Need opinion from Past C55 owners
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Need opinion from Past C55 owners
My cousing has come across a 06 C55 Amg that he is considering to buy. Since it has the same engine as the slk55 , he was wondering how is the handling of C55 vs SLk55
Thanks
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From: Irvine, CA
2006 Brabus B55 (Brabus Modified SLK55)
If you want a 4 door sports car, buy a BMW M5. It is worth the extra $$$.
Also, remember that speed and handling are as much about weight as anything else. Don't just look at the hp. Look at the power to weight ratio. The C55 has 363 hp but at 3,600 pounds. The SLK55 has 355 hp but at only 3,400 pounds. That 200 pounds makes a huge difference. As a test, try driving any high performance car by yourself and then with an average size adult male as a passenger. The feel is totally different. I bought about 150 lbs of weight off of my SLK with the modifications I got. It felt like I had added 25-30 hp.
The M5 is 4,000 lbs but makes up for it with a 500 hp engine.
Also, remember that speed and handling are as much about weight as anything else. Don't just look at the hp. Look at the power to weight ratio. The C55 has 363 hp but at 3,600 pounds. The SLK55 has 355 hp but at only 3,400 pounds. That 200 pounds makes a huge difference. As a test, try driving any high performance car by yourself and then with an average size adult male as a passenger. The feel is totally different. I bought about 150 lbs of weight off of my SLK with the modifications I got. It felt like I had added 25-30 hp.
The M5 is 4,000 lbs but makes up for it with a 500 hp engine.
Last edited by Beleriand; Jan 20, 2007 at 05:57 PM.
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From: mymbonline
mymbonline
from personal experience, c55 will have no problem staying w/ a slk on a twisty road. i did in my 3800lb clk55. it might not "feel" as nice doing it, my brakes were smooooking while his were ok
Last edited by AMG_55; Jan 22, 2007 at 01:53 AM.
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From: Canada
C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
The SLK55 should be able to handle better when going all out on a track. On everday twisty roads, there probably won't be any significant difference.
The SLK55 has been tested twice on the short and tight Hockenheim track by Sport Auto. The times they got were 1.17,1, and 1.17,7 minutes. The C55 was tested only once by Sport Auto and got a time of 1.18,6.
On the much longer Nurburgring track, the SLK55 was 2 seconds slower than the C55 (8.24 minutes vs 8.22 minutes) when tested by Sport Auto. All done with the same pro driver.
Don't know if the differences in these laptimes are even "significant". Bottom line is I doubt the SLK55 will blow away the C55 in any sort of twisty encounter, assuming drivers of equal skill.
If you believe that equal weight distribution is important in handling, then the C55 is closer to a 50:50 weight distribution than the SLK55. But as mentioned earlier by someone else, the C55 is heavier than the SLK55 altogether. Again, numbers are from Sport Auto.
SLK55: 59%:41%
C55: 55%:45%
The SLK55 has been tested twice on the short and tight Hockenheim track by Sport Auto. The times they got were 1.17,1, and 1.17,7 minutes. The C55 was tested only once by Sport Auto and got a time of 1.18,6.
On the much longer Nurburgring track, the SLK55 was 2 seconds slower than the C55 (8.24 minutes vs 8.22 minutes) when tested by Sport Auto. All done with the same pro driver.
Don't know if the differences in these laptimes are even "significant". Bottom line is I doubt the SLK55 will blow away the C55 in any sort of twisty encounter, assuming drivers of equal skill.
If you believe that equal weight distribution is important in handling, then the C55 is closer to a 50:50 weight distribution than the SLK55. But as mentioned earlier by someone else, the C55 is heavier than the SLK55 altogether. Again, numbers are from Sport Auto.
SLK55: 59%:41%
C55: 55%:45%
Last edited by PC Valkyrie; Jan 22, 2007 at 10:00 AM.
