Watch our video about our first time in Germany (Cologne): th-cam.com/video/ZnyxuE8atWA/w-d-xo.html&t First time driving in the UK: th-cam.com/video/1f6GH9GIEf0/w-d-xo.html&t 24 Hours in Amsterdam (we were SHOCKED): th-cam.com/video/pCLajW48rfs/w-d-xo.html&t
As a matter of fact - in many states in the US you also have to drive on the right lane and the left lane is just for overtaking. Depending on the state overtaking on the right side may or may not be prohibited as well. Many US americans are actually violating US traffic laws all the time - and for whatever reasons the police is not enforcing some of these laws in the US. Passing on the right lane is strictly prohibited in Germany btw. If you do that and are caught you'll get into trouble. Red circle with a number inside is a speed limit. It is not the minimum, it is the maximum.
@@HH-hd7ndiirc it is mandatory to drive on the most outer lane in the US if you are slow, it's not just enforced by the authorities. Welcome to Germany and enjoy your stay.
"It´s a lot less intensive to get your license in the US" Germany 2022: 2782 traffic fatalities USA 2022: 42795 traffic fatalities Unfortunately, this means that the USA has 15 times more traffic fatalities than Germany with just 4 times more citizens. Maybe it shouldn't be so easy to get a driver's license in the USA.
I hear you! When I went to live in Germany I took a few driving lessons before buying my car and letting myself loose on the road. There are so many oddities which Americans (or Brits like me) would not expect......like the right of way at traffic lights when there are double tram lines in the middle of the road!!
Depends very much on the driver. I did the opposite 2 years ago, travelled the US for 3 months. Took 15 min to get used to the automatic and about a day for the streetsigns etc. No issues at all. Tho i have to admit it seemed Americans were NOT the best drivers and speedlimits are just a suggestion.
As a tourist you do the same in the US. Soooo. It should be a no brainer, that I do familiarize myself with the local traffic rules before I go drive around in a foreign country.
There are bigger worries than a few Americans driving on our roads like people who don't know or are willing to accept our rules and culture. She is more aware of the road rules than natiive drivers especially regarding our Rechtsfahrgebot. same can be said about Germans visiting the US, they have rules we don't.
@@TheMagicGeekdom Inexpensive, yes, and a good choice to feel the speed. In bigger cars you don't feel the speed by noise or anything, and they have more horse power. So no wonder if some drivers want to go faster but the majority drives between 60 and 90 mph. Following the rules makes the Autobahn double save as US speed limited highways.
@@TheMagicGeekdom was it the 1 litre 3 cylinder petrol "hybrid"? It felt pretty slow after being used to a Cooper S Clubman, although I had to make sure I didn't "money shift" whilst overtaking as the gear ratios are shorter in the lower gears.
Recommended speed is 130 km/h, which is about 80 mi/h I think. And if you want to accelerate quickly, just shift down a gear or two. And also, like others said before, please make sure that you know the rules and how to read traffic sings before getting on the road!
120km/h limits are not rare in Finland, but would love to rent a nice car in Germanny and really floor it - if the car just feels stable. 230km/h is my top, but I guess this kind of vaction could be something i try next time in Germanny 😅
Having the traffic lights on the opposite side of the crossing does not work in many places in Germany, as many crossings are so irregular, that there is no clear opposite side, and drivers might confuse their lights with the lights from a neigboring street coming in at a sharp angle.
@@TheMagicGeekdom No it is efficient, remember it is germany! The germans placed the traffic light exactly at the point where it only can be seen by people it is ment for! - No Excuses, for early starters if they the crossing lane gets red and they drive before their own light became green! No Excuses for turning right by red-light - so none :"Oh, Officer I thought there was enough space and the other car should have to used the break earlier!" Red is red and green is green, so easy! Gues what, they have less silly accidents at road crossings! Some call weird, they call it efficient! 🤣🤣🤣
Please learn about the rules of the road BEFORE you get in the car. That includes the speed limits for cities. Which is 50km/h unless posted otherwise, just fyi. Also why would we call it either gas station or petrol station? We call it Tankstelle! 😅 My usual cruising speed is 150km/h, unless I have a reason to go faster. You remarked on the lack of acceleration of that car. With a stick shift it can be usefull to shift back a gear or two to get better acceleration. The system works so well (mkre or less) because people usually know what they're doing. Which is why I may have been a bit harsh at the beginning ... sorry... But people who don't have the training and (more importantly) experience are usually the most dangerous thing on the road...
crusing speed 150 km/h. you must have loved exchanging your trabby for anything else from the west. or maybe you drove a schiguly which mens that you were "Volkspolizei".
Re: Traffic lights above you on a second lane. Just bend your head slightly and look to the right, there's your main traffic light. The traffic lights above are always additional lights so that you can see them from a distance.
@@TheMagicGeekdom Also lights on your side is more save since you focus on what is right in front of you and not 50m afar on the other side of the crossing
The traffic light should either be across the intersection like in the USA or like in France, where they have small lights at the height of the driver.
I used to drive to Europe with my work. A wonderful 1.8 BMW. From Calais, into and across Belgium, crossing into Germany via Aachen and then up to Koln and the Nordrhein Westphalia region. Then down to Frankfurt and Mainz, my hotel was a small place in Bingen am Rhein. Then down towards Munich Nuremberg, Augsburg , Heidelberg and all places nearby. Germany is a fantastic country, so clean warm and friendly. Also several trips by car up to Hamburg and Hannover. Went there in September with my wife who had never been and she adored Germany.. Enjoy Bavaria ....it is beautiful.
Basically: inner city/town roads = 50km/h general Outside cities/towns = 100km/h general Autobahn = no speed limit in GENERAL. Obviously local speed limits ALWAYS have precedence over general speed limits. Four basic Autobahn rules: 1. no passing to the right. PERIOD! 2. if you can drive in a lane to your right for roughly 30 seconds at the same speed without going into unsafe distance driving or constantly weaving in and out, do it. This is the Rechtsfahrgebot, the drive right ordinance. This opens up the left lanes for passing and keeps traffic flowing homogenously. 3. always drive according to the limits of skill, vehicle, traffic, and road conditions. This includes safe distance for your speed, which is AT LEAST half your speedomter in meters to the next vehicle. 4. always check your mirrors before setting your blinker/indicator, take a shoulder check into your blind spot, and only change lanes if there is no one advancing on that lane at significantly higher speeds, and you are not cutting off someone. With that you've covered 90% of all cases you will encounter. Obviously know the road signs and adhere to them. No, if you see a speed limit you DON'T have to slam on your brakes but you should slow down to the marked speed limit within a reasonable distance without endagering traffic which includes yourself. One of the most important road signs to know are SPEED LIMITS. Which unfortunately are the ones you claimed to be recommended speeds. Nope, the white background, red borders, plus numbers inside are the international sign for speed limits, with America being the odd one out. I know no other country except the USA that use rectangular signs with ENGLISH spelling inside which tell you the speed limit.
yes, instead of lots and lots of different speed limit signs, germany (europe) has general default speed limits vor towns/roads/highways, and you find big signs with those national default limits at borders when you enter a different country. For germany, they are 50 kph (31 mph) and 100 kph (62 mph), and no general limit on the _Autobahn_ (but a recommended limit of 130 kph = 80 mph). these limits all are for normal cars, and cars with trailers and trucks have their own lower limits, eg trucks on highways 80 kph (50 mph) or with tolerances mostly driving 90 kph (56 mph) so that you shouldn't go slower either to not block them. traffic signs also are shaped and colored quite systematically: white circles with red border for prohibitions (including speed limits), white triangles with red borders for warnings, blue circles for orders (including minimum speed, but mostly arrows for directions like "turn right" or arrow pointing down-left to "pass this on the left"). few other signs have different shapes or colors, eg square blue for recommended speed (eg on that sign at the border), triangle with corner at bottom for "yield", red big octagon for "stop" (no 4way stops, and stop signs only where it is dangerous and yield might not be good enough, otherwise without signs always "right before left"), the "fried egg" is a priority road where you usually can expect all sideroads to have yield or stop signs, _"Einbahnstrasse"_ = "one way", etc
I would mention: Sometimes you will come in situations, where these rules will not work or cause a deadlock. For example if all left lanes are blocked, you can of course pass on the right. But then as usual: Drive slow and carefully, be friendly to others and expect them to do stupid things. Slow progress is still better than none at all.
Checking the blind spot can be challenging when going atspeeds, what I do is to take a long time to change lanes so the signal stays long enough, if I'm not certain no one is coming I just don't
German here. Your whole seat is way to close to the steering wheel. If both arms are nearly streched and can grab the steering wheel, while your shoulders are still have contact to the back of the seat, you are fine. Try it, it's way more relaxing.
It's not more relaxing if it doesn't suit you, my friend. I have always driven bolt-upright and as close to the controls as possible; I have tried pushing the seat further back, but it feels completely unnatural and I have better control over the pedals when I'm practically on top of them. I passed my instructor's test sitting like this and the Supervising Examiner didn't bat an eyelid. We're all different, and what's right for one person isn't necessarily right for another. All the best from the UK.
not driven on autobahn for decades, but my main memory was if you need to pull into the fast lane, if you see a merc coming with lights on about a mile back, just wait a few seconds and it will be past you, then pull out.
@@pashvonderc381 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 and mad that the sucker doesn´t leave the damn fast lane ....unless of course an Audi, a Mercedes and Porsche "found" each other, meaning: ´hey, they drive my style at my preferred speed, so let´s tackle this together and the one in front shovels the snails out of the way Fun times, fun times indeed 😉
There is a kind of speed limit on the Autobahn. 130 km/h. If you go faster, it is possible, that your insurance denies to pay under some bad circumstsnces... And you have to drive on the right lane und overtaking is only allowed on the left.
1:34 'ok, that guy is going way faster than me. I don't know what the speed limit is right here now.' oh, that's not good. you should know the speed limit, ideally everywhere you go. at least you should have a general idea. you are within city limits. there is a general speed limit you should always know! and then there are situational speed limits depending on location.
The reason for pumping first is easy:gas stations don't make a lot of money selling gas,so they want customers to come in,maybe purchasing something on the way.
Blödsinn, bezahlen und dann centgenau tanken ist schwierig. Und umrüsten auf Automaten, die centgenau tanken, ist teuer. Außerdem weiß man idR nicht, wieviel überhaupt reingeht, also umständlich alles. Könnte man mit variabler Kreditkartenbelastung lösen, aber es gibt hier zuviele Barzahler. Offensichtlich wäre Tankbetrug in den USA gang und gäbe, wenn man nicht vorher bezahlen müsste und dort geht das mit der Kreditkartenbelastung auch, weil keiner bar zahlt.
Regarding car maintenance: Cold starts are what ages your engine and city driving puts a higher strain on your brakes than driving at a constant, albeit high velocity. So maintenance costs aren't really much higher. There are some risk factors (e.g. a tiny pebble hitting your windshield at 130 mph will most likely crack the glass, which would not happen at half the speed), also the paint will suffer more if you drive fast. But overall it's not a big difference. Regarding "fill up first, pay later" at petrol stations. The reasons are twofold. Petrol stations in Europe make most of their money selling you a candy bar or a bottle of Pepsi. So they want you to enter the "shop" section of the gas station. Secondly, everyone is videotaped and if you don't pay they have your license plate. The police will then show up at your door later. Same with speeding: Most of the times you will not be pulled over. Instead, you will either get a huge fine in the mail or are being summoned to court.
Well, I´ve been quite hopeful when I heared there was "some research" done before driving on the Autobahn. But not knowing the recommended speed (starting within the city and then as well on the Autobahn) and what the speed signs look like combined with wanting to drive at least 110mph (almost 180km/h) made me fear for everybody invovled. One can say, at least you didn´t rent an Audi R8 "to have some fun". But overall: Good job! Just always stay aware of the traffic in front, behind and next to you and you will be fine. Oh, and catch up on general rules like right-before-left and max speeds. I drive for decades from Germany to Croatia and still have a post it for the first day with the speed limits in cities and on the highways per country I travel through attached on my dashboard.
In Germany only 50 allowed within urban areas. These are marked at the town, village and city limits by yellow square signs on the right side of the road with the name of the town, village or city on them. You also have to watch out for marked 30 zones and play streets where you're only allowed to crawl. Basically, if there are buildings along the road and street lights, the limit will most probably be 50 or lower. The recommended speed limit for the Autobahn, if no other speed limit is give, is 130, but you are allowed to drive faster if you want to. Only in theory are you allowed to drive as fast as your car manages. You will most certainly be pulled over if you do 300 or over and at the very least given a good ticking off for dangerous driving.
2:45 the recommendet speed on the autobahn is 130 KMH ("richtgeschwindigkeit") You drive slowlier in the right Lanes with the Trucks (under 60kmh is forbidden), but in the Middle and left lane you should not try this-especialy not with this car..
As somebody that drives in the US in my holidays, I get a panic attack, that US citizens which are used to a max speed of 80mph, are allowed to drive here without speedlimit
Before you can drive a car in Germany, you have to get a driver's license! Traffic in Europe is so difficult, only a well-trained driver is not a danger to everyone!
11:56 and you mentioned drivers license.. with usual USA license you aren't allowed to drive in The Netherlands.. automatic doesn't allow you to drive a manual. If you have a manual license, then you are alowed to drive automatic aswell.. but in Europe automatics are luxuery, hurses, or for elderly or diabled, like one missing a leg or somthing like that.
I have spent a lot of time driving all over Germany,Autobahns with no speed limit are not in the majority,there are some sections with no speed limit but mostly it's 130k's.
A minimum speed limit is shown in white on a blue background, and this is extremely rare. A number in a red circle is always a maximum speed limit, whether it's a fixed sign or a variable limit. Variable speed limits when used well can keep traffic moving freely, sometimes you might think they are pointless because the traffic is flowing comfortably and it doesn't feel congested but that probably means that they have done their job by stopping the traffic from bunching up.
I really advise to familiarize yourself with all the rules and signs before you start driving in Germany. We Germans really tend to enforce rules when they favor us 😀
The highway in Germany is not a lawless area. There is a speed limit of 130 km/h as a guideline and the penal provision in the German Criminal Code (StGB) § 315d Prohibited motor vehicle racing. If you are involved in an accident at a speed of 130 km/h or more through no fault of your own, the insurance company may hold you jointly responsible and not pay for the entire accident damage. You can find § 315d (StGB) under "Gesetze im Internet". Please read this and use the translator if you have problems with the German language. Trying to reach the highest possible speed with your own car is also considered illegal car racing. And in the event of personal injury and death, this can mean one to ten years in prison.
If it feels natural to her, then it's her business and no-one else's. I sit like this too; bolt upright and as close to the controls as possible without compromising movement of the steering wheel. I simply do not understand how people can drive with the seat miles back from the pedals and with the arms almost straight. It's just doesn't feel right, and you cannot drive safely if you are not comfortable. What's right for you isn't right for everyone, my friend.
As @MSM4U2POM said, driving in a position where you are comfortable is generally the safest, because of the rat's nest of subconscious processing involved. Having said that, hugging the steering wheel *does* severely limit your emergency response options, unless you have an extra elbow in your upper arm. Also, being that close to the steering wheel's airbag can offer a slew of secondary injuries in a forward impact. Best bet is to A) Drive defensively enough to not have a collision (Not guaranteed to work) or B) Gradually re-train yourself into a position where your wrists are mostly straight at 9 and 3, your elbows are slightly flexed, and you can comfortably reach the pedals. Different cars suit different shapes of people, though, so there are necessary variations to this.
Driving on the Autobahn for the first time as an American can be a thrilling and somewhat nerve-wracking experience. The Autobahn is renowned for its high speeds and lack of speed limits in some sections, which can be quite a shock for those used to driving on strictly regulated roads back home. One of the first things that Americans notice when driving on the Autobahn is the fast-moving traffic. Cars zip past at speeds well above what they are used to, and it can take some time to get used to navigating through such high-speed flows of traffic. Another major difference is the concept of the "fast lane" on the Autobahn. In Germany, the left lane is reserved for passing only, and drivers are expected to move back to the right once they have completed their pass. This can be a bit of an adjustment for American drivers, who are used to cruising in the left lane for long distances. Additionally, the Autobahn is known for its strict adherence to driving etiquette and rules. Tailgating and aggressive driving are frowned upon, and drivers are expected to maintain a safe distance between cars and signal their intentions well in advance. Despite these differences, many Americans find driving on the Autobahn to be a thrilling experience. The smooth, well-maintained roads and lack of congestion make for a much more enjoyable driving experience than what they may be used to back home. Overall, driving on the Autobahn for the first time as an American can be a memorable and exciting experience, as long as drivers remember to stay alert, follow the rules of the road, and respect the other drivers around them.
There are no permanent speed limits on 66 percent of the German motorway network. However, a study by the German economic institute IW shows that few Germans drive faster than 130 km/h. In many sections where there are actually no speed limits, there are still speed limits. Particularly on sections of road where work is taking place, and there are many of those in Germany.
Yes there are sections on the Autobahn that have no speed limit however there are strict rules of the road and general driving behavior requirements, just like in the rest of Europe btw. More importantly we have real driving tests that require both theoretical and practical lessons before you’re considered ready to take the test and qualify.
Pertrol or gaz stations are both English, so obviously neither word is used in Germany. The translation would be „Tankstelle“ which literally means ‚fuel point‘. In cities you usually drive 50km/h, on the Autobahn there really is only no speed limit if there is the sign (round white with black stripes). 120km/h is the normal speed in the autobahn when there is a limit.
I live in Eastern Belgium, a 20-30 minute drive to the German border. It's always an experience to drive on our neighbors' Autobahnen at an already high speed of 150 kmh (93-94 mph), and see faster cars pass you as if you were driving at the pace of a snail. The max legal speed limit in Belgium is 120 kmh (75 mph).
I received a speeding ticket on the autobahn - 40 KM in a 25 KM ramp construction zone on a Sunday morning at 0800! Speed camera got me and Hertz sent me a bill.
I'm glad that you made the observatin about lane usage in the US - same in Canada : this is one of the reasons for the large amount of highway deaths in NA. Glad you enjoyed driving a bit fast.
The recommended speed on autobahn is 130kmh not 180. Red circle means max speed. The minimum speed limit what your vehicle must exceed is 60 or 80 kmh. Obviously if the conditions are bad. U can and must drive slower. Snow. Heavy rain. Heavy Traffic. Etc
I am German and I want to say: every tourist (including me) makes the one mistake in thinking: You see something in the visited country that is unusual for you and you think "Why are they all doing this, is this a habit or why?" The truth is: just some are doing this ... and all the others just don't stand out or just don't get the attention or don't show up at all in that moment or they do this and that sometimes and at other times just not, simply according to the individual circumstance. But we as tourists say "oh, they do this... everywhere in the country". 🙂 I drive mostly 110 to 140 km/h and sometimes 160 to 170 if I am in a hurry. Faster as 180 I consider not as save although I am German and used to see this speed at the Autobahn and many Germans claim they were driving super safe with 200 and 250 km/h but this is objectively impossible to be really safe. No matter how few accidents happen on the German Autobahn, 200 and especially more is definitely less safe. There are enogh terrible accidents happening with people going too fast on the motorway (or too slow... is also very dangerous).
The thing i don't get about the American system of paying for the petrol before you pump, is how do you know how much you need? Here i just fill up the tank, if i were in America how am i meant to know how much it'll take to do that? And what happens if i pay for more than i need, do i just lose that extra money?
If you are using a card, you select the dollar amount or "fill". If you don't get to the dollar amount you only get charged the correct amount. If you are using cash, you give the cashier the amount of cash you think you will need and they will authorize the pump for that amount. If you don't reach that amount you have to go back in to the cashier for your change.
@@bradmcmahon3156 ok cool, thanks for the explanation. The card part doesn't sound too bad, but having to go back in to get a refund with cash sounds like a PITA.
@@markc1793 same PITA that americans feel when they can't pay directly by card at the pump and have to go inside at all. but there are reasons for everything ... besides more trust (and better security cameras?) german gas stations like to sell additional things like beverages, snacks, cigarettes or newspapers, instead of only gas with lower profit margins. And germans are also used to authorize each and every larger card payment after seeing the amount (instead of giving blank authorizations) by entering their PIN which can't really be done in advance, or at least would feel like a security risk, or they pay with cash anyway.
It's not about how much wear there'll be on your car if you drive really fast on the Autobahn. It's about whether you can afford a car which is safe enough to drive really fast on the Autobahn. I wouldn't drive regularly at 180 km/h on the Autobahn in that particular car, and probably not even at 150 when it's a rental. 130 is more than fast enough, unless you own a car you know can handle high speed.
I love driving on the Autobahn but my husband only lets me drive if he is sleepy. Cara, you do fab driving everywhere. Does Jeremy not like to drive? My husband did TDY in Oberammergau and Garmisch. So beautiful there.
That's a decent speed in a 500, you did well, its all about lane discipline and keeping your eyes open! You're in a beautiful part of the world, I've been a few times and really liked it.
I would recommend traveling to Switzerland whilst you are in Europe. Interlaken is one of the most beautiful places in the world, situated on two turquoise lakes, lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken is also the gateway to the Jungfrau mountain region and there is so much to do! The whole Jungfrau is connected by Gondolas, trains and funiculars so you can visit different mountain peaks. There are restaurants at the top of most mountain peaks and there are lots of walks and hikes along the mountain tops and down the mountain sides connecting charming villages along the way like Wengen and Grindelwald. Grindelwald is probably the most beautiful place I've ever travelled to in the world! Also in Switzerland, a lovely town called Spiez is about 15 mins from Interlaken and has two lovely outdoor pools right next to the lake and there is a beach on the lake. A medieval town called Gruyere is definitely worth a visit. It has a castle with lots of charming pubs and eating places. Also Lake Lucerne is beautiful. The Golden circle is highly recommended around Mount Pilatus. Montreux is also lovely on Lake Geneva. There is so much to do in Switzerland and it is honestly breathtaking scenery. I've travelled to Canada several times for the mountains and lakes but Switzerland has become my new favorite. I really hope you include it on your trip - it won't disappoint!
The trouble however in Switzerland is that the speed is very limited everywhere.If you do not obey it the punishments are fierce,They even sell your car.
a lot of German food is no-nonsense and all the better for it. Eg a bread roll and Bockwurst for breakfast - nothing fancy just does the job and sets you up for the day. Don't get me wrong they do fine dining too but sometimes basic is what you want and need.
Oppenheim is quite a famous name these days. I am german and I didnt know about this small town. Cool video! You managed the Autobahn pretty well and I liked your style presenting it not to over excited, just handeling it :P
No GENERAL speed limit, but there are many signs restricting the max speed. The recommended speed is 130 kph (80 mph). It has some legal implications if you're involved in an accident while driving faster.
This is scary. How is that even possible, i always thought that you need at least a short refresher course about default speed limits, signs, etc. when you come to another country (and have a vaild driving license for your own country).
Cara had a valid US license, an international driving permit, and watched some videos. People from the UK and Europe can come to the US and rent a car with just a license.
The recommended speed limit is not 180mph. That's not a speed that any but the most expensive luxury cars can attain. The recommended speed limit is 130km/h. You can look left or right at intersections to see the traffic lights on the side. Another thing the US doesn't have. It's nearly impossible to see US traffic lights when behind an SUV or a lorry (truck). The US is the odd one out with traffic signs. I really wish they would use the international signs and switch to metric.
You will love Bavaria❤❤! Be sure to visit Heidelberg. and legendary castle. Great job on Autobahn. It is a bit of hair-raising experience first time, especially as people flash high beams to "move over" and speed by, like , how many MPH??? I can't wait for the new videos 🎉
If no speed limit is posted, there are general (implicit) speed limits: Within towns and villages, it's 50 kph, outside of towns and villages, it is 100 kph,. and on the Autobahn, there is none. Please take care: yellow signs showing city limits (both entering and leaving the town) are at the same time ending the previously set speed limit, both explicit and implicit.
In Germany u have 2 rules .. 1 never linger in the left lane .. passing is only allowed on the left lane .. so they are fast there ... 2 if u come to a street crossing that has no sign or traffic light (mostly residential areas, sometimes with a holding line at the crossing streets) the car comming from the right is always prefered "right before left rule" this leads sometimes to accidents because non germans dont know !
Visited Germany for work in the past, something I used to love that might sound weird is being woke up early in the morning in my hotel by traffic noise. It was the noise of commerce happening to me & I liked it!
@04:35 Yea in the UK we're only supposed to use the outer lanes for overtaking too, but there are so many bad or entitled drivers that don't use the inside lane. Everyone hates them.
100 km sign! Hmm, is this the maximum or the minimum speed to go? That question blew my mind! In fact this means, you have to drive a minimum distance of 100km if your tour is less than that you are not allowed to use the Autobahn! 🤣
If everyone drives correctly, respecting legal and implicit codes, German highways are even very safe. Personally, however, I would not drive a Fiat 500, and its short wheelbase and low weight, beyond like 140-150 km/h, the speed at which a moderate gust of side wind or even the flow of air displaced by a vehicle you are overtaking can significantly influence your own trajectory, and I don't want to experience what that does with a car that is taller than it is wide at that speed given the friction forces and physics involved.
Well done Aah Kid! I’m a veteran from the RAF and served in Germany for 10years driving my own car and driving forces heavy trucks with trailer carrying practice and training munitions, mostly in the North on a line with Düsseldorf west to East. We lived within the community and drove on both sides of the forces fence. You did well Aah kid. Cheers Both
Hello Cara and Jeremy. I saw JPS go to Germany on TH-cam and started watching videos by Feli as TH-cam recommended them, after I saw the reactions to a couple. It is years since I was there, but sometimes watch football ⚽️ in German, which I can remember a bit from school, despite being from Yorkshire. I got asked if I was "Holländer" when there, as everyone thinks that English speakers do not speak any other languages. My girlfriend's Austrian relatives say I speak German like a German, but I reckon there is an Austrian joke in there somewhere. German cars are built for that speed. They advertise Audi in UK with the phrase "Vorsprung durch Technik". Nürburgring next? Funny, Yorkshire lass Catherine Warr just did a video featuring old German speed machines winning Grand Prix.
well, it's only 30% of the Autobahn which has no speed limit ... The recommended speed is 130 km/h... and even on the open parts you have to drive responsible or you might loose your drivers licence....
I was under the impression the top speed was 80 mph/130kph on the autobahn, but it seems there are unrestricted zones where you can drive as fast as you’d like, WOW!!😅
Do a better resurch before you drive on the streets. It is: inside towns = 50km/h, outside at countryside = 100km/h, on the Autobahn = Richtgeschwindigkeit 130km/h. Drive slow at the right lane, don't overtake at right lanes! Drive the speed the other drivers do... is the best. Enjoy
You can put these German (& other european) place names into Google Translate and click the speak icon. It will give you the correct local pronunciation and the English equivalent.
Jeremy: Boy! Bring me my brown pants, so that the viewers will not see me panic at Portland driving on the autobahn. Cara: Hush your mouth, sonny, else you will have to host a second vid about eating Indian cuisine in UK all by your little itsy-bitsy self Jeremy:: Deal! :(
At BMW World in Munich you can hire demo cars by the hour to try them out. 2 years ago I rented an M4 (a 500bhp beast) for 110EUR for a whole day (which I thought very reasonable for an expensive, high performance car) and drove it to the Austrian border (Garmisch) and back at 140mph - because you can!
from my pov, as a first time driver on the Autobahn you are too much focussing on producing this video. Not only in Germany driving requires your full attention, no phone, no pet on your lap, and no vid production
Seems to me you're thinking in mph and reading that as the speed of your car. But "mph" is only the UK in Europe. Everywhere else in kph (kilometers per hour) and the speedometer is always kph...
to answer your question about maintainance costs , it depends it's actually good for your engine to use it , even at it's full potential , as it keeps your engine and exhaust clean , the only expenses factor is more fuel and faster wear and tear on the tires , but the rest , not at all i been driving in germany for a few years ( belgian guy here but go a lot to germany ) and i usually cruise at about 200-220kmph ( 124-136 mph ) but i do floor it from time to time ( 255kph/ 159 mph ) which i usually do right before a annual mandatory car inspection , as it cleans the engine niiiicely for the exhaust test , it drops the number by easily 250% also , the red circle with a number is the MAX not the minimum hahahaha
Hallo Es gibt für 130 km/h keine "Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung". 130 km/h ist eine "Richtgeschwindigkeit" Besser gesagt ein Tempo nachdem man sich richten kann, nicht muss.... Viele Grüße aus Deutschland
Greetings from a wine village near Bad Kreuznach, Germany (about a half an hour drive from Mainz). Hope you have a lovely stay in Bavaria. Just found your videos and subscribed. 🙂
Yeah, I have a Toyota C-HR which is a medium/small SUV/coupé I maxed out on 185 km/h, the mileage varies on also the temperature etc, also it is a plugin hybrid. But 180 km/h at least for me it is a little tiring, since I have the need to be extra careful, I usually I was around at 160, however my mom preferred staying around 125. It depends on who is driving, but in Germany in general you have to be super cautious driving on the highway since the rules are a little more strict than the other EU countries. For example I live in Italy and it is completely wild driving here, nobody cares about the speed limits and people are usually crazy…
Also ehrlich: wer beim "ersten Mal" die wichtigsten Regeln nicht einigermaßen sicher kennt, der sollte vielleicht lieber die Finger vom Hebel lassen und noch ein bisschen warten. Das gilt für Autofahren in Deutschland und für andere Situationen im Leben. Das mit den Ampeln auf der anderen Seite der Kreuzung funde ich wirklich gut. Allerdings müssten sich in Deutschland die Autofahrer umgewöhnen, was zumindest zu einem Sicherheitsrisiko führen würde. Dann doch lieber den Hals verrenkeb, statt ihn sich brechen.
Dear tourists from all over the world: Welcome to Germany! We really love to have you with us. Don't miss out renting a tiny little undermotorised Italian car to experience our famous Autobahn. If there are no actual speed limits or dangerous conditions, enjoy testing out your limits (or the cars). But let's have a little agreement: if I'm coming from behind you, please, change to a lane on the right. You will recognise me. I'm the one coming up dangerously fast, flashing lights from a mile and driving a BMW. Or maybe an AUDI/Mercedes/PorschE/Volkswagen... Regardless, since you both drove literally passed my front porch, congratulations for your first encounter with the most beautiful route along the Rhine. The A555 was the very first Autobahn build in Germany (No! The Nazis didn't "invent" Autobahn. Later Chancellour and former Mayor of Cologne Konrad Adenauer had let it build in the late 1920's even before the Nazis rised to power. A similar project was finished even earlier near Milan/Italy.) The B9 you took is imho one of the most beautiful roads in Germany along the vineyards, castles an of course the river - as you showed. The area has also the status as "UNESCO world heritage". Every far travelled visitor should definitiv have a look here... Thanks for showing! Hope you enyoed your stay so much, you come back once more! Let's check out your other videos...
What I like about German roads is that they will indicate 60, 80, 100, 120 just for short stretches where lanes are merging or something similar, and German drivers keep to those speeds religiously. Because it’s for short distances with a reason. In the UK set speeds last for longer distances, often when you don’t know why (it’s slower) and we tend not to follow speed restrictions so well.
Watch our video about our first time in Germany (Cologne): th-cam.com/video/ZnyxuE8atWA/w-d-xo.html&t
First time driving in the UK: th-cam.com/video/1f6GH9GIEf0/w-d-xo.html&t
24 Hours in Amsterdam (we were SHOCKED): th-cam.com/video/pCLajW48rfs/w-d-xo.html&t
As a matter of fact - in many states in the US you also have to drive on the right lane and the left lane is just for overtaking. Depending on the state overtaking on the right side may or may not be prohibited as well.
Many US americans are actually violating US traffic laws all the time - and for whatever reasons the police is not enforcing some of these laws in the US.
Passing on the right lane is strictly prohibited in Germany btw. If you do that and are caught you'll get into trouble.
Red circle with a number inside is a speed limit. It is not the minimum, it is the maximum.
@@HH-hd7ndiirc it is mandatory to drive on the most outer lane in the US if you are slow, it's not just enforced by the authorities.
Welcome to Germany and enjoy your stay.
8:45 ... nope ...
i drove 2000km moderatly = 6,8L/100km
since then its "pedal to the metal" when possible ...= 6,8L/100km
"It´s a lot less intensive to get your license in the US"
Germany 2022: 2782 traffic fatalities
USA 2022: 42795 traffic fatalities
Unfortunately, this means that the USA has 15 times more traffic fatalities than Germany with just 4 times more citizens.
Maybe it shouldn't be so easy to get a driver's license in the USA.
Three times more citizens (84 mio + 3 x 84 mio)
You need to look at fatalities per mile. People drive a lot more there.
Lifted trucks doing 80mph, people passing on the right, stressed people driving, left lane lingerers, is crazy.
@@Angeliter You really mean 84x3x84?
Usa has some 334 mio citizens. Thats 4 times the 84 in Germany.
Okay, the fact that americans can just rent a car and drive here in europe without any tests before getting the keys has just unlocked a new fear.
And without knowing the traffic signs it can get expensive or worse. Not to mention general rules like the 50/100km/h and Right before Left.
I hear you! When I went to live in Germany I took a few driving lessons before buying my car and letting myself loose on the road. There are so many oddities which Americans (or Brits like me) would not expect......like the right of way at traffic lights when there are double tram lines in the middle of the road!!
Depends very much on the driver. I did the opposite 2 years ago, travelled the US for 3 months. Took 15 min to get used to the automatic and about a day for the streetsigns etc. No issues at all. Tho i have to admit it seemed Americans were NOT the best drivers and speedlimits are just a suggestion.
As a tourist you do the same in the US. Soooo. It should be a no brainer, that I do familiarize myself with the local traffic rules before I go drive around in a foreign country.
There are bigger worries than a few Americans driving on our roads like people who don't know or are willing to accept our rules and culture.
She is more aware of the road rules than natiive drivers especially regarding our Rechtsfahrgebot.
same can be said about Germans visiting the US, they have rules we don't.
choosing a fiat 500 for the Autobahn would not have been the first thing that came to my mind 😂
Fair. It was an inexpensive rental. 😂😂😂
An Abarth would have been better
Liebe Mausi Lugner...DIE Mausi Lugner? Lol ...genau das hab ich mir auch gedacht, wenn deutsche Autobahn, dann bitte ein gscheites Auto 😛😁
@@TheMagicGeekdom Inexpensive, yes, and a good choice to feel the speed. In bigger cars you don't feel the speed by noise or anything, and they have more horse power. So no wonder if some drivers want to go faster but the majority drives between 60 and 90 mph. Following the rules makes the Autobahn double save as US speed limited highways.
@@TheMagicGeekdom was it the 1 litre 3 cylinder petrol "hybrid"? It felt pretty slow after being used to a Cooper S Clubman, although I had to make sure I didn't "money shift" whilst overtaking as the gear ratios are shorter in the lower gears.
No speed limit...and they take a FIAT 500 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Imagine you shoot the firsttime in the us a auto rifle, you would begin with it slowly :D
Recommended speed is 130 km/h, which is about 80 mi/h I think. And if you want to accelerate quickly, just shift down a gear or two. And also, like others said before, please make sure that you know the rules and how to read traffic sings before getting on the road!
Thanks!
I thought she WAS shifting down haha.
Says the German, flashing lights on his Audi in the mirror because 170kmh on the left lane is considered being a „snail“.
120km/h limits are not rare in Finland, but would love to rent a nice car in Germanny and really floor it - if the car just feels stable.
230km/h is my top, but I guess this kind of vaction could be something i try next time in Germanny 😅
Having the traffic lights on the opposite side of the crossing does not work in many places in Germany, as many crossings are so irregular, that there is no clear opposite side, and drivers might confuse their lights with the lights from a neigboring street coming in at a sharp angle.
It is kind of weird.
@@TheMagicGeekdom No it is efficient, remember it is germany! The germans placed the traffic light exactly at the point where it only can be seen by people it is ment for! - No Excuses, for early starters if they the crossing lane gets red and they drive before their own light became green! No Excuses for turning right by red-light - so none :"Oh, Officer I thought there was enough space and the other car should have to used the break earlier!" Red is red and green is green, so easy! Gues what, they have less silly accidents at road crossings! Some call weird, they call it efficient! 🤣🤣🤣
Please learn about the rules of the road BEFORE you get in the car. That includes the speed limits for cities. Which is 50km/h unless posted otherwise, just fyi.
Also why would we call it either gas station or petrol station? We call it Tankstelle! 😅
My usual cruising speed is 150km/h, unless I have a reason to go faster.
You remarked on the lack of acceleration of that car. With a stick shift it can be usefull to shift back a gear or two to get better acceleration.
The system works so well (mkre or less) because people usually know what they're doing. Which is why I may have been a bit harsh at the beginning ... sorry...
But people who don't have the training and (more importantly) experience are usually the most dangerous thing on the road...
Thanks for all the info.
crusing speed 150 km/h. you must have loved exchanging your trabby for anything else from the west. or maybe you drove a schiguly which mens that you were "Volkspolizei".
@@zymelin21 Do you live in the past of 35 years ago?
It boggles my mind that someone would go to another country and not check the traffic rules before getting into a car to drive.
Re: Traffic lights above you on a second lane. Just bend your head slightly and look to the right, there's your main traffic light. The traffic lights above are always additional lights so that you can see them from a distance.
Oh, thank you!
@@TheMagicGeekdom Also lights on your side is more save since you focus on what is right in front of you and not 50m afar on the other side of the crossing
The traffic light should either be across the intersection like in the USA or like in France, where they have small lights at the height of the driver.
I used to drive to Europe with my work. A wonderful 1.8 BMW. From Calais, into and across Belgium, crossing into Germany via Aachen and then up to Koln and the Nordrhein Westphalia region. Then down to Frankfurt and Mainz, my hotel was a small place in Bingen am Rhein. Then down towards Munich Nuremberg, Augsburg , Heidelberg and all places nearby. Germany is a fantastic country, so clean warm and friendly. Also several trips by car up to Hamburg and Hannover. Went there in September with my wife who had never been and she adored Germany.. Enjoy Bavaria ....it is beautiful.
Sounds lovely!
Danke der lieben Worte für mein Heimatland! 👍🤘✌🍀⚓
Basically: inner city/town roads = 50km/h general
Outside cities/towns = 100km/h general
Autobahn = no speed limit in GENERAL.
Obviously local speed limits ALWAYS have precedence over general speed limits.
Four basic Autobahn rules:
1. no passing to the right. PERIOD!
2. if you can drive in a lane to your right for roughly 30 seconds at the same speed without going into unsafe distance driving or constantly weaving in and out, do it. This is the Rechtsfahrgebot, the drive right ordinance. This opens up the left lanes for passing and keeps traffic flowing homogenously.
3. always drive according to the limits of skill, vehicle, traffic, and road conditions. This includes safe distance for your speed, which is AT LEAST half your speedomter in meters to the next vehicle.
4. always check your mirrors before setting your blinker/indicator, take a shoulder check into your blind spot, and only change lanes if there is no one advancing on that lane at significantly higher speeds, and you are not cutting off someone.
With that you've covered 90% of all cases you will encounter. Obviously know the road signs and adhere to them. No, if you see a speed limit you DON'T have to slam on your brakes but you should slow down to the marked speed limit within a reasonable distance without endagering traffic which includes yourself.
One of the most important road signs to know are SPEED LIMITS. Which unfortunately are the ones you claimed to be recommended speeds. Nope, the white background, red borders, plus numbers inside are the international sign for speed limits, with America being the odd one out. I know no other country except the USA that use rectangular signs with ENGLISH spelling inside which tell you the speed limit.
yes, instead of lots and lots of different speed limit signs, germany (europe) has general default speed limits vor towns/roads/highways, and you find big signs with those national default limits at borders when you enter a different country. For germany, they are 50 kph (31 mph) and 100 kph (62 mph), and no general limit on the _Autobahn_ (but a recommended limit of 130 kph = 80 mph). these limits all are for normal cars, and cars with trailers and trucks have their own lower limits, eg trucks on highways 80 kph (50 mph) or with tolerances mostly driving 90 kph (56 mph) so that you shouldn't go slower either to not block them.
traffic signs also are shaped and colored quite systematically: white circles with red border for prohibitions (including speed limits), white triangles with red borders for warnings, blue circles for orders (including minimum speed, but mostly arrows for directions like "turn right" or arrow pointing down-left to "pass this on the left"). few other signs have different shapes or colors, eg square blue for recommended speed (eg on that sign at the border), triangle with corner at bottom for "yield", red big octagon for "stop" (no 4way stops, and stop signs only where it is dangerous and yield might not be good enough, otherwise without signs always "right before left"), the "fried egg" is a priority road where you usually can expect all sideroads to have yield or stop signs, _"Einbahnstrasse"_ = "one way", etc
I would mention: Sometimes you will come in situations, where these rules will not work or cause a deadlock. For example if all left lanes are blocked, you can of course pass on the right. But then as usual: Drive slow and carefully, be friendly to others and expect them to do stupid things. Slow progress is still better than none at all.
Thank you for this break down.
Checking the blind spot can be challenging when going atspeeds, what I do is to take a long time to change lanes so the signal stays long enough, if I'm not certain no one is coming I just don't
A red ring around a speedlimit sign is always a maximum.
German here. Your whole seat is way to close to the steering wheel. If both arms are nearly streched and can grab the steering wheel, while your shoulders are still have contact to the back of the seat, you are fine. Try it, it's way more relaxing.
It's not more relaxing if it doesn't suit you, my friend. I have always driven bolt-upright and as close to the controls as possible; I have tried pushing the seat further back, but it feels completely unnatural and I have better control over the pedals when I'm practically on top of them. I passed my instructor's test sitting like this and the Supervising Examiner didn't bat an eyelid. We're all different, and what's right for one person isn't necessarily right for another. All the best from the UK.
@@MSM4U2POMthe problem is, when you have an accident and the airbag explodes, you can get severely injured just by the airbag.
not driven on autobahn for decades, but my main memory was if you need to pull into the fast lane, if you see a merc coming with lights on about a mile back, just wait a few seconds and it will be past you, then pull out.
Yeah and watch out for the Porsche that’s normally up the Mercs arse..
Cara did really well!
@@pashvonderc381 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 and mad that the sucker doesn´t leave the damn fast lane
....unless of course an Audi, a Mercedes and Porsche "found" each other, meaning: ´hey, they drive my style at my preferred speed, so let´s tackle this together and the one in front shovels the snails out of the way
Fun times, fun times indeed 😉
@@pashvonderc381 And behind them is a Golf, flashing its lights...
Schade dass ich dem englischen nicht mächtig bin😔
There is a kind of speed limit on the Autobahn.
130 km/h. If you go faster, it is possible, that your insurance denies to pay under some bad circumstsnces...
And you have to drive on the right lane und overtaking is only allowed on the left.
Thanks for clearing that up.
@@TheMagicGeekdom Der erzählt Scheisse und hat gar keine Ahnung.
The reason why 150km/h (about 90mph) felt fast was that you were driving a Fiat 500, which is designed as a city car, an urban runabout!
😂😂😂😂😂👍
1:34 'ok, that guy is going way faster than me. I don't know what the speed limit is right here now.' oh, that's not good. you should know the speed limit, ideally everywhere you go. at least you should have a general idea. you are within city limits. there is a general speed limit you should always know! and then there are situational speed limits depending on location.
Blödsinn, kein Bußgeldbescheid wird in den USA vollstreckt.
Also Geschwindigkeit ist völlig wurscht für Touristen.
The reason for pumping first is easy:gas stations don't make a lot of money selling gas,so they want customers to come in,maybe purchasing something on the way.
That makes sense.
They woul pump and go in Florida. We have to pay first.
Blödsinn, bezahlen und dann centgenau tanken ist schwierig.
Und umrüsten auf Automaten, die centgenau tanken, ist teuer.
Außerdem weiß man idR nicht, wieviel überhaupt reingeht, also umständlich alles.
Könnte man mit variabler Kreditkartenbelastung lösen, aber es gibt hier zuviele Barzahler.
Offensichtlich wäre Tankbetrug in den USA gang und gäbe, wenn man nicht vorher bezahlen müsste und dort geht das mit der Kreditkartenbelastung auch, weil keiner bar zahlt.
If you can't comfortably see the traffic light you are two close to the intersection, it is a feature not a bug.
Regarding car maintenance: Cold starts are what ages your engine and city driving puts a higher strain on your brakes than driving at a constant, albeit high velocity. So maintenance costs aren't really much higher. There are some risk factors (e.g. a tiny pebble hitting your windshield at 130 mph will most likely crack the glass, which would not happen at half the speed), also the paint will suffer more if you drive fast. But overall it's not a big difference.
Regarding "fill up first, pay later" at petrol stations. The reasons are twofold. Petrol stations in Europe make most of their money selling you a candy bar or a bottle of Pepsi. So they want you to enter the "shop" section of the gas station. Secondly, everyone is videotaped and if you don't pay they have your license plate. The police will then show up at your door later. Same with speeding: Most of the times you will not be pulled over. Instead, you will either get a huge fine in the mail or are being summoned to court.
Thanks for all the extra info!
Only ever drive as fast as you are comfortable with. Never feel that you should have to "keep up with the traffic" It's your funeral!!
Good advice!
Blödsinn, die Masse rast nie so schnell, dass es gefährlich wäre.
Also "mitschwimmen"
Enjoy your experience in Germany, fabulous country!
It really is! Thank you for watching!
Well, I´ve been quite hopeful when I heared there was "some research" done before driving on the Autobahn.
But not knowing the recommended speed (starting within the city and then as well on the Autobahn) and what the speed signs look like combined with wanting to drive at least 110mph (almost 180km/h) made me fear for everybody invovled.
One can say, at least you didn´t rent an Audi R8 "to have some fun".
But overall: Good job! Just always stay aware of the traffic in front, behind and next to you and you will be fine. Oh, and catch up on general rules like right-before-left and max speeds. I drive for decades from Germany to Croatia and still have a post it for the first day with the speed limits in cities and on the highways per country I travel through attached on my dashboard.
In Germany only 50 allowed within urban areas. These are marked at the town, village and city limits by yellow square signs on the right side of the road with the name of the town, village or city on them. You also have to watch out for marked 30 zones and play streets where you're only allowed to crawl. Basically, if there are buildings along the road and street lights, the limit will most probably be 50 or lower.
The recommended speed limit for the Autobahn, if no other speed limit is give, is 130, but you are allowed to drive faster if you want to. Only in theory are you allowed to drive as fast as your car manages. You will most certainly be pulled over if you do 300 or over and at the very least given a good ticking off for dangerous driving.
That's fair.
2:45 the recommendet speed on the autobahn is 130 KMH ("richtgeschwindigkeit")
You drive slowlier in the right Lanes with the Trucks (under 60kmh is forbidden), but in the Middle and left lane you should not try this-especialy not with this car..
As somebody that drives in the US in my holidays, I get a panic attack, that US citizens which are used to a max speed of 80mph, are allowed to drive here without speedlimit
Before you can drive a car in Germany, you have to get a driver's license! Traffic in Europe is so difficult, only a well-trained driver is not a danger to everyone!
11:56 and you mentioned drivers license.. with usual USA license you aren't allowed to drive in The Netherlands.. automatic doesn't allow you to drive a manual. If you have a manual license, then you are alowed to drive automatic aswell.. but in Europe automatics are luxuery, hurses, or for elderly or diabled, like one missing a leg or somthing like that.
I have spent a lot of time driving all over Germany,Autobahns with no speed limit are not in the majority,there are some sections with no speed limit but mostly it's 130k's.
A minimum speed limit is shown in white on a blue background, and this is extremely rare.
A number in a red circle is always a maximum speed limit, whether it's a fixed sign or a variable limit.
Variable speed limits when used well can keep traffic moving freely, sometimes you might think they are pointless because the traffic is flowing comfortably and it doesn't feel congested but that probably means that they have done their job by stopping the traffic from bunching up.
I really advise to familiarize yourself with all the rules and signs before you start driving in Germany. We Germans really tend to enforce rules when they favor us 😀
called TANKSTELLE ✌🏽
Thanks!
@@TheMagicGeekdom So we call it "fill up station" accordingly ;D
The highway in Germany is not a lawless area. There is a speed limit of 130 km/h as a guideline and the penal provision in the German Criminal Code (StGB) § 315d Prohibited motor vehicle racing. If you are involved in an accident at a speed of 130 km/h or more through no fault of your own, the insurance company may hold you jointly responsible and not pay for the entire accident damage. You can find § 315d (StGB) under "Gesetze im Internet". Please read this and use the translator if you have problems with the German language. Trying to reach the highest possible speed with your own car is also considered illegal car racing. And in the event of personal injury and death, this can mean one to ten years in prison.
That makes sense.
The 130 km/h ist not a speed limit.
und das gilt unabhängig von 130, es wird immer Gefährdungshaftung abgezogen.
The way you sit in this car, shows everything
She could be a few decimeters closer to driving wheel.
I agree. Too close to the window. Just relax and slip the seat back!!!
If it feels natural to her, then it's her business and no-one else's. I sit like this too; bolt upright and as close to the controls as possible without compromising movement of the steering wheel. I simply do not understand how people can drive with the seat miles back from the pedals and with the arms almost straight. It's just doesn't feel right, and you cannot drive safely if you are not comfortable. What's right for you isn't right for everyone, my friend.
As @MSM4U2POM said, driving in a position where you are comfortable is generally the safest, because of the rat's nest of subconscious processing involved. Having said that, hugging the steering wheel *does* severely limit your emergency response options, unless you have an extra elbow in your upper arm. Also, being that close to the steering wheel's airbag can offer a slew of secondary injuries in a forward impact. Best bet is to A) Drive defensively enough to not have a collision (Not guaranteed to work) or B) Gradually re-train yourself into a position where your wrists are mostly straight at 9 and 3, your elbows are slightly flexed, and you can comfortably reach the pedals. Different cars suit different shapes of people, though, so there are necessary variations to this.
Had been driving on a Sunday mornin with 300 km/h!
Just fun!!!❤❤❤❤❤
Driving on the Autobahn for the first time as an American can be a thrilling and somewhat nerve-wracking experience. The Autobahn is renowned for its high speeds and lack of speed limits in some sections, which can be quite a shock for those used to driving on strictly regulated roads back home.
One of the first things that Americans notice when driving on the Autobahn is the fast-moving traffic. Cars zip past at speeds well above what they are used to, and it can take some time to get used to navigating through such high-speed flows of traffic.
Another major difference is the concept of the "fast lane" on the Autobahn. In Germany, the left lane is reserved for passing only, and drivers are expected to move back to the right once they have completed their pass. This can be a bit of an adjustment for American drivers, who are used to cruising in the left lane for long distances.
Additionally, the Autobahn is known for its strict adherence to driving etiquette and rules. Tailgating and aggressive driving are frowned upon, and drivers are expected to maintain a safe distance between cars and signal their intentions well in advance.
Despite these differences, many Americans find driving on the Autobahn to be a thrilling experience. The smooth, well-maintained roads and lack of congestion make for a much more enjoyable driving experience than what they may be used to back home.
Overall, driving on the Autobahn for the first time as an American can be a memorable and exciting experience, as long as drivers remember to stay alert, follow the rules of the road, and respect the other drivers around them.
8:20 cheaper gasoline.. me as a Dutchie living close to Germany, I do shopping and filling the tank in Germany..
2:00 *German Speaker call it "Tankstelle" because they can "auftanken/tanken" (refuel) their Cars.* 😁
In town there is a speed limit of 50 km/h. Sometimes there are signs on bigger streets, that allow to drive f.e.
70 km/h.
The otterbarn?
2:40 Recommended speed on the Autobahn: 130 km/h (~80.8 mph)
Thanks!
There are no permanent speed limits on 66 percent of the German motorway network. However, a study by the German economic institute IW shows that few Germans drive faster than 130 km/h. In many sections where there are actually no speed limits, there are still speed limits. Particularly on sections of road where work is taking place, and there are many of those in Germany.
We kept it lower than that most of the time.
Yes there are sections on the Autobahn that have no speed limit however there are strict rules of the road and general driving behavior requirements, just like in the rest of Europe btw. More importantly we have real driving tests that require both theoretical and practical lessons before you’re considered ready to take the test and qualify.
Pertrol or gaz stations are both English, so obviously neither word is used in Germany. The translation would be „Tankstelle“ which literally means ‚fuel point‘.
In cities you usually drive 50km/h, on the Autobahn there really is only no speed limit if there is the sign (round white with black stripes).
120km/h is the normal speed in the autobahn when there is a limit.
Thank for all the info.
I live in Eastern Belgium, a 20-30 minute drive to the German border. It's always an experience to drive on our neighbors' Autobahnen at an already high speed of 150 kmh (93-94 mph), and see faster cars pass you as if you were driving at the pace of a snail. The max legal speed limit in Belgium is 120 kmh (75 mph).
It was an experience. 😂
If US driver's licenses are really valid here I wonder why we have to go through all the hassle here to get one. Fucking insane.
I received a speeding ticket on the autobahn - 40 KM in a 25 KM ramp construction zone on a Sunday morning at 0800! Speed camera got me and Hertz sent me a bill.
so you thought that you did not have to respect the speed limit because it was 8 am on a Sunday? C'mon ...
I'm glad that you made the observatin about lane usage in the US - same in Canada : this is one of the reasons for the large amount of highway deaths in NA. Glad you enjoyed driving a bit fast.
The recommended speed on autobahn is 130kmh not 180.
Red circle means max speed.
The minimum speed limit what your vehicle must exceed is 60 or 80 kmh. Obviously if the conditions are bad. U can and must drive slower. Snow. Heavy rain. Heavy Traffic. Etc
Thank you for the suggestion.
Easiest way to convert between MPH and KPH, 100 MPH is around 160 KPH -> 50 MPH is 80.
From that you can get close to whatever reading you might need.
Thank you!
There is a speed limit, it is limited by a FIAT she is driving.
🤣
Jezzer had brown hair before the autobahn 😂😂😂
I wish I had brown hair at the beginning. 😂
I am German and I want to say:
every tourist (including me) makes the one mistake in thinking:
You see something in the visited country that is unusual for you and you think "Why are they all doing this, is this a habit or why?" The truth is: just some are doing this ... and all the others just don't stand out or just don't get the attention or don't show up at all in that moment or they do this and that sometimes and at other times just not, simply according to the individual circumstance. But we as tourists say "oh, they do this... everywhere in the country". 🙂
I drive mostly 110 to 140 km/h and sometimes 160 to 170 if I am in a hurry. Faster as 180 I consider not as save although I am German and used to see this speed at the Autobahn and many Germans claim they were driving super safe with 200 and 250 km/h but this is objectively impossible to be really safe. No matter how few accidents happen on the German Autobahn, 200 and especially more is definitely less safe. There are enogh terrible accidents happening with people going too fast on the motorway (or too slow... is also very dangerous).
The thing i don't get about the American system of paying for the petrol before you pump, is how do you know how much you need? Here i just fill up the tank, if i were in America how am i meant to know how much it'll take to do that? And what happens if i pay for more than i need, do i just lose that extra money?
If you are using a card, you select the dollar amount or "fill". If you don't get to the dollar amount you only get charged the correct amount.
If you are using cash, you give the cashier the amount of cash you think you will need and they will authorize the pump for that amount. If you don't reach that amount you have to go back in to the cashier for your change.
@@bradmcmahon3156 ok cool, thanks for the explanation. The card part doesn't sound too bad, but having to go back in to get a refund with cash sounds like a PITA.
@@markc1793 same PITA that americans feel when they can't pay directly by card at the pump and have to go inside at all.
but there are reasons for everything ... besides more trust (and better security cameras?) german gas stations like to sell additional things like beverages, snacks, cigarettes or newspapers, instead of only gas with lower profit margins. And germans are also used to authorize each and every larger card payment after seeing the amount (instead of giving blank authorizations) by entering their PIN which can't really be done in advance, or at least would feel like a security risk, or they pay with cash anyway.
Looks like someone answered for us. Thanks, @bradmcmahon3156
On the Autobahn the recommended speed limit is 130kmh.
But you can go as fast as traffic allows if there's no speed limit.
It's not about how much wear there'll be on your car if you drive really fast on the Autobahn. It's about whether you can afford a car which is safe enough to drive really fast on the Autobahn. I wouldn't drive regularly at 180 km/h on the Autobahn in that particular car, and probably not even at 150 when it's a rental. 130 is more than fast enough, unless you own a car you know can handle high speed.
I love driving on the Autobahn but my husband only lets me drive if he is sleepy. Cara, you do fab driving everywhere. Does Jeremy not like to drive? My husband did TDY in Oberammergau and Garmisch. So beautiful there.
I do not enjoy driving. Thankfully, Cara does most of the time.
That's a decent speed in a 500, you did well, its all about lane discipline and keeping your eyes open!
You're in a beautiful part of the world, I've been a few times and really liked it.
Thank you! It is beautiful.
I would recommend traveling to Switzerland whilst you are in Europe. Interlaken is one of the most beautiful places in the world, situated on two turquoise lakes, lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken is also the gateway to the Jungfrau mountain region and there is so much to do! The whole Jungfrau is connected by Gondolas, trains and funiculars so you can visit different mountain peaks. There are restaurants at the top of most mountain peaks and there are lots of walks and hikes along the mountain tops and down the mountain sides connecting charming villages along the way like Wengen and Grindelwald. Grindelwald is probably the most beautiful place I've ever travelled to in the world! Also in Switzerland, a lovely town called Spiez is about 15 mins from Interlaken and has two lovely outdoor pools right next to the lake and there is a beach on the lake. A medieval town called Gruyere is definitely worth a visit. It has a castle with lots of charming pubs and eating places. Also Lake Lucerne is beautiful. The Golden circle is highly recommended around Mount Pilatus. Montreux is also lovely on Lake Geneva. There is so much to do in Switzerland and it is honestly breathtaking scenery. I've travelled to Canada several times for the mountains and lakes but Switzerland has become my new favorite. I really hope you include it on your trip - it won't disappoint!
We would love to see Switzerland!
The trouble however in Switzerland is that the speed is very limited everywhere.If you do not obey it the punishments are fierce,They even sell your car.
Driving license cost with mandated practice and theory class around 2500-3000 Euro
The original FIAT 500 was described as a "motorized ping-pong ball"; even the smal size of the modern version makes any speed seem fast!
True! 😂
a lot of German food is no-nonsense and all the better for it. Eg a bread roll and Bockwurst for breakfast - nothing fancy just does the job and sets you up for the day. Don't get me wrong they do fine dining too but sometimes basic is what you want and need.
We enjoyed their simple nice quality breakfasts.
Oppenheim is quite a famous name these days. I am german and I didnt know about this small town. Cool video! You managed the Autobahn pretty well and I liked your style presenting it not to over excited, just handeling it :P
No GENERAL speed limit, but there are many signs restricting the max speed. The recommended speed is 130 kph (80 mph). It has some legal implications if you're involved in an accident while driving faster.
This is scary. How is that even possible, i always thought that you need at least a short refresher course about default speed limits, signs, etc. when you come to another country (and have a vaild driving license for your own country).
Cara had a valid US license, an international driving permit, and watched some videos. People from the UK and Europe can come to the US and rent a car with just a license.
The recommended speed limit is not 180mph. That's not a speed that any but the most expensive luxury cars can attain. The recommended speed limit is 130km/h. You can look left or right at intersections to see the traffic lights on the side. Another thing the US doesn't have. It's nearly impossible to see US traffic lights when behind an SUV or a lorry (truck). The US is the odd one out with traffic signs. I really wish they would use the international signs and switch to metric.
2:45: 180 mph = 288 kmh and I don't think there's a lot of cars able to do that 👍🥰👍
I actually stayed in one of the castles that was also a youth hostel in the Rhine valley, in a little village called Bacharach
That's so cool!
Thanks!
You will love Bavaria❤❤! Be sure to visit Heidelberg. and legendary castle.
Great job on Autobahn. It is a bit of hair-raising experience first time, especially as people flash high beams to "move over" and speed by, like , how many MPH???
I can't wait for the new videos 🎉
Thank you so much, Karen.
I go around 100mph on the autobahn. My car is a 3 liter diesel, so milage is really good (around 7,5l/100km or 30mpg)
Nice!
That's pretty good mileage for 100.
Does Jeremy drive? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drive in a video. 🚙 💨
I do not enjoy driving. Cara thankfully does.
Gas station, petrol station...love, we call it Tankstelle 😅
If no speed limit is posted, there are general (implicit) speed limits: Within towns and villages, it's 50 kph, outside of towns and villages, it is 100 kph,. and on the Autobahn, there is none. Please take care: yellow signs showing city limits (both entering and leaving the town) are at the same time ending the previously set speed limit, both explicit and implicit.
Thank you!
In Germany u have 2 rules ..
1 never linger in the left lane .. passing is only allowed on the left lane .. so they are fast there ...
2 if u come to a street crossing that has no sign or traffic light (mostly residential areas, sometimes with a holding line at the crossing streets) the car comming from the right is always prefered "right before left rule" this leads sometimes to accidents because non germans dont know !
Visited Germany for work in the past, something I used to love that might sound weird is being woke up early in the morning in my hotel by traffic noise. It was the noise of commerce happening to me & I liked it!
@04:35 Yea in the UK we're only supposed to use the outer lanes for overtaking too, but there are so many bad or entitled drivers that don't use the inside lane. Everyone hates them.
100 km sign! Hmm, is this the maximum or the minimum speed to go? That question blew my mind! In fact this means, you have to drive a minimum distance of 100km if your tour is less than that you are not allowed to use the Autobahn! 🤣
If everyone drives correctly, respecting legal and implicit codes, German highways are even very safe.
Personally, however, I would not drive a Fiat 500, and its short wheelbase and low weight, beyond like 140-150 km/h, the speed at which a moderate gust of side wind or even the flow of air displaced by a vehicle you are overtaking can significantly influence your own trajectory, and I don't want to experience what that does with a car that is taller than it is wide at that speed given the friction forces and physics involved.
Well done Aah Kid! I’m a veteran from the RAF and served in Germany for 10years driving my own car and driving forces heavy trucks with trailer carrying practice and training munitions, mostly in the North on a line with Düsseldorf west to East. We lived within the community and drove on both sides of the forces fence. You did well Aah kid.
Cheers Both
Thanks!
Hello Cara and Jeremy. I saw JPS go to Germany on TH-cam and started watching videos by Feli as TH-cam recommended them, after I saw the reactions to a couple.
It is years since I was there, but sometimes watch football ⚽️ in German, which I can remember a bit from school, despite being from Yorkshire.
I got asked if I was "Holländer" when there, as everyone thinks that English speakers do not speak any other languages.
My girlfriend's Austrian relatives say I speak German like a German, but I reckon there is an Austrian joke in there somewhere.
German cars are built for that speed. They advertise Audi in UK with the phrase "Vorsprung durch Technik".
Nürburgring next?
Funny, Yorkshire lass Catherine Warr just did a video featuring old German speed machines winning Grand Prix.
Thanks for watching @alansmithee8831!
Welcome to Germany
well, it's only 30% of the Autobahn which has no speed limit ...
The recommended speed is 130 km/h... and even on the open parts you have to drive responsible or you might loose your drivers licence....
It's above 50% no idea where u get ur date ..
I was under the impression the top speed was 80 mph/130kph on the autobahn, but it seems there are unrestricted zones where you can drive as fast as you’d like, WOW!!😅
Do a better resurch before you drive on the streets. It is: inside towns = 50km/h, outside at countryside = 100km/h, on the Autobahn = Richtgeschwindigkeit 130km/h. Drive slow at the right lane, don't overtake at right lanes! Drive the speed the other drivers do... is the best. Enjoy
Thanks for the information!
You can put these German (& other european) place names into Google Translate and click the speak icon. It will give you the correct local pronunciation and the English equivalent.
Oh, wow! That's very cool. Thank you.
Jeremy: Boy! Bring me my brown pants, so that the viewers will not see me panic at Portland driving on the autobahn.
Cara: Hush your mouth, sonny, else you will have to host a second vid about eating Indian cuisine in UK all by your little itsy-bitsy self
Jeremy:: Deal! :(
At BMW World in Munich you can hire demo cars by the hour to try them out. 2 years ago I rented an M4 (a 500bhp beast) for 110EUR for a whole day (which I thought very reasonable for an expensive, high performance car) and drove it to the Austrian border (Garmisch) and back at 140mph - because you can!
Oh, wow!
8:35 average speed i 130 obn Autobahn..unles signs tell you otherwise, and some parts have indeed no speed limit
from my pov, as a first time driver on the Autobahn you are too much focussing on producing this video. Not only in Germany driving requires your full attention, no phone, no pet on your lap, and no vid production
Seems to me you're thinking in mph and reading that as the speed of your car. But "mph" is only the UK in Europe. Everywhere else in kph (kilometers per hour) and the speedometer is always kph...
Thanks for watching @Eric_Maastricht!
to answer your question about maintainance costs , it depends
it's actually good for your engine to use it , even at it's full potential , as it keeps your engine and exhaust clean ,
the only expenses factor is more fuel and faster wear and tear on the tires , but the rest , not at all
i been driving in germany for a few years ( belgian guy here but go a lot to germany ) and i usually cruise at about 200-220kmph ( 124-136 mph ) but i do floor it from time to time ( 255kph/ 159 mph ) which i usually do right before a annual mandatory car inspection , as it cleans the engine niiiicely for the exhaust test , it drops the number by easily 250%
also , the red circle with a number is the MAX not the minimum hahahaha
there are no minimum speed signs on the autobahn . if you see a speed sign you must adhere to the speed shown there
The recommended Speed Limit is 130 on the Autobahn, thats why There Are no Speed Limit Signs above 130
Thank you.
Hallo
Es gibt für 130 km/h keine "Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung".
130 km/h ist eine "Richtgeschwindigkeit"
Besser gesagt ein Tempo nachdem man sich richten kann, nicht muss....
Viele Grüße aus Deutschland
Greetings from a wine village near Bad Kreuznach, Germany (about a half an hour drive from Mainz).
Hope you have a lovely stay in Bavaria.
Just found your videos and subscribed. 🙂
Thank you so much!
Is that where the famous Kreuznach lenses are made ? Heard they are some of the best lenses after Carl Zeiss lenses!
@@gregorygant4242
Yes, Schneider Optische Werke!
NASA used their lenses.
Dear Lady
as a german I will have to say, you did great 👍👍
Thanks!
Yeah, I have a Toyota C-HR which is a medium/small SUV/coupé I maxed out on 185 km/h, the mileage varies on also the temperature etc, also it is a plugin hybrid. But 180 km/h at least for me it is a little tiring, since I have the need to be extra careful, I usually I was around at 160, however my mom preferred staying around 125. It depends on who is driving, but in Germany in general you have to be super cautious driving on the highway since the rules are a little more strict than the other EU countries. For example I live in Italy and it is completely wild driving here, nobody cares about the speed limits and people are usually crazy…
The near side traffic lights ensure waiting cars don't encroach the cross roads.
That makes sense.
Also ehrlich: wer beim "ersten Mal" die wichtigsten Regeln nicht einigermaßen sicher kennt, der sollte vielleicht lieber die Finger vom Hebel lassen und noch ein bisschen warten.
Das gilt für Autofahren in Deutschland und für andere Situationen im Leben.
Das mit den Ampeln auf der anderen Seite der Kreuzung funde ich wirklich gut. Allerdings müssten sich in Deutschland die Autofahrer umgewöhnen, was zumindest zu einem Sicherheitsrisiko führen würde. Dann doch lieber den Hals verrenkeb, statt ihn sich brechen.
We were below the recommended speed most of the time and people still flew by us.
Dear tourists from all over the world:
Welcome to Germany! We really love to have you with us. Don't miss out renting a tiny little undermotorised Italian car to experience our famous Autobahn. If there are no actual speed limits or dangerous conditions, enjoy testing out your limits (or the cars). But let's have a little agreement: if I'm coming from behind you, please, change to a lane on the right. You will recognise me. I'm the one coming up dangerously fast, flashing lights from a mile and driving a BMW. Or maybe an AUDI/Mercedes/PorschE/Volkswagen...
Regardless, since you both drove literally passed my front porch, congratulations for your first encounter with the most beautiful route along the Rhine. The A555 was the very first Autobahn build in Germany (No! The Nazis didn't "invent" Autobahn. Later Chancellour and former Mayor of Cologne Konrad Adenauer had let it build in the late 1920's even before the Nazis rised to power. A similar project was finished even earlier near Milan/Italy.) The B9 you took is imho one of the most beautiful roads in Germany along the vineyards, castles an of course the river - as you showed. The area has also the status as "UNESCO world heritage". Every far travelled visitor should definitiv have a look here... Thanks for showing! Hope you enyoed your stay so much, you come back once more!
Let's check out your other videos...
What I like about German roads is that they will indicate 60, 80, 100, 120 just for short stretches where lanes are merging or something similar, and German drivers keep to those speeds religiously. Because it’s for short distances with a reason. In the UK set speeds last for longer distances, often when you don’t know why (it’s slower) and we tend not to follow speed restrictions so well.
Very true!