Europe trip/Me too! (longish)

[james accordino]

--- Michael Murphy <mjmjr at optonline.net> wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> Got back on Tuesday from a 2 week, 2000 mile
> (3,300km) road trip 
> through Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland.
> 
Me too!  I only did a week and 1200k.  Mostly hung
with relatives.  Stayed in NRW (North
Rhein-Westfailia) mostly.

> Dead A8 3.3TDI on the side of the road as we're
> leaving the plant.
> Yes, a 3.3TDI

Yeah.  Amazing how TDI crazy they are over there.  My
cousin is getting a 3-series BMW as a company car from
Deutsche Bank with a TDI in March.  He can't wait.

> Any Autobahn - 
> 1.9 and 2.5TDIs blowing past everyone...almost :)

Except nuts like me.  My rental was from Sixt.  They
had the new C-class on special.  $199. for a week.  I
got a 2001 C200 with Kompressor and 6-speed.  Left
Frankfurt north on the 3 and hit about 242k within
20-30 minutes.  My niece was freaking out when I told
her how fast we were going.  The car still had more to
give, but I didn't have enough road.  Really strange
feeling, passing people going 100-150k faster than
them.  On the trip back from Newark Airport, 80 mph
seemed dog slow.
> 
> Badges - Seems Audi, MB and BMW are playing the we
> don't need no 
> stinking badges game.  Plenty of A3-8s with nothing
> but the 
> 4 rings on the rear deck.  Same for the other
> marques

I noticed that also.  Only car that passed me the
entire trip was a new S-class Merc with no badges. 
Followed him for quite a while south on the 45 at
220k.  MOST people actually got out of his way.  I had
several micro-junks pull in front of me in the left
lane going 80-100k.  Can you say brake-check?

> Salzburg - US Army guys pull into tourist info.
> parking lot in a 
> 99 A4 1.9TDI the owner picked up for $13K (ouch). 
> Says he's bringing 
> it back to the States.  I advise him of potential
> parts problems.
> He responds that he doesn't care, he loves the car. 
> Tell him about
> the list and he's off with no noise or smoke.  You
> just gotta' love
> the TDI system.
> 
I saw how inexpensive the cars were in USD.  I'd love
to have the Army foot my shipping bill as well.

> My $0.02
> Surprise.  We're getting screwed in North America!  
> Regardless of the marque, us poor 'Mericans and
> Canadians get maybe 
> 30% of a remarkable lineup of cars from Germany's
> big 3.  
> Want proof?  The German A6 Sales brochure shows a
> choice of 7 motors, 
> 3 transmissions, 3 sound systems (not including
> Bose), 4 steering 
> wheels and on and on and on.
>
MAC... 
I saw a really sweet A6.  Black, grey leather, 2.5TDI
and a 6-speed.  Aftermarket big tires, wheels and
brakes.  
My 89 200 compared favorably to the new Merc.  Wind
and road noise were not much worse, although the speed
was considerably less.  Handling, braking and road
feel were pretty close.  Fuel mileage was even, but
this was probably due more to the insane speeds on the
autobahn.  The Audi does win for personal comfort. 
I'm pretty large (6'3" and 195) and the 200 is a MUCH
larger car.  I DID find myself more appreciative of
the car itself.
> --
> Mike Murphy
> Despite the whining, it's good to be home.

I know what you mean.

Jim Accordino