560sl vs. 1985 Porsche Targa or Carrera
#1
ON PROBATION
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Monterey
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560sl and 1997 s500
560sl vs. 1985 Porsche Targa or Carrera
So I was driving back home from waterpolo practice when this Porsche Carrera blasts past me. I catch up to him at a stoplight by Carmel Valley. I get to his right and look at him. He was a middle aged man with that looked like he wanted a race. I dropped from 4th to 1st gear and took off as the light changed from red to green. Surprisingly I kept up quite well, losing by about a half a car length by 90 mph. I believe he was trying because I could hear his car screaming as we switched gears. Idk if he was trying for sure but it was pretty cool.
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Coast, USA
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2 SL with every Brabus mods available & Class A competition sound system
nice run........ I use to hate the R107 body sl......... but now I like them as I got older.......... Any pictures of your 560 SL.........??
#7
Super Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 E-55-95-F355S- 99 Porsche 911 C2 w mods
Trending Topics
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
I wouldn't categorize a pristine classic Mercedes as a turd, in any context of the word. Back in the 80s, it was considered a very quick automobile, with a power-to-weight ratio comparable to the Ferrari 308. It actually clocks 60 in the low 7 second range. Of course sluggish compared to today's sports cars, yet still capable of outrunning the average car on the road with ease. However, one would not purchase this car for speed alone. It is more of a classy, lasting vehicle.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 E-55-95-F355S- 99 Porsche 911 C2 w mods
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Going off topic, any luck with that SL74?
#11
So I was driving back home from waterpolo practice when this Porsche Carrera blasts past me. I catch up to him at a stoplight by Carmel Valley. I get to his right and look at him. He was a middle aged man with that looked like he wanted a race. I dropped from 4th to 1st gear and took off as the light changed from red to green. Surprisingly I kept up quite well, losing by about a half a car length by 90 mph. I believe he was trying because I could hear his car screaming as we switched gears. Idk if he was trying for sure but it was pretty cool.
http://www.einszweidrei.de/porsche/p...1sccab1983.htm
The numbers for the 560SL were about 7.5 0-60, with 1/4 miles ranging from 15.2-15.8. This is a pretty big gap...assuming you're stock, if he was in a good state of tune (and a decent driver), he should have pulled you, but those are two big ifs here, especially with a manual! Anyhow, good kill!
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NY/NJ
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
I wouldn't categorize a pristine classic Mercedes as a turd, in any context of the word. Back in the 80s, it was considered a very quick automobile, with a power-to-weight ratio comparable to the Ferrari 308. It actually clocks 60 in the low 7 second range. Of course sluggish compared to today's sports cars, yet still capable of outrunning the average car on the road with ease. However, one would not purchase this car for speed alone. It is more of a classy, lasting vehicle.
Anyone who evaluates the R107 SL by 0-60 numbers is missing the point entirely...
#13
#14
Super Member
Improviz, adding to your variables, also keep in mind that the 911 has a relatively peaky engine, and is harder to launch than the SL. Further, the average 911 has been driven harder than the average SL, which might play into it as well. I've raced quite a few of the older 911s and always had the impression that they were low 16 second cars
#16
MBWorld Fanatic!
What 1985MB380SE is saying is that one would not purchase an R107 for speed alone. It is a rare and classic car, and meant to be enjoyed. For same amount, one could purchase a faster car without the class of the R107. His point was in regards to owning an R107, not racing one.
#17
Improviz, adding to your variables, also keep in mind that the 911 has a relatively peaky engine, and is harder to launch than the SL. Further, the average 911 has been driven harder than the average SL, which might play into it as well. I've raced quite a few of the older 911s and always had the impression that they were low 16 second cars
But yeah, in an auto vs. a manual, if you come up against someone who doesn't drive a manual well from a performance perspective, it can make a big difference.
#18
What 1985MB380SE is saying is that one would not purchase an R107 for speed alone. It is a rare and classic car, and meant to be enjoyed. For same amount, one could purchase a faster car without the class of the R107. His point was in regards to owning an R107, not racing one.
#19
MBWorld Fanatic!
He said nothing about purchasing the car, only that anyone who evaluates the car by numbers alone is missing the point. My point is that when taken in the context of this thread, which is after all dealing with the two cars' relative performance, the numbers are irrefutably relevant, far more so than the reasons for which one would, or would not, purchase this car. Of course people don't buy these cars solely for speed, but this is the kill stories section, after all!
#22
It means this is a waste of time. The topic of the thread is a race between the two cars. Therefore, it IS sensible to "evaluate" the 0-60 numbers of both cars, to see which one would, under ideal conditions, be faster.
Now, having said that, we've already established that a 20 year old vehicle with a manual transmission which may or may not have been driven by a less-than-Schumacherish driver, and which may or may have not been in a decent state of tune, could certainly have gone down to the Benz.
So stop . The guy got a nice kill in, looking at the numbers was valid, it's plausible, kudos to him, done.
Now, having said that, we've already established that a 20 year old vehicle with a manual transmission which may or may not have been driven by a less-than-Schumacherish driver, and which may or may have not been in a decent state of tune, could certainly have gone down to the Benz.
So stop . The guy got a nice kill in, looking at the numbers was valid, it's plausible, kudos to him, done.
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NY/NJ
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
Improviz: This is the context (can't believe I'd quote someone and then have to quote posts before that just because the thread has digressed from its original context):
So I was basically disagreeing with this post above. Seems like you are disagreeing with me, which is fine, but I want to clarify whether you intended to agree with the above post or not.
Calling a 560SL a "turd" is one form of "evaluation" -- IMHO, this particular evaluation misses the point. Do you disagree?
PS: Talking about context, in a thread titled "560sl vs. 1985 Porsche Targa or Carrera" isn't it rather pointless to begin anything by saying "Sorry but by todays standards..."?
0-60 in 8 seconds is fast? Sorry but by todays standards a 89 560SL is a turd. They are nice cars but far from fast.
Calling a 560SL a "turd" is one form of "evaluation" -- IMHO, this particular evaluation misses the point. Do you disagree?
PS: Talking about context, in a thread titled "560sl vs. 1985 Porsche Targa or Carrera" isn't it rather pointless to begin anything by saying "Sorry but by todays standards..."?
#24
Improviz: This is the context (can't believe I'd quote someone and then have to quote posts before that just because the thread has digressed from its original context):
So I was basically disagreeing with this post above. Seems like you are disagreeing with me, which is fine, but I want to clarify whether you intended to agree with the above post or not.
So I was basically disagreeing with this post above. Seems like you are disagreeing with me, which is fine, but I want to clarify whether you intended to agree with the above post or not.
In any case, I'd have chosen a different word if I'd have written it.
Originally Posted by egxpimp
indeed very clean SL ! these suckers are fast, nothing to underestimate !
Originally Posted by JLP
0-60 in 8 seconds is fast? Sorry but by todays standards a 89 560SL is a turd. They are nice cars but far from fast
1) egxpimp posted that the SL in question is "fast", and bear in mind: is deals with the present tense, which shifted the conversation to the relative performance of this car in the present tense;
2) JLP responded out that by today's standards, it is not especially fast.
So, I do agree with him on this point. Four cylinder non-turbo cars are hitting 60 mph in the mid 7's these days, so this mark is not a particularly fast time anymore. But "turd" was a rather intemperate choice of words.
Last edited by Improviz; 12-27-2006 at 12:44 PM.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 E-55-95-F355S- 99 Porsche 911 C2 w mods
LOL..............WOW some of you guys need to relax, I specifically called the SL a turd in reference to its lack of performance compared to todays cars.
If you also note I did call the SL a nice car, which it is, but it is NOT a fast car!
And no one was evaluating the SL in this thread............it was simply a Kill thread that was twisted once again.
Maybe we can try and stay on topic, Kill threads are easy Fast or Slow.
HL600- No I passed on the Renntech SL 7.4...........helluva car but its traction was severly lacking for all that grunt.
If you also note I did call the SL a nice car, which it is, but it is NOT a fast car!
And no one was evaluating the SL in this thread............it was simply a Kill thread that was twisted once again.
Maybe we can try and stay on topic, Kill threads are easy Fast or Slow.
HL600- No I passed on the Renntech SL 7.4...........helluva car but its traction was severly lacking for all that grunt.