Date:         Mon, 18 Jun 2001 00:45:46 -0700
Reply-To:     Charles McGehee <chasm@ELLTEL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Charles McGehee <chasm@ELLTEL.NET>
Subject:      Re: ?? SA Engine Conversion ??
In-Reply-To:  <3B2D4AF9.DC7FC2CB@surfree.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed

>
>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