I tried, but nope, you just can't set a speed above 180 km/h (about 112 mph) with cruise control...I'm disappointed, needless to say...

 

100mph (161kph) is my normal cruising speed on the autobahn so the cruise control is fine for me. However, I can see that many drivers are cruising well above that.

Richard

 

I actually wanted to set it to 200 km/h (125 mph), for insolence purposes.

 

Stick a brick on the accelerator pedal, put your feet up and check the Owner's Handbook:



CC and ACC have the same operating range.

Graham

 

Thanks Graham...this apparently was designed without regard for German Autobahns...
God be praised for these, by the way.

 

In principle, I agree, but in practice so much of the autobahn has stretches which are restricted to 100 / 120 / 130 kph that progress is much slower than it used to be unless you are happy to accumulate speeding tickets, of which I get about one per year these days. ☹

Richard

 

I too take the opportunity to drive fast where it is allowed. But the “complacency” of cruise control at speeds where we need to pay extra attention seems counter productive. I endorse the engineers opinion.

 

I suspect the phrase 'dependent on the country specification' really means 'dependent on the market specification'. In this case, UK and all other European countries are European market specification (regardless of the minor difference of LHD or RHD!) so the enlightened approach in Germany is disregarded.

Graham

 

Well...I'm most likely going to receive such a "love letter" from the German authorities: I saw a flash in a 80 km/h roadwork area...while I was still doing a bit above 110...
That being said, on an unrestricted stretch I hit 230 once and around 210 several times...

 

The owners handbooks that I have all say 112 mph max. for ACC and 120 mph max. for CC. I find cruise control fine for keeping to a speed limit or relaxing my right foot at more normal speeds, but at very high speeds, it is rarely cruising as there is usually too much other traffic about forcing you to slow down and I would rather not have the car telling me what to do or when to slow down in these cases.

Best to limit trying max. speed runs when there is nothing else in sight or at least far enough away that you can get back to sane speeds before someone pulls out in front of you.

 

In principle I agree. That being said, this "experiment" was run on a Sunday morning, pretty early (around 8 am), so the Autobahn wasn't too crowded...
Another thing I appreciate when driving on Autobahns: when people are on the left lane and see you coming fast behind them, they quickly move to the right lane.
Try to explain that concept to Belgians...

 

I would guess that most of the terrible crashes I have seen on the autobahn were on the two lane unrestricted sections and were the result of a car, possibly travelling faster than the UK speed limit (70mph) suddenly pulling out of the right-hand lane to overtake a slower vehicle and being slammed into from behind by a car possibly travelling at twice that speed.

Even at 100mph and keeping a close eye on the traffic 1/4 mile ahead, I would say that, at least once or twice a year, I have to perform an emergency braking manoeuvre to avoid rear-ending a vehicle which has suddenly pulled out right in front of me without any indication of their intent. Of course, during the summer months, such vehicles are, nearly always, not German registered.

My advice to UK friends driving on the autobahn for the first time is not to fall into the trap of thinking that because you are driving 20 or 30 mph faster than the UK speed limit, which seems fast until you get used to it, you can reasonably expect to be able to overtake slower vehicles with only a cursory glance in your mirrors. I have been overtaken by cars on the autobahn which were clearly travelling well above 150mph and inevitably need a commensurate distance to slow down if you do something stupid. 🙁

Richard

 

I concur. In NA we are ill affected by those who see a car coming in the fast lane… and pull out quickly as to be in front.
Or those others that I like so much, just sit in the fast lane at the same speed and beside those traveling the same speed, in the lane beside.
And (yes, I’m not done). those that see a car coming along faster… and stepping on the brakes.

I think you hit a nerve, lol.

 

Well, I can say sometimes, and only sometimes, it can work on your favor.
Many years ago, I was traveling in the left lane, well over the limit in Florida, zipping by a lot of cars in the other lane, when I saw those red and blue lights coming after me. As I was thinking ‘Awe crap’, some idiot (bless his/her soul) pulled out right in front of the speeding cop! That driver got pulled over, and I continued on my merry way!

 

Yes, some drivers do seem to work out how fast a car is coming up and act accordingly but for each one there are 5 who get it wrong, accidentally or by choice!

Driving standards in Germany are not much different to any other part of Europe. Teaching standards are decidedly average, the test isn't hard to pass and people expect to drive fast even without the necessary well-developed skills, especially that of reading the road and traffic ahead. Add to that, there are huge numbers of drivers on German roads with even worse training from all over the continent coming out to play. And drivers here are notorious for demanding right-of-way even when they shouldn't! Not good on a fast multi-lane road. It isn't all rosy.

Be very careful, especially when you are driving at speeds a lot faster than those around you. You have to watch out what is happening in front of you over a much longer distance ahead, while handling the car at these very high speeds, while also being aware what is happening behind you over also a much longer distance than you might expect. It is great being able to cover distances quickly but the risks are much higher, especially if you take too much for granted. Defensive driving is definitely the recommended way to try drive fast.

 

Good points.
Is it a case of inadequate training? Or, a case of lack of respect and appropriate neighborly conduct? Or is this the new order in the “All about me” age.
Told you; you hit a nerve ;-)

 

A mixture of all probably. My kids have learned to drive "recently" and their training on Autobahns was probably one or two 80 minute sessions including getting there and back. Not close to sufficient for the task ahead. "I'm going first" is a common attitude from people of all ages on all roads, and the inability to work out that a slight adjustment in speed or simply letting one more car passed would mean not inconveniencing anybody is also very common.

One also has to keep in mind that everyone thinks that they are way above averagely skilled but they don't take into account that they think we others are stupid! Targeting as large a free space for yourself doesn't come high on the priorities of many hence the common occurrence of simultaneously sharing the same piece of road! Not quite what one wanted to do