Back from Germany

[Louisville86]

Just got back from a quick trip to Germany - land of fast cars and NO Rangers that I could see. They just don't like pickup trucks over there for some reason.

At Frankfurt Aiport, I rented a car; they tried to give me a POS Skoda with two missing wheel covers but I held my ground and they brought over a brand-new "Polar Silver" Mercedes Benz A180. I mean new - it had four kilometers on it.

Kind of neat litle car - easy to drive and park. We drove over to Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria ("Bayern").

Driving on the Autobahn is a ball but you have to be very alert and only use the passing lane with care. Do NOT let a 911 or an S-class Mercedes come up on you give you a flick of the headlights. Shame on you!

This car had a nice, basic navi system that was a big help in finding the tiny town of Painten where my long-gone relatives came from. Once I figured out the displays I could get them all in English/mph etc. I'm only doing about 90 here but I got up to about 111 at one point (I think the car is governed to 116 or something similar). It felt pretty stable for such a tall car. It could have used a 6th gear, though. The engine was about 116 hp, I think, but not buzzy at all.

When in "ECO" mode the car would shut itself off at idle and start back up when you tapped the gas or clutch pedals. MPG was a pretty respectable 34.5 overall. The only downside was filling up - 74 Euros for the one tank we went through, about $93. Stuff is expensive (I think this car listed for about $26K, not much less than a bacic C-class in the U.S.) there. But Germany is a superb place to drive - lots of little towns to visit and the roads are top-notch and well-maintained.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, Germany is awesome. They don't really need pickups, and most cars with a wheelbase longer than 100" won't make turns too good in their streets.

When my uncle was stationed there he took his Yukon over (talk about your expensive fill up) and bought my aunt an audi wagon that they sold when they came back state-side. Neither of those cars ever got closer than 10 blocks to city center.

 

[Hopman]

I'd love to visit Germany one of these days.

That Benz looks like a cool little car. Kind of reminds me of a Honda Fit.

Was it diesel or gas?

 

[robertc1024]

Rothenburg is a pretty cool place to visit - lots to see and do. I'm flying into Frankfurt in about 3 weeks and need to rent a car too - where'd you rent yours?

 

[Louisville86]

I'd love to visit Germany one of these days.

That Benz looks like a cool little car. Kind of reminds me of a Honda Fit.

Was it diesel or gas?

It was gas but I saw quite a few others on the road that were CDI (diesel). Diesel fuel is about 30% cheaper than gas.

Euro cars are a bit odd (no cruise control, power windows in the front but not the back) but kind of endearing. But very solid-feeling on the road.

 

[Louisville86]

Rothenburg is a pretty cool place to visit - lots to see and do. I'm flying into Frankfurt in about 3 weeks and need to rent a car too - where'd you rent yours?

I went through Budget but they were doing some renovations so I was directed to the Avis counter, and it was an Avis car. But Budget was about half what Avis charged.

I was drooling looking at the lineup of cars in the garage. Porsche 911s and Panameras, BMW 3 and 5 series, Audis of all varieties. Germans love their cars more than anyone, I think.

 

[Hopman]

It was gas but I saw quite a few others on the road that were CDI (diesel). Diesel fuel is about 30% cheaper than gas.

Euro cars are a bit odd (no cruise control, power windows in the front but not the back) but kind of endearing. But very solid-feeling on the road.

No cruise control and a solid feeling on the road? You mean like my '94 Ranger?

Was it a stick or slushbox? Sounds like you got lucky getting a NEW car.

 

[adsm08]

Its pretty rare to find autos in Germany. I'd bet it was a stick.

 

[Hopman]

Its pretty rare to find autos in Germany. I'd bet it was a stick.

I bet it's because the Germans actually view driving as a joy and a task in itself not to be distracted from.

 

[Louisville86]

It was a stick (5-speed). It's a lot easier to wring every bit of power out of a small engine with a stick shift. Last night when I got in my (automatic) Honda Civic, my left foot went right for the imaginary clutch out of habit!

 

[adsm08]

It was a stick (5-speed). It's a lot easier to wring every bit of power out of a small engine with a stick shift. Last night when I got in my (automatic) Honda Civic, my left foot went right for the imaginary clutch out of habit!

I did that at 80 in my sister's car with the double wide brake pedal once.

Almost sent it end over end.

 

[Hopman]

It was a stick (5-speed). It's a lot easier to wring every bit of power out of a small engine with a stick shift. Last night when I got in my (automatic) Honda Civic, my left foot went right for the imaginary clutch out of habit!

Amen to that! One more reason why I love my Ranger. (as if I didn't have a metric buttload already! )

 

[MountainMike]

Those little M-B A's are cool, really stable with the engine basically being under you/ It's a weird packaging design but it works. Is that the one where you can't open the hood only a little flap by the cowl to check the fluids?

 

[Louisville86]

No, it had a regular hood. I checked out the engine (checked the oil when I put gas in); it was pretty low and far back, but definitely not under the passenger compartment. But the battery was right under the passenger side footwell; there was a little access door there.

 

[Ranger Kip]

need to take ma 05' Ford F150 ClubCab 4x4 out there! haha!
Nah, I wonder, see any 2Cv's?