I wonder how our diesels would do on the Autobahn? My SDL could probably keep up in the slower lanes but I wouldn't dare getting into the passing lane. I wonder how the SDL would do at 120 for awhile?

Did you see the begining of the show? The RUF Porscha was just sick! 212mph at night! One day I need to go to Germany and ring a MB out. I'm thinking a twin turbo S600 should do nicely!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I did see that show last night. Fascinating. Say what you want about Germans and their historic dispassion (LOL), but i certainly appreciated the seriousness (and pride) they showed in the explanation of their design philosophy - CUPHOLDERS? exactly. was fascinated about the way the show focused on the cultural differences between how american and germans (Europeans?) treat their autos.

that footage of that horrible crash and the people climbing out of the car and standing (STANDING!) by the side of the road beside the crumpled car. was horrific and comforting at the same time.

what a beautiful vision of that autobahn filled with mercedes after mercedes after mercedes (oh yeah, and the occasional volkswagon).

some of those racing cars were unbelievable.

i can only assume that the european market cars ARE designed for higher speeds...cause i'd be crazy to try and take my car over 90! (am taking a trip up to san francisco this weekend so will see how she does on the 5 freeway!)

I wish I had cable. I would have loved to have seen it. I once did (I was riding, not driving) 185 m.p. (295 k.p.h.) on the autobahn in a 911 Turbo. The friend of mine who was driving had a father that worked on 911's. His dad once blew a front tire on an older 911 doing about 140-150 m.p.h. on the autobahn. The car slammed from side to side against the guardrails until it came to a stop. His dad was able to open the door and get out. Then he got down on his knees and kissed the ground.

Also, my friend who was driving the Porsche worked for Mercedes Benz and got to drive one of their S600s. He also had it up to 180 m.p.h. and turned on the cruise control!

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I have driven the autobahns of Germany over the years, and can tell you that among the things mentioned in the show that are so, so true is this: Watch your back and keep right! The left lane is for faster traffic. Period. German patrol will give you a ticket for lingering in the left lane. You'd be surprised how fast another car can come up behind you when they are going 140 and you're only going 100!

One thing sorely lacking in this country is the serious concern for moving traffic at efficient speeds. Drive on the right, pass on the left. Leave the left lane for vehicles that want to go faster!

BTW: I've no doubt that my MB would be good at 120+mph, but I can't get it up to that speed no matter what I do.

DS
87 300D

I drove the Bahn once....we rented a 1.0 Opel 3 cyl. That thing would make 160KPH (100) and hold it and return about 30 mpg.

And the driver disipline was great.

Germany also has strict annual safety inspections. Probably 50% of cars in the US would fail. Maybe more.

In Europe, driving is a privilage, not a right. I think 18 is the minimum age to get a license. And extensive driver training is also required.

Here any morron can get a license...20 question MC test and drive around the block. Driver's Ed is only for the 16-17 age group.

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

When we were there a couple summers ago we rented a C220 4cyl diesel wagon with a 6-speed manual, we got it up to 155 mph @2,900 rpm.....mad fun, that was it however, 155 was about the absolute tops it could go.....with 5 people and luggage in the car.....we still got passed, a porshe passed us like a blur, probably going like 200!! The brakes on that car were also amazing, they could drag the road with them. It had some real wide speed tread tires too, oh, and we averaged 36miles per gallon on our travels....about 28 at 155mph however.....well worth it when you can cover 50 miles in 15 minutes That car could smoke its tires, and that was a 4cyl wagon! The engine was silent too. Had to put your ear on the front grill to hear it. Also, this thing was non-turbo, which is amazing. I'm guessing 2.4 liter?

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I've been to Germany many, many times and lived there about 2 years. They take driving very seriously. First of all, a driver's license costs over $1,000 (that was about 8 years ago, I'm sure it's more now). Part of their training requires minimum hours of daytime driving, nightime driving and autobahn driving. They also have to take first aid classes. All in all, it takes several months to get your licese as opposed to here where you take a test that any idiot can pass and drive around the block.

Most Germans are actually aware of their surroundings when they drive and aren't distracted by cell phones and loud radios.

Scott

p.s. I just thought I'd add that when we were doing 180, the engine was so loud you had to scream at the top of your lungs to talk. Also, the wind noise was so loud I thought the windshield was going to come crashing in on us.

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

The only time I ever drove on the Autobahn was in an aircooled Westfalia camper van.

We weren't moving fast, but we could make eggs en route.

I was just thinking the same thing. Thought I was the only one in the world without cable.

I don't have the cable bill to pay though


Cheers,

Bill

Hey there fellow non-cable subscriber! Every one always looks at me like I'm some kind of freak when I tell them I don't have cable. Nice to know I'm not the only one out there. Call me cheap but I refuse to pay a cable bill when I can watch regular T.V. for free. By not having a cable bill, it's like getting a free tank of diesel each month. My ex-girlfriend used to complain that I only came over so I could watch her cable.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I had cable when it was $6/month! We can get it here but I'm not paying for it.

We get along just fine without it, but I would've liked to have seen that history channel show.

I do have cable at my summer house, or should I say trailer, that is included in the lot rent. It's not all that. 60 channels with nothing on.

Cheers,

Bill

I saw that back in the spring and just errased it from the HD of my DVP reciever last week, must have watched it 4 or 5 times. Love my Dish Network Sat system.

What I thought was funny was the fine the one cop said one guy had to pay, they pay based on income.

__________________
'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

an AMG S65 or CL65 would be nice to drive there.. hehe. but i dont think i'd have the courage to run it through its paces.... eheheh... i think my human rev limiter would make me stop at about 200KPH... ehhehe

__________________
Mike

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1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...

I need to drive on the Autobahn one day I would have the guts! As soon as I saw that magic no speed limit sign my foot would go to the floor and not come up! But I would have to do it in a special car I want to do speeds I can't do in the US, I think a 911 or V12 MB would be just fine!


We can learn alot from the German style of driving. I am sick of having to pass idiots in the center lane becuase they refuse to move over. I guess no one ever told them that it is not their right to drive 55 in the left lane and hold up traffic. Then you get the people that shoot from lane to lane always cutting people off and trying to get ahead. Not to mention I have seen a huge number of cars on the road that should not be on the highway. I would love to see someone get a huge ticket for holding up the left lane.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I've done it Hattie.

1979 Golf with a n/a diesel.

Top speed: 85 mph.

Drove it for three hours with my foot on the firewall.

BTW, "Autobahn" is a generic name for "freeway". There is no "the Autobahn" just like there is no "the interstate". Each one has its own number. Instead of I-95, theirs would read: M5 as an example.