My Recent Trip to Europe (1)

My Recent Trip to France and Germany

I was sent to Paris for work, on two days' notice on 12/20/1998, which was Christmas week. I only had one day to plan the fun part of the trip. I had never been to Germany before, and I wanted to drive on the Autobahn, so instead of heading back home for the holidays, I decided to stay in Europe until 12/27 and spend two and a half days in Germany.

Go to a More Detailed Coverage of My Trip to Europe

Mercedes C180 at an Autobahn Rest Area

This is the car I rented for two days in Germany. Even with a 1.8 liter
4 cylinder engine, the car produced 122hp and getting to 100 mph was pretty
easy. I floored the accelerator on the Autobahn, but the speedometer stayed at
210 km/h. (The car's top speed is rated at 193 km/h, or 120 mph, so that's
how fast I went on the Autobahn.) I need a faster car next time!

I didn't think the German drivers were crazy at all, contrary to what others have told me about them. Even at high speeds on the Autobahn, they were courteous, followed rules, and practiced etiquette. I passed a lot of people on the Autobahn, but I never had to flash my high beam to move people aside - they would see me coming, and move aside way before I approached tailgating distance. In fact, a BMW driver behind me anticipiated my lane change and gave me room to change lane so I could pass a slower car. They have excellent situational awareness. I felt very safe, even at 100+ mph.

The Bahn-Cam inside the C180
(Click the image for footages)

This is how I mounted a video camera inside the Mercedes C180 so I could take
video footages of my blasting through the Autobahn. I secured the tripod to
the bottom of the front seats with bungee cords. Believe it or not, this
Mercedes has cloth interior, not leather! (shock them yuppies!) Also, this C180
was true to the spirit of driving, with a 5 speed manual transmission.

Some basic rules to follow on the Autobahn:

Germans take the fast lane (the left lane, the passing lane) very seriously. If you force them to tailgate you, then you don't belong there. It's generally a no-no to pass to the right, but if they do it to you, you really screwed up!
There are sections on the Autobahn with speed limits, especially near major cities and construction areas. Germans obey them, so the Polizei will make you pay if you ignore them - you'll get plenty of chances to speed elsewhere!
There are plenty of rest areas, gas stations, and even restaurants along the Autobahn. Pavement is smooth and easy to drive on. Enjoy Germany's good civic planning!
Leave your American mannerisms (The Stare, The Finger, and other gestures) at home - Germans don't attach emotions to driving.

The Smart in the Frankfurt Train Station Parking Lot

Click on the image for the Smart website

The cute little car parked next to the Mercedes is the Smart, which is
a car developed by both Daimler-Chrysler and Swatch. (Keep in mind that
Mercedes-Benz is known as Daimler-Chrysler after the merger) I think the
car is cool and fashionable. (Swatch influence?) The Smart is a two-seater.

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