Benz brakes testimonial..
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98' E320
Benz brakes testimonial..
I recently purchased a 98 E320 with 50,000mi on it. Been loving every minute of driving it I must say. Driving in LA one gets to test their brakes pretty regularly. Not nearly as often does one need them to work completely as best they can.
Coming up on the intersection I had a green left turn light. I sped up a bit to catch it. Now it's yellow and I have a moment to consider making it - I decide to go for it. I was going a pretty good clip and had made a 20 degree turn well into the intersection before the light turned red.. - I was watching the light.
I look forward and a woman in a japanese red car ON HER CELLPHONE had jumped her red light (the 3 other waiting cars hadn't even moved yet) and was halfway into the intersection and directly in my path.
She looked at me and screamed,
threw her cellphone into the air *completeley letting go of the steering wheel.*
I slammed the brakes and veered a bit right. With the antilocks rumbling it felt like I stopped in about 2 feet. There was about 3 inches clearance as she went by.
I don't recall how fast I was going, but I know I accelerated to catch the light. I am AMAZED that I was able to stop that quickly. I know If I had been in my previous car I would have plowed right into her and used up whatever crumple zones a Civic has..
In the end I wonder whether she was screaming from the surprise or the idea of a big black benz coming at her..
Coming up on the intersection I had a green left turn light. I sped up a bit to catch it. Now it's yellow and I have a moment to consider making it - I decide to go for it. I was going a pretty good clip and had made a 20 degree turn well into the intersection before the light turned red.. - I was watching the light.
I look forward and a woman in a japanese red car ON HER CELLPHONE had jumped her red light (the 3 other waiting cars hadn't even moved yet) and was halfway into the intersection and directly in my path.
She looked at me and screamed,
threw her cellphone into the air *completeley letting go of the steering wheel.* I slammed the brakes and veered a bit right. With the antilocks rumbling it felt like I stopped in about 2 feet. There was about 3 inches clearance as she went by.
I don't recall how fast I was going, but I know I accelerated to catch the light. I am AMAZED that I was able to stop that quickly. I know If I had been in my previous car I would have plowed right into her and used up whatever crumple zones a Civic has..
In the end I wonder whether she was screaming from the surprise or the idea of a big black benz coming at her..
Last edited by TouringFan; Sep 22, 2004 at 02:22 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
17 E220D, 11 E350 CDI(sold), 06 CLS320 CDI (sold), 05 Cadillac DeVille (gone), 04 E320 CDI (sold)
Our local dealer ran a track day where they demonstrated the stopping power of a couple of C Classes with ABS etc.
On a damp day, we would drive up to cones at 60km/h on the speed limiter and then hit the brakes as hard as poss. I could not believe how quickly the cars could stop.
Then they set up a couple of cones at the end of a cone lane, and we drove up to them again and when we were about 6 feet way he yelled stop, and we had to hit the brakes and swerve around them. The cars were truly amazing, and it was good to see how the technology works before we have to use it for real.
I like the idea of your target throwing the cell phone in the air and letting go of the wheel, what a shame there's no video. I'm glad it all ended well for you.
On a damp day, we would drive up to cones at 60km/h on the speed limiter and then hit the brakes as hard as poss. I could not believe how quickly the cars could stop.
Then they set up a couple of cones at the end of a cone lane, and we drove up to them again and when we were about 6 feet way he yelled stop, and we had to hit the brakes and swerve around them. The cars were truly amazing, and it was good to see how the technology works before we have to use it for real.
I like the idea of your target throwing the cell phone in the air and letting go of the wheel, what a shame there's no video. I'm glad it all ended well for you.
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