The Autobahn

P.Cummins · 13 Feb 2005, 11:39 (Ref:1224238)

Has anyone here ever driven on Germany's Autobahn motorways. I'm still too young to drive but I have never been on them.

Of those who have, what do you think of it?

pirenzo · 13 Feb 2005, 15:40 (Ref:1224382)

Um, yes, they're just motorways.
On all the ones I've been on people have generally stuck to the recommended speed limit of 130km/h (81mph). We used it as an opportunity to see how fast a Renault Espace can go, 181km/h (112mph) is apparently its maximum speed.

cybersdorf · 13 Feb 2005, 17:17 (Ref:1224449)

In fact, they aren't even particularly good motorways. Most of them are just two lanes, and a large percentage of the autobahn net is quite old and in need of repair. There is no general speed limit, but many local limits are in place. Also, the autobahn is pretty crowded, traffic jams are a common occurrence. You usually find yourself stuck between 18-wheelers and old ladies in Fiat Pandas on the right lane, and xenon high beam M5 996 S-class ******* on the left.

pirenzo · 13 Feb 2005, 18:31 (Ref:1224485)

Yeah, we hit a busy stretch near Munich, and we slowed almost to a standstill with the volume of traffic.

If you want to admire good roads, go to Luxembourg

(IMO)

**Adam43** · 13 Feb 2005, 18:43 (Ref:1224496)

Yes they allow you to cross that country in no time at all!

P.Cummins · 13 Feb 2005, 20:15 (Ref:1224548)

Good, Good.

cybersdorf · 13 Feb 2005, 20:49 (Ref:1224581)

Veering off-topic a bit, it is funny how "The Autobahn" has become an almost mythical place for drivers around the world. A little "Autobahn 101" is here: http://www.german-way.com/german/autobahn.html

Going back in time a little -

The autobahn as such is not a Nazi invention, but as was the case with many other things, they hijacked the idea, and exploited it for their purposes. The Term "autobahn" was coined by Dr. Fritz Todt, head of the aptly named "Organisation Todt" which handled all major construction work in the 3rd Reich (among it the concentration camps).

Today, the "OT" would probably be called Slaves'R'Us.

The core of what today is the German motorway system was built, begun, or planned in the years between 1933 and 1939 - and not just the German motorway system. Not very far from Vienna, the Austrian A2 gently swerves round what today is a stretch of agricultural land; in WW2, this was the biggest Luftwaffe fighter base, before it was bombed into oblivion. The motorway was completed in the late 50s when there was nothing left to go around, but economic reasons dictated that the route outlined by the Germans be used, and existing construction work completed.

Not many people in Nazi Germany could afford cars anyway (the KdF-"Volkswagen" was never more than a myth), and with the advent of the war, fuel was rationed, and use of these roads restricted to "officials". Along with the rest of the 3rd Reich, the motorways fell into disrepair. After 1945, and with the division of Germany, one or two sections that criss-crossed the "inner-German" border were cut off, other sites (such as Reichsautobahn "Route 46" which was for a while completely forgotten) were abandoned; this way, one or two stretches of "dead autobahn" have been preserved, and today are becoming a rewarding subject for historians.

There are a few enthusiast websites dedicated to the autobahn now & then:

http://www.strecke46.de
http://www.autobahn-online.de
http://www.autobahngeschichte.de

Andrew Gunnell · 14 Feb 2005, 15:45 (Ref:1225259)

Thank you cybersdorf for the history lesson, very interesting.

**Woolley** · 14 Feb 2005, 15:51 (Ref:1225272)

As an aside, a friend of mine returned from a trip to Germany and commented on how many German towns were called 'Ausfahrt'. Doh!

cybersdorf · 14 Feb 2005, 15:57 (Ref:1225284)

garcon · 14 Feb 2005, 16:03 (Ref:1225289)

Wales is similar - every several miles there seems to be a sign to Gwesthenau...

I haven't yet driven on the autobahn, though I did travel on a stretch by coach a while ago. One day I expect a permanent limit will be enforced, which will be a shame in many ways but I guess inevitable - the accident statistics don't make pretty reading.

I love reading some of the stories in evo that involve blasts down the autobahn at quiet times of day. How else would we know that a derestricted RS6 Avant is good for well over 300km/h, and an apparently derestricted AMG CL65 actually has its limiter raised from 250km/h to 300km/h (just after it changes up in to top, scarily enough...

) ?

cybersdorf · 14 Feb 2005, 16:08 (Ref:1225298)

Quote:

Originally Posted by garcon

I love reading some of the stories in evo that involve blasts down the autobahn at quiet times of day.

When is that? There aren't any. I have sat in traffic jams at 2a.m., and watched Frankfurt sleep...

Quote:

How else would we know that a derestricted RS6 Avant is good for well over 300km/h, and an apparently derestricted AMG CL65 actually has its limiter raised from 250km/h to 300km/h (just after it changes up in to top, scarily enough...

) ?

A racetrack? That's what the German mags do. Maybe the British rags are too cheap to pay the track fare.

**Adam43** · 14 Feb 2005, 16:16 (Ref:1225312)

I remember reading about a German McLaren F1 owner, who took his car back to McLaren to be serviced. They had a look at the telemetry and saw that it had been over 200mph (something like) 10 of the last 14 days.

garcon · 14 Feb 2005, 16:23 (Ref:1225316)

You don't get up early enough cybersdorf...

Around 4.30am in early summer daylight is a favourite time, mainly because any motor journalist with the remotest sense of self preservation isn't likely to venture over 160km/h or so in the dark.

You're right, those sorts of tests will go to the racetrack, where (sensibly) they belong. evo and several of the other British mags are frequent visitors to the 'Ring and other circuits. Mind you, one of the few tracks in Europe where you could max a supercar is Nardo, and Nardo is very expensive to hire!

Truckosaurus · 14 Feb 2005, 16:48 (Ref:1225344)

One of the EVO articles about driving fast on the autobahn mentioned one location where the autobahn just ended and merged with normal city roads. The writer said they just parked up on the sliproad until nothing had gone past for 5mins-10mins and then they knew they had a clear run.

Vicki · 14 Feb 2005, 16:55 (Ref:1225360)

Why not just go to the Isle of Man?

garcon · 14 Feb 2005, 17:25 (Ref:1225417)

Cos it ain't big enough! You wouldn't get out of second in a Lambo!

Actually, the Isle of Man has been a popular location for end of year car tests and so on, but it's much better for point to point performance cars like Evos and Imprezas than it is for out and out super cars.

cybersdorf · 14 Feb 2005, 17:31 (Ref:1225427)

...which don't corner very well.

garcon · 14 Feb 2005, 17:37 (Ref:1225433)

...under 100mph...