> >In Europe people that can afford cars like BMW, Mersedes, Audi etc drive >them not >because of status simbols they are here in US but because they cruise >autobahns >all day long at 120mph. No SUVs there, no left lane cruising, no highway >patrol >etc. Europeans know how to drive and "road rage" so common here is >non-existant >there. Most people obey the rules without "enforcement" >so rampant here. Big income for cities...That's why there are cops all over >riding nice looking expensive BMW bikes... >Leon >85 Subwagen Westy From my experience people who drive cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, and, of course, Porsche, do so specifically as status symbols. While it's true that they are capable of cruising at 120mph, few actually do it. Today most cruise at a comfortable 80-85mph (130-140kph). While there is some left lane cruising, there's not a lot because it is against the law to drive left except to pass, and Germans are very sensitive to traffic violations since the punishment is so severe (likely loss of license depending of the circumstances). There has been road rage, but limited largely to flashing lights and pointing the index finger to the forehead as a sign to a person that you think they are nuts, a big insult. Those things as well as honking and driving too close to force the right of way are punishable as criminal intimidation (Nötigung). Interpersonal violence is rare in general and especially involving firearms since they tightly controlled and not easily available. A lot of other cars are just about as hot as the high status cars, high end Fords and Opels as well as Japanese makes, for instance, but none have the status of those mentioned above (except the Italian hot cars.) Charles '85 Westy |
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