Coupe vs. Sedan: Straight-line Speed
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Coupe vs. Sedan: Straight-line Speed
Haven't seen this yet mentioned here. C&D recently posted some interesting results on Lightning Lap of the 2019 coupe.
At the end of the back straight, the 2019 S-coupe hit 138.8 mph. The 2015 S-sedan "bombed the straight with a Vmax of almost 148 mph."
With only a weight difference of 110lbs, hard to imagine why the difference is this large, especially since the 2019 has the benefits of the new transmission. With Cup 2's, coupe was unsurprisingly a solid 2 seconds faster around the track though.
"The tires had nothing to do with the fact that the coupe's acceleration fell behind the four-door's at speeds above 100 mph"
With only a weight difference of 110lbs, hard to imagine why the difference is this large, especially since the 2019 has the benefits of the new transmission. With Cup 2's, coupe was unsurprisingly a solid 2 seconds faster around the track though.
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The coupe has different rear gearing so it may be faster down low but suffers up top as it runs out of rpm ....just my thoughts
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Few thought:
- Gearing ( Would think that the 9 speed would enjoy more time in the higher power band rpms, however sedan would shift less and May have an equivalent "combined gearing" of the multiple gears that were used during the straight on the track i.e. Shorter in one gear but longer in the next)
- Weight ( Definitely in the sedan's favor)
- Cd (being wider coupe may have worse Cd)
- Ringer vs not? ( There is definitely modern day evidence of factory ringers in magazine tests)
- Different temps/DA, etc.on diff days ( On a long stretch on a racetrack this could have a large effect)
If a few of these were a bit in the Sedan's favor, it could add up to the difference observed.
But without knowing many more details and doing more analysis with them, can only speculate.
- Gearing ( Would think that the 9 speed would enjoy more time in the higher power band rpms, however sedan would shift less and May have an equivalent "combined gearing" of the multiple gears that were used during the straight on the track i.e. Shorter in one gear but longer in the next)
- Weight ( Definitely in the sedan's favor)
- Cd (being wider coupe may have worse Cd)
- Ringer vs not? ( There is definitely modern day evidence of factory ringers in magazine tests)
- Different temps/DA, etc.on diff days ( On a long stretch on a racetrack this could have a large effect)
If a few of these were a bit in the Sedan's favor, it could add up to the difference observed.
But without knowing many more details and doing more analysis with them, can only speculate.
Last edited by LessIsMore; Dec 1, 2019 at 10:51 PM.
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So there does seem to C&D data from their instrumented tests that also show this difference
Comparing the 2017 coupe to the 2019 sedan:
2017 coupe
Zero to 60 mph: 3.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 8.3 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 14.0 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 19.6 sec
Zero to 170 mph: 29.7 sec
2019 sedan
Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 8.1 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 13.5 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 18.7 sec
Zero to 170 mph: 27.1 sec
The increasing difference past 100 is honestly probably all weight and gearing
Comparing the 2017 coupe to the 2019 sedan:
2017 coupe
Zero to 60 mph: 3.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 8.3 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 14.0 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 19.6 sec
Zero to 170 mph: 29.7 sec
2019 sedan
Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 8.1 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 13.5 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 18.7 sec
Zero to 170 mph: 27.1 sec
The increasing difference past 100 is honestly probably all weight and gearing
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17 C63S Coupe
It would be more interesting to see same year coupe vs sedan. Otherwise the 9-speed vs 7-speed is going to make a significant difference.
The weight difference is going to become less significant relative to drag as speed increases.
The weight difference is going to become less significant relative to drag as speed increases.
Last edited by 8cd03gro; Dec 2, 2019 at 11:57 PM.
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Just did a quick search and found this:
2017 coupe weight => 3,638#-4,096#.
2019 sedan weight => 3,472#-3900#.
Right off the web.... Theoretically, there could have been as much as almost 300# difference in the sedan's favor.
2017 coupe weight => 3,638#-4,096#.
2019 sedan weight => 3,472#-3900#.
Right off the web.... Theoretically, there could have been as much as almost 300# difference in the sedan's favor.
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It could be up to 624 lb difference in the sedan's favor. That is huge.
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When you get up to triple-digit speeds, aerodynamic drag pretty much trumps all other forces that the car has to overcome. When you are at slower speeds, weight plays a much bigger factor.
Seeing as how broad the power curve is with the M177, I highly doubt gearing makes a significant difference in overall performance, and as quickly as both MCT transmissions shift I doubt the number of gears/shifts makes much of a difference either.
Seeing as the cars are fairly similar at slower speeds with a significant widening in the gap at higher speeds, this all points to a difference in aerodynamic drag. I'm willing to bet the lower speed of the coupe is a combination of a less-efficient Cd as well as a slightly larger cross-sectional area.
Seeing as how broad the power curve is with the M177, I highly doubt gearing makes a significant difference in overall performance, and as quickly as both MCT transmissions shift I doubt the number of gears/shifts makes much of a difference either.
Seeing as the cars are fairly similar at slower speeds with a significant widening in the gap at higher speeds, this all points to a difference in aerodynamic drag. I'm willing to bet the lower speed of the coupe is a combination of a less-efficient Cd as well as a slightly larger cross-sectional area.
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I doubt any W205 coupes with full tank of gas are under 4000lbs. Realistically close to 4200 with driver, and probably 3900 for the sedans or more. That's a pretty significant weight advantage for the sedans, but take solace in the fact that all W205 sedans look like a base C300 from all angles (except front) LOLOL
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I doubt any W205 coupes with full tank of gas are under 4000lbs. Realistically close to 4200 with driver, and probably 3900 for the sedans or more. That's a pretty significant weight advantage for the sedans, but take solace in the fact that all W205 sedans look like a base C300 from all angles (except front) LOLOL
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That said - rims are so so important on the C63. The cross-spokes really change the look from alternate angles
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Dude the coupe is not different either though, save for slightly wider rear fenders. No normal person is going to notice the difference lol. If impressing via looks is the goal, buy a widebody 911 (4S, GT3, any 992, etc)
That said - rims are so so important on the C63. The cross-spokes really change the look from alternate angles
That said - rims are so so important on the C63. The cross-spokes really change the look from alternate angles
The coupe is wider all around, not just the rear. Very noticeable on this side-by-side with the sedan from the front, the fenders on the coupe are quite a bit wider. Put a C63 coupe next to a C43 coupe and the differences are quite noticeable. Add the optional Aero package to the FL coupe and it sets itself further apart.
Last edited by superswiss; Dec 5, 2019 at 08:44 PM.
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Good visual comparison of both on this thread. https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-c63s-...ml#post7919917
The coupe is wider all around, not just the rear. Very noticeable on this side-by-side with the sedan from the front, the fenders on the coupe are quite a bit wider. Put a C63 coupe next to a C43 coupe and the differences are quite noticeable. Add the optional Aero package to the FL couple and it sets itself further apart.
The coupe is wider all around, not just the rear. Very noticeable on this side-by-side with the sedan from the front, the fenders on the coupe are quite a bit wider. Put a C63 coupe next to a C43 coupe and the differences are quite noticeable. Add the optional Aero package to the FL couple and it sets itself further apart.
Of course I appreciate the styling differences lol. I love them and love the coupe flares, and that is actually my biggest gripe with the sedan. But it always shocks me how little normal people can't tell or don't notice. At least not until the exhaust makes itself known
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Guys... I wrote and meant normal people and not us car guys. People not into cars just think stuff like ours is any other Mercedes. What raudiace said about angles other than the front is kind of true for all the bodystyles. Come on, you think average people are going to notice subtle fender flares?
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Guys... I wrote and meant normal people and not us car guys. People not into cars just think stuff like ours is any other Mercedes. What raudiace said about angles other than the front is kind of true for all the bodystyles. Come on, you think average people are going to notice subtle fender flares?
Of course I appreciate the styling differences lol. I love them and love the coupe flares, and that is actually my biggest gripe with the sedan. But it always shocks me how little normal people can't tell or don't notice. At least not until the exhaust makes itself known
Of course I appreciate the styling differences lol. I love them and love the coupe flares, and that is actually my biggest gripe with the sedan. But it always shocks me how little normal people can't tell or don't notice. At least not until the exhaust makes itself known
. She manages to tell badges apart, so she walks up the right brand at least , but I've been surprisingly getting a lot of complements on my car from random foks just walking by, especially females. Not sure if it's the Mercedes badge, but even if you don't notice the subtle difference the coupe has a pretty mean stance on the road.
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All good man
Same here lol.
Last edited by LessIsMore; Dec 5, 2019 at 11:18 PM.
