Discussion
Zippyworld said:
I am planning a high speed stint on the Autobahn.
I have driven before at 140mph but wanted to know if there is a thread or any advice that experienced drivers can share at a higher speed
I have a Jag which will do the job
The autobahns are frequently quite crowded so I would be inclined to use an offpeak time like early Sunday morning for example. Pick some more rural stretches rather than around large cities.I have driven before at 140mph but wanted to know if there is a thread or any advice that experienced drivers can share at a higher speed
I have a Jag which will do the job
In my experience German drivers are very predictable and are aware of the traffic around them, but there are sometimes tourists who do not share that awareness.
I have frequently run quite high speeds on the autobahns over the years; just remember that they are not fully unlimited, often 120km/h in wet conditions and under bridges, so keep an eye on the speed limit.
Stay in the middle lane unless you are passing.
At 180MPH you are running three miles a minute of course , so be aware that traffic ahead can suddenly slow down in there is a problem or congestion.
I did a pre-dawn Sunday autobahn run many years go with a mate who had the identical car; here is my old vid of Vmax:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMKkPxei0I
be aware that even the unlimited sections have some corners that tighten a little, which especially in a heavier car can become an issue at very high speeds and you really do not want to be mid-corner and have to brake hard due to traffic.
The road surfaces tend to be quite good, but sometimes there are bumps, which under acceleration/braking can unsettle the car a little.
Be careful in some open sections (especially over bridges) as there can be wind gusts that will move cars a little sideways (a very unsettling feeling imo).
Lane discipline is usually quite good but exceptions prove the rule and all that (also you have to keep in mind that judging the approach speed of a car coming up behind you is rather difficult, it is not like people can look in the rearview mirror for 10 seconds nonstop to see how fast it is moving). I tend to look at number plates (usually lift when passing foreign plates) and cover my brakes when approaching other cars at very high speeds.
Some people will be glued to your rear bumper even at higher speeds, just let them pass, so they can annoy the people in front of you (and preferably leave some space in case they do cause a crash ahead of you).
I just go with the flow of traffic. Targeting a specific speed can be a little dangerous as you then think "just another couple of seconds and I am there, it will be fine"
Just pointing out the obvious one, the consequences of crashing at high speed are very very serious. I once did and only barely survived thanks to the roll cage in my car and an unbelievable number of lucky stars.
The road surfaces tend to be quite good, but sometimes there are bumps, which under acceleration/braking can unsettle the car a little.
Be careful in some open sections (especially over bridges) as there can be wind gusts that will move cars a little sideways (a very unsettling feeling imo).
Lane discipline is usually quite good but exceptions prove the rule and all that (also you have to keep in mind that judging the approach speed of a car coming up behind you is rather difficult, it is not like people can look in the rearview mirror for 10 seconds nonstop to see how fast it is moving). I tend to look at number plates (usually lift when passing foreign plates) and cover my brakes when approaching other cars at very high speeds.
Some people will be glued to your rear bumper even at higher speeds, just let them pass, so they can annoy the people in front of you (and preferably leave some space in case they do cause a crash ahead of you).
I just go with the flow of traffic. Targeting a specific speed can be a little dangerous as you then think "just another couple of seconds and I am there, it will be fine"
Just pointing out the obvious one, the consequences of crashing at high speed are very very serious. I once did and only barely survived thanks to the roll cage in my car and an unbelievable number of lucky stars.
Edited by MDL111 on Friday 7th November 07:56
RammyMP said:
About 10 years ago myself and a few mates drove overnight to Austria to go skiing. As it was getting light on the Sunday morning on a very quiet autobahn near Munich the local 911 owners club were out for a blast. I was doing about 100 and they came past me like I was stood still! 
That reminds me of the first time my partner had been on a german autobahn.I was in the middle lane going past some trucks in the fist lane doing somewhere between 110 and 120 mph when all of a sudden a 911 Turbo went past in the third lane like i was doing 40mph on a normal uk motorway.
I would say he was doing 150+ and the missus just exclaimed "fookin maniac!"
Zippyworld said:
I am planning a high speed stint on the Autobahn.
I have driven before at 140mph but wanted to know if there is a thread or any advice that experienced drivers can share at a higher speed
I have a Jag which will do the job
This subject comes up every couple of months. Search is useful.I have driven before at 140mph but wanted to know if there is a thread or any advice that experienced drivers can share at a higher speed
I have a Jag which will do the job
The car might well be capable of high speeds, but how much
high speed experience do you have ? Maybe none ?
If you are UK based, suggest keep it downto about 50% faster than
you are used to i.e. 70 mph * 1.5 = 105 mph.
When you've done a few thousand miles at over 100 mph, *then* try
a Vmax run in something fast.
If you are posting from the USA, suggest don't bother.
I hear Florida is great this time of year.
I remember when the local Bavarian authorities had to put in a limit around
Aschaffenburg on the A3 when talent-free US military staff couldn't handle
the high speeds and killed some locals as well as themselves.
blue_haddock said:
RammyMP said:
About 10 years ago myself and a few mates drove overnight to Austria to go skiing. As it was getting light on the Sunday morning on a very quiet autobahn near Munich the local 911 owners club were out for a blast. I was doing about 100 and they came past me like I was stood still!
That reminds me of the first time my partner had been on a german autobahn.I was in the middle lane going past some trucks in the fist lane doing somewhere between 110 and 120 mph when all of a sudden a 911 Turbo went past in the third lane like i was doing 40mph on a normal uk motorway.
I would say he was doing 150+ and the missus just exclaimed "fookin maniac!"
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