Saw a new CLK55 AMG...

[Fikse]

I saw a new 2003 Black CLK55 AMG with polished double spoke wheels.... they looked just like the ones on my C32.... Anyone run one yet? does the little power bump from last year make them quicker/faster than our C32's? Anyways.... the car looked really sweet... too bad the CLK 55 didn't get the Kompressor motor...

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[my401]

Also saw CLK55 @ Renntech!!! Heeeeeeeee! Twins Maybe?

[vinmanc32]

should be faster than c32 for sure. They are posting times of about 4.7. It was always designed to be the quickest car they offered until last year when they made that beast of a C class. But this year they have trumped it with the CLK55. From the front it looks like a SL. Very sweet looking machine.

[skidz1]

It will be the same or possibly slower than the current clk55. Yes, it picked up a small amount of horsepower but it also picked up more than 300 lbs in weight. This more than wipes out the hp gain. Horsepower to wieght ratio is king.

[Fikse]

well... if it picked up 300 pounds, then the C32 will be quicker.... as for the CLK being the fastest MB? since when the SLK32 was always faster... and now the new SL55, S55, CL55, S600, etc.. etc.. will kill it..

[///MB]

I believe MBUSA says the CLK55 does 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, while the C32 should do it in 4.9. Obviously magazines may get different results, but they should be neck and neck. The C32 might be a little quicker due to the weight but once you put some pulley upgrades on, it'll beat the CLK55 for sure.

[Ronald]

Originally posted by Fikse
too bad the CLK 55 didn't get the Kompressor motor...

The V8 Kompressor would have been too much for the CLK. I really like it the way it is. Don't forget that you are talking about a c-class based car.

If you want a coupé with a V8 Kompressor, go get a CL 55. You even get SBC-brakes, active suspension,...

Ronald

[///MB]

Originally posted by Ronald
The V8 Kompressor would have been too much for the CLK. I really like it the way it is. Don't forget that you are talking about a c-class based car.

If you want a coupé with a V8 Kompressor, go get a CL 55. You even get SBC-brakes, active suspension,...

Ronald

Maybe in the current 55 Kompressor form, it would be too much power for such a small car like the CLK55.. but I think with less boost, it would be fine. I still think the CLK55 should be well into the 4 second 0-60 and low 13-high 12s in the 1/4 mile.

The CL55 is great, but it's at least 40K more.

[Ronald]

Originally posted by ///MB
Maybe in the current 55 Kompressor form, it would be too much power for such a small car like the CLK55.. but I think with less boost, it would be fine. I still think the CLK55 should be well into the 4 second 0-60 and low 13-high 12s in the 1/4 mile.

Well, AMG didn't want to develop yet another engine just for the CLK 55 - especially since the 5.5l V8 is doing just fine.

The CL55 is great, but it's at least 40K more.

So? A CLK 55 Kompressor would have been 25-30k more. The Kompressor engine is much more komplex and needs a bigger exhaust system. Furthermore would AMG never sell a CLK 55 Kompressor without expensive upgrades to the brakes (SBC) and suspension (ABC). You would also need a new steel based rear axle and reinforced gearbox to withstand the torque...

I wouldn't have bought a CLK 55 Kompressor and would probably be pretty mad at AMG for putting the same engine into a CLK that I have in my SL 55 - especially since it would have made the CLK 55 faster than the SL 55 due to the weight difference.

Ronald

[///MB]

Ronald, I understand your point of view.

As far as the ABC on the V8 Kompressor cars... The E55 doesn't have ABC, so I'm assuming it's not necessary. Also, all the reviews I have seen for the SBC show worse braking performance than conventional brakes.

[DL_AMG]

The Active Suspension is also showing worse performance than conventional suspension....just look at the M5 vs. E55 (v8K). M5 still have way better suspension than E55s.

[Ronald]

Originally posted by ///MB
As far as the ABC on the V8 Kompressor cars... The E55 doesn't have ABC, so I'm assuming it's not necessary. Also, all the reviews I have seen for the SBC show worse braking performance than conventional brakes.

In the case of the E55 it's not an acvtive suspension (ABC), but at least semiactive air suspension (unlike the CLK 55):

I didn't know there are any bad reviews about the SBC out there. German press was pretty impressed about a 2.200 kg SL 55 stopping in less than 38 m from 62 mph.

Ronald

[Fikse]

too much power? never.... the car would have been fine with 450+HP....

you would have been mad? come on... Mercedes obviously doesn't have the hang-up of making one car faster/quicker than the other......... the SLK32 has been faster/quicker than the entire MB line for a LONG time.... even when it costs half as much as some of the other AMG cars...

different AMG cars for different people..... who cares if they are all VERY fast....

[Ronald]

Originally posted by Fikse
too much power? never.... the car would have been fine with 450+HP....

I think AMG had many reasons to build the current CLK 55 the way it is available now. But you know AMG: There is always room for an AMG Special if enough customers want it (and pay for it).

Ronald

[Ronald]

Originally posted by Fikse
you would have been mad? come on... Mercedes obviously doesn't have the hang-up of making one car faster/quicker than the other......... the SLK32 has been faster/quicker than the entire MB line for a LONG time.... even when it costs half as much as some of the other AMG cars...

You are missing one big factor: 2 years ago, the SLK 32 was never a seen as a competition to the old E 55 / CLK 55 /... (at least not in Germany) because even though it's fast, it's just a nervous 6-cylinder that sounds like an electrical car gone mad. The V6 Kompressor is a tool that get's the job done, but it just isn't a real grown-up engine that could compete with the sex-appeal of a V8.

That's not just my opinion, but the opinion of almost all AMG Owners Club members I've talked to (even the ones that drive a V6 Kompressor).

I'm just glad that AMG realized this as well by now.

Ronald

[Fikse]

I never mentioned anything about the SLK being competition for the more expensive cars.... TOTALLY different cars.... I said that Mercedes isn't hung-up on having less expensive cars being just as quick....

they know that someone in the market for a $100k+ CL55 isn't going to be swayed to an SLK32 that costs half as much..... just because its "quick"...

your obviously have a problem with a less expensive car being faster than your SL55 (as you stated earlier)..... the SL55 is badass... no question about it..... If I were driving one, I wouldn't care about the "other" cars....

like I said different cars for different people.... I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would rather have a sportier CLK55 with the Kompressor instead of the much larger CL55.....

[Ronald]

Originally posted by Fikse
your obviously have a problem with a less expensive car being faster than your SL55 (as you stated earlier)..... the SL55 is badass... no question about it..... If I were driving one, I wouldn't care about the "other" cars....

I don't have any problem with a less expensive car being faster. Otherwise I would have bought a Mitsubishi Evo VII instead of a CLK 55 for half the money. I simply tried to explain to you the way AMG's marketing is thinking since I know them pretty well.

Originally posted by Fikse
like I said different cars for different people.... I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would rather have a sportier CLK55 with the Kompressor instead of the much larger CL55.....

AMG will have a surprise for those kind of people. Just wait a bit, have faith in AMG and start saving some money. It'll blow you away...

Ronadl

[///MB]

Originally posted by DL_AMG
The Active Suspension is also showing worse performance than conventional suspension....just look at the M5 vs. E55 (v8K). M5 still have way better suspension than E55s.

I think that has more to do with the balance and handling dynamics of BMW compared to Mercedes. For Mercedes, the ABC suspension performs very well.