E55s at the AMG Challenge in Fontana
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 491
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From: Florida
Don't have a Mercedes right now...
Originally Posted by cte430
Nice, but can they find something other than a big clock for that prime real estate in the instrument cluster. Not very "sporting". 
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Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
Originally Posted by JamE55
Nice pics. What exactly are those things in the first pics. That thing in the front of the E55 with 2 small wheels? Guide or something?
It is a great excercise to show you how ESP works. The cars at the AMG Challenge were setup to have about 60% of their weight pre-sprung by that thing. Makes for GREAT DONUTSS!
As far as prizes:
They gave away an IWC AMG watch (rumored to be at $9000) to the fastest dude on the autocross all day (Gary). He was in my group (White bands) and was quite fast AND smooth. Kudos to him.
Somebody a $250ish gift card to S5thAve for second place.
He (Gary) also won a Harmon Kardon home speaker system for winning the go kart challenge. (I qualified 4th, but my shoulder gave out a few laps into it as I was trying to be aggressive).
They gave us all:
an IWC Wallet
a glass plaque w/etched design and the AMG emblem glued on it
a hat
a DVD with you running on the big oval track in an E55 w/ a camera on you, and one on the open road ahead. The video snip is of a full lap on the track (less than a minute) and includes all car vitals (speed, RPM, G-forces, etc.) and sound.
The experience was the best! Great day and in MB AMGs to boot. WOW!
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
There were almost 80 people there that day. they broke us up into groups of up to 20 and broke the day down into different "modules". Then they give a schedule. VERY LITTLE waiting around time EVER!! You are going most of the day and you get PLENTY of seat time!! It is AWESOME, bar NONE! I am sold and done.
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, Arizona
2006 E55
Originally Posted by kchristos
How many groups/people were there? Did you have to wait in line for each event?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 491
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From: Florida
Don't have a Mercedes right now...
Great, thanks for the info! I have already registered for the event in Homestead in October 6th but I had second thoughts about the $1195.00 but from your inputs, it seams that it is well worth it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 473
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
'03 C32
You will not regret the purchase. A few other special things:
* AMG was very trusting with these cars. Most of us were complete novices, whizzing around the oval at over 130 mph in very expensive autos, in all cases without a chicken brake and in some cases without a co-pilot.
* MB had a couple product managers there who were very knowledgeable: Rob, product manager for AMG in the U.S. and another guy (can't remember his name) who is product manager for the SLR. They must have answered dozens of questions over the course of the day.
* There were actually some pretty well known pros, from Tommy Kendall to Johnny Parsons.
* AMG was very trusting with these cars. Most of us were complete novices, whizzing around the oval at over 130 mph in very expensive autos, in all cases without a chicken brake and in some cases without a co-pilot.
* MB had a couple product managers there who were very knowledgeable: Rob, product manager for AMG in the U.S. and another guy (can't remember his name) who is product manager for the SLR. They must have answered dozens of questions over the course of the day.
* There were actually some pretty well known pros, from Tommy Kendall to Johnny Parsons.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
2006 E55
Jangy, Akara, and JJ covered the Challenge very well. This was my first time and it far exceeded my expectations. They really let you go at it with the cars. I almost felt guilty at the drag module hammering an SL65 with less`than 150 miles on it. A few of the cars I drove had less than 50 miles on them. So much for following the recommended break in procedure! Kudos to the driving instructors that sit shotgun without any knowledge of our driving skills and letting us hit 140+ mph on the speedway. Crazy stuff.
They had two black E63s on the first day. The display car was supposedly pulled from the NYC auto show early so it would get here on time. It was not totally to spec as it had the late 05/06 center console. You can see it in Jangy's pics I think. The other E63 was being driven around by TK. It had the proper "retro" center console in it. My guest, who could not tell an SLK55 from an SL55, had Tommy ask him to hop in for a few hot laps on the E63 and they took it to 150+. It killed me to see him pulling up after the laps. He had no clue how lucky he was to do that.
I agree with Jangy on the exhaust note. The CLS55 wins that award hands down. Sounds a lot deeper than the CL, E, and SL. I was also impressed on how closely the E and CLS handled to the SL. Not too much of a drop off imho.
A couple of E63/AMG tidbits. Some may have been mentioned already. Sat radio will be standard in 2007. All 2007 AMG cars will have Michelin Pilots on them, no more Contis. There will be an E63 030 performance package later on in the model year. It will not have 19" wheels though. They will be two piece 18" wheels. For some reason AMG Germany won't approve the 19" wheels. That is all I can think of at the moment.
They had two black E63s on the first day. The display car was supposedly pulled from the NYC auto show early so it would get here on time. It was not totally to spec as it had the late 05/06 center console. You can see it in Jangy's pics I think. The other E63 was being driven around by TK. It had the proper "retro" center console in it. My guest, who could not tell an SLK55 from an SL55, had Tommy ask him to hop in for a few hot laps on the E63 and they took it to 150+. It killed me to see him pulling up after the laps. He had no clue how lucky he was to do that.
I agree with Jangy on the exhaust note. The CLS55 wins that award hands down. Sounds a lot deeper than the CL, E, and SL. I was also impressed on how closely the E and CLS handled to the SL. Not too much of a drop off imho.
A couple of E63/AMG tidbits. Some may have been mentioned already. Sat radio will be standard in 2007. All 2007 AMG cars will have Michelin Pilots on them, no more Contis. There will be an E63 030 performance package later on in the model year. It will not have 19" wheels though. They will be two piece 18" wheels. For some reason AMG Germany won't approve the 19" wheels. That is all I can think of at the moment.
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
2003 E55
So were you able to take a crack at all of the models? i.e. SLR, E63? And for the other cars, did some people spend more seat time in a E55 while others in a CLS55 or was it pretty even with all of the different models?
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
Originally Posted by davidhung78
So were you able to take a crack at all of the models? i.e. SLR, E63? And for the other cars, did some people spend more seat time in a E55 while others in a CLS55 or was it pretty even with all of the different models?
The SLR and the 6.3s were all there by AMG as show only. A few scattered rides here and there (thanks TK), but no driving. I sat in the E63 and had it running, that is it. TK would not even let me put it in gear to see that it had a seven speed!!
You got as much time in all models. Basically, everyone got to drive each model and they would accomodate you as much as they could. There were mostly requests for the CLS030, and the SL55/65 so there was sometimes a minute or 2 wait to get them. The rest was pretty free flowing. You get out of one car and another shows up!!
No Maybach pics, but it was there.
Last edited by jangy; May 16, 2006 at 10:36 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 491
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From: Florida
Don't have a Mercedes right now...
Thanks to everybody for their inputs. I am glad i signed up for it.
Just out of curiosity, what happens to those cars after end of the season? Do they send them back to the dealerships for sale?
Just out of curiosity, what happens to those cars after end of the season? Do they send them back to the dealerships for sale?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by aztecsd
It was not totally to spec as it had the late 05/06 center console. You can see it in Jangy's pics I think. The other E63 was being driven around by TK. It had the proper "retro" center console in it.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
Originally Posted by Frank Wiesmann
Did anyone from AMG or MB confirm that they are really going back to the retro design in the US?! That would be great news!
