My drive from Salzburg to Frankfurt...(long)

[rhs63]

No, it wasn't in my ///M5, but, I sure wish it was.
Last week, my wife and I drove our rented car (an Opel) from Salzburg, Austria, to Frankfurt, Germany at the end of our vacation.
I've never driven on the Autobahn before, so, I was looking forward to it. It was the most glorious driving experience I've ever had. I averaged around 160kph for hours, with no drama, no fear, and no idiots. I didn't feel comfortable cruising any faster, since the little 1.9 liter 4-banger was working kind of hard. And, the car wasn't mine, you know?
The drive through Austria was breathtaking while I was flying through the Austrian valleys. We then cruised into the gently rolling German farmland where things got even faster. My wife was never nervous. She napped, or read, or just watched the scenery fly by. What impressed me the most, was no one, I mean NO ONE, passed me on the right, or tailgated me or did anything to make me nervous, during the entire trip. Everyone minded their manners.
Most of the cars flying by me (always on the left, without exception) were midsize Bimmer's, Merc's, Audi's and the odd VW sedan. Then, every once in a while, a big German UBER-sedan would absolutely BLOW by me. I swear I could feel the earth move when they went by. They had to be travelling around 250kph I think. I could see them come up to passing traffic in the left lane. They would hit the brakes, wait until the other driver moved over, which they always did, and then lit the afterburners and disappeared.
It was wonderful. Ohhhh... to be wealthy and German. Sigh.....
The only negative? Fuel, whether petrol or diesel, is expensive. Ouch. Now, vacation is over, and I'm back in my traffic clogged, hell-hole we call Atlanta, Georgia. Ugh.....
If you have never done it, rent a car and try it some time. It's quite a revelation. Happy motoring.

[Mark_88_M5]

[Bruce in Canada]

is not really the issue.. the issue is driving on the left..
I think if everyone kept right except to pass.. the passing would have no choice but to be on the left.

I stick to the right lane here and it has only a fraction of the traffic as the other lanes. I end up passing many cars on the right. I am more than happy to change lanes as much as necessary, when i last measured, there is no more than a half inch of steering wheel movement to change lanes... it is not very high in effort to do.

From a root cause standpoint there are two big things to overcome, that is STAY RIGHT , and dont be afraid of changing lanes. Take a good look at the overall traffic density when things are flowing.. you will see there are double the amount of cars in the left lanes with tons of empty space on the right.

if we could get this into the heads of most drivers.. the flow would be so much better. I am convinced that if we tackled this problem in North America we would reduce the need for extra lanes by thousands of miles. the tax dollar savings is astronomical.

B

[Philo]

In LA, and most cities, you need to drive the flow...., some times traffic moves better on the right, some time left and some time straight down the middle.

However, Bruce's point simply wont fly in the US I think. No matter how much education we trow out there. What I've noticed is that people who drive slow in the left lanes are not really driving slow at all.., at least as far as they are concerned. If the speed limit is say 65mph.., they will sit in the fast lane at 65 and feel perfectly within their right to do so. Regardless of the flow and speed of traffic around them.

Until we have a "no speed limit" culture in the US we're all just wishful thinking. The only time I have ever experienced a Stay Right mentality on the road is while driving on open highways out in the boonies. And even then you get the occasional Winnebago hanging out in the left passing lane doing 50 mph with blue smoke piling out the tail pipe !

Sounds like a great trip Bob.

Philo.
--------

[rhs63]

My come-down after my Autobahn high was brutal.
My drive the following Saturday from Atlanta to Milledgeville drove me crazy!!!! Who are you people? Get out of my way! What? 55?!?!
Pull over, I'm gonna be sick.....:((

[bob.knox]

I did Octoberfest in Munich a few years ago with the wife, and then we spent a week driving around Bavaria. After having my doors blown clean off in the wet on country roads around Neuschwanstein, I decided to pick up the pace considerably. It was REALLY hard to slow down when I got home. I can't believe I didn't rack up a bunch of tickets. I was certainly in awe of the Germans driving ability and standards. Some day I will take advantage of European delivery and do it all again.

Freezing in NH without a 5er,
Bob K.88 ///M5, RIP

[warp1]

I got stuck with a 1.4l (16-v) VW Golf in '99 for my first Autobahnen experiences. But I topped it out anyway. Redlined in 5th gear, slightly downhill, at 190 km/h. The little sucker would have done more, but I figured it's bad form (as well as damned expensive) to puff the engine in the rent-a-car.

Three years prior, I got one of the then-greatest small sedans ever when I rented in Rome. An Alfa 155 1.6l 16-v. That one did an honest 210 km/h on the Autostrada - which I later discovered had a speed limit of 130. I also got the 4-hour autocross of a lifetime (Less than 5 minutes, total, above third gear!) when I drove the Amalfi Drive in it. =8^D--
C.R. Krieger
'88 535is - Da Red Dog

<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/578000-578999/578895_4_full.jpg">

[bbojangles]

the steering and braking and overall feel are great. I had a 145 quadrifolgio verde for 3 years from 1999-2002. If it was available here, Id drive one for sure. cept for the FWD, they are as good as BMW for the feel....

now dont even talk about the reliability.. that is why they are not available.. we silly north americans want them to last.

Id love to open an Alfa Dealer for the re-introduction in 08.. but the is a big obstacle. my last name does not end in a vowel.
It is so strange, you shop for a German car, you dont expect a german salesman, you shop for a japanese car, you dont expect a japanese salesman. BUT if you shop for an Italian car.. you are guaranteed to get an italian salesman....

I want my chance to open an alfa dealer.
Bruce

[rhs63]

Also, Italian cars have something that is so, so lacking in this market, STYLE.
That Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione makes my teeth sweat.
Ohhhhh baby......