I meant to post this video clip together with my other ED pictures last week, but didn't know how to post a MPG clip. Well, thanks to Peter from bimmerfest for hosting my clip.

Here is an interestin clip of me driving at night, in the rain and snow, doing 95 MPH on the autobahn (slowed down to merge in of course), yet still being flashed. I guess we Americans have different comfort level regarding speed than the Germans.

I know you supposed to always drive on the right lane. But there was a lot of trucks in the right lane, and I thought 95 MPH constant speed was enough to allow me to cruise the left lane, given the condition. No Sir, even Suzuki's will pass you. Unbelievable.

http://www.houseofyee.com/MVI_0212.avi

Please excuse my brother's infantile narration and creepy music

 

I'm no Autobahn expert but I've found that the key is to always be looking in your mirrors if you're in the left lane. Not just a quick glance in the mirror (like most people do here in the US) but a long enough look to evaluate the relative speed between you and the car(s) behind you.

You need to be able to process how quickly someone is gaining on you so you can get out of the way. If the approaching car in the left lane has the left turn signal on, that's a pretty good clue that they're coming up fast! If they get up to your bumper and flash you, you didn't do the above properly...

 

It's my first time driving on Autobahn. It's definitely a different driving culture in Germany than in U.S.

What I wonder is, the gas prices in Europe is closed to $7 a US gallon, and the car will consume a lot more at speeds over 100 MPH, why doesn't it affect the way people drive? I would definitely drive slower to save gas and money, if not for safety reasons alone.

 

Many people driving 5 or a 7 type-vehicles in Europe do not pay for their own petrol - or very little of it - the company car / the company petrol...

 

Ever heard of the term "Time is money "
j/k but oddley, I view the fuel for my "weekend cars" as entertaiment cost (rather than the communting cost) And Frankly I don't G.A.S. what the Gas mileage is, which explains why I put a blend of 101 Octane Trick racing Gas and 91 Octane Chevron Techron gas bring avg. Octane up to appx.96~ 98 Octane. Yes, this means that every fill up cost me about $100 but hey!! If you wanna play? You?ve gotta pay

Cheers,

beewang

P.S. Lenard, GTF outta the fast lane ya slo-poe

 

Fast = 150+

I stretched the legs of an Audi A4 once. Got to 154MPH. Still had Porsche and S class Mercedes pass me. Amazing even that at that speed how fast they appear in the mirror, and are then on your tail.

 

People don't care about the cost of gas because they have to pay it anyway, so they might as well drive fast. It's just a cost of living. You also have to pay over a grand just to get a driver's license in Germany. See this:

http://www.fahrtipps.de/fahrschule/f...ein-kosten.php

Over 1,700 euros just to get your license. Most of that is to attend driving school, which Americans could definitely use. So, if you're into saving money, you just don't get a car in Germany in the first place.

I used to live in Germany for 3 1/2 years and drove my lowered Toyota pickup on the Autobahn at well over 100mph. Used to get passed by Ford Escorts sometimes.

Germans drive pretty good for the most part. However, during the rain, it seems their share of idiots come out and do well over 100 mph in the rain and somehow believe their big mercedes and bimmers won't hydroplane. You see those guys cause plenty of 50+car pile ups too.

Most of the time you can't really drive fast on the Autobahn anyway due to the traffic jams. Forget about driving anywhere on a holiday weekend. It's a complete disaster. This is also why people drive fast when they can. It's usually drive like a maniac for 45 minutes to an hour, slow down to 20mph for awhile, speed back up to over 100mph, slow down, etc. That's what happens when you get 80 million people in smaller country.

The worst part when I lived there was after the wall came down, all the poles, czechs, etc. came over in their Trabis, Ladas,etc. all loaded down with goods from their German shopping trips and used to do about 30 mph in the right lane. Imagine going 120mph, you get in the left lane to pass, then move back immediately right and come up on some knucklehead doing 30mph.



-Nazz

 

Remember that cars are much more expensive in Europe (and in fact MOST places outside NA). If you've got a fast car, it generally cost a LOT of money, and therefore you can afford to pay for fuel, or the company pays for it.

 

speedracerf4i, looks fun . sorry to say, the music is creepy . sounds like some 50's oldies .