|
Re: Sharing my recent European observations with my fellow Forumers
Quote:
Originally posted by pcmaher
Just got back from a European Vacation. The countries we visited were Iceland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Czech Republic. Signage in Austria and Germany is great. They really do have the Tourist in mind. It’s very easy to find your way around. Italy and the Czech Republic are quite a bit different. For example, it took us 45 minutes to get out of Venice. At one point, there were three different signs for our destination, all pointing in different directions!
Ah, Venice: who wants to leave that place anyway...
Some trip you made. Didn't do France and the UK (=righthand driving)? Sorry you missed driving the Boulevard Peripherique and Place d'Etoile in Paris: exhilirating.
Owning a 1995 S600, I was naturally keeping my eyes peeled for W140’s on this trip. I saw relatively few, and was disappointed. I see far more around the Chicago area. I saw only one confirmed V12 W140, in Iceland of all places, no others spotted during the entire trip. I can’t be entirely sure, because many vehicles have no designators on the trunk lid. You can’t tell what size engine they have. I was very surprised at the amount of diesels. They outnumber gas cars in some places. My cousin has a 1994 BMW 5 series with a 2.5 liter (I think that was correct) diesel in it. Stick shift, no A/C, and the rear windows are crank operated! Many of the MB’s I saw had engines that are not available here in the States. Lots of E classes with 2.0 liter engines.
Really big engines are a bit rare in Europe (V6 is about it), and things like AC and electric windows have become standard only recently. Diesel is very popular here these days, especially since the introduction of direct injection engines (TDI, CDI) which has made them just as quick as petrol engines with far better fuel economy (FYI, MB over here traditionally has a diesel engine, very different from the US).
[...]
Down in Austria, I was tooling along at 140 kmh in an Opel Astra Station Wagon (I had pushed it to 165kmh in Germany, but that was very uncomfortable with 4 people and lots of luggage. The car was on the hairy edge, so 140 kmh was the comfort limit). The Opel was a disappointment. We had originally reserved a brand new E class, and I was really looking forward to wringing it out on the Autobahn. I later found out that the Rental Company would not insure MB’s for travel in Italy and the Czech Republic. The Opel was the only vehicle covered for travel in those countries. After driving it, I can see why. No one would want to steal this thing. Anyway, we’re doing 140 kmh in Austria, and we are passing everyone. Subconsciously I’m wondering what the hell is going on. We can’t possibly have the fastest car around. I eventually spot a Porsche Carrera coming up slowly behind us. He’s moving “slow”, maybe 150 kmh. I’m thinking this is a shame, a beautiful speed machine like that and he’s barely passing an Opel station Wagon! NEWS FLASH! There is a speed limit in Austria!! The limit is 130 kmh. I discovered this later, and at that time finally realized why the Porsche was traveling so slowly.
Yep, authorities here have discovered that speeding camera's generate very nice extra revenues, especially at places where higher speeds are no prob at all, like the Autobahn. BUT, if you drive a foreign car, camera tickets cannot be charged to other countries, so foreigners can speed whatever they want (guess authorities will find a solution for that soon aswell). Unless you are caught in the act by the police, and you have to pay cash or leave your car behind...
MB provides many different vehicles in Europe, far more than in the US. Buses, trucks, V class vans, A class cars, and I think they make the Smart Car (that thing is tiny…I would never drive in one of those). The big trucks are absolutely beautiful. I wonder why we don’t see them here?
The kind of models that MB is providing lately is downright disgraceful. Ever seen/heard of a model called 'Vaneo'? I guess that MB tries to gain a bigger share of the car market, but it sure it loosing its image of limousine and power cars. Audi and BMW are much more popular now, and rightly so!
[b]
I think that there is a mistaken belief that there is no speed limit on the German Autobahns. There are speed limits in Germany in many places, but some stretches of Autobahn are not speed-limited. The fastest cars / drivers I saw were Audi, BMW, and VW of all things! Station Wagon VW’s! Saw some new E class going pretty fast, but the BMW’s were blowing past like I was standing still. The fastest vehicle I saw was a brand new 645 BMW. Good God, he had to be doing 150 mph…a beautiful sight to behold. The sound these vehicles make going that fast is also incredible. To my European Brothers and Sisters owning MB’s…this was embarrassing! These cars should be moving over for us! Come on, let’s turn this around and make sure those Audi’s, BMW’s, and definitely VW station wagons see your high beams flashing 3 feet off their bumpers! I’m counting on you to rightfully reclaim the Speed Crown!
I know, I know  Audi's and BMW's are fine, but these stationwagons are really humiliating.... the horror, the horror.
BTW, in Germany, and other countries to follow, there is a point-system whereby offenders get points for each offense, and when a certain amount is reached, the driver looses his/het license. If I compare speeds today with that of -lets say- ten years ago, speeds have gone down a bit. Or maybe its just me driving faster...
I know of stretches between between Nuremburg and Regensburg, and Karlsruhe and Basel where there is no speed limit (I believe). I remember doing speed contests there with other cars at 150 mph for miles and miles, until some 911 or AMG came up and blasted away. GREAT fun that was.
It was really something to watch the traffic on the three lane Autobahn. These people drive like they're waltzing together. There is deliberation, cooperation, and an uncanny ability to sense what the other driver will do in the next instant. It was so nice to see people moving over for faster drivers. There is no insult in moving over, it is simply the proper ettiquette over there (this was in total contrast to the AS@HOL$ in the left lane doing 70 mph on 94 East when I was coming home. He didn't budge, so I had to pass him on the right).
(I always dislike people doing that, whatever the circumstance, like driving through a red light.)
Proper etiquette, as you call it, is probably because traffic has become so dense nowadays, and people have accepted the fact that they must give and take to get around. Mind you, it's not always like you describe, plenty of AH's still around... Guess that's a universal problem.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed my rambling to some extent. I would be interested to hear about other people's experiences in Europe as well, and I would also like to hear from our European friends.
|
__________________
2011 Prius
|