Good session on the Autobahn

pmansson

pmansson

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I drove the Nachtblau coupe from CH to Sweden earlier this week. 900 miles in good weather and an amazing 45 min stretch of low traffic on a new section of the Autobahn in southern Germany. 3 lanes of absolutely flat, even road. I was doing between 100 and 120 MPH in a very well sorted car with its 3.5 L engine with 244 HP and the best balance tyres of all my cars. 38 PSI in the XWX and full concentration. So much fun. I do this journey with various cars about 6 times a year, and never ever see an E9. This is what they love and need to do regularly. Yes, I was overtaken by many cars, but overtook hundreds. The Germans drive very well, but an eye in the rear view mirror is called for with 10 sec intervals. Trucks overtaking trucks on the inner lane is what causes potential risks. Best to remain in the far left lane, but then you have new Audis and BMWs approaching you with race circuit speeds. Who needs a track day when you have the public roads in Germany?
Peder
 
I remember a drive a couple of years ago(probably around 2001-2002): I was in my then current E46 328Ci Auto when I ran up to a beautiful e9. A silver Alpina B2 (looked like it might be a real one). A rather older gentleman driving it, older gentlewoman beside him.

That guy really knew how to drive and the Alpina did shift. First I stayed behind him and was amazed that he was seriously going forward but like the very best drivers hardly ever used the brakes. Excellent driving.

At first we were in light traffic so we had plenty of oportunity to accelerate when people moved over and I could not keep up with my 328. He was pulling away quite clearly. Looking and sounding absolutely sublime.
Later the traffic more or less lifted and we could really let it rip. Only above 120-130mph (this was near my home in germany so derestricted of course) did I manage to catch up with the better aerodynamics of the E46.

In the end I did manage to pass him at more than 140mph. The gentleman was completely relaxed behind the wheel. The lady passenger looked over, completely relaxed as well as if to say: That´s fine, I´m used to this, he knows what he´s doing.

I remember that drive very vividly to this day.

A year or two later the car showed up on the usual car sales websites, location quite near, price at a (then) high 22,000€ which would be a steal today especially if it really was a true alpina.

Sad to see it for sale though as it could not have gone to a better home than of that couple. Makes you remember the limited time we have on earth as the only scenario that would be plausible was that the driver/passengers (helath) situation would have deteriorated to make them put that beauty up for sale.
 
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Getting smoked

Gernstetter said:
Did it today as well.....averaging about 100 MPH.....nice mild weather, not much traffic.....got smoked by many newer cars......oh well...
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(1) I'd hazard a guess that many of those left lane screamers are driving rentals where the corporation is paying for the gas. There's a huge jump in consumption between 90mph and 140mph.

(2) Although you were getting smoked by others ... each one of them gave you a look of admiration followed by a pang of envy as they zoomed past. When I'm in Deutschland with the local guys and we zoom past a beautiful Old-Timer on the A8, everyone turns into a mushy-gushy Frenchie and the conversation moves to magic of classic automobiles for the next 15 minutes.
 
bfeng said:
(1) I'd hazard a guess that many of those left lane screamers are driving rentals where the corporation is paying for the gas. There's a huge jump in consumption between 90mph and 140mph.

(2) Although you were getting smoked by others ... each one of them gave you a look of admiration followed by a pang of envy as they zoomed past. When I'm in Deutschland with the local guys and we zoom past a beautiful Old-Timer on the A8, everyone turns into a mushy-gushy Frenchie and the conversation moves to magic of classic automobiles for the next 15 minutes.
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Most of the fast cars are leased by the employee company.....not rentals at that speed......and by the way, a little mentioned fact, if you are involved in an accident on the Autobahn and you are going over 130 KPH you are assumed to be part of the accident, even if it isn't your direct fault, in America they call it contributory negligence. Then the insurance goes up faster than the speed of the car.
 
Keeping the distance

The key to safe driving, esp fast driving, is to keep the distance to the car in front of you. I see so many "bad" drivers in all European countries, and being too close to the car in front is cutting the safety margin in a stupid way. Reading possible dangerous situations ahead and around you is also very important. I try to teach my children this as they are about to take their drivers licence tests.
 
I drove a lot on the Autobahns last summer and I spent as much time looking in the rear mirror as I did looking forward.
 
I'd want a steering damper so I could at least text safely at those speeds!
 
Now that sounds like great fun. Alas, here in America, the confluence of a great car, great roads and fellow drivers who probably know what they are doing is pretty hard to find.
 
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