These past few months, car prices have been dropping like crazy here in Korea (I suspect its the same worldwide). Given the pace of depreciation, I considered selling my cls55 and waiting until next year to get something new (RS6!!). Last night I finalized my decision, not to sell.

In my years of car ownership, I've never owned a car for over 2 years. Usually, after the first year I get used to the car and by the second year I'm already bored. The CLS has been a completely different experience though. The looks are always sharp and modern, the ride - comfortable and smooth, the power - vicious, and the amenities - plentiful. Even with several other rides sitting in the garage, the cls always is first choice. to the golf course, ski resort, scuba diving, workplace, you name it... for some reason its the perfect all around car, even used as a baby getter.
don't know why, it just is.

on the last sunday of each month, my buddies and I get together and go driving to the airport which is a 30km 12 lane highway (6 on each side) with no traffic and almost no curves. last month, I went up against a tuned quattroporte, c63, porsche c4s, and m5. guess who won... yes the cls. yesterday, up against 4 audi's, the rs2, rs4, and rs6 (2003), and a8 w12. yes the cls whooped their asses too. can it be that there is no substitute? i thought that was a porsche? even my porsche lacks so much against this beast that I don't feel like driving it anymore. what used to be a daily driver (porsche) is now a dust collector. same with the 08 xkr, which, by the way, is a piece of junk and will soon be finding its way to a new owner.

i'll tell you this. the only cars that i've gone against that have anything against this is either the cls63 or the bmw m5. the m5 may hold up but each time it shifts gears (which is very often) it falls behind. same thing with the 63. aren't they supposed to have more power? bleh... numbers mean nothing. on the highway with no traffic on a perfectly straight stretch of road... the cls55 is the bomb... no questions asked. I should be sponsored by a tuning shop since everytime I burn one of these fools they head to the tuning shop. i'm sure, once tuned, they're probably faster, but they've probably decreased the life expectancy and reliability of their car let alone ruined their warranty in the process.

anyhow, just had to vent some energy and thoughts...

 

What more can I say?

 

Nice work/kill(s) but it also depends on the drivers abilities of the other cars. Those other cars are nice as ever but I will always lean towards an AMG.

Considering of purchasing an AMG soon myself, preferably a CLS55 AMG, I hope to share the same sentiments rather than buyer's remorse...

 

[QUOTE=auclutch;3241207]I should be sponsored by a tuning shop since everytime I burn one of these fools they head to the tuning shop. i'm sure, once tuned, they're probably faster, but they've probably decreased the life expectancy and reliability of their car let alone ruined their warranty in the process.QUOTE]

agreed

 

vb26, are you selling your car on eBay? I notice the avatar is the same picture as the listing?

 

yeah I've seen that CLS on ebay as well... knew it looked familiar.

 

good stuff man!
how close was the C63?

 

that drive to incheon can be fun... cameras cant capture those high speeds
had my fair share of runs over there before coming back to states

 

i'm leaving in 5 minutes to drive with a 993 turbo, 300c srt8, and g37 (just for kicks). it should only take a minute before I whoop their asses... and i'll be back here posting war stories again...

 

just got back from another drive. fyi, the cls continues to put others to shame. today it was pretty bad. I don't know why they put v8's into chryslers because it doesn't seem to do anything other than sound mean with no power... all show no go, is that the saying? the rs4 and 993 turbo that came out today were worthy foes. the 993 turbo off the line is a mean beast but once on the highway is no match for the cls55. with 2 car length head start starting at 80km and then 100kmh and then 150kmh we did three runs and there was no chance for the 911. sorry my friend.

the rs4 holds up suprisingly well. thsi is one of the cars that I had sent to the tuning shop so it is now stage one chip tuned. 420hp wagon. at the end of the day though it was no match. between 100-150kmh it can hold up but after 150kmh goodbye and into the rear view mirror.

the g37 is a spectator car.

 

Thanks for the updates and the most interesting posts. Here in the US, we have a sandard 91 octane rating for premium gasoline. There are few gasoline stations where a hire octane can be purchased. What octane rating are you using? If so, do hire octane content gasolines provide a notible difference?

 

Having lived in the US I understand the octane ratings. Unfortunately the gas in Korea is not labeled the same and so it is difficult to compare with the US. In Korea there is only regular and premium gas. They do not specify the octane rating and so each gas station differs (sometimes significantly). I have noticed, however, that if I use regular gas the car bogs at high rpms and after prolonged driving the gas cap open sign turns on until I refill with premium gas.

They do sell race gas but only at the track and I have yet to try it.

 

ever raced a 996 911 turbo? I've wondered how these do at low as well as high speeds against the s/c 55 AMG cars

 

I have not raced a 996 turbo, even though I do have one. unfortunately, the 997 turbo that I raced (it was automatic and stock) raped the cls55 on the highway and off the line. when I say raped it pulled away at about 1 car per 5 seconds. though I haven't taken out my 996 against the cls, I think the 996 is much quicker off the line but similar on the highway. btw, I don't have the x50 package and the car is stock.

 

Have you Race a Gallardo or F430 yet? I bet on a straight away those cars move!!

 

100 octane race fuels does wonders to the performance. Has anyone tried 110 octane?

 

never been against either of those in the cls. they are defintiely much faster though, that's for sure! if you want, i'll get someone to bring it out and video tape it!!! maybe next weekend~

 

That be nice! i live in South Korea for 18months and I remember it being that the Koreans love the American cars!!! I mean they had mustangs and cameros over there and cherish them. Is it still like that. this was back in 96 to 98?

 

damnit, I forgot to bring my camera to the drive ... again. this time there were 2 e34 m5's, one e60 m5, and gran turismo. the f430 didn't show up due to the slippery road conditions.

this time we went out to the ouijungboo tunnels (7-8km (4-5 miles) of 8 lane tunnel stretch) and did some runs. guess who won. yes, the cls55 put them all to shame again~~ haha. the e60 m5 still holds up though, can't say that I really beat him.

btw, the maserati gran turismo is truly a piece of junk. other than the nice looks and sex appeal, it has absolutely no power on the high end (on the highway and at top speeds) and the handling is less than satisfactory (bobs up and down at high speeds and can't grip on the tight turns)

hope someone enjoyed the war story

 

Do do you think you would do up against a SL55 ?

 

CLS55 all the way... love mine and Im not seller her!

 

no need to think. I've been up against one. the sl55 is faster. i'll post a vid this weekend. go to youtube.com and type auclutch. i have a few vids up there.

 

if it was an 07 sl55 then maybe yes as they have improved TB, older modles hmm the SL is one of the heavier 55k AMGs and i raced one and it did not pull on me. actuly raced 2, but they were not 07

what if i tell you my friend that 997 can not pull at rolling high speeds on a 55cls with a little modding

try race the m5 above 80 klm rolling race and he will hold on and then start pulling on you at high speeds (160kph +). This is from what i have seen so far. low speed rolling race or from 0, 55 wins. still need more testing though.

SRT8 are no match stock lots of sound but no go compared to 55k. SRT8 jeep does well from zero standing still race while i fight to get traction but then bye bye

any way stay safe and have fun

 

Now that I think about it, the 05 sl55 that I raced won pretty badly, but also, in retrospect, I recall that my I/C pump was dead and this is when I was having the problem at the dyno (only pumpning out three hundred something horses at the wheels). so yes, you may be right that the sl55 is also similar to a stock cls55. the m5, however, I have raced on the street and on the highway multiple times. over 160km/h I have never "pulled" on it, we have always been side by side... especially reaching speeds over 250 - 300km/h we're always side by side as if we were just stopped at a traffic light looking at each other...

yes, the srt8 cannot even get close.

what kind of mods do you have on your car that you are keeping up with the 997 turbo? I was considering putting on a pulley and ecu but my friend's car with it on keeps having problems and i'm slightly reluctant.

 

Dayam...It's been a while since I've been to the Motherland...I wanna go back and have fun...IF only I were able to take my car with me. Now THAT would be fun...My cousin who just moved from there recently told me about the street races between all the exotics...It would be awesome to give them a run for their money...