Sorry if this is the wrong place to post but I thought folk in this forum would have a better idea of the answer.

I'm off to the Rhineland in April, partly because it's the most beautiful part of Europe but also so I can get on the Autobahn and use my right foot. I'm aware that most of the Autobahn nowadays has speed limits, particularly around towns and at peak times. My question is - where in the vicinity is there a recommended, semi-safe stretch to give it a blast ?

Thanks.

The A1 south from Koln was de-restricted the last time I was over there, relatively quiet too which helps. Managed to get to max speed in my old Boxster with the roof down which was fun. Travelling in excess of 140MPH with the wind in the hair is quiet fun. Most of the other autobahns have restrictions of around 120-130kmh on them.

The other one to try is the autobahn that runs from just south of the nurburgring towards Trier, thats also good in patches but the road surface wasnt great when I used it to get to Luxembourg.

Plenty of unrestricted autobahn left, however Germany is in the middle of a 5 year re building programme and resurfacing the lot, so road works and contraflow are quite prevalant. Just watch out for the signs and enjoy

The A1 south from Koln was de-restricted the last time I was over there, relatively quiet too which helps. Managed to get to max speed in my old Boxster with the roof down which was fun. Travelling in excess of 140MPH with the wind in the hair is quiet fun. Most of the other autobahns have restrictions of around 120-130kmh on them.

The other one to try is the autobahn that runs from just south of the nurburgring towards Trier, thats also good in patches but the road surface wasnt great when I used it to get to Luxembourg.

Thanks for that - great news as my route will be Luxembourg to Trier and onwards to the Lorelei.

to be honest, there are quite a few amall stretches of road left without no speed limit. bu they are spead few and far between. not sure of the route you are takin though. the route i normally use is the A7 , A2, A352 and then outta the country. moving to rhiendhalen on the 18th. only hour fromthe nurbugring so will be able to let you know what routes are down there then

Rheindahlen..fantastic place however, as opposed to Rheinland, I would suggest the Mosel..you can hoof it down the autobahns towards there, but the scenery and bendy hilly roads are great fun..I would suggest you head for a place called Cochem..olde worlde , and the duty castle on top of the hill..it's the 'real' Germany

you could always book a session at the ring for a drive

Nürburgring  -  home

meanwhile luxembourg worth the detour if only for the fuel

petrol 95 is 0.95c and diesel 0.78c

you could always book a session at the ring for a drive

Nürburgring* - *home

meanwhile luxembourg worth the detour if only for the fuel

petrol 95 is 0.95c and diesel 0.78c

Much as I'd like to I'm not brave enough to risk the corners on the Nurburgring without any insurance !

Driving in Germany can be a great experience. German roads are well maintained, and many scenic routes lead you through wonderful German landscapes. And flying down the German freeway is for many travelers a fun part of their German vacation.

Speed Limits in Germany:

Speed limits in German cities are 50 kmh (31 mph).

On highways, you are not allowed to drive faster than 100 kmh( 62 mph), unless otherwise marked.

There is no speed limit on the Autobahn - except where posted, for example in construction zones; watch out for these signs, you can get a hefty ticket for speeding.

The German Autobahn:

On the Autobahn, you can drive as fast as you feel is safe; the German authorities recommend a "suggested" speed of 130 kmh (80mph).

You can only pass another car in the left lane. The right lane is for slower vehicles, and overtaking cars in the right lane is illegal.

Before you pull into the left lane to pass another car, make sure to check the rear view mirror carefully -some cars travel as fast as 200 kmh and approach very suddenly.

also don't drink and drive in Germany. The blood alcohol limit is .08 bac (0,8 pro mille), and .05 bac if you are involved in an accident. Violators must pay high fines and can lose their driver's license.

Always wear a seatbelt, even if you are sitting in the back of a car - it is the law in Germany.

Children up to the age of 12 have to sit in the back in a special safety seat.

Don't talk on the cell phone while driving, it is illegal in Germany.

Some important street signs in Germany:

Ausfahrt - exit

Umleitung – detour

Einbahnstraße – one way street

Parken verboten – parking forbidden

Parkhaus – parking garage

Tankstelle – gas station

Benzin – gas

Also if you see a car indicating to move lanes, they arent asking, they're telling you!

and ffs stay in the right hand lane unless you're overtaking.

If you think people get annoyed over here, you should see the reaction the British tourists who don't do it get over there.

....and another tip:

BEWARE OF DUTCH DRIVERS IN GERMANY!!!!

As i'm living in Holland and i ride very often on german autobahns, while a good part of Germans actually look carefully in the mirror before changing lane, often the Dutch give only a quick look and they don't realize that the veichle approaching from behind may ride over 120 MPH, so they can litterally jump in front on you because they expect you're driving 70-75 mph like in Holland....

[OT]

Just back from a trip in the UK: driving Dover-Chesterfield-Dover on the left side with a left hand drive car (and the speedometer in KMH) is really a pain... now i understand your difficulty on continental trips!

First let me add i am what is called a wrinkle nowdays but have done all the usual things done with cars .We are caravanners so last year in Eastern Germany when it was unhooked we were travelling from Dresdon west wards and i said to the Wife about these guys coming past me as if i was standing still and we were at around 70 mph.So i moved out to the off side and got behind a group , at around 140 mph speedo reading they were still pulling away from us so bye bye and got back into the inside lane , still it was a bit like the old days for few miles.

I lived in Germany until March last year so here is a few tips. The easiest way to tell if it's unrestricted is you will see a similar sign to the UK national speed limit sign. However whereas the UK one has a thick solid black diagonal line on a white circular background the German one is 3 or 4 thin black lines in the same configuration. Wherever you see this sign its basically as fast as you want to go just remember a couple of points

1. The 130KM/H is advised as a maximium (you are allowed to go faster if you wish)

2. If you have an Accident over 130KM/H you are automatically liable unless you are hit from the rear.

3. It is illegal to flash someone to move out of your way in Germany (i found out the hard way by getting pulled by the polizei for doing so. Luckily they let me off as i had only been in germany for 2 weeks). If you are in the outside lane and want someone to move you basically sit behind them with your indicator on. They should then move out the way.

4. Ensure you are carry a 5l can of fuel (which must be full) and you have a Warning triangle. This is German legislation and you can be fined (i think €1000).

5. German Police Officers word is gospel. If you are pulled do not try and argue with them as they can arrest you and the judge will always take their side. Play the Dumb tourist and be polite and you will 9 times out of 10 get let off as long as you aren't being a complete twonk.

6. No matter how fast you go someone will be going faster. I've done over 160mph and had Cars on my rear bumper waiting for me to move. It's also quite surreal driving past the polizei at mach 5 and them not even batting an eyelid

HTH

Enjoy your time and enjoy driving as fast as you want:thumbup:

Carl:thumbup:

Also try and go to the Autostadt at the mother ships HQ:

Autostadt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.autostadt.de - Startseite

There also some interesting points in from AA for Germany.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/AA_Germany.pdf

And don't forget you dam yellow jacket for the French.....

Also pay attention to this.

A GPS based navigation system which has maps indicating the location of fixed speed cameras must have the ‘fixed speed camera PoI (Points of Interest)’ function deactivated.

unlike most of europe where you can use a GPS based warning system, in germany they are illegal just as radar detectors are as well.

i never turn that off...

I know it says that Mannyo however you can walk in to Mediamarkt and buy a TomTom that blatantly advertises it has Speed Camera locations for Europe on it so i doubt the Polizei enforce it that much. It's probably only used when they get the Gobby Twonk claiming that the Speed Detection equipment was faulty and he was only doing 130km/h not 155mph

One other rule is that is only relevant in towns but will result in a fine

Motorists may not pass a bus that signals with its blinker that it is approaching one of its stops. Once the bus has stopped it's OK to pass it, but at what the Germans call Schrittempo. That means moving so slowly that the needle on your speedometer doesn't register. Cars headed in the opposite direction must also use Schrittempo when a bus is stopped with its blinker going. This is because of the danger that people, particularly children, may try to cross the street in an effort to catch the bus. If any do, the car must stop and let them cross

I dont even think the germans follow that rule where i am

6. No matter how fast you go someone will be going faster. I've done over 160mph and had Cars on my rear bumper waiting for me to move. It's also quite surreal driving past the polizei at mach 5 and them not even batting an eyelid

HTH

Enjoy your time and enjoy driving as fast as you want:thumbup:

Carl:thumbup:

That is so true. Although I particularily love BMWs over here 'cos they hate being over taken when they are on the limiter. The one thing that does happen out here is people pull out in front of you all the time on the autobahns irrelevant of what speed you are doing, :eek:

and next month watch our for caravans with NL plates -heading south

The one thing that does happen out here is people pull out in front of you all the time on the autobahns irrelevant of what speed you are doing, :eek:

Yep!

Have family over there and thats the reason why my partners aunt doesn't go fast all the time in her Porsche Carrera 4s convertible (even though she likes to ) but she's scared that someone will pull out on her.

We were picked up by his uncle from the airport too (in his merc S500) and wish we'd walked by the time we got there! He drives very fast (around 200-220Km/h most of the time) and doesn't like slow drivers (sits about 2meteres off their bumper until they move!)... I still have flashbacks of when that lorry pulled out in front of us and he literally had to stamp on the brakes while doing 200km/h... its a scary place... be careful!!

lol...you will get used to it...dont get scared...