Madman and 2o6 are gonna bust copious nuts over my rental

[cawimmer430]

Wimmer, 10-12 seconds is abysmal. That's barely acceptable power for merging on the highway here, and to have to do it while straining and going WOT is not fun.

Don't your fellow drivers in the US make way for drivers who want to enter the highway? That's how it works here. When you're on the slow lane and there are other drivers wanting to merge, you make way for them by merging onto the fast lane (if possible) thus freeing the slow lane up for the newcomers to merge. If you can't make way for the newcomers because the fast lane is occupied, you will stay on the slow lane and those wanting to merge will slow down (creep) or stop waiting for their chance to merge onto the highway. That's the system here and it works brilliantly.

I merge onto fast roads with my slow car all the time, and it takes an "abysmal" 9 seconds to reach 100 km/h. 

[AutobahnSHO]

Don't your fellow drivers in the US make way for drivers who want to enter the highway?

no. In fact many times they block you on purpose, if they're just not paying attention. American drivers really suck.

[MX793]

no. In fact many times they block you on purpose, if they're just not paying attention. American drivers really suck.

Our ramp designs aren't very good, either.  Merge lanes frequently double as exit lanes, so you have cars trying to exit the highway trying to move right and slow down in the same space as cars that are trying to enter the highway are accelerating in.

[Cookie Monster]

Our ramp designs aren't very good, either.  Merge lanes frequently double as exit lanes, so you have cars trying to exit the highway trying to move right and slow down in the same space as cars that are trying to enter the highway are accelerating in.

Yup.

Granted, a lot of people don't merge properly, anyways. I saw a lady in a Highlander today trying to merge onto the highway at less than 25 mph with a long line of cars backed up behind her, but often times people don't make way for you to merge, either because they're doing it on purpose, not paying attention, or trying to dive into an exit.

[2o6]

A not insignificant number of cars are that slow from 0-60.



Mirage

Toyota Prius

Toyota Corolla

Versa

Sentra (I hate driving this car. With the 1.8L and the CVT auto it's so fucking slow, and it has suspension tuning and irritating steering)


Those are popular models just off the top of my head. I mean, hell. The 1.4T is only really economical when I stay out of boost, so usually, I don't accelerate too hard anyways.

[2o6]

I think complaining about power is kind of a dumb thing to do - if Citroen ever wanted to bring it to the US, they'd likely put in a bigger engine, and I'm pretty sure Citroen sells that car with other engines in stronger states of tune.

[AutobahnSHO]

Our ramp designs aren't very good, either.  Merge lanes frequently double as exit lanes, so you have cars trying to exit the highway trying to move right and slow down in the same space as cars that are trying to enter the highway are accelerating in.

Depends on the area.

No joke there I was in the longest acceleration lane known to man on a 65mph interstate outside of any city, and the tard in front of us BRAKED HARD down to 20mph because they saw cars coming. Just one or two.  There was plenty of space to go before them or after them, there was hardly any traffic whatsoever.

[93JC]

Don't your fellow drivers in the US make way for drivers who want to enter the highway?

lolololol

[93JC]

Really? I thought that was universal.

Clutch-starter interlocks became commonplace in North America in the '80s, in response to the Audi "unintended acceleration" BS at the time. Same with brake shift interlocks in automatic transmissions (requiring you to push on the brake before the car would come out of Park). It wasn't a controversy in Europe, so European cars often don't have them.

North American trucks and SUVs didn't commonly have clutch-starter interlocks until the mid-'90s (the '93 Cherokee never had one, e.g.).

[cawimmer430]

You guys need better driving schools which emphasize respecting your fellow drivers and getting your big SUV out of the way when someone in a paltry econobox wants to merge onto the freeway!!!   

[MX793]

You guys need better driving schools which emphasize respecting your fellow drivers and getting your big SUV out of the way when someone in a paltry econobox wants to merge onto the freeway!!!   

It's frequently the case that traffic in the right lane can't move left because there isn't space in the left lane for them to move to.

[cawimmer430]

It's frequently the case that traffic in the right lane can't move left because there isn't space in the left lane for them to move to.

In that case, you should practice this. 

A great example of a simple little word in German is Reißverschlussverfahren. Ok, not that simple but a typical word nonetheless. It is what's known as a compound word. That's the easy part.

What does it mean? The direct translation is 'zipper feed-in method'. Does that help you? If you're from the States, probably not, so I'll continue. It's the method, dictated by law, in which cars have to merge together on an expressway or highway. One from the left and then one from the right.



Actually in Germany it's 'rechts vor links', so they begin on the right. The whole process reminds one of a zipper of cars and is a beautiful thing to behold when done correctly by everyone, and it speeds up the process of merging by 1.72488 percent. That's a fact from the Max Planck Institute.

I estimate that I have driven about 200,000 miles (320,000km) in my life – a great majority of those miles on Florida's roads. Granted, Florida is always competing with some other state for having the least safest roads in America, but it's because many of the drivers come from somewhere else, so they say. Really, Floridians are just terrible drivers.

Still, in America, I've never heard of such a rule, though I can't rule out the possibility it exists. I can rule out, however, that if such a rule exists in Florida it is not obeyed. In Florida, if either the car or the driver is attractive, but not too attractive, they get in. Here in Germany, such rule does exist and is nearly always obeyed. Sorry for the digression.

A closer look at translating Reißverschlussverfahren

A Reißverschluss would literally be translated into a 'travelling lock or fastener', or a zipper. But even looking at how to say the word, without its meaning, it is still difficult to navigate. The 'ß' is a double 's', not to be confused with the less traditional 'ss', which is also a double 's'. There was a move 20 years ago in the German speaking world to turn the 'ß' into 'ss', so that it could be understood on computers and not look like beta (β) or lactam antibiotic (β). But as most new things in Germany, the modernising and standardising of German never completely took hold.

Fittingly, since this is the German language after all, there are volumes of books on how to say the ß, and when and where to use it. It is, of course, neither feminine or masculine so it can be enjoyed and cursed equally by everyone.

Verfahren means method, that much is clear. But how do you speak this? Well, a 'v' in German is pronounced like an 'f' in English (and the German 'f', too). Why? No one can say with any certainty. Now, if we added something as innocuous as a 'sich' before the verfahren, then the whole thing means 'get muddled', which is where we are and has made me sick. The word Reißverschlussverfahren, much like the driving rule, is a complicated thing to a newcomer.

Perhaps you may be asking yourself, with a wonderful organised rule such as Reißverschlussverfahren for driving, might it translate (pun intended) into other aspects of Germans' lives? Perhaps in a bakery or on the street? Might a logical, tidy German use the zipper feed-in method at the front door of a department store or disembarking an airplane? Nope. Germans are still waiting for a rule to be written that legally binds them to the idea, and the politicians are waiting for the report from the Max Planck Institute. Off the road, it's still every man for himself.


http://www.expatica.com/de/insider-views/German-driving-rule-Reiverschlussverfahren_513072.html

[MX793]

A lot of words that say very little about the method.

Zipper method works great at lower speeds (<45 mph).  At 70+ mph, not so much.

[cawimmer430]

A lot of words that say very little about the method.

Zipper method works great at lower speeds (<45 mph).  At 70+ mph, not so much.

Yeah, I just copied and pasted what I thought would describe the method. Just googled it quickly!

[veeman]

American drivers in gross generalization suck.  Entitled to feel they can drive in any lane they choose at any speed they choose and all other traffic: be it someone trying to overtake on a highway, merge onto the highway, or exit a highway must make way for you.  Traffic laws regarding this, if there are any, are very hard to enforce as well.  If a douche bag is sitting in the passing lane at 55 mph in a highway with a speed limit of 65 mph, and traffic is flowing at 70 mph, there is nothing anyone can do about it other than glare, honk, or flash a high beam at.  Being America, you never know if he's a nutter with a loaded gun either.

[veeman]

"Wim you don't drive in the US. It's different. People are more aggressive, on ramps are much shorter, and aside from Germany highway speeds are much higher. The C4 Cactus felt fine in the UK among other 80-100HP misery mobiles. But back in the US, where I'm pretty sure the slowest of the top 10 vehicles sold does 0-60 in 8 seconds, this thing would get mauled. I did the math last night... cruising speeds in the fast lane on UK highways was about 75 MPH. In the US that's 85-90. Drag increases with the square of speed so for it to have the same comfort at the same speeds in the US it would need about 20-30% more power, which- surprise!- is the 130 or so HP found in a lot of base B-segment cars here."

Is is true that highway speeds are faster in the U.S. than Europe, outside of Germany?  I was always under the impression that U.S. highway traffic travels slower than European traffic.  I don't know.  When I've rented cars there, Spain and Italy seemed faster and England about the same.  I don't remember regarding France. 

[cawimmer430]

American drivers in gross generalization suck.  Entitled to feel they can drive in any lane they choose at any speed they choose and all other traffic: be it someone trying to overtake on a highway, merge onto the highway, or exit a highway must make way for you.  Traffic laws regarding this, if there are any, are very hard to enforce as well.  If a douche bag is sitting in the passing lane at 55 mph in a highway with a speed limit of 65 mph, and traffic is flowing at 70 mph, there is nothing anyone can do about it other than glare, honk, or flash a high beam at.  Being America, you never know if he's a nutter with a loaded gun either.

Scary stuff. 

Is is true that highway speeds are faster in the U.S. than Europe, outside of Germany?  I was always under the impression that U.S. highway traffic travels slower than European traffic.  I don't know.  When I've rented cars there, Spain and Italy seemed faster and England about the same.  I don't remember regarding France. 

In virtually all Western European nations the highway speed limit is 130 km/h (81.25 mph). Even in Germany the "recommended speed limit" is 130 km/h, but it is not derestricted.

I've driven in France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands and in the UK and when merging onto a highway people will generally make way for you if possible. I guess this is why we have no issues merging onto faster roads with generally less powerful cars.

[AutobahnSHO]

American drivers in gross generalization suck.  Entitled to feel they can drive in any lane they choose at any speed they choose and all other traffic: be it someone trying to overtake on a highway, merge onto the highway, or exit a highway must make way for you.  Traffic laws regarding this, if there are any, are very hard to enforce as well.  If a douche bag is sitting in the passing lane at 55 mph in a highway with a speed limit of 65 mph, and traffic is flowing at 70 mph, there is nothing anyone can do about it other than glare, honk, or flash a high beam at.  Being America, you never know if he's a nutter with a loaded gun either.

Actually there are laws "Keep right to pass" in some states, "left lane passing only" in others, but they are rarely ever ever enforced.

[AutobahnSHO]

BTW when I returned from almost 4 years in Germany I about popped blood vessels driving on the highway here. So infruriating!!!

[cawimmer430]

BTW when I returned from almost 4 years in Germany I about popped blood vessels driving on the highway here. So infruriating!!!

I can imagine based on what people are telling me about the merging-onto-a-highway drama in America. 

[2o6]

You guys sound like nervous nellies behind the wheel.

[AutobahnSHO]

You guys sound like nervous nellies behind the wheel.

Not at all. But there are a ton of retarded drivers in America.

Driving is approached differently in Europe, it's not a "GOD GIVEN RIGHT 'MERICA!!!!"   but instead a privilege with an enormous amount of responsibility that goes with it.

AND, it's known that you mess up and you're riding the bus/train from then on. (Not the "but they have to get to work!" excuse people use here to excuse bad driving, DUIs, etc...)

[Cookie Monster]

You guys sound like nervous nellies behind the wheel.

Don't you live in Bumfuck Ohio? Do you even have any traffic over there?

[MrH]

  Columbus area has 2+ million people now I think.

[Cookie Monster]

  Columbus area has 2+ million people now I think.

Huh, more than I thought.

Still not much compared to the Bay Area, and when the traffic in the right lane is going 70 mph, I don't think it's unreasonable to not want to be stuck in a car that does 0-60 in 10-12 seconds.

[2o6]

I ususally go about 85-90 all the time. It's easier in the Sonic, but I never had any issues in my Yaris, which was about that slow.

[Madman]

If I'm not mistaken, the last time somebody sold a car in America with rear windows that couldn't be rolled down, it was one of these.





Despite this blatant example of penny-pinching, it didn't seem to hurt sales of the Malibu (and its badge engineered derivatives) one bit.

[cawimmer430]

If I'm not mistaken, the last time somebody sold a car in America with rear windows that couldn't be rolled down, it was one of these.

Despite this blatant example of penny-pinching, it didn't seem to hurt sales of the Malibu (and its badge engineered derivatives) one bit.

I seem to recall an ancient discussion on 'Spin where the late '70s and early '80s Chevy Caprice Classic was mentioned for having rear windows which wouldn't even roll down 1/3rd of the way...

[Madman]

Well, they probably couldn't bring over the cactus at a competitive price either.  They're manufactured in Spain.  I haven't heard of any car being imported to the US from Spain.  There's a good reason for that.

2014-onwards Ford Transit Connects sold in North America are manufactured in Spain.

[12,000 RPM]

You guys sound like nervous nellies behind the wheel.

I'm as cool as a cucumber fam. You need to come to Europe to see what we're talking about. American drivers SUCK.

For real tough, you need to spend like a summer in Europe. Just backpack. It will change your life