acceleration, or top end.

[ricky s]

I know this is my simple and sad life, but cars been on the drive all week, but been out for a play this PM, found myself accelerating hard off the roundabouts and slip roads, and then throttling back, in fear of my license, get up to 70ish ish ish very quickly, then throttle back, only for some ford focus driver to sail past me 4 miles further on than I passed him, and thinking is it worth the pursuit ?. (Ford focus and taxi drivers Ugh!)
Any way got to thinking, now asking, how are all you other E55 / E63 drivers employing the power, and enjoying the power, and whats your favorite situation for getting down the acceleration or speed of these cars.

 

[jberks]

I'd turn the question around and ask whether you ever really get to enjoy the car?
We had an Audi A3Tsport a few years back. OK, not a patch on the E55 but nippy enough. I used to take it out instead of the E240 if I fancied a bit of a thrash but generally just found it frustrating. Quick blast and then stop for some granny, muppet or traffic light. Tear round some slow dipstic and off into the distance, only to be caught up at the next lights, feeling the smugness oozing out of them. Rarely got out of 3rd. Sure the fact that it would pull well in 5th was nice but not really what the car was about.
Eventually swapped it for a Jeep. Slow thing but fun in other ways.

I sometimes wonder if the CDI I have now is really more fun. It isn't actually that fast but the way it delivers the power, in short thumps in the back is equally exillarating but because it isn't a constant flow, your overall speed is remains within sensible limits and with a torque curve that is perfect for motorways with all that power on tap at 70.

As great as they obviously are (and I'd buy one myself if I could), are they really worth having in the urban UK?

 

[type49]

I took an SL65 out on a loooooong road test - amazing power, in fact, too much for the car. The traction light was flashing constantly up to 80, giving the feeling that the car could'nt handle it. It might be a different story on a track or autobarn but British roads are too bumpy for it. I've ridden some fast bikes in my time & this would seriously surprize any of them but exactly where you could make full use of all the power, I don't know. I also drive a Subaru Impreza which is not slow but would be left standing by a 55kompressor in a straight line & I'm selling that because I dont want to lose my licence.

 

[nick-E55]

I like drving almost any car. I had a fiat punto, and chucking it round corners was blast. I actually enjoy driving the E55 slowly, it's so comfortable to be in, and the V8 sounds great. Having said that, i've hit the limiter at the top end a few times, without acutally trying. Re. your ford focus experience, when i'm on counrty roads, or on a main road where there's overtaking, i usually use the s/wheel buttons and it's sometimes fun when you're on a dual carriage way, and some joker in a bm of jag comes up behind you.. then u drop it into 3rd, or 4th at 80/90, and they very quickly become a spec in the rear view mirror

 

[ricky s]

Thanks for all imputs, given more thought this PM over watching the football later side of the afternoon, and taken all your comments on board, can,t sell the car, because I Love this car and its performance , best car I,ve owned, albeit the wife,s been putting claw marks into her seat, she calls them terror marks, clinging on!
The reality of the power! I can if I want to, and if i dont need to I dont,
So need to post that comment on a ford focus site! and also get a speedtrap gadget.

 

[nick-E55]

Just relax and enjoy it Rick. Just because its a fast car doesnt mean u have to nail it every time you're in it (tho i admit the temptation's always there!). Maybe try excercising some restraint when the Mrs is in the passenger seat... and she'll calm down (and wont tell u to sell it ).

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Ricky, I have had track days with mine, can be expensive but fun. E63 is slower than the 55, the extra weight to power isn't enough to beat the 55. My limiter has been removed and it's been remapped possible giving it a possible 195.

 

[ricky s]

Nick, your right, but when I am only driving it possible 1 day a week, its a lot of car to resist poddling along, although I do with Wifey in the the car as you suggest, and wifeys very legal minded, really dont know whats going to happen when she starts driving it! is your wife driving yours?
Dave, intrested in your comment of the 55 being faster than the 63, and track days, think Nick-e55 has, from previous conversations, experienced track days! but wheres that extra 40 odd BHP on the 63 going, and also your delimiting and remap, whats that done acceleration wise, and should I bother to ask, fuel economy! love these cars.

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Ricky, check out this old thread. Regarding the extra horse on the 63 it's spent pulling the extra weight!

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=23550&highlight=k&n+filters

 

[nick-E55]

No , the Mrs doesn't drive my car, she likes her estate (and before that the ML). For some strange reason, she thinks cars are for getting from A to B, and being practical. Still, married for 20yrs, and they do say opposites attract

re. weight, and Dave's point. not sure what the diff is between 55 and 63, but i know that the E55 is nearly 100kg lighter than the M5. Probably also accts for why there's no spare wheel on the 55. It looks like a big saloon, but AMG take it quite seriously.

 

[television]

The advantage of driving an SL500 is that everyone thinks it is fast,so I dont try that much, it goes past most things with ease. I had to put a stop somewhere, if I had a 55 I would want a 65,if I had a 65 I would want a Brabus, and where does it all stop. As I have said,my before my V70R is only 15hp down on the SL and I have my fun with that.

In line with this thread I do the short burst to get by a row of cars all in one go, then drop back to the limit.


Malcolm

 

[johnmc]

Accelerating is fun for sure, bur reality is that my son's 10 year old 1.2 Punto can be the fastest car on the road if he's willing to keep the hammer down when we don't want to.

Speed's a great marketing tool. Wish I had products that caused that adrenalin rush instead of boring old software.

John

 

[R W]

Ricky.
I can appreciate your car must be fun & very nice to drive but on the average british roads the Ford Focus taxi driver wont be far behind you getting from A to B. Years ago I used to travel regular from Dover back home to the north east. I would drive at a steady 70 or 80mph. After some hrs driving I would stop for fuel or a quick cup of coffee & the trucks I had past 300miles back were driving past at there steady 60mph. Also a friend of mine used to leave Dover at the same time, he drove at 100 to 110mph most of the time. The difference at the end of the journey was, he got home 20mins before me. After he had a few points on his license he slowed down & also saved a tenner in the extra fuel he used to use.
Enjoy driving your car but getting from Ato B,you wont be far ahead of the Focus Taxi driver

 

[nick-E55]

[After some hrs driving I would stop for fuel or a quick cup of coffee & the trucks I had past 300miles back were driving past at there steady 60mph. Also a friend of mine used to leave Dover at the same time, he drove at 100 to 110mph most of the time. The difference at the end of the journey was, he got home 20mins before me. [/QUOTE]

Maybe, but i know who had the most fun

It's a bit like saying why travel first class when travelling economy gets u there jsut a quick and in comfort.... but why not, if you can ?

 

[Blobcat]

From the world of sports bikes -

You can tell it has been a long winter when you car feels fast

 

[nick-E55]

From the world of sports bikes -

Good point! i thot about doing the one week crash course ('scuse the pun).. and buying a Triumph Daytona, or something equally lethal. I see u have 2 similar, and am very envious. Just wouldn't trust myself... but might get around to it someday :roll:

 

[R W]

Maybe, but i know who had the most fun

It's a bit like saying why travel first class when travelling economy gets u there jsut a quick and in comfort.... but why not, if you can ?

Nick,
I fully aggree with you.Ricky will have far more fun than the Focus Taxi driver.But dont be surprised or dissapointed when the Focus Taxi driver catches up at the first set of traffic lights

 

[nick-E55]

Sadly, u cant move in this ****** country for road-works or speed cameras, or plain congestion. Still, i try to make the best of the occasional times when u can have some real fun. Track days also there for venting some frustration

 

[Russ H]

One of the most fun vehicles I’ve ever had was a 998cc 68bhp Toyota Yaris (company car by choice believe it or not).
What an absolute hoot. Used to drive it to within an inch of its life around North and Mid Wales B roads. Any power that was there seemed to be between 6800 and 7500rpm and it was possible to drive it at 90% of it’s and my capabilities all day long without actually going that fast, it would only break the 100mph barrier with a tail wind and down hill. It was so light in every way. There seemed no inertia in the suspension or drive train.
Although we all like to think we are super capable drivers most of us have limited ability. Go try a tack day and get overtaken by a professional driver in a Hyundai (I was pushing an Alfa 156 3.0V6 as far as I dared at the time) if you don’t believe me!! So in reality either the electronics take over or our nerve goes way before you are anywhere near the limit of any newish performance car.
Now I trundle along in my slug of a G not in the least worried about 0 to 60 times. Oh and before any tree huggers start it runs on veg. oil so has a close to zero carbon foot print.

 

[ricky s]

Thanks for your replies and veiws guys, good banter, looked at that thread you gave me Dave, made my mind up from that, got too much power now!, and a track day, Nick, could be the long term answer, so for now my toy and I will continue to enjoy each others company and just poddle along, with the odd exception, where that 476 bhp, needs to be played with. Its all very tortoise and the hare story, dont you think! Thanks Rick