fflyer1

If you just want to go really fast and are renting the car when there is *no* rush-hour and you do not care to have a very scenic drive, I'd recommend driving Autobahn A5 from FRA to Autobahn Intersection Darmstadt. This Autobahn has 4 lanes each direction on a length of approx. 17km and has been used by several insane guys to achieve highspeed records :-)
As already mentioned not very scenic but very good infrastructure. Maybe it can be combined with any of the other routes...

However you should double check that there is no construction work anymore (I think they finished the long term constructions some time ago, but there may be road work some days).

htb

You could visit Limburg... When passing on the autobahn the city looks like it's worth walking around the center of town a bit.

You mean you're not allowed to drive it on the autobahn

HTB.

N1003U

No, I mean someone with practical local knowledge. There is sometimes a difference...

Only if they find out...

(what is maximizing if one doesn't push/bend the rules a bit... )

Ari

Do they prohibit it?

So it is best to be careful then!

N1003U

Yes, though I haven't seen the rental agreement for this special offer, standard Avis contracts specifically prohibit driving on things like race tracks and "engaging in speed contests" ... (and driving in Hungary, which is a big deal when you rent in VIE and you have relatives in Burgenland)

Fortunately, the ADAC works tirelessly to ensure it remains a fundamental right do drive without artificial limits on the German Autobahn system (to the dismay of the rest of the EU and the safety nannies)...

TRAVELSIG

Not only do they specifically prohibit it but if you show up at a racetrack usually the track will call the rental company at which time you are in a bit of a difficult position.

Ari

Interesting. It never crossed my mind to take any car to a track (much less a rental car) until I read this thread.

TRAVELSIG

Nor mine however many many years ago when I was in University I worked part time for a car rental company while studying- it is amazing what some people think to attempt with a rental car.

Circumknowitall

I've done many laps of the Nurburgring in a rental car, both ordinary cars from Hertz and road legal track cars from specialist renters.

During the Touristenfahrt the Nurburgring is considered to be a normal one way toll road, its excluded specifically by name in most UK insurance and rental agreements but rarely in Germany.

N1003U

Interesting commentary. Thank you for putting some factual hope into what was began as a rhetorical question...

One would have to check the specifics of the Avis rental contract, but if the publicly-open circuits on the Nürburgring are considered normal toll roads (which also explains why the StVO applies), and not specifically excluded by Avis, then the would-be-maximizer question then returns to the practical logistics of getting from FRA to/from Nürburg, coordinating the arrival when driving slots are available, and whether or not the experience would be worth the excess time/kilometer charges.

Circumknowitall

I think it would definitely be worth it costwise, heres a comparison of the costs of a similar car.

http://www.rent4ring.de/en/info/rent...tml#p177_basic

htb

More details, pleeease

HTB.

N1003U

Given the input from Circumknowitall, the Avis offer does seem on the surface to be perhaps worthwhile to "maximize"...

Has anyone seen (OK, read thoroughly) an actual copy of the rental contract for this offer? Is Nürburgring/Nordschleife specifically excluded as "no-go" areas?

htb

http://www.avis.de/Mietinformationen...gs-bedingungen

"... may not be used on race tracks, even if these are opened to the general public (tourist drives)"

Pretty clear, I think.

If you drive on a race track anyway your insurance will be void.

Also pretty clear.

HTB.

N1003U

I have been a long time Avis customer, and I know they are pretty strict with usage terms. (Which as TRAVELSIG alludes, is however not necessarily a practical limitation...)

On the other hand, as Circumknowitall points out, the Nordschleife does seem to be carved out for special treatment in the law and seems to be a gray area where it is not considered for legal purposes a Rennstrecke. I see the fingerprints of the ADAC there...@:-)

Back to your point, htb, if there were an unfortunate incident, the intent of the contract seems rather clear, and I personally would not like to go through the challenge of getting a clear definition in the German legal system, when significant mechanical and/or personal damages are at stake.

I suppose anyway for one or two laps in Nürburg, where I am not at all familiar with the course, I would probably be better off with a more user-friendly vehicle, such as an M3, which would not be as thrilling in the straights, but is much more forgiving at handling limits and gives a bit of warning during advanced maneuvers before the poles exit the unit circle...

Even advanced stability control systems are limited by the effectiveness of sensors, the laws of physics, and most significantly the capabilities of the idiot behind the steering wheel.