Car inspection process in Switzerland is much more vigorous than in the States. Modify your engine and you may not pass inspection. Rust; forget it... Importing a car is tough too. We imported two cars to CH and it was quite costly for homologation. Funny that Mustang was cheaper to do than a Porsche. Europe has it way easier than countries like Singapore. Talk about a country not wanting you drive. 4x tariff on cars and they crush them after 10 years unless you want to pay the tariff again...

 

Just got back from Lauterbrunnen and the credit card sticker shock is amazing. You aint kidding. I filled up somewhere and the liters to gallons thing has me all messed up but I swear I paid about $50 US for about 7 gallons.

 

Sounds about right. I pay between $7.00/gal and $7.50/gal for premium.

 

Germany was a blast to drive in. I think I posted a thread here a long time ago about my experience with my Land Rover rental.

Another country I really enjoyed driving in was Ireland. The drivers are courteous and every one follows the traffic laws. Roundabouts work so well. It took me a little bit to get the hang of which lanes to use and how to use your signals, but by the end of the trip it felt very natural.

The worst country I've ever driven in, by far, was Italy. Terrrrrrible experience. The drivers are ****ing nuts. Constant tailgating. The type of tailgating you can't get away from. It wasn't because I was driving slow or in the wrong lane, it's because I was trapped in a lane but some asshole comes flying up on my bumper and stays there until everything clears up. Driving in Tuscany was much better, and of course beautiful. But cities like Florence and Rome SUCKED. The bikers there will fly out in front of you and cut you off constantly in addition to tailgating your bumper until they finally figure out a way to pass you which would involve squeezing between you and a wall or sidewalk or oncoming car.

But worst of all were the horrendous roundabouts. Absolutely nobody follows directions like in Ireland - it's a complete free for all ****ing nightmare. When approaching a congested roundabout, you basically have to say a quick prayer to Santo Mario and just go for it, otherwise you'll be sitting there all damn day and NO ONE will let you in. The roundabouts are typically 3 lanes, so now you have to fight your way around until you finally get to your exit. I have no idea how there aren't tons of car accidents there every day, it's insane.

Never going to that country ever again (well maybe Florence one more time, no driving there ).

 

Never drove in Italy, but from riding in taxis and just observing from the sidewalk, it looked like chaos.

Turkey had probably the craziest driving I have seen. I've never been so nervous in the passenger seat. Just tons of getting by people with razor-thin gaps. Our taxi to the airport passed someone at 95mph, on the right... shoulder. I didn't even know a Hyundai Accent could hit 95mph. We weren't even in a hurry or anything...

 

I spent fours years stationed in Germany. When I first went there I had a RHD Toyota but it died when I was on my way down town. After I scrapped it I was walking home (about 5 miles) when I saw a 2005 BMW 330 Ci ZHP and a 2006 M3. I test drove both and I like them both but the difference in cost made me go with the 330. I started driving on the Autobahn to go on random trips and it was great. After modifying the car more and more my drives became more enjoyable. German drivers are much more considerate than American drivers, especially in the zones where there's no mandatory speed limits. I buried the needle quite a few times. I was scared at first but I got used to it. I drove all over Germany by just picking a town off the map and going there. Autobahn led to some of my greatest experiences in my life.

 

Did about 700 miles on the autobahn during euro delivery of my M3, it was great. The unregulated speed sections are fun but what I liked the most is people actually know how to drive. They stay in the lane they are supposed to, get the hell out of the way if they are going slower and signal. It was so refreshing to go that far and never get blocked by an idiot. We topped out the M3 at 155, it felt very smooth and stable. We got passed in pouring rain by 1.6L hatchbacks going 120+, it was nuts.

The ring was pretty crazy too, got passed by racecars, passed some sports cars, bikes, a Ford transit delivery man, a SUV with a family in it.

 

I'm a sucker for Germany - It's my favorite vacation spot. The autobahn and the Nurburgring are truly something that everyone that calls themselves a car enthusiast should experience. I've been there 3 times now in the last 6 years, each time renting a car for sightseeing and then also spending time for Touristenfahrten at the Nurburgring. I keep coming back here because it's the best place for driving I've ever seen - unrestricted speeds, everyone knows how to drive, beautiful country side and enthusiasm for cars. And I should add that I'm not really motivated by straight line speed in cars.

The first time I went, I wasn't over 25, so I could only rent basic cars. Rented something basic and went over 200 kmph. I rented a Clio at the ring for a few laps.

Second time, I was over 25, so I could rent some of the nicer cars. I ended up renting a a Jaguar F type Cabrio which to this day, remains one of the best looking and sounding cars I've ever driven. I ended up hitting 265 kmph. I rented a Scirocco at the ring for about 10 laps.

Third time, this past summer, I rented two cars - M3 Sedan and a 991.2 C4S from the Porsche factory in Stuttgart. With the M3, I went up to the limiter at 275 kpmh in the middle of the night which was a little nerve wracking. I had the C4S just for a day, but my goal was to hit 300 kmph. I ran into traffic every time I got on the autobahns with it though, so I didn't ever get up to 300 kmph but got to 260s very easily a few times. IMO, the 911 is the perfect sports car in Germany. I rented a Fiesta ST for 16 laps at the ring over the course of 2 days.

 

In Germany, all roads lead to Ausfahrt.