C43 vs 2014 LExus IS350-F
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
C43 vs 2014 LExus IS350-F
Hey guys,
just wanted to give some feedback about my past track day a few weeks ago, i have it mentioned in my autox posting as well...
During one 20 min track session later in the day a guy with a brand new IS350 F was behind me for an entire session. It was the session of the day that was the most fun because i had to fight him off eith everything i had the whole time!
check this newest test link from motor trend for more info on that car:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/specs.html
it was brand new so i would have to assume that his experience in the lexus was less than mine in the mercedes. I have done 3 track days now and a year of autocross so i would say im better than the "average" driver, but nowhere near a pro by any means!
I would say i was driving the car at 8/10ths during the session. On a side note at a past track day session i had one of the "featured guest instructors" do a couple laps driving my car, and though i can surely say he was faster and better than me, mostly in his line, it really didnt feel like he was "getting alot more" out of the car than i was in terms of handling. he was fighting the car a lot and loved to jab at me that my car needed to loose 1000lbs, haha.
grattan raceway was the track of me against the Lexus
In turns 2 through 8 he would gain a little bit on me at each one. turn nine i may have gained some ground but not much, but really the spot where i was able to stay ahead of him was exit speed out of the hairpin in Turn 10, then i was able to just be at a higher rate of speed going into the straight to give my self a bit more breathing room that he would have to make up on the rest of the turns... only to lost it again.
the hairpin there is tricky so it may have just been my technique there that was giving me any advantage. going into the turn if he was maybe only 4 car lengths behind me he would be 6 lengths behind exiting the turn and more like 7-8 by mid straightaway.
The lexus is 306HP and 277lb/ft in a 3797lb car. so i was disapointed that i couldnt put more distance between us in the turns, my front tires were getting worked really hard though! we were both on street tires.
looking at the 1/4mile and 0.60 times of the lexus its slightly faster than the C43 only by a couple tenths in each test, but i would have to just assume that it handles better due to the more modern/active damping suspension. it actually has the exact same size tires as mine/ours in 18" 225/40 and 255/35 R18's. i definitely think the extra 30lb/ft or so of torque in the C43 was the main thing that allowed me to pull ahead in those certain lower speed areas. that being said i would like to iterate my stance that our cars do not handle very well. i have upgraded my shocks and am a decent driver and its still a battle at times! haha. but the car is 15years old and was not ever intended to be a track car when AMG tuned it. But i do love it and love taking it to the track
just thought it was nice to share the experience after i just read the motor trend article on the lexus and just think the "real world" comparison is fun and more interesting than just comparing stats on paper.
just wanted to give some feedback about my past track day a few weeks ago, i have it mentioned in my autox posting as well...
During one 20 min track session later in the day a guy with a brand new IS350 F was behind me for an entire session. It was the session of the day that was the most fun because i had to fight him off eith everything i had the whole time!
check this newest test link from motor trend for more info on that car:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/specs.html
it was brand new so i would have to assume that his experience in the lexus was less than mine in the mercedes. I have done 3 track days now and a year of autocross so i would say im better than the "average" driver, but nowhere near a pro by any means!
I would say i was driving the car at 8/10ths during the session. On a side note at a past track day session i had one of the "featured guest instructors" do a couple laps driving my car, and though i can surely say he was faster and better than me, mostly in his line, it really didnt feel like he was "getting alot more" out of the car than i was in terms of handling. he was fighting the car a lot and loved to jab at me that my car needed to loose 1000lbs, haha.
grattan raceway was the track of me against the Lexus
In turns 2 through 8 he would gain a little bit on me at each one. turn nine i may have gained some ground but not much, but really the spot where i was able to stay ahead of him was exit speed out of the hairpin in Turn 10, then i was able to just be at a higher rate of speed going into the straight to give my self a bit more breathing room that he would have to make up on the rest of the turns... only to lost it again.
the hairpin there is tricky so it may have just been my technique there that was giving me any advantage. going into the turn if he was maybe only 4 car lengths behind me he would be 6 lengths behind exiting the turn and more like 7-8 by mid straightaway.
The lexus is 306HP and 277lb/ft in a 3797lb car. so i was disapointed that i couldnt put more distance between us in the turns, my front tires were getting worked really hard though! we were both on street tires.
looking at the 1/4mile and 0.60 times of the lexus its slightly faster than the C43 only by a couple tenths in each test, but i would have to just assume that it handles better due to the more modern/active damping suspension. it actually has the exact same size tires as mine/ours in 18" 225/40 and 255/35 R18's. i definitely think the extra 30lb/ft or so of torque in the C43 was the main thing that allowed me to pull ahead in those certain lower speed areas. that being said i would like to iterate my stance that our cars do not handle very well. i have upgraded my shocks and am a decent driver and its still a battle at times! haha. but the car is 15years old and was not ever intended to be a track car when AMG tuned it. But i do love it and love taking it to the track
just thought it was nice to share the experience after i just read the motor trend article on the lexus and just think the "real world" comparison is fun and more interesting than just comparing stats on paper.
