Autobahn/2012 E220 euro driving saga - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jim B. · #1 06-20-2012, 08:36 AM

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Begins in an hour with ride to the airport, through Philadelphia to Frankfurt.

Arrving tomorrow at about 10am Germany time.

I am on my own but have another couple of folks (Doctor and daughter) in some other car that will come too (Tour guide's sister had a heart attack and might not come the gide might not make it - tlll Stuttgart. Bought a new netbook/camera and will try and set them up and post a running description and if possible, photos.

this a a driving tour for car enthusiasts but for many reasons all the other 16 people had to drop out so it is just 2 cars.

I am going to try and hit - in Bavaria, as the MB Classic center is included already, also a MB w123/w124/w126 junkyard, there must be one in Munich or Stuttgart and the MB euro delivery center ....

Beyond buying a cuckoo clock in the Black Forest, no ther concrete planhs.

Having the keys to a new car affords some flexibility. And LOTS of fun - more than a train or bus would.

A bw w126 member currently in Geneva Switzerland has asked me for a meet up and may drve through the Alps ad visit there one of the days.

Printed tour, seaqys

first day Frankfurt

2nd day race track in Hockenheim (DTM race site)

then Gundelsheim, castles and small towns

then Kientzheim France (Alsace Lorraine wine country) where my grandparents were from, on the German side

then Stuttgart, Porsche museum in Zuffenhausen, Rolls Royce & Bugatti museums, BMW museum

then Lech Austria,

then couple of days in Munich. One of them on my own

t walgamuth · #2 06-20-2012, 08:57 AM

That sounds like fun!

I'm jealous.

TheDon · #3 06-20-2012, 09:42 AM

So did you buy a car or something?

Jim B. · #4 06-26-2012, 08:52 PM

notes from Stuttgart Gemany

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It´s pretty fun to wail up the Autobahn @225 kph on the German schnellstrasse even if it´s in a new Audi A6 and not the e220 diesel I had paid for. This car tour consists of only ME ad he chiropractor and his daughter,even the tour guide is not here so we are improvising and with the aid of our sat navs (He is campaigning a little B180 and the 3 of us are often riding together in my Audi.

Only spotted one w126 so far ... a clean debadged astral silber Gen. IISE of some kind. A handful of pagoda roofs, R107s and a 300CE in Colemar (France#s Alsatian wine country) the other day..
Today the PORSCHE MUSEUM AT nearby ZUFFENHAUSEN beckons, after which it is the MERCEDES classic center museum, and if time allows, the euro delivery center, and with luck, a w123 w124 and w126 junkyard, if I CAN FIND ONE, or such still even exists; MAYBE IN Munich after I get back from Austria.

Today was very breath taking moutain driving, up higher and higher through the Black Forest, then ascending through ground zero for cuckuuhren heaven Triborg) wher I TOTALLY SPLURGED and bought too fine cuckoo clocks there , for $1100 bucks but it was worth it for something I always had wnted to buy....

Hard to explain it but the europeans have a relaxed style and an appreciation of life, and a fine sense of style, food, design, fashion, (AN EXAMPLE OF THIS THE OTHER NIGHT in France AS STORE DISPLAY OF SHOES CONSISING OF SHOES ARTFULLY ARRANGED ON A SMALL DISPLAY CONSISTING ONLY OF A cutdown miniature SET OF STARS in the store window... ) and joie de vivre that is utterly lacking in the hurry up USA.

The Frnch natives are ridiculously easy to spot, they are the ones smoking cigarettes and walking their dogs...

I am finding Europe to be indescribably beautiful, from the rural French wine country, to the German mountain areas, and all the big cities, and small villages between, and the people are engaging friendly and hepful, and the countries are VERY technically advanced, and the Autobahn is an utter joy to traverse. Driving on it quickly is like crack cocaine for me. I have already done over 1,000 kms already.
More later,
Auf weidersehen

ALLE ist GUT!

ah-kay · #5 06-26-2012, 09:06 PM

Hi Jim,

I envy you. Drink lot of beer. It is cheap, it is cheaper now as the Euro rate is low. I was in Berlin and Dresden last month and the weather was gorgeous. I traveled on the Autobahn in a Coach, not in new MBZ. I did travel in a 1956 MBZ coach in Dresden to go to a golf course to play a round of golf. Berlin and Dresden are a couple of beautiful cities. A lot of historical buildings, most are rebuilt from ruin, especially in Dresden but are beautiful nonetheless. Enjoy the trip and see you at the next meet.

t walgamuth · #6 06-26-2012, 11:55 PM

nds like you are having a great time!

I've driven on the Autobahn but only about 80 mph or so in my old 61 220b back in 1973. I also did it in 1970 in a 59 beetle which would have been lucky to top 79 mph.

Maybe one day I'll be able to do it faster.

Jim B. · #7 07-15-2012, 08:45 AM

Back and pretty much unpacked. It was tons of fun!

Sinsheim Auto museum und Technik

Things went so quickly that there was not time for more, and to keep the battery charged.

Thanks to my pal bondavi for uploading these though. I will post them seriatum as I took them.
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My touring companions, the Doctor from Reno, Nevada, Reid, and his daughter Lexi, it was just the three of us, in two cars, his Mercedes B180, with a manual, and me with the Audi A6 (biggest car I could get, for the Autobahn). Safe to say we became fast friends, and mostly stayed together; they are wonderful people and the "tour" was just us three. The tour director was not there so we figured out the GPS on our vehicles and improvised whenever we had to.

The first pic's are from the Sinsheim Auto und Technik museum we visited.

Ther wwII Afrika campaign vehicles,

kubelwagen!

OBVIOUSLY not a Konigstiger tank!

Jim B. · #8 07-15-2012, 08:53 AM

antique tractors

The Opel Blitz trucks were a major warhorse in the war; I think they are a lot like the "Deuce-and-a-half" US Army trucks of 35 years ago used by the US Army (Vietnam war era)

Jim B. · #9 07-15-2012, 08:56 AM

The tour director, who was not there, had a friend and ex employee, the delightful Maria, join us, for a tour of the Schloss Heidelberg, (seen 3rd from left).

Jim B. · #10 07-15-2012, 09:00 AM

Heidelberg and its castle above the city, overlooking the Neckar river (I think it was) is of note because everything there was not bombed by the Americans, at the request of the American general, at the time, who it's said, could have ordered it razed to the ground, as many other cities around it, were.
It's believed he loved the town and spared it from destruction.

Thus the castle remains untouched and exactly as it was many hundreds of years ago.

As it happened, there was a wedding in progress - good place for one. the couple had selected a dark green beautiful '71 250SE cabrio ( I think it is ) wedding vehicle. Nice choice - far better than a white Lincoln town car stretch limo, which to me, is rather vulgar.

We went on to view the castle...

Jim B. · #11 07-15-2012, 09:02 AM

*ABSOLUTELY* NO ice cream cones to be consumed whilst touring the Heidelberg castle's pharmacy museum. I want a decal like that for my red Plum and the AMG coupe.

Overlooking the Neckar river and the town below from the castle:

leaving Heidelberg,

(Castle elevator)

Along the Neckar river,

Auf wiedersehen Heidelberg!

Jim B. · #12 07-15-2012, 09:07 AM

and were in the Alsace wine country of France. Time for dinner.

Jim B. · #13 07-15-2012, 09:10 AM

"Life is like a voyage on the Titanic, so you might as well go first class".

A gay college professor at UC back in 1968 said that, to us and i still remembered it.

This was a lavish first class place but we loved it. I think it cost 98 euros for the meal and drinks,

but it was wonderful!