99ML430

Actually I think I misspoke. Check my other thread on C55 rumor/update. The link actually mentions the 7 speed and says it may well see action in the C55.

©32

I was reading the Germancarfans.com article about the R171 SLK and they mention this about the 7G in the SLK 350:

"From a standing start, the SLK 350 reaches 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds (with the 7G-TRONIC: 5.5 seconds) and accelerates from 60 to 120 km/h in 8.7 seconds (with the 7G-TRONIC: 5.1 seconds)."

The 60-120 Km/h for the 7G are quite impressive... 5.1 compared to 8.7!!!

///MB

I believe when they do those tests, they just floor the car from 60-120. In an automatic tranny, the car will downshift for better acceleration. With the manual cars, they leave it in a specific (obviously slower) gear and just floor it. That would explain the difference in those acceleration numbers.

E55AMG99

I think they were comparing the 7 speed to the 5 speed automatic. Both transmissions downshift the same but the 7G is quicker shifting and can put the engine in the right place on the torque curve. The improvements are similar in the E and S 500 models.

99ML430

The 7G will actually skip shift i.e. shift from 5 directly to 3 and is purported to be substantially smoother and quicker when shifting. Kudos..... Maybe it will be used in the C55. That would make me happy.

E55AMG99

The 5 speed does this (skip shift) There is no mechanical reason that it can't. Programatically, it might drop one gear at a time in response to lighter throttle input. I can go from 5 to 1 if I quickly flatten the pedal the the floor but 5-4-3-2 if I roll into it.

99ML430

7G tronic


http://www.techautos.com/modules.php?
name=News&file=article&sid=21

E55AMG99

Well, if the 5 speed does row all the gears on a 5th to 1st downshift, it does it quickly enough to feel like it is going direct. Odd that it would at all.

99ML430

I have to agree with you, but the 7G sounds pretty good. Unfortunately they think it won't show up in the C55 until MY06.

E55AMG99

Too bad if we have to wait. I think it would be awesome technology even if the powerful AMG motors won't see a huge performance gain like the 5 liters did.

Nickerz

Anyone notice that the front end of the pics are not accurate? From what I've read the front end is getting a facelift and the pics on this thread still show the same C32 front end.

Also, the speedometer in the pics look different. The C32 has a square like computer screen in the middle of the speedo and the pics in this thread for the "C55" look kinda plain.

What do you people think?

E55 KEV

Nicherz, clean your glasses or get a better monitor. Pay close attention to detail. This post has 4 pages and you are the only one who can not see the changes! The headlamps, the hood treatment and the wheels are from CLK55. Look again:

blando

My C32 will often skip shift down two gears (at once - straight from 4 to 2 and no stop at 3!) and sometimes it does it with only moderate acceleration. It can be very annoying when you want to wind out a gear...

Nickerz

[QUOTE]Originally posted by E55 KEV
[B]Nicherz, clean your glasses or get a better monitor. Pay close attention to detail. This post has 4 pages and you are the only one who can not see the changes! The headlamps, the hood treatment and the wheels are from CLK55. Look again:


E55...

I was told that the new C55 would look like the CLK55. which means:

NO TRI-STAR HOOD ORNIMENT FOR ONE! The CLK55 has the star embedded in the grill.

That's what I was referring to. The heck with the lights as these don't account for much change anyhow and yes the grill is every so slightly different.

Again, the speedo in the pics look plain as the C32 has more detail (read the rest of my last post). Did you catch that? The changes in the two are very much the same (exterior that is). It would take a very trained eye (one with still images on his computer) to point out a C32 vs. C55 in my opinion. Again, I thought that the C55 would lose the hood orniment alltogether like the CLK55.

99ML430

nickerz, I agree with you that the facelift is relatively minor and would be hard to catch without the two cars sitting right next to each other, but you clearly stated there was "no" change which as you can see is not accurate.

The instrumentation, though there are no clear pics as of yet, looks much more like the CLK/E-class as far as I can guess. I like the new E-class instruments, especially with the sport package which the C55 will undoubtedly have.

E55 KEV

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Nickerz

Quote:

[
I was told that the new C55 would look like the CLK55. which means:

NO TRI-STAR HOOD ORNIMENT FOR ONE! The CLK55 has the star embedded in the grill.

No Mercedes Sedan (4 Door) comes from the factory without the hood star. That treatment ,with the star in the grill, is reserved solely for the Coupes.

Nickerz

Cool! I didn't know that. I'm actually glad to hear this as I like both but I think I favor the hood orniment myself.

In fact, you will be glad to know (which is the reason I have been so interested in the C55 looks vs. C32) that I am going down to the MB dealer today to put a deposit on a C32.

Yesterday I spoke to the dealer and he said he has no info on a "C55" and he would be told if this car exists when trying to order a C32 on his computer. So I don't know if this car is due later this year or if it's really going to be released in '06?

At any rate, I think I'm too impatient to wait even for an '05 in Sept. so gettinga C32 in 3 months is what I want to do.

Does anyone have new updates on release for C55? I'm sure I can take me deposit back (which I will have in writing) if I decide to back out of the deal but I want my name on a list for the next available C32.

Nick

©32

I don't live in the US... but I heard that the C55 will be available in the US around August / September of this year...

99ML430

nickerz, as I mentioned in another post, I sat in the GM's office when he called MBUSA to inquire about the C55 and its availability. My recollection is that the ordering guide will be released sometime soon, probably in February and production would begin a few months later possibly as early as April but no date for certain. Based on his conversation he thought the C55 would be available at the earliest in August. I am first in line but am also first to admit that is a good long wait.

Nickerz

99ML430,

Thanks for the update. It's funny b/c I I couldn't get the sales guy today to believe there is going to be a C55 for '05. I believe it but he said it won't be available until '06. I even told him that you are first in line to get it and his comment was, "yeah, I can take his deposit too and tell him he'll be getting the car but it's not true."

He showed me on his computer (which he was using to help locate a C32 in the Western States) that it would indicate if a new C55 was going to become available (he said it would have to tell him if he was ordering a new C32 for me). I don't know if he is really in the loop but he did show me the newer models coming (i.e., CLK65 is it?) and said the C55 is not listed with about 3 that he showed me.

Overall, I thought about it and I'm not sure I want to wait 8 months (minimum) for the C55, even though I like it a lot! So he said he would put in the order for me today to MB but warned me that it will be about 4 months until I get it.

I've seen the pics but I'm wondering why MB would accept a C32 order when they are intending to release the C55 next month, or at least info on it. I would think there would have to be some kind of cut off for accepting C32 orders so that MB isn't stuck making C32's and then people want the C55. This part just doesn't make sense to me and leads me to believe that the new C55 won't be ready as soon as we're hoping for. ???

What do you think?

I love these forums by the way b/c I'm talking to people with the same interest as mine! I LOVE IT!

99ML430

Its my experience that sales guys are the last to know anything and I would give his opinion even less weight. I know the GM for the store and he made the call on my behalf, it did not show up in his computer either. The order guide is simply a list of the features and contents of vehicles and their available options. I also notice that new models do not appear on the MBUSA website until they are actually in production.

My bet is that if you wait another few weeks that order guide will show up. Four months is a long wait for a C32 at this point you should try to locate one. I know a couple of dealers in LA have them. Worse case is you order a C32 get it in four months and a C55 shows up two months later. Course if you don't care about a 367hp V8.............

Nickerz

True!

If it does take 4 months or longer and the C55 can be ordered by that time, I'll tell the sales guy that he can have the C32 and now I want a C55. I figure it's his fault then for not doing the full research on the availibility of the C55. Especially since at this point, he pretty much refuses to except there is a C55 ah comin'. At least then I'm covered either way and not stuck waiting for a car that may or may not be released. Even though I do feel it will be available. We'll see. February is going to be an exciting month!

Nick

Nickerz

Here is more info that some of you may not have read yet...

http://www.konrad.124.fastwebserver....news_e.htm#012

BenzoAMGpower

no more AMG M112s