Too obvious but.....apparently it's all relative
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Houston Exburb-Richmond TX
2014 CLS 550 & 2004 CL55
Too obvious but.....apparently it's all relative
Since I got my car, I've been a little insulated. Last night I was in a position to drive an 05 Mustang GT, an 04 Lincoln Navigator and my CL in close proximity for significant distances. This must be how the car magazine guys get their perspective, and it's one we don't often get. I have driven these cars a lot in the past, but going back to them from my new CL55 perspective changed my view of these other cars forever. I had always thought of the Lincoln as extremely quiet, comfortable and smooth. Jumping out of the CL and into the Lincoln for a trip was like jumping into a lumber wagon. Loud, jostling,abrupt.
As for the Mustang, it has a tune, an intake, and a Ford Racing suspension with Corsa exhaust. Very capable. But it was a blunt instrument compared to the CL. And all the "power" I used to feel turned out to be a lot more noise that power. The 55 is soooo much quieter but mashes you back in the seat, which the GT can't. Brakes were woeful, handling far too darty, so that it was actually hard to go where you aimed, whereas the CL has me used to dialing in direction without a thought or any effort.
So this must be like what it is to be spoiled. And the difference between me and the magazine writers is that I get to stay that way. I'll pay whatever it takes to keep the CL running right. It's worth it. No worries.
As for the Mustang, it has a tune, an intake, and a Ford Racing suspension with Corsa exhaust. Very capable. But it was a blunt instrument compared to the CL. And all the "power" I used to feel turned out to be a lot more noise that power. The 55 is soooo much quieter but mashes you back in the seat, which the GT can't. Brakes were woeful, handling far too darty, so that it was actually hard to go where you aimed, whereas the CL has me used to dialing in direction without a thought or any effort.
So this must be like what it is to be spoiled. And the difference between me and the magazine writers is that I get to stay that way. I'll pay whatever it takes to keep the CL running right. It's worth it. No worries.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Roseville, CA
2003 CL55 AMG
Couldn't agree more. I have a Z28 and a Denali as well as a CL55. The CL55 is broken right now and I have been driving the camaro. What a diffrence. 350 hp now feels like a honda civic compared to the 500 from the CL. I will say though the Denali still has it's place but I think I will sell the camaro after I get my CL fixed.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Del Mar, CA
2003 CL600 2005 745Li
A good friend of mine has an 2003 E55, its such a nice car and a real beast with power to spare. He drove my CL600 and could not get over how nice the CL was, all he kept saying over and over was how solid and quite it was and how it pulled like a crazy freight train.
This was even before my SPEEDRIVEN ECU / TCU tune, now its a whole 'nother world, gotta love the V12T
CL's are amazing cars, I love the below quote !!!
This was even before my SPEEDRIVEN ECU / TCU tune, now its a whole 'nother world, gotta love the V12T
CL's are amazing cars, I love the below quote !!!
Having owned a W210 E55 AMG and a CL600 TT, get the CL. Short of fighter jets, even airplanes are jealous of the power. It will spoil you for life for any other car. Although the CL is generally not built as well or engineered as reliably as the W210, I have actually spent less money and perhaps equal time working on my CL compared to my W210. While I loved the hand built E55, the CL is simply in another league in terms of power and luxury. The E55 was driven by bankers with kids while the CL600 was driven by the guy who owned the bank and had a nanny to drive the kids.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Del Mar, CA
2003 CL600 2005 745Li
The CL55 is really a great car, and if one wants more power there is more to be had with mods, the E55 guys really know how to do this.
The CL600 / CL65 is just another world in smooth power delivery and if you want crazy big HP / TQ then talk to SPEEDRIVEN they can set you up with well over 1000.
If you go with a CL600 go for the AMG package it looks so much better than a stock CL just as your CL55 AMG does.
I love your CL55's color by the way !!
Gotta love the W215 CL
.
The CL600 / CL65 is just another world in smooth power delivery and if you want crazy big HP / TQ then talk to SPEEDRIVEN they can set you up with well over 1000.
If you go with a CL600 go for the AMG package it looks so much better than a stock CL just as your CL55 AMG does.
I love your CL55's color by the way !!
Gotta love the W215 CL
.
Last edited by 1995E320Cab; Dec 13, 2011 at 02:56 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Houston Exburb-Richmond TX
2014 CLS 550 & 2004 CL55
That's good advice. I have looked at the difference, and the AMG add-on's make a lot of difference, both aesthetically and performance-wise.
Just watching while prices drop.
Just watching while prices drop.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Del Mar, CA
2003 CL600 2005 745Li
My dream W215 CL would be
- CL600
- AMG Pakage
- Designo Cashmere Edition
Maybe someday I will make some changes to my interior to dress it up a bit then I would almost be there.
.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
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From: Houston Exburb-Richmond TX
2014 CLS 550 & 2004 CL55
Yes, I kind of am, but it's really not about lazy or cranky, it's about precision. Like I said, blunt instrument vs damn near reading your mind.
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From: Los Angeles
04 CL55 (sold), 2012 CLS550 (sold), 2014 S550 (sold), 2015 ES300H (DAILY)
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 939
Likes: 5
From: Del Mar, CA
2003 CL600 2005 745Li
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Houston Exburb-Richmond TX
2014 CLS 550 & 2004 CL55
CL 55 AMG
2001 303
2002 607
2003 1379
2004 611
2005 486
2006 182
CL 63 AMG
2007 1201
2008 1476
CL 65 AMG
2005 142
2006 52
2007 289
2008 327
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Houston Exburb-Richmond TX
2014 CLS 550 & 2004 CL55
Wiki gives the gross numbers for all CL's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_Benz_CL
Sales
Calendar year US sales
2001 3,748[7]
2002 3,938
2003 3,377[8]
2004 2,683
2005 1,320[9]
2006 1,312
2007 3,672[10]
2008 2,733
2009 1,220[11]
2010 1,035
Sales
Calendar year US sales
2001 3,748[7]
2002 3,938
2003 3,377[8]
2004 2,683
2005 1,320[9]
2006 1,312
2007 3,672[10]
2008 2,733
2009 1,220[11]
2010 1,035
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 386
Likes: 12
Cl65 AMG
I made a drastic change, cam out of this car which had later big flairs, and a hand built power steering system. This was 1/2 way into the build. Now my 65 is a huge difference !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Porsche had about the same acceleration but did it in a far different way for sure !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6pyc...eature=related
The Porsche had about the same acceleration but did it in a far different way for sure ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6pyc...eature=related
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 5
From: Los Angeles
04 CL55 (sold), 2012 CLS550 (sold), 2014 S550 (sold), 2015 ES300H (DAILY)
http://www.topgearage.com/?p=260
CL 55 AMG
2001 303
2002 607
2003 1379
2004 611
2005 486
2006 182
CL 63 AMG
2007 1201
2008 1476
CL 65 AMG
2005 142
2006 52
2007 289
2008 327
CL 55 AMG
2001 303
2002 607
2003 1379
2004 611
2005 486
2006 182
CL 63 AMG
2007 1201
2008 1476
CL 65 AMG
2005 142
2006 52
2007 289
2008 327
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA
CL55, SL500, E350
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 386
Likes: 12
Cl65 AMG
http://www.ridetech.com/store/images...2f13c1c84a.jpg
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
2005 CL65 (current), 2001 CL600 (chopped)
Air suspension is smooth but not sporty. Think S-Class or Range Rover. Not CL. ABC is meant to be best of both worlds, as hard as it is to make 4500 lbs feel "sporty" but it's certainly much less boaty than a Bentley Continental. I'm just waiting for the Bose Suspension to be released.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 386
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Cl65 AMG
Air suspension is smooth but not sporty. Think S-Class or Range Rover. Not CL. ABC is meant to be best of both worlds, as hard as it is to make 4500 lbs feel "sporty" but it's certainly much less boaty than a Bentley Continental. I'm just waiting for the Bose Suspension to be released.
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 141
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2005 CL65 (current), 2001 CL600 (chopped)
There is a reason why the S AMGs have ABC instead of air. Air at normal temps is a gas which makes it compressible, which makes it mushy. Hydraulic fluid is more or less incompressible. By very basic physics, a suspension system based on hydraulics will be more reactive than air. If you think you can achieve otherwise, then I wish you the best of luck.
I had an old Mitsubishi Eclipse that only weighed ~3000 lbs, and despite the active suspension on the CL I don't think it will ever feel as light and sporty as the Eclipse in the corners. Maybe if they went to heavy duty conventional springs and struts performance can just scale up. But then again the CL is meant to be a GT car, not a racer. Personally I wouldn't have it any other way (except maybe for a Bose suspension retrofit, of course).
I had an old Mitsubishi Eclipse that only weighed ~3000 lbs, and despite the active suspension on the CL I don't think it will ever feel as light and sporty as the Eclipse in the corners. Maybe if they went to heavy duty conventional springs and struts performance can just scale up. But then again the CL is meant to be a GT car, not a racer. Personally I wouldn't have it any other way (except maybe for a Bose suspension retrofit, of course).
