Hitting the Autobahns!!
Discussion
Speaking as a Brit who's been living in German since '83, I have to tell you that the fun days on German Autobahns seem to be mostly long gone: Every time I'm on the road here, I have difficulty maintaining much over 100mph for any length of time. I spend my time having to back off regularly due to some brainless f
kwit driving much too slowly in the wrong lane. And don't forget a lot of the motorway network here is still 2 lane (they're even still building new motorways with only 2 lanes in each direction, I kid you not. And sometimes speed limited too!)
Don't forget, Germany has by far the largest amount of transit traffic in the whole of Europe, sitting as it does right in the middle.
At the moment there are a lot of long-term roadworks too, they're expanding them from 2 lanes to 3 (A1, A7, A2), or they're having to re-do them from scratch as they delayed doing maintainance work for far too long to save money, and more and more stretches are now speed limited (mostly for noise abatement or just to catch people speeding, it's an excellent revenue source für the government after all
)
Avoid any time when Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Holland or France (or God forbid, some or all at the same time),have holidays: Traffic jams of up to 50 miles are the norm in summer, especially from north to south, and also south to north.
My advice would be to drive up to the 'ring for a tourist day there, and have some fun blasting round the Nordschleife. Time it so you drive up overnight, when the autobahn is emptier, but watch out on the 2 lane stretches for trucks overtaking each other with a speed difference of 5mph: nothing like having a truck pull out 200 meters ahead when you're doing 150mph (don't ask me how I know that, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt...A few years ago some Neanderthal trucker from Holland nearly killed me)
I really don't want to rain on your parade, I'm as disappointed as anyone: When I moved over to Germany 28 years ago, it was like Christmas every day, I had a lot of fun. I drove like a beserker, just because I could
But since the reunification, and increase in traffic generally, it's getting harder and harder to drive fast for any length of time, and they're STILL building 2 lane motorways like I mentioned earlier. I live in Lübeck, and they finished a new motorway (A20) 3 years ago, which runs east from here to the polish border: 2 lane, and speed limited (mostly 100kmh or 120kmh) for long stretches. And last, but not least: I visited my old mum in England in May last year, and observed the same trend regarding senseless speed limits on the motorways in Holland and Belgium too.
You're lucky to be living in england, far more racing circuits with track days to drive on than over here.
kwit driving much too slowly in the wrong lane. And don't forget a lot of the motorway network here is still 2 lane (they're even still building new motorways with only 2 lanes in each direction, I kid you not. And sometimes speed limited too!)Don't forget, Germany has by far the largest amount of transit traffic in the whole of Europe, sitting as it does right in the middle.
At the moment there are a lot of long-term roadworks too, they're expanding them from 2 lanes to 3 (A1, A7, A2), or they're having to re-do them from scratch as they delayed doing maintainance work for far too long to save money, and more and more stretches are now speed limited (mostly for noise abatement or just to catch people speeding, it's an excellent revenue source für the government after all
)Avoid any time when Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Holland or France (or God forbid, some or all at the same time),have holidays: Traffic jams of up to 50 miles are the norm in summer, especially from north to south, and also south to north.
My advice would be to drive up to the 'ring for a tourist day there, and have some fun blasting round the Nordschleife. Time it so you drive up overnight, when the autobahn is emptier, but watch out on the 2 lane stretches for trucks overtaking each other with a speed difference of 5mph: nothing like having a truck pull out 200 meters ahead when you're doing 150mph (don't ask me how I know that, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt...A few years ago some Neanderthal trucker from Holland nearly killed me)
I really don't want to rain on your parade, I'm as disappointed as anyone: When I moved over to Germany 28 years ago, it was like Christmas every day, I had a lot of fun. I drove like a beserker, just because I could
But since the reunification, and increase in traffic generally, it's getting harder and harder to drive fast for any length of time, and they're STILL building 2 lane motorways like I mentioned earlier. I live in Lübeck, and they finished a new motorway (A20) 3 years ago, which runs east from here to the polish border: 2 lane, and speed limited (mostly 100kmh or 120kmh) for long stretches. And last, but not least: I visited my old mum in England in May last year, and observed the same trend regarding senseless speed limits on the motorways in Holland and Belgium too.
You're lucky to be living in england, far more racing circuits with track days to drive on than over here.
Whilst I am not going to disagree with Guitartech, I am also a big user of the Autobahns.
I find it is not where, but when.
If you go looking for it you never find it! All my big top speeds just seem to happen when I am most relaxed and opportunity arises
The thing I would advise most is watch the weather forecast, pick a nice destination to stay at and then travel at night. Get used to the closing speeds of the vehicles you are going to be overtaking, it will then happen....
As for which Autobahn, I only seem to use the western part of Germany travelling down to Switzerland. Others will be more helpful!
I find it is not where, but when.
If you go looking for it you never find it! All my big top speeds just seem to happen when I am most relaxed and opportunity arises
The thing I would advise most is watch the weather forecast, pick a nice destination to stay at and then travel at night. Get used to the closing speeds of the vehicles you are going to be overtaking, it will then happen....
As for which Autobahn, I only seem to use the western part of Germany travelling down to Switzerland. Others will be more helpful!
CrouchEnd911 said:
Having just purchased my first 911 I am keen to put it though it's paces courtesy of a German road trip!
Can anyone suggest the best stretches of autobahn to put the accelerator peddle firmly to the floor?!
I think you'll find the 911 isn't an autobahn cruiser, it's a sports car.Can anyone suggest the best stretches of autobahn to put the accelerator peddle firmly to the floor?!
Suggest a track day or three locally in the UK if you want to give it some exercise.
Suggest leave the autobahns to those better trained to use them,
after all, I don't think the Germans need another Brit with all
the gear and quite possibly no idea, driving flat out on their first
trip to Germany.
Enthusiasm is no substitute for experience, I find.
I used to own a 2004 997 a few years ago.We made a trip to see the(old) porsche museum in Stuttgart.
I just set the sat nav to Stuttgart and found that on the route there was quite a few open stretches of autobarn
The other guys replies are correct re. the truck drivers.However there was quite a few occasions when the roads were totally empty.
I think I hit about 165 mph on a few occasions!
A new museum has opened now .Go visit the mercedes museum as well.
Have fun
Roger
I just set the sat nav to Stuttgart and found that on the route there was quite a few open stretches of autobarn
The other guys replies are correct re. the truck drivers.However there was quite a few occasions when the roads were totally empty.
I think I hit about 165 mph on a few occasions!
A new museum has opened now .Go visit the mercedes museum as well.
Have fun
Roger
dcb said:
I think you'll find the 911 isn't an autobahn cruiser, it's a sports car.
Suggest a track day or three locally in the UK if you want to give it some exercise.
Suggest leave the autobahns to those better trained to use them,
after all, I don't think the Germans need another Brit with all
the gear and quite possibly no idea, driving flat out on their first
trip to Germany.
Enthusiasm is no substitute for experience, I find.
hahaha... loserSuggest a track day or three locally in the UK if you want to give it some exercise.
Suggest leave the autobahns to those better trained to use them,
after all, I don't think the Germans need another Brit with all
the gear and quite possibly no idea, driving flat out on their first
trip to Germany.
Enthusiasm is no substitute for experience, I find.
dcb said:
CrouchEnd911 said:
Having just purchased my first 911 I am keen to put it though it's paces courtesy of a German road trip!
Can anyone suggest the best stretches of autobahn to put the accelerator peddle firmly to the floor?!
I think you'll find the 911 isn't an autobahn cruiser, it's a sports car.Can anyone suggest the best stretches of autobahn to put the accelerator peddle firmly to the floor?!
The Frankfurt to Darmstadt section is quite good but can get busy - dawn is the best time.
Take care, look far ahead and watch for slower cars pulling out.
Also your fuel will go down very quickly if you're v-maxing.
There are some good sections travelling from Spa into Germany towards the Alps. Will try to update with road numbers but sections with bends that aren't challenging at 85 become more so when derestricted.
Take care in the wet - I found the Autobahns quite slippery when I was running worn but legal Pilot Cups at speeds where in the UK on Motorways in the wet they'd be fine....
Edit: if it's your first Sportscar, would recommend some driver training/limit handling practice - Porsche Centre @ Silverstone run some great courses and DCB's trackday suggestion is a good idea to get familiar with car in safe environment.
Edit2: Spa to Stuttgart - some fun sections and some traffic/clogging but some nice twisty unrestricted sections and I thought it was good fun.
A27, A60, A1, A62, A6, A61 - be careful you don't think you're in Germany as I did when I was still in Belgian and do observe the derestricted signs....
Edited by donna180 on Sunday 4th December 16:55
The A2 (E30) between Magdeburg and Berlin is fantastic! It is pretty quiet most of the time and there are loads of good stretches where you can boot it. The stretch between Hanover and Magdeburg is just too busy and there are loads of speed restrictions.
I was over there in August, unfortunately in a 1.4 Seat Ibiza though :-/
I was over there in August, unfortunately in a 1.4 Seat Ibiza though :-/
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