SL55 vs. CLK55
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
SL55 vs. CLK55
I picked up my new SL 55 the day before my first incounter. With 25 miles on the clock, my wife and I were returing home from dinner when a blk/blk CLK started doging me on Jamboree
Rd. in Irvine Ca. which is a 6 lane road, that runs north and south.
At first I thougt it was a CLK430, then I see the reflection of the AMG badge on the trunk. For two stop lights he takes off and nails it taunting me. My wife is imploring me to remember that the car isn't broken in yet. Finally she says, that guy needs to be punished. We hit the next signal and there is nothing in front of us for 2 miles. The light turns green and I let him run a car length before I nail it. I see the traction control doing its job and by 40 mph I pull ahead by 80 I'm at 4 open car length and by 100 mph its 8 bus lengths. I slow down and he catches up and gives me the thumbs up and shakes his head. I tell my wife it is important that you vary your speed during break in. In retrospect I think the CLK thought this was a N/A SL. He chose poorly.
Rd. in Irvine Ca. which is a 6 lane road, that runs north and south.
At first I thougt it was a CLK430, then I see the reflection of the AMG badge on the trunk. For two stop lights he takes off and nails it taunting me. My wife is imploring me to remember that the car isn't broken in yet. Finally she says, that guy needs to be punished. We hit the next signal and there is nothing in front of us for 2 miles. The light turns green and I let him run a car length before I nail it. I see the traction control doing its job and by 40 mph I pull ahead by 80 I'm at 4 open car length and by 100 mph its 8 bus lengths. I slow down and he catches up and gives me the thumbs up and shakes his head. I tell my wife it is important that you vary your speed during break in. In retrospect I think the CLK thought this was a N/A SL. He chose poorly.
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CLS55 AMG
Odd...I wouldn't think you'd win by "eight bus lengths" in the 1/4..
...which is what you'd be at @ around 100 mph, where you said you were that far ahead...the CLK55 runs around a 13.1-13.6 depending upon how much traction it gets on launch, and I'd suspect that the SL55, having even more torque to manage off the line, would vary from the 12.7-12.9 range, also depending upon launch (although it might be less of a problem with that car, because I think they've made the traction control a bit less agressive, which would help with quick starts). So, you're talking anywhere from 0.9 seconds to as little as 0.2, although realistically it'd be be at least a good 1/2 second...but in a 1/4 mile race, the rule is generally one carlength per 1/10 second, meaning that you should have been from five to nine carlengths ahead.
So, I'd find eight CARlengths a heckuvalot more believable than eight BUSlengths, unless he was one of those bozos that stuck an AMG badge on a CLK430 (I've seen several of those)...*that* would be a much bigger margin, much closer to eight buslengths!
So, I'd find eight CARlengths a heckuvalot more believable than eight BUSlengths, unless he was one of those bozos that stuck an AMG badge on a CLK430 (I've seen several of those)...*that* would be a much bigger margin, much closer to eight buslengths!
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
Improvis
"8 bus lengths" was intended to be a euphemism for a lot. I'm sorry you took it literally. Since "objects in mirror are closer than the appear" it is quite likely that he may have been 5 to 6 lengths back. That said, I have an E-55 which has similar performace to the CLK 55. With my wife driving the SL she smoked my E55 by about the same margin on an identical stretch of road from a roll. I wanted to verify that it was indeed a CLK 55 that confronted me and not bozo in a 430 with an amg badge.
You raise a good point as to 1/4 mile times which are on level surfaces. The difference in my impromptu sceanario, was Jamboree is an uphill roadway with a significant elevation change. I suspect as in most accleration contests its torque that wins.
"8 bus lengths" was intended to be a euphemism for a lot. I'm sorry you took it literally. Since "objects in mirror are closer than the appear" it is quite likely that he may have been 5 to 6 lengths back. That said, I have an E-55 which has similar performace to the CLK 55. With my wife driving the SL she smoked my E55 by about the same margin on an identical stretch of road from a roll. I wanted to verify that it was indeed a CLK 55 that confronted me and not bozo in a 430 with an amg badge.
You raise a good point as to 1/4 mile times which are on level surfaces. The difference in my impromptu sceanario, was Jamboree is an uphill roadway with a significant elevation change. I suspect as in most accleration contests its torque that wins.
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CLS55 AMG
Ah...
well, the E55 is a bit slower on a roll, but not hugely so, so that should give you an idea. I haven't run any SL55's yet (I will someday, just for grins), but I was basing my comments on lotsa drag racing experience and my personal experiences against Vipers, Z06's, 996TTs, and one Lambo Diablo, which are in the same ballpark...but several carlengths is still a b-i-g margin! 
But enjoy that ride, man...that's one helluva car...it's the best-looking MB yet, imo.
Last edited by Improviz; Feb 18, 2003 at 05:39 PM.
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2001 CLK 55 AMG
Great story. Is the SL 55's traction control much improved over the E 55's? Sometimes I have a hard time launching my CLK 55 just right and was wondering if they improved the SL 55's.
BTW, nice stable of cars you've got!
BTW, nice stable of cars you've got!
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
Pigman
I haven't driven the SL " like I stole it" yet. I only have 600 miles of
"gentle" break in. My initial impression is it needs more rubber something like a 315/30/18 to really hook up. It appears though. that the E55 has a more active traction control. I'll run some G-Tech Pro numbers as soon as I reach 1k miles.
Improviz
I talked my neighbor into getting a CLK55 over a 996 which he is forever thankful. I've rode numerous time in his car but we have yet to have the showdown with the E55, so I'll take you at your word the CLK is a bit quicker from a roll. I have incountered all the cars you mentioned and have driven all as an instructor at road race courses. My impression as it relates to straight line speed is that the SL55 would be a good race with a ZO6, and 996tt tip. The Viper GTS and 6speed 996tt would win with just an average driver. The Diablo if it had a great driver who didn't miss a shift could win 6 out of 10. Forget the magazine numbers, they are the best they don't show you the average.
I haven't driven the SL " like I stole it" yet. I only have 600 miles of
"gentle" break in. My initial impression is it needs more rubber something like a 315/30/18 to really hook up. It appears though. that the E55 has a more active traction control. I'll run some G-Tech Pro numbers as soon as I reach 1k miles.
Improviz
I talked my neighbor into getting a CLK55 over a 996 which he is forever thankful. I've rode numerous time in his car but we have yet to have the showdown with the E55, so I'll take you at your word the CLK is a bit quicker from a roll. I have incountered all the cars you mentioned and have driven all as an instructor at road race courses. My impression as it relates to straight line speed is that the SL55 would be a good race with a ZO6, and 996tt tip. The Viper GTS and 6speed 996tt would win with just an average driver. The Diablo if it had a great driver who didn't miss a shift could win 6 out of 10. Forget the magazine numbers, they are the best they don't show you the average.
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CLS55 AMG
Yeah...
Oh, cool....yeah, let me know how badly you cook your neighbor when you guys hook up.
I agree with you re the mags: there are very few drivers capable of getting the times posted in the mags, particularly with the cars capable of sub-five second 0-60 times & manual trannies....getting those out of the hole quickly & timing the shifts is a *lot* harder than people realize...hell, even getting these autos off the line is a handful with the too-skinny oem tires MB throws on there!
Oh, and per the mags: I'm pretty sure that Road & Track averages out the top five runs or something like that, but I'm not sure about Car & Driver, and I'm pretty sure that Motor Trend does not, given that they're almost always faster than the other two...
Anyway, have fun in the beast, and be careful!
I agree with you re the mags: there are very few drivers capable of getting the times posted in the mags, particularly with the cars capable of sub-five second 0-60 times & manual trannies....getting those out of the hole quickly & timing the shifts is a *lot* harder than people realize...hell, even getting these autos off the line is a handful with the too-skinny oem tires MB throws on there!
Oh, and per the mags: I'm pretty sure that Road & Track averages out the top five runs or something like that, but I'm not sure about Car & Driver, and I'm pretty sure that Motor Trend does not, given that they're almost always faster than the other two...
Anyway, have fun in the beast, and be careful!
Originally posted by Jim Brady
Improviz
I talked my neighbor into getting a CLK55 over a 996 which he is forever thankful. I've rode numerous time in his car but we have yet to have the showdown with the E55, so I'll take you at your word the CLK is a bit quicker from a roll. I have incountered all the cars you mentioned and have driven all as an instructor at road race courses. My impression as it relates to straight line speed is that the SL55 would be a good race with a ZO6, and 996tt tip. The Viper GTS and 6speed 996tt would win with just an average driver. The Diablo if it had a great driver who didn't miss a shift could win 6 out of 10. Forget the magazine numbers, they are the best they don't show you the average.
Improviz
I talked my neighbor into getting a CLK55 over a 996 which he is forever thankful. I've rode numerous time in his car but we have yet to have the showdown with the E55, so I'll take you at your word the CLK is a bit quicker from a roll. I have incountered all the cars you mentioned and have driven all as an instructor at road race courses. My impression as it relates to straight line speed is that the SL55 would be a good race with a ZO6, and 996tt tip. The Viper GTS and 6speed 996tt would win with just an average driver. The Diablo if it had a great driver who didn't miss a shift could win 6 out of 10. Forget the magazine numbers, they are the best they don't show you the average.
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