what do Italians pay for brakes???

[fabes]

Just come back from another 2 days in Milan (on Business)

My driver there used to be calm and collected (we use him 'cause he hasn't killed us yet and turns up on time)

But he lost it a bit yesterday

He drives a very new E350 AMG (not exactly a taxi)

Sheesh - the red mist (little fiat cut him up) descends and he lost it in the centre of Milan. I had to have a word, but blimey, thats a big car to haul up quickly. Lovely car mind you

Then I noticed everybody else was driving like nutters. I know they do, but there must have been something in the water as it looked worse than ever - a street drag race light to light in all manner of cars and mopeds

Accellerator = on / off switch?

They must eat brakes out there!! Seriously mad yesterday

PS my driver from Heathrow had his Audi (sorry) A8 4L V8 TDI - what a car and sound (from a diesel!)

 

[BTB 500]

What's an E350 AMG ?

 

[Will]

That's exactly what I was about to ask

Although, I suspect like me, you know it's a low spec E-class badged as an AMG

Will

 

[fabes]

E350?

I'm not up on all the models but it had on the boot, LH side E350 and RH side, AMG

Full leather, DVD in roof, Sat Nav (command therefore?), parking sensors all round auto boot release, full Auto and its a petrol. - all the detail I can recall from being in it
Didn't have AMG wheels, but MB alloys, but its 'bog standard' as Antonio is not one to Mod his car after it leaves the dealer.

Again, I'm no expert, but it certainly can go and stop.

Fabes

 

[Will]

Basically fabes, there's no such car as an E350 AMG - sounds like optomistic badging on the part of the owner.

Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip

Will

 

[fabes]

I'm back over in the summer - I'll have to ask him

Cheers

 

[Spinal]

Being Italian... the answer is ALOT!

Brakes are something you change roughly as often as you do an oil change... sometimes as often as you refuel

 

[gbjeppm]

Milan is the only place I have been involved in a taxi crash, and I have had two of them would you believe 8 days apart.

They both had the same outcome lots of gesticulating and swearing (i assume as my italian is not so good), me getting out, not paying and walking off to get another taxi.

There are a lot of complete lunatics behind the wheel over there, would love to see the insurance/accident stats for Milan, it must be one of the most "interesting" places to drive in Europe.

Actually I also remember hiring an SLK in spain from Hertz, and reading the blurb that I could drive into France, Andorra etc, but not Italy . That must say something.

 

[DieselE]

DVD in roof

Any more details on that as I've never heard or seen of that on an E Class before.

It's quite a few years since I was last in Italy (Rome) but I still remember being driven at very high speed over a wet cobbled road. At the time I wished I wasn't an engineer who new the effect of water on the coefficient of friction between rubber and stone.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Basically fabes, there's no such car as an E350 AMG - sounds like optomistic badging on the part of the owner.

Are you sure?

So you order an E350 with AMG styling and it comes with E350 and AMG written on the back, I guess.

 

[IanA2]

Surely it only becomes an AMG when the power plant is plonked in.....

 

[GrahamC230K]

Surely it only becomes an AMG when the power plant is plonked in.....

To you or I yes, but lets not pick on folks for reading the badgeing that was most likely legitimatley on the back of the car!

 

[television]

Correct no AMG badge with only the styling, dont ask me how I know

 

[GrahamC230K]

Correct no AMG badge with only the styling, dont ask me how I know

I thought styling and wheels and they gave you a badge?

 

[Will]

Yes Graham, but this car doesn't sound as though that's the case does it - it didn't even have AMG wheels according to the OP!

And wouldn't an E350 with a bodykit / wheels be just that? Not an AMG model.

Will

 

[Will]

To you or I yes, but lets not pick on folks for reading the badgeing that was most likely legitimatley on the back of the car!

Sorry Graham, just saw that.

I don't think I picked on fabes - I think I said to him that it would be 'optomistic badging on the part of the owner'

That's fair isn't it?

Will

 

[fabes]

Any more details on that as I've never heard or seen of that on an E Class before.


Errr... it is a single screen, 7" I think, on a powered down screen, with sound through headphones, or rear speakers. It was not a Mod he had fitted, so either a factory fit or a dealer option. Its fitted centrally in line with the back of the front seats (no sunroof)

As regards the car, to clarify, it had no body kit, it had a fair amount of go (but then big E classes do - esp when driven by an Italian ) , no interior signage that I can recall, just the AMG badge on the rear RH boot.

As its 'sold' to me, the punter, as a exec Limo, it being blinged up with a subtle or otherwise body kit is not something he would probably do to it - not the 'market' he is pitching into.

Is there a sep model option in Continental Europe?

Either way nice car

Fabes

 

[fabes]

Sorry Graham, just saw that.

I don't think I picked on fabes - I think I said to him that it would be 'optomistic badging on the part of the owner'

That's fair isn't it?

Will

Fair by me

 

[fabes]

Correct no AMG badge with only the styling, dont ask me how I know

Malcolm

Nope...



I'm going to have ask

How?

 

[tim.100]

Milan is the only place I have been involved in a taxi crash....

Yes, almost the same for me. Driver left Malpensa half asleep and she fell asleep in an underpass some 40 min later - at speed. She woke up after the car slammed against the curb.

I used to take €200 in cash to Milan just for taxi fares....