High speed driving in Germany
Discussion
Why don't you visit the Nordschleife at the Nuerburgring for true high speed testing ? Take a look at www.nurburgring.de for all info you need.
FYI: The unrestricted driving in Germany may be at risk soon. There was a case recently where a Mercedes employee was quickly aproaching another car on the left (right in UK) lane. The driver of the other car (a young mother with her two kids) was shocked by the fast approaching object in her mirror and feared a collision. That's why she suddenly pulled over to the middle lane and lost control over her car resulting in a fatal accident where she and her two kids died. The tabloits claim it was the fault of the Mercedes "hooligan" driver. Now there's a discussion in Germany about speeding being banned, well thank you.
FYI: The unrestricted driving in Germany may be at risk soon. There was a case recently where a Mercedes employee was quickly aproaching another car on the left (right in UK) lane. The driver of the other car (a young mother with her two kids) was shocked by the fast approaching object in her mirror and feared a collision. That's why she suddenly pulled over to the middle lane and lost control over her car resulting in a fatal accident where she and her two kids died. The tabloits claim it was the fault of the Mercedes "hooligan" driver. Now there's a discussion in Germany about speeding being banned, well thank you.
1 of the main reasons for going through Germany is to do the 'ring.... 
And althought the Cerb will no doubt be very quick there, there isn't enough space for a flat-out run.....
The way things are going, soon there will be no-where in europe where you can max out a car (airfield days are good, but a 2 mile straight isn't long enough to max out most cars).....
Thanks for the info though
And althought the Cerb will no doubt be very quick there, there isn't enough space for a flat-out run..... The way things are going, soon there will be no-where in europe where you can max out a car (airfield days are good, but a 2 mile straight isn't long enough to max out most cars).....
Thanks for the info though
Most of the autobahn is de-restricted. Even more (pretty much all) is 2 lane. Much is pretty poor quality.
Speed is prinicpally goverend by the amount of traffic out there. Trucks are limited (I think) to 60mph and there are a lot out there. Turbulance makes overtaking at much above 120 a bit hairy!
Found a new & empty bit just south of Osnabruk which afforded the opertunity to get the Chim up to 145
Speed is prinicpally goverend by the amount of traffic out there. Trucks are limited (I think) to 60mph and there are a lot out there. Turbulance makes overtaking at much above 120 a bit hairy!
Found a new & empty bit just south of Osnabruk which afforded the opertunity to get the Chim up to 145
True, most of the autobahn's are in bad condition and if they aren't being dug up then they are nearly all only 2 lanes and crowded. When in the Tuscan and because of the bad road surfaces, i am often forced to drive slower than when in my Land Rover ....
There is a nice stretch on the A5 heading south of Frankfurt to Darmstadt though. Four to five lanes, great condition and mostly unlimited.
Paul
There is a nice stretch on the A5 heading south of Frankfurt to Darmstadt though. Four to five lanes, great condition and mostly unlimited.
Paul
I agree - some of the Autobahns are in a terrible state of repair. A friend who uses them regularly on his bike says it is bloody frightening as you get stuck in the ruts and can't safely change lanes.
There are some really good bits around in places. They keep them re-surfaced regularly as they have removable barriers in the middle so that in the event that they ever need to invade Poland they can use them as runways as well!
Tony
There are some really good bits around in places. They keep them re-surfaced regularly as they have removable barriers in the middle so that in the event that they ever need to invade Poland they can use them as runways as well!
Tony
olly said:
I'm planning a driving holiday in Europe next summer, and am trying to find out where the unrestricted sections of the autobahns are, so I can see how fast the Cerb really is. Does anyone know if there web-site listing all the unrestricted sections ?
Thanks
well, unrestricted sections are harder to find every day.
A good starting point is www.baunetz.de/bmvbw/verkehr/bab/karte01.htm where you can check for road works on your route.
I loved speeding the A9 from Nürnberg to Munich, 3 lanes and well maintained. Prefer Sundays as there will be no trucks around.
Have some Weißwurst in Munich and take the A8 down to Salzburg which is fast and scenic.
Don't miss the countryroads in Bavaria, very well maintained, scenic and fun to drive (around Berchtesgaden it's breathtaking).
A few words of advice:
driving in Germany is not as relaxed as in the UK, if you approach traffic on the middle lane, watch out, some people love to try to teach others "safe driving".
If you think going 140 mph is fast, it may not be, the bloke in the Porsche behind you will get closer until can't see his lights flashing anymore (happened to me).
There's a lot of morons out there and chrashing at these speeds means bye bye to Kansas.
I'll do my next trip to Germany with my Tiv, let's see if they still give me the blinkenlights if I just floor it when they get too close
My experiences of the Autobahns back in Easter were a real eye opener.
I had been looking forward to legally 'opening it up', but when the opportunity came it hi lighted items that I hadn't even considered...
I have teken my car well over the 150 mark a few times in the UK, so I'm aware of what it feels like, but what this didn't prepare me for was the tailgating in Germany. Now I don't know if it was because of the 'Brit' in the red sports car or what but I found the experience of travelling at speeds in excess of 140 with a 7 Series so close behind that I couldn't read his number plate quite terrorfying.
As anyone who drives fast knows, the level of cencentration needed to anticipate other drivers and traffic movements is intense as everything happens so quickly, but trying to do this while keeping one eye on the Kraut behind, was stress enducing!
I enjoyed driving Germany on the whole, as being able to use bursts of power without possible penalty always enduced a grin, but sustained very hi-speed travel was just too fraught with danger as far as I was concerned.
But, having said this, the users of the Autobahns unfailing observation of variable speed limits was a credit, I can only put this down to the fact that if there was a lower limit imposed it was seen to be so for a reason.
Anyway, enjoy the hack. If I go to Germany again it'll be to do the 'ring and not the Autobahns.
Tim
I had been looking forward to legally 'opening it up', but when the opportunity came it hi lighted items that I hadn't even considered...
I have teken my car well over the 150 mark a few times in the UK, so I'm aware of what it feels like, but what this didn't prepare me for was the tailgating in Germany. Now I don't know if it was because of the 'Brit' in the red sports car or what but I found the experience of travelling at speeds in excess of 140 with a 7 Series so close behind that I couldn't read his number plate quite terrorfying.
As anyone who drives fast knows, the level of cencentration needed to anticipate other drivers and traffic movements is intense as everything happens so quickly, but trying to do this while keeping one eye on the Kraut behind, was stress enducing!
I enjoyed driving Germany on the whole, as being able to use bursts of power without possible penalty always enduced a grin, but sustained very hi-speed travel was just too fraught with danger as far as I was concerned.
But, having said this, the users of the Autobahns unfailing observation of variable speed limits was a credit, I can only put this down to the fact that if there was a lower limit imposed it was seen to be so for a reason.
Anyway, enjoy the hack. If I go to Germany again it'll be to do the 'ring and not the Autobahns.
Tim
i live in düsseldorf, most of the roads are quite busy round here, but there's one dead straight and fairly empty section
from oberhausen head north on the 31. this road isn't finished yet, ther is a gap which they should be filling in by spring next year, anyway, after the gap the road is arrow straight and usually empty. it has one 120 kmh section, then you are home free all the way to Emden on the north sea, the road continues east towards Bremen as the a29 (i think, maybe wrong number)
it's only two lanes, and pretty dull, but hardly any trucks use it and few enough cars that they all stay in the right lane
there again, the a9 is great
the a7 from hannover to kassel is pretty good fun too, loads of quite tight (for a motorway) sweeping left/rights, three lanes
from oberhausen head north on the 31. this road isn't finished yet, ther is a gap which they should be filling in by spring next year, anyway, after the gap the road is arrow straight and usually empty. it has one 120 kmh section, then you are home free all the way to Emden on the north sea, the road continues east towards Bremen as the a29 (i think, maybe wrong number)
it's only two lanes, and pretty dull, but hardly any trucks use it and few enough cars that they all stay in the right lane
there again, the a9 is great
the a7 from hannover to kassel is pretty good fun too, loads of quite tight (for a motorway) sweeping left/rights, three lanes
Where the A61 meets the A1, south of Koln, down the A1 to the 'Ring. Good road, long striaghts, little traffic, few cross winds and slightly down hill.
Seen over 200 mph (I admit on the speedo) in my Cerb 4.5 on a number of occassions. I once took a Merc SLK230 down there, which strangely started missfiring at high speeds or so it appeared, until my passenger realised it was the car's 155 mph speed limiter (I think Autocar got 130 mph on their tests at the time).
Seen over 200 mph (I admit on the speedo) in my Cerb 4.5 on a number of occassions. I once took a Merc SLK230 down there, which strangely started missfiring at high speeds or so it appeared, until my passenger realised it was the car's 155 mph speed limiter (I think Autocar got 130 mph on their tests at the time).
)A61 at the ring now has cameras on it, forward facing at the overhead signs.
most sections have cameras around now, i'm told there for restricted periods only (night/r-works etc) so i'm not sure how long fun time will last. it gets better the further over you go.
tailgateing is normal, worse in belgium which has very long straight roads and is much easier to test the car at high speed. no cameras yet (nov) but normal 80mph limits.
course the best is france! hugh empty well kept payage's BUT the old bill are all over them so you take your chance. VERY difficult to resist when you've been cruising at 120 for a day or two.
i did the a1 ring to reims last year in 11 hours. including fuel stops must have averaged about the 100 mark. mostly 120 hitting 160 for several periods (LOVED watching the MZ3 bouncing on the rev limiter as i passed him)
top down all the way...happy days!
most sections have cameras around now, i'm told there for restricted periods only (night/r-works etc) so i'm not sure how long fun time will last. it gets better the further over you go.
tailgateing is normal, worse in belgium which has very long straight roads and is much easier to test the car at high speed. no cameras yet (nov) but normal 80mph limits.
course the best is france! hugh empty well kept payage's BUT the old bill are all over them so you take your chance. VERY difficult to resist when you've been cruising at 120 for a day or two.
i did the a1 ring to reims last year in 11 hours. including fuel stops must have averaged about the 100 mark. mostly 120 hitting 160 for several periods (LOVED watching the MZ3 bouncing on the rev limiter as i passed him
) top down all the way...happy days!
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