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:05:31 +0000

Hi Mythbusters,
I just watched the car vs rain episode. I have a BMW Z4 and I can confirm that I stay perfectly dry at any speed above 40km/h (about 25mph). I did notice that for your test, you left the windows down. I’m pretty sure your “stay-dry” speed would have been quite a bit lower. I suggest you need to test more than one convertible before you suggest that it requires unsafe speeds.

By: Neat

Neat — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:48:58 +0000

Plausable???????

Why did you even do the Rain VS Car experiment when in the end even though the Results CONFIRMED the myth you still Said Plausable?

I mean its not very scientific in my opinion. Yes I understand the Legal implications. ie people might try it and then blame you for their accidents but whouldn’t a simple disclaimer cover you on that issue?

the bottom line is that it is quite pointless to spend all that time and effort doing an experiment and in the end just ignoring the fact that NOT A SINGLE DROP entered the car. the results are pretty conclusive to me

By: Chris P

Chris P — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:28:04 +0000

Don is right in that the larger tires will change the gear ratio. The max speed is more a function of the engine HP and the aerodynamics of the car. FYI: C5 corvette hits 183 mph with a 350 HP engine.

By: lloyd sykes

lloyd sykes — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:20:56 +0000

Driving in the rain at 30 – 40 mph , look not at
the speedo try the direction as you corner, can you steer out of the situation an point your car in the
right direction with the other yelling! thats hard
you want to say shut up! but its instinct if youre
driving habits are there otherswise its like a bug
hitting the wind shield its the other car rear,
rc cars are good on school pavement or a parking
lot if not alot of other traffic, if you cant drive those then , drive what youre use toits
the name or the price you pay for the vehicle.