Ingo - I'm not German and I know what those signs mean! :-)

Just back from a 4 week trip. No cars were ready and i took a opal zifara. Way to big for one person,but i had no trouble parking. I put 5000 km. on it. gas ran about 140 in germany and 120 in austria. hope this helps. jayvee

In response to Logos's question, I was wondering that myself recently. However, when the German cars didn't slow down when confronted with that sign(it wasn't raining), I figured it must be the speed limit when the road is wet.

Parallel parking wasn't much of a problem, it was trying to negotiate the tight turns in the parking garages. The locals seemed non-plussed, so it must have been a lack of experience on my part. Also, when I locked the car doors upon exiting, the side mirrors automatically folded in. Pretty cool.

The sign means go 80kph when it's wet.

I was looking for this website the other day on this topic and couldn't find it. But this is worth a read, http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info

It answers many questions about all transportation in Germany.

BTW, I am a non German. Another quiz question for non-Germans.
What can you get a ticket for in Germany that is just a lack of common sense?

>max 80kph when it's wet.
Yes, correct :-) some interpret it as "when raining", but it can be raining and still the road may not yet be wet.

LSky,
That is such a loaded question :)
Common sense for most is not a tangible or measurable thing.
Today for me, getting out of the center lane for a faster car is good common sense, but in 1990 during my first 15 minutes on the A3, it took an extended arm and fist to get the point across to me.
Ken

Wherever you drive in Germany, autobahn or other roads, do pay attention to posted speed limits. We were trying very hard to observe speed limits, yet we have received two notices from Avis that we have violations. (Nothing from German authorities as yet). We remember one "flashing" when, aparently, we exceeded the limit when passing a car. We have no clue as to the other infraction.

There do seem to be more speed camera in Bavaria this year. We got "flashed" once and avoided several others. It's been over 2 months and so far no word from Sixt or the police. We going about 10km over the speed limit in a rural area where the speed limit was mostly 80 but there was a brief stretch where it was reduced to 60 and I think we were going just over 70.

We were in a Smart car and are hoping it's so small that the camera missed the license plate.

Gee, I thought it was 80kpm when driving on the river!

LOL! ;-)

Note that while some drivers might flash their headlights at you to get by on the Autobahn, it is now illegal in Germany to do this unless you are maintaing a "proper" distance from the car ahead of you. So don't you flash your headlights to get someone to move over unless you are certain that you are "proper" distance behind him.

Also, over half the Autobahn mileage now has permanent or conditional speed limits, so watch for signs.

The recommended speed in areas without speed limits is 130 km/hour. You can go faster than this legally, but if you are involved in an accident at higher speeds you are deemed to be at least partially at fault in causing the accident.

Thanks for that update

Ignore any tailgaters if you don't think that reverting to the right lane is safe at the moment. Remember that even if the big Mercs and BMWs arrive at 220 km/h they also have brakes and they don't have more rights to safe use of the road than you are. Do keep in the right lane as far as possible but don't be nervous or afraid to force the "race drivers" to wait if your safety is at the stake.

OTOH don't hog the left lane if there is space on the right. There is nothing wrong in keeping to the right wherever the right lane is free but overtaking on the left whenever necessary. That's what your turn signals are for.

Above all: drive predictably.

By the way, what's all this nervousness about a Ford Focus? It's on the smaller side of the average but 90% of the cars you will encounter on the Autobahn are like that. SUVs exist but are thankfully fairly rare. And the accident rate per driver is much lower in Germany than in USA.

The Focus is REALLY small, I'm not that big but as a rental car it felt like scrubbing the floor on my knees in a tin can 10 cm above the ground. A smart has a better feeling imho. Not too long ago Ford was synonymous to big car, lots of metal, decent price, lots of rust, just don't expect anything special. Today it's as tiny as many others. I'd say about 20% of all cars I encounter as that small. Well, if at least it were cheap, but it's at least 14000€... For THAT???

Not too long ago, I bought a brand new Audi 80 for 16000 Marks (8000€). Either I'm getting old ;-) or they have done something to my money.

"Und kost's Benzin auch 2 Mark 10, es wird schon weitergehn."

What's "not too long ago"? It would have to be several decades.

Thanks again to you all for your advice. And thank you norrisken for your map for driving to Garmisch to Berchtesgaden.

Only a little more than two. Gold is a lot better than paper. The interest they give you never equates the loss of purchasing power plus taxes. The Audi almost would be a classic by now with a tax free "H" number plate. The Focus is worthless trash after only a few days of use.

Reviving this thread because it provides some helpful info; thanks! We're planning to rent a car in Frankfurt next year and drive eastward (Wurzburg, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Nurnberg, Rothenberg, environs). I'm hoping to avoid the autobahn where possible, mainly because I want the three of us to see more of the countryside at a slower speed than 90-100 mph. So far, not having any luck finding alternate (non A) routes on viamichelin. Any ideas for a good, comprehensive road map?

Michelin has rod maps for eery part of europe and they should be easily available from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.