Has anyone been to Germany to drive on the autobahns and the nurburgring?

Question

How easy is to do?

I've just spent a lot of money, much to my girlfriends displeasure, on an Audi RS4 ans was thinking of taking it to germany and the nurburgring for some fun?

anyone got any experience or advice?

Answer 1

Of the two places you want to drive, you (meaning being an American) you will be safest at the Nuerburg Ring because there is supervision and little traffic.

Where you may really get into trouble is driving on the Autobahn, unless you thoroughly understand the German mentality. That is, Germans follow the rules, and they assume all people driving there, do too.

I give you one example to illustrate my point: I was driving on the A7 from Hamburg to Kiel. I knew to only drive in the right lane, unless you want to pass. I had rented a Golf and zoomed along at about 130 kmph, when I discovered a slower moving vehicle ahead of me. I decided to pass. I carefully looked in the rear mirror, all was clear. I moved into the left lane, sped up to about 140 kph (about all the Golf would give me). Constantly checking my mirror, I suddenly noticed flashing headlights, so I was on notice something was coming, but I was committed to pass.

When I had almost overtaking the car to my right, I heard the sound of a car horn. A BMW was virtually on my tail. Now, I did something that only Americans as opposed to Germans would do; I stayed in the left lane until I felt I was a safe distance ahead of the car I was passing. That is not done in Germany, once you are slightly ahead, you cut in, i.e., you get out of the passing lane. Never mind what you do to the driver of the passed car. Well, I did not, the driver of the BMW did not anticipate that, and at the very high speed in which he had approached me, swerved to the left to avoid hitting me (for that I gave this driver credit), he barely had enough space on the left shoulder to avoid a terrible collision.

So, when you pass, be careful to check that you can safely pass. It's incredible difficult to judge the speed of a car in a mirror, and let me tell the BMW's, MB's, and the Audi's, of which there are plenty, often pass you in excess of 200 kmph.

Needless to say, when an accident occurs, there isn't much left of a car and its occupants.

The fact, however, that Germany has 5,000 traffic fatalities/year and has more cars/per population than the US, but fewer roads, says something about driver training, car safety inspections and good road conditions with lots of traffic signs. By the way there are 40,000 fatalities a year in the US.

So, do it, but on the Autobahn be careful, remember the passing rules, know the international traffic signs by heart, be sure you have a valid driver's license for Germany. In the old days, I could rent a car in Germany with my Texas license, nowadays, I believe one needs an International license.

As far as taking your own car to Germany, that may not only be expensive, probably in excess of $1,000 with insurance for shipping damage, each way. There may also a customs issue, even when you bring it back. It could be more trouble than it's worth.

So, here is my final suggestion: If you want to have a real blast: Leave your Audi at home, fly into Frankfurt, rent yourself a Porsche 911 and let it rip (not r.i.p.)

Answer 2

They are long straight and boring , you can reach max speed on most but they are endless and you begin to think you are going to be on them forever without getting anywere

Answer 3

It's fun but it's not just there for tourists. Get some culture before you go. That RS4 indicates you lack a lot of class so I suggest getting some before heading over and just tearing through the thing with your little VW.

I took a few shots at it and managed to scare myself. I almost maxed out my car at 149mph and nearly had a cardiac event in the process. But I learned a lot about my car at the same time. Get a rental that doesn't have the US-mandated governor so you can really have some dangerous fun. Beware that killing yourself is a risk.

Answer 4

I haven't been, I just liked the usual bullshit American comment about your 'little' Audi - that would be the one that's electronically limited to 155mph, rather than the 149 (give or take the truth) he managed that scared him shitless - no doubt in some overweight, poorly handling piece of c**p. Unreal!

Answer 5

A couple of points. The Autobahns are generally speed restricted to 130k/85mph or less; in any case there is an advisory limit of 130 on the few "unrestricted" sections. At above the limit you will be held responsible for some or all of the costs of any incident: there is no such thing as an accident in German law. You need to watch out as even if you are going flat-out there will be someone in an AMG-merc flying past on your left, and possibly someone else steaming out from a slip road on your right. Get it wrong and that can hurt.

On the Nurburgring things can get a bit silly. Anyone can have a go and the track is populated with anything from a 1.4 golf or less to the hottest supercars, and bikes as well. Really important to keep a lookout ahead for slower/stopped vehicles and hazards like oil spills and behind for faster cars. If you have an incident you will pay for marshal's time, repairs to armco, recovery trucks, and possibly a police fine for careless driving. Your insurance may not cover you. Many cars are driven to the N-ring, but fewer drive home afterwards. One of my mates had just this happen: spin on oil, hit by following car, fine, recovery and track costs, and home by other transport (car was condemned by police at scene)

Answer 6

I could reach 245kmh between Dortmund and Berlin (using Autobahn A2). Try it sundays.

Answer 7

just go there and rent a car.

it's a real adrenaline blast! i drove on both in a subaru impreza wrx.