FEGELEIN

I have always kept every 550 Benz I've owned (08' CLK 550 and 10' E5504) in S at all times. My 08' being as light as it was and RWD was a tire smoker and I needed to feather the throttle from a stop to avoid wheel spin. Don't forget max torque of around 400lbs was achieved at 2,000rpm! My E was easier, becasue it was AWD and heavier. However, I find the new TT engine in the CLS wonderfully brutal, especially in 4matic, that I am changing from S to E. I was in E all day today and really liked it. I think the fact that it is AWD, gives it so much extra grip off the line, that you can mistakenly lose your head in the back seat!

petee1997

Actually I think the RWD is faster 0 to 60 because it is lighter.

FEGELEIN

Yes you are correct, but if you were to race off the line, a RWD w/ the hammer down will smoke but the awd will grip and rip! I actually went back to S today, I think I just need to learn the car. I have maybe 120 miles on it! haha

Dabigkaluna

I change back and forth between the two normally S on the back roads and where there's lots of stoplights. I like the punch it has. If there's traffic, I keep it in E.
Yesterday though on two occasions under part throttle I chirped the rear tires. One was a genuine break loose.
I love this thing more and more.

LETO

This is the first benz that I have driven in the E setting. In traffic or when driving sensitive passengers around, E is more comfortable.

"E" does not turn the car into a complete dud or better yet "S" changes the car into a more agressive animal. Cannot quite pinpoint which setting has changed more drastically from the past.

FEGELEIN

Nothing like chirping in a stock sedan!

FEGELEIN

I will probably do the same. I haven't had it in city traffic yet (been on vacation), but will definitely go E when I do.

vdubpower

ive never noticed an ounce of difference in our 2010 s550 between the 2 modes

Dabigkaluna

It doesn't have this animal under the hood though. It's a very different map than I've experienced in any other car with a "sport" setting.

And it does feel nice to chirp the tires bone stock, and not have to TRY.

FEGELEIN

Well said and I also did feel the difference in my 10' E550 between the modes. Right off the bat, you start off in 1st rater than 2nd, so that is a major change in itself off the line. Then the more aggressive shift pattern thru the grears made a difference as well.

LETO

Agree. I did not feel the difference in our pre turbo 550 models at all.

FEGELEIN

What do you guys mean by "feel" a difference? I owned a 10' E5504 for 3 years and an 08' CLK 550 before that. It's not a power difference like an "M" button in a BMW, it's simply the gear selection difference that makes the car sportier.

vdubpower

Define sportier.

Like we said. We felt no difference in its sportiness or performance

LETO

There is a a significant difference in throttle response

vdubpower

Thought u just said u didn't notice a difference

LETO

I did not on the naturally aspirated motors in the S & previous CLS. I do notice a change in throttle response in the TT motor in the current CLS

vdubpower

ok i agree, i have not either on my 2010

FEGELEIN

I would say "sportier" to me in this transmission case, is the way the shift pattern is changed. When in S, you start off in 1st instead of 2nd, right off the bat, you get quicker acceleration off the line, becasue of the lower gear. Downshifts happen more frequently to keep up the RPMs and up shifts less. All this, equates to a "sportier" more aggresive feeling auto!

vdubpower

ok, i agree for the 2012, it might feel that way but leto and i were saying with the old engine, the difference is not noticable. .... to us

FEGELEIN

I hear ya and there is no wrong or right here. It's just what each individual feels and gets out of a car.

hyperion667

I like my car too.......when I'm not in AMG mode......it's in park

FEGELEIN

Your sunglass comment in your sig is a riot! Where do "y'all" where them in the Carolinas when not covering your eyes? It's actually lame to hang them off your shirt in NYC, so it's either atop of the head or facing backwards on your neck!