E550 Coupe handling
11-01-2011, 06:16 PM
#26
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F458
I care about looks too! hence no C63 coupe! E coupe's ride is not smooth from my experience with my test drive with E250c (maybe they put the wrong tires on) and I have the same feeling as togaclk55 that the E coupe is floating (at least in C mode). I am afraid that E550c with the bigger engine, will be worse!
11-02-2011, 10:20 AM
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Audi and Mercedes Benz
E 550 Coupe handeling
11-07-2011, 12:36 PM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
from 40k miles of driving my E550 coupe, i'll tell you my thoughts on its handling.
also, I had an M3, so ... i consider myself qualified to speak to this.
let's take this in two parts. first, the suspension and overall ride. in regular mode, the car is not able to take turns quickly and is actually fairly muted over most surfaces. it has a really nice feel to it - like you are completely safe from all bumps, bruises, pot holes, and speed bumps. it's in this mode that you can really cruise and never get tired of driving the car. in sport mode, the suspension and throttle response allow you to get very aggressive and keep up with almost any car on the road. save the M3 and etc. the suspension is not tight enough to stick in 90 degree turns - back end always comes out or power slides work too/drifts. it's fun. really fun. if you can get the hang of it!
second, the steering. completely numb. you have no road feel whatsoever. it's so much different than the M3 in this regard, and reminds you that you're not driving a sports car so much as a muscle car for straight line speed. that being said, it's a learning curve to use other senses to handle the vehicle properly. if you're a good enough driver, you can learn how to interpret and handle the car with traction control off in such a way that will leave a huge smile on your face... every time.
now, a couple anecdotes. my buddy has an Aston Vanquish and we took a non-banked 90 degree turn (on ramp to the hwy) ... i kept up with him, but i had to get the back end loose to do it. i think we were going 40 around the curve and hit 90 within seconds. he didn't lose any traction and blitzed right through it. this is essentially the difference.
another story - when i had my M3, i felt in complete command at all times around any and every curve. there's a bridge here in Atlanta on spaghetti junction (that's what they call it) that has a pretty long and sweeping curve from 285E to 85N. in my M3 i could take the curve at 90+. in my E550, i can't go above 75 and feel safe.
i think it depends what you want, right. a race car or a car with a dual personality and numb steering. the benz just has so much to offer in terms of amenities inside the car, etc. and i get tons of compliments - the car is gorgeous.
Personally, I really enjoy my E550 better than my M3. The main reason is the M3 doesn't have anything but a race car mentality. And it's fan boy image disgusts me a bit. Not that it matters what people think about you, but if you get the M3, don't drive like an a&^.
also, I had an M3, so ... i consider myself qualified to speak to this.
let's take this in two parts. first, the suspension and overall ride. in regular mode, the car is not able to take turns quickly and is actually fairly muted over most surfaces. it has a really nice feel to it - like you are completely safe from all bumps, bruises, pot holes, and speed bumps. it's in this mode that you can really cruise and never get tired of driving the car. in sport mode, the suspension and throttle response allow you to get very aggressive and keep up with almost any car on the road. save the M3 and etc. the suspension is not tight enough to stick in 90 degree turns - back end always comes out or power slides work too/drifts. it's fun. really fun. if you can get the hang of it!
second, the steering. completely numb. you have no road feel whatsoever. it's so much different than the M3 in this regard, and reminds you that you're not driving a sports car so much as a muscle car for straight line speed. that being said, it's a learning curve to use other senses to handle the vehicle properly. if you're a good enough driver, you can learn how to interpret and handle the car with traction control off in such a way that will leave a huge smile on your face... every time.
now, a couple anecdotes. my buddy has an Aston Vanquish and we took a non-banked 90 degree turn (on ramp to the hwy) ... i kept up with him, but i had to get the back end loose to do it. i think we were going 40 around the curve and hit 90 within seconds. he didn't lose any traction and blitzed right through it. this is essentially the difference.
another story - when i had my M3, i felt in complete command at all times around any and every curve. there's a bridge here in Atlanta on spaghetti junction (that's what they call it) that has a pretty long and sweeping curve from 285E to 85N. in my M3 i could take the curve at 90+. in my E550, i can't go above 75 and feel safe.
i think it depends what you want, right. a race car or a car with a dual personality and numb steering. the benz just has so much to offer in terms of amenities inside the car, etc. and i get tons of compliments - the car is gorgeous.
Personally, I really enjoy my E550 better than my M3. The main reason is the M3 doesn't have anything but a race car mentality. And it's fan boy image disgusts me a bit. Not that it matters what people think about you, but if you get the M3, don't drive like an a&^.
11-07-2011, 01:05 PM
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F458
Thank you ! I think you are the most impartial writer in here and your view is spot on!
Just want to make sure that we are talking about the current series M3 E92 here?
Just want to make sure that we are talking about the current series M3 E92 here?
Last edited by angusw; 11-07-2011 at 01:25 PM. Reason: wrong spelling
11-07-2011, 03:10 PM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
also, this is off topic, but you can actually fit six foot tall adults in the back of my benz, whereas in the M3 i think you have to be <5'8". heh. plenty of leg room back there.
11-07-2011, 03:11 PM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
11-07-2011, 05:44 PM
#40
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cmc-
If the E550C had limited slip, IYHO do you believe that would improve cornering? I believe the Vanquish and M3 have LS.
Of course, this does nothing for the numb steering.
Which tires are on your coupe?
Thanks
If the E550C had limited slip, IYHO do you believe that would improve cornering? I believe the Vanquish and M3 have LS.
Of course, this does nothing for the numb steering.
Which tires are on your coupe?
Thanks
11-08-2011, 10:57 AM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
yes, LS would help but i think the main issues are probably center of gravity and raw power; pirelli p zero a/s (i tried the z rated but they were bald in 6k miles)
11-08-2011, 01:06 PM
#43
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Had the same problem with tires on the SLK55, but rears always went first because no limited slip. I'd guess the same for the 550. I'll probably change tires & wheels to help handling.
11-09-2011, 12:17 PM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
i think if you want better handling, you may want to consider the C63AMG coupe or a BMW. not sure the wheels and tires will satisfy you.. u know?
11-09-2011, 01:29 PM
#45
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We'll see! Our vehicle is due Dec or Jan. My wife will drive it more than me and she's the one that wants power, good brakes, and good handling, but I don't believe handling needs to be C63 or M3.
Last edited by Dueclaws; 11-09-2011 at 05:56 PM.
11-10-2011, 10:26 AM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
In that case, I think you'll both be happy. I'll tell you a quick story. My mom is a great driver and lives in the same town as me. She's used to driving BMW's because she likes their handling and brakes, although her version of "power" is much different than mine so that's not very important to her. We swapped cars for a weekend when I needed to use her X5 to go to the mountains. When I got back, she couldn't stop saying she wished she had bought the E550 coupe instead of her X5. She loved the way it handled - in her words, "it's very light and easy to steer, goes where you point it, and has so much power". She even liked the brakes, although the pedal isn't as responsive as the BMW's. I don't think she ever put it in "sport" mode except once when I carefully instructed her over the phone.
11-10-2011, 11:00 AM
#47
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In that case, I think you'll both be happy. I'll tell you a quick story. My mom is a great driver and lives in the same town as me. She's used to driving BMW's because she likes their handling and brakes, although her version of "power" is much different than mine so that's not very important to her. We swapped cars for a weekend when I needed to use her X5 to go to the mountains. When I got back, she couldn't stop saying she wished she had bought the E550 coupe instead of her X5. She loved the way it handled - in her words, "it's very light and easy to steer, goes where you point it, and has so much power". She even liked the brakes, although the pedal isn't as responsive as the BMW's. I don't think she ever put it in "sport" mode except once when I carefully instructed her over the phone.
My wife is a little different: her last car was the SLK55 and we had a Z06 prior to that; she used both vehicles power and brakes often. She also appreciates the the looks of the E550C and I'm hoping that handling for her will be OK.
She is my co-driver when we're out in the 40'Jag cat (1,800 HP) and she never complains about the full throttle runs.
We've always had fast boats and cars.
Sorry for getting a little off topic.
11-10-2011, 11:36 AM
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E550C. Sold: '98 vette, '04 M3, '01 M5, '05 TL, BMW330 Cabrio (x2), BMW323 Coupe, '07 Benz C230
Thanks!
My wife is a little different: her last car was the SLK55 and we had a Z06 prior to that; she used both vehicles power and brakes often. She also appreciates the the looks of the E550C and I'm hoping that handling for her will be OK.
She is my co-driver when we're out in the 40'Jag cat (1,800 HP) and she never complains about the full throttle runs. We've always had fast boats and cars. Sorry for getting a little off topic.
My wife is a little different: her last car was the SLK55 and we had a Z06 prior to that; she used both vehicles power and brakes often. She also appreciates the the looks of the E550C and I'm hoping that handling for her will be OK.
She is my co-driver when we're out in the 40'Jag cat (1,800 HP) and she never complains about the full throttle runs.
We've always had fast boats and cars. Sorry for getting a little off topic.
