SL vs. The Vette
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
SL65 should eat just about any stock vette. SL55 vs new C6 Z06 would be interesting though. SL55 will need some minor mods to keep up. SL65 should beat the C6 Z06 by just a couple car lengths.
I'm just talking to myself. I don't even own a SL!
I'm just talking to myself. I don't even own a SL!
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SL55, ML500, GT3 RS, 997C2S
I spanked a Vette last week, not a C6 Z06. I had just got on the highway and I saw him 5 cars ahead of me. The air temp was perfect for top down cruising and the AC was off. As I approached him I was crusing at 80, him about 78. I had dropped into 3rd "just in case" and passed him in the travel lane. I was about ten car lengths ahead of him when he slowly speeds up. He wants to play. I am waiting for him to pull up for a clean start, but at 5 car lengths behind he pulls a snake move and hammers it. I was already in third and I hit the loud pedal too. His early start brought him to about 3 car lengths behind me where his progress was halted. As the SL55 climbed third gear I started to pull away faster and faster. By fourth gear it was a done deal as I was running away from him. I settled back down to my cruising speed and continued on my way. Later traffic thickened up and he pulled along side and I gave him a thumbs up as a sign of good sportsmanship (a thumb he did not deserve). About ten miles later he pulls the same BS snake move on me. This time I ignored him as I had already spanked him beyond fair. Prob gonna tell his buddies he blew an SL55 away, and not the truth that he only blew an SL55 that was ignoring him.
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From: Santa Clarita/Northridge CA
E350
A Stock C5 vette is on par with an M3 in straightline performance, a Stock C6 is barely faster. a 12.7 probably will be the best you will see. a C5 Z06 can run a 12.5 average witht he best time bieng an 11.99. A C6 Z06 will probably run an average of 12.0 with a great driver netting a 11.6.
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From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
I spanked a regular C6 the other day. I was at a red light in the E55 and all of a suddent I see some HID's coming up behind me. He pulls next to me and starts revving his engine thinking he is going to win this one. Well he got his *** handed to him and he didnt even bother to give a friendly thumbs up or anything.
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some
Originally Posted by DBERRY7578
So what about the numbers that we see in the Magazines? Are these numbers exagerated or are they only accomplished by professional drivers? 
yeah the ppl that run the cars in teh mags are very very good drivers.
Mark
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From: Santa Clarita/Northridge CA
E350
Originally Posted by DBERRY7578
So what about the numbers that we see in the Magazines? Are these numbers exagerated or are they only accomplished by professional drivers?
They are far from professionals. Also most of the time they dont even take the cars to an actual drag strip, they use a GTech controller. That is why with magazines you see huge time gaps, between them. C&D Clocked the 03 cobra at a 13.2, hot rod a 12.9, and Motor trend a 12.5
Never trust the first mag test, wait till they get a real production car and run it. That will give you a good time to base it off.Edit:
With that said, there are some magazines, usually those devouted to a particular brand, such as fast ford and muscle mustangs, that have really good drivers. Their guy clocked a 13.1 in a Mach 1 mustang, and a 13.15 in a LS1 GTO!
Last edited by FThornton666; Oct 2, 2005 at 05:44 PM.
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G500
Originally Posted by DancingBenzos
With that said, there are some magazines, usually those devouted to a particular brand, such as fast ford and muscle mustangs, that have really good drivers. Their guy clocked a 13.1 in a Mach 1 mustang, and a 13.15 in a LS1 GTO!
Exactly! I would never trust R&T or C&D times. Usually, the brand-specific enthusiast magazines have the best drivers. Evan Smith of MM&FF has skills!
The thing about C6's is I'm sure they'll dip into 11's with very little money. I remember seeing LS1's go high-11's with cam, lid, tune, convertor, and slicks (figure $1,500 or so). So I'd watch out in a couple of months when the aftermarket companies start piling up parts for the LS2...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: West Palm, Fl
SL65/BENTLEY GT
Good to find out about the mags and the vettes. Maybe thats the reason that most of them just looked and kept cruising when I cruised passed them. The mags really had me thinking that they had a slight edge in speed on us.
By the way great kill with the E55. I got a chance to take a ride in one yesterday. My sister in law bought the CLS55, and the Salesman said that the CLS500 wouldn't be a good comparison. Moved like the SL55, and although I love my 65, the engine note of the V8 is music to my ears. So if any of the CLS55, E55, SL55 drive by, do a little REvv for me.
By the way great kill with the E55. I got a chance to take a ride in one yesterday. My sister in law bought the CLS55, and the Salesman said that the CLS500 wouldn't be a good comparison. Moved like the SL55, and although I love my 65, the engine note of the V8 is music to my ears. So if any of the CLS55, E55, SL55 drive by, do a little REvv for me.
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From: Silicon Valley, CA
'93 RX-7, SLK55
Originally Posted by DancingBenzos
They are far from professionals. Also most of the time they dont even take the cars to an actual drag strip, they use a GTech controller. That is why with magazines you see huge time gaps, between them. C&D Clocked the 03 cobra at a 13.2, hot rod a 12.9, and Motor trend a 12.5 Never trust the first mag test, wait till they get a real production car and run it. That will give you a good time to base it off.
Edit:
With that said, there are some magazines, usually those devouted to a particular brand, such as fast ford and muscle mustangs, that have really good drivers. Their guy clocked a 13.1 in a Mach 1 mustang, and a 13.15 in a LS1 GTO!
Never trust the first mag test, wait till they get a real production car and run it. That will give you a good time to base it off.Edit:
With that said, there are some magazines, usually those devouted to a particular brand, such as fast ford and muscle mustangs, that have really good drivers. Their guy clocked a 13.1 in a Mach 1 mustang, and a 13.15 in a LS1 GTO!
1) The reason for variablity between etsblished mags is simple. Weather,
surface conditions, & some cars are "ringers" (and some of the car
providers know it - which is why they offer the "ringer" up for testing).
2) Motor Trend, C&D, and R&T are established mags & have staffs that
have won friggin' LeMans testing these cars (Paul Frere, 1960). Yes,
there are some testers that have not won Magney Cours, but they
know how to wring the pi$$ out of these cars (not only in a straight
line).
3) The testers make repeated runs & take an average of these runs to
help eliminate variability AND to assure they find the optimal launching
method (for each particular car) to ensure consistent times are obtained.
4) Car mag times are, in most cases, slower than what you can obtain
because they carry approx 200 lbs in excess test equipment weight
(this is the "as tested weight" listed below the curb weight).
5) Last point - I've been reading these mags for over 24 yrs & have
never heard anything like this "G-Tech" assumption. Geezuz.
See ya,
-Matt
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 352
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From: SFV, CA
06 SLK55
Originally Posted by Yellow R1
You ARE kidding, right?
1) The reason for variablity between etsblished mags is simple. Weather,
surface conditions, & some cars are "ringers" (and some of the car
providers know it - which is why they offer the "ringer" up for testing).
2) Motor Trend, C&D, and R&T are established mags & have staffs that
have won friggin' LeMans testing these cars (Paul Frere, 1960). Yes,
there are some testers that have not won Magney Cours, but they
know how to wring the pi$$ out of these cars (not only in a straight
line).
3) The testers make repeated runs & take an average of these runs to
help eliminate variability AND to assure they find the optimal launching
method (for each particular car) to ensure consistent times are obtained.
4) Car mag times are, in most cases, slower than what you can obtain
because they carry approx 200 lbs in excess test equipment weight
(this is the "as tested weight" listed below the curb weight).
5) Last point - I've been reading these mags for over 24 yrs & have
never heard anything like this "G-Tech" assumption. Geezuz.
See ya,
-Matt
1) The reason for variablity between etsblished mags is simple. Weather,
surface conditions, & some cars are "ringers" (and some of the car
providers know it - which is why they offer the "ringer" up for testing).
2) Motor Trend, C&D, and R&T are established mags & have staffs that
have won friggin' LeMans testing these cars (Paul Frere, 1960). Yes,
there are some testers that have not won Magney Cours, but they
know how to wring the pi$$ out of these cars (not only in a straight
line).
3) The testers make repeated runs & take an average of these runs to
help eliminate variability AND to assure they find the optimal launching
method (for each particular car) to ensure consistent times are obtained.
4) Car mag times are, in most cases, slower than what you can obtain
because they carry approx 200 lbs in excess test equipment weight
(this is the "as tested weight" listed below the curb weight).
5) Last point - I've been reading these mags for over 24 yrs & have
never heard anything like this "G-Tech" assumption. Geezuz.
See ya,
-Matt
What you said! Gtech 
Are you smoking something?! Most of the mags use a gps based system(i think R&T,C&D and Automobile use the Racelogic VBOX) which are extremely accurate.
Thread Starter
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From: West Palm, Fl
SL65/BENTLEY GT
For instance. The new motor trend has the Z06 clocked at 11.5 in the quarter, automobile mag has it at 12.0. Motor trend has 0-60 at 3.5 and automobile mag has it at 4.1. I am new to the world of super cars, but not to track times. I have coached track for about 13 years, and .6 of a second in a sprint is enough to separate the studs from the duds. Would this have something to do with track conditions/weather, or beefed up testers?
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Posts: 2,992
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From: Santa Clarita/Northridge CA
E350
Originally Posted by Yellow R1
You ARE kidding, right?
1) The reason for variablity between etsblished mags is simple. Weather,
surface conditions, & some cars are "ringers" (and some of the car
providers know it - which is why they offer the "ringer" up for testing).
2) Motor Trend, C&D, and R&T are established mags & have staffs that
have won friggin' LeMans testing these cars (Paul Frere, 1960). Yes,
there are some testers that have not won Magney Cours, but they
know how to wring the pi$$ out of these cars (not only in a straight
line).
3) The testers make repeated runs & take an average of these runs to
help eliminate variability AND to assure they find the optimal launching
method (for each particular car) to ensure consistent times are obtained.
4) Car mag times are, in most cases, slower than what you can obtain
because they carry approx 200 lbs in excess test equipment weight
(this is the "as tested weight" listed below the curb weight).
5) Last point - I've been reading these mags for over 24 yrs & have
never heard anything like this "G-Tech" assumption. Geezuz.
See ya,
-Matt
1) The reason for variablity between etsblished mags is simple. Weather,
surface conditions, & some cars are "ringers" (and some of the car
providers know it - which is why they offer the "ringer" up for testing).
2) Motor Trend, C&D, and R&T are established mags & have staffs that
have won friggin' LeMans testing these cars (Paul Frere, 1960). Yes,
there are some testers that have not won Magney Cours, but they
know how to wring the pi$$ out of these cars (not only in a straight
line).
3) The testers make repeated runs & take an average of these runs to
help eliminate variability AND to assure they find the optimal launching
method (for each particular car) to ensure consistent times are obtained.
4) Car mag times are, in most cases, slower than what you can obtain
because they carry approx 200 lbs in excess test equipment weight
(this is the "as tested weight" listed below the curb weight).
5) Last point - I've been reading these mags for over 24 yrs & have
never heard anything like this "G-Tech" assumption. Geezuz.
See ya,
-Matt
Also GTECH had an in one of the major mags saying it was car tested and approved.
I mentioned some mags have good drivers, such as the guy for MM&FF, who clicked off a 13.1 in a Mach 1, while other mags could only best a 13.8, i believe MT got the 13.8, and CD got a 14.1
Lets also not forget when the Pontiac GTO came out, the 5.7 Liter MT got a 13.8 as its best time, while the same guy for MM&FF got a 13.15 if i remember correctly fromt he shoot out.I will give them on the benefit that they are driving these cars for the first time though.
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From: Connecticut
2003 CLK55
I guess the point I care about is that every car mag always gets a better time than the manufacturers. Is it that Mercedes is very conservative when posting 0-60 times. For example, the CLS55 is stated to go 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, but Car and Driver tested it at 4.3 seconds. OK, not a big difference, but the difference between the other models is prety significant. Like the 2004 CLK55 in Car and Driver. They got a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds. Thats crazy!
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 770
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From: Silicon Valley, CA
'93 RX-7, SLK55
Originally Posted by DancingBenzos
Ok if they are such pro drivers, then how certain magazines with get such slower times than other. Mainly C&D which is usually .5 seconds slower than everyone else. You mention weather, but when factoring in 1/4 times weather is factored in.
Also GTECH had an in one of the major mags saying it was car tested and approved.
I mentioned some mags have good drivers, such as the guy for MM&FF, who clicked off a 13.1 in a Mach 1, while other mags could only best a 13.8, i believe MT got the 13.8, and CD got a 14.1 Lets also not forget when the Pontiac GTO came out, the 5.7 Liter MT got a 13.8 as its best time, while the same guy for MM&FF got a 13.15 if i remember correctly fromt he shoot out.
I will give them on the benefit that they are driving these cars for the first time though.
Also GTECH had an in one of the major mags saying it was car tested and approved.
I mentioned some mags have good drivers, such as the guy for MM&FF, who clicked off a 13.1 in a Mach 1, while other mags could only best a 13.8, i believe MT got the 13.8, and CD got a 14.1
Lets also not forget when the Pontiac GTO came out, the 5.7 Liter MT got a 13.8 as its best time, while the same guy for MM&FF got a 13.15 if i remember correctly fromt he shoot out.I will give them on the benefit that they are driving these cars for the first time though.
Now to address your different performance numbers. As I posted, there are other contributing variables that affect acceleration. Addtionally, while a lower time can be obtained, the mags mentioned post REPEATABLE acceleration times,.... not 1 guy's fastest run at sea level, on a perfect 60 degree day with high humidity, driving a "ringer", & having just got done doing a "burnout" to warm the tires for maximum adhesion (like your Fast Fords mags, etc).
Is it possible to extract faster times than the mags? Yes, of course.
Is it possible for your average Joe to run 11.9x trapping 117 mph in a 405 Hp Z06 like "Fast Fords"? Nope.
So, in summary, take multiple data points. The car mags can be used as a "guideline" to demonstrate repeatable acceleration & braking times by the "average Joe". I'm betting you & others can run the pi$$ out of a car & get a faster acceleration time, especially in optimal conditions. This does not mean Paul Frere can't drive. He can likely whip my tail, blindfolded, around Laguna Seca (and I know that track!).
I hope this helps explain some of the delta in times you mention?
-Matt
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 297
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From: West Palm, Fl
SL65/BENTLEY GT
I guess tha the mags are good for a preliminary evaluations. The other thing that I have noticed is that some cars perform better under different circumstances. One mag, I believe car and driver stated that the SL65 ran hot under their test conditions, but in the real world they didn't think that it would ever have the same problem.
stated that the SL65 ran hot under their test conditions, but in the real world they didn't think that it would ever have the same problem.
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From: Santa Clarita/Northridge CA
E350
Originally Posted by Yellow R1
Fred, they ARE pro drivers (not "if they are such pro drivers"). They do this for a living, every day, on just about every performance car produced. Many of them have been racing competitively on circuits around the globe since before you & I were born (not just in just a straight line either). Again, case & point, Paul Frere, Brock Yates, etc.
Now to address your different performance numbers. As I posted, there are other contributing variables that affect acceleration. Addtionally, while a lower time can be obtained, the mags mentioned post REPEATABLE acceleration times,.... not 1 guy's fastest run at sea level, on a perfect 60 degree day with high humidity, driving a "ringer", & having just got done doing a "burnout" to warm the tires for maximum adhesion (like your Fast Fords mags, etc).
Is it possible to extract faster times than the mags? Yes, of course.
Is it possible for your average Joe to run 11.9x trapping 117 mph in a 405 Hp Z06 like "Fast Fords"? Nope.
So, in summary, take multiple data points. The car mags can be used as a "guideline" to demonstrate repeatable acceleration & braking times by the "average Joe". I'm betting you & others can run the pi$$ out of a car & get a faster acceleration time, especially in optimal conditions. This does not mean Paul Frere can't drive. He can likely whip my tail, blindfolded, around Laguna Seca (and I know that track!).
I hope this helps explain some of the delta in times you mention?
-Matt
Now to address your different performance numbers. As I posted, there are other contributing variables that affect acceleration. Addtionally, while a lower time can be obtained, the mags mentioned post REPEATABLE acceleration times,.... not 1 guy's fastest run at sea level, on a perfect 60 degree day with high humidity, driving a "ringer", & having just got done doing a "burnout" to warm the tires for maximum adhesion (like your Fast Fords mags, etc).
Is it possible to extract faster times than the mags? Yes, of course.
Is it possible for your average Joe to run 11.9x trapping 117 mph in a 405 Hp Z06 like "Fast Fords"? Nope.
So, in summary, take multiple data points. The car mags can be used as a "guideline" to demonstrate repeatable acceleration & braking times by the "average Joe". I'm betting you & others can run the pi$$ out of a car & get a faster acceleration time, especially in optimal conditions. This does not mean Paul Frere can't drive. He can likely whip my tail, blindfolded, around Laguna Seca (and I know that track!).
I hope this helps explain some of the delta in times you mention?
-Matt
the 11.9 in the Z06 was done by a Z06Vette member just an FYI. I will not agree that all the magazine drivers are good. Yes there are some very good ones, such as the ex-race drivers. Ive just seen way to many ****ty times in magazines, to even look at them as a source anymore. If you wanna know what a car does i recommend just going to that enthuisiast forum, and checking their times, since those are gonna be the people your gonna encounter in the first place. I doubt you will see brock yates lined up next to you in his 69 SS camaro and you in your E55 with Kleemann, or what ever car you have.
