European impressions (long, some Audi)

[Per Lindgren]

A few comments, hopefully inserted in the right places....

ed armstrong wrote:

>
>My first impression what that there is a tremendous
>number of diesel passenger cars on the road over
>there. I would guess that among the "newer" cars of 5
>years or younger more than 50% are of the diesel
>variety.
>
In fact, Audi's diesel share is about 40% while VW's share is up to 60%
of all new cars they sell on the European market.

>
>Driving in europe, once one is out of the heavily
>congested cities, is a real treat. On the autoroutes
>and autobahns, the driving is very fast and
>disciplined.
>
You should try Norway the next time ;-)

> The average speeds are in the 120-160
>km/hr range with most people going 130-150 km/hr.
>
Once again, you shoudl try Norway the next time. Guess what they do to
minimize the accidents on our already louse, underdimensioned roads?
Yup, they lower the speed limits. So now you have to drive in 70 or 80
kmh on regular country roads (we hardly have anything that resembles
Autobahns outside of Oslo), but as some people are overcautious and
their speedos dont show the correct speed but a little bit less, you're
actually trying to cross this country at 55-60 kmh! This makes people
stressed and angry, with many dangerous trys to pass as the result.
Where's the safety in that?

>
>More stuff on Audis: I was really surprised not to see
>hardly any Audi quattros , even in Germany.
>
Once again (I' beginning to sound annoying now), come to Norway. Plenty
of quattros here, but as in the Alps in cantral Europe, some of us do
have a need for it..

>Also more disheartening wa s
>that I did not see any I-5 turbos. Not one Type 44
>turbo. It was easy to see that the 1980s are a
>forgotten era in Europe
>
Not many turbos here (except S4 Avants. They're everywhere), but as
Eyvind said, the 80's are still living and breathing (or would that be
intoxicating?) here. Cars are expensive, and the people that pretends to
run this country doesnt do anything to help people buy more efficient
and safe cars. Quite the contrary. Norway has the highest average age of
cars in western Europe, and 2nd highest in all of Europe (only Albania
has older cars). This is not because we take s o damn good care of our
cars, but because they are so expensive here. As I mentioned, the S4
Avants are everywhere. That is because there was a loophole in the
regulations that allowed big, heavy wagons to be registered as delivery
vans. This helped many people that didnt need 5 seats to get nice cars
at a chaper rate. But of course, this was stopped because a painter,
carpenter or plumber didnt need to drive around in such a nice car!

Ok, Rant mode over. It just ticks me off, that's all.

>
>Some other tidbits:
>
> - Most popular "americun" car by far was the Jeep
>Cheerokee followed by the PT Cruiser.
>
PT Cruiser is a rare sight, I think. Chrysler minivans are everywhere
though, as are Jeeps and Chevy trucks.

>
> - Best looking car in my opinion was the Alfa Romeo
>156 avant (or whatever they call their station wagon
>model).
>
It's called a Sportwagon in Alfa lingo.

> It was a four door that looked like a two door
>with the rear door handles hidden in the B pillar.
>Very beautiful! Comes with a 2.0 liter twin spark
>engine or 1.9 turbo diesel.
>
And a 1.6, 1.8, a very nice 2.5 V6 and an even nicer GTA version. 220 hp
and F1 gearshifts (Selespeed in Alfa lingo).

>
> - Some other weird cars that are hard to
>describe...you'll just have to go there !
>
And I thought you people on the American continent had the weird cars?
Just look at the Pontiac Aztek :-D

PerL
87 Cq (See? I have an old car!!! I cant afford to pay 50 grand for an S3)