sprins

Check it out: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...ans/index.html

Vic55

Yeah and the guy who built the E63 in the test also built mine. I pulled this pic from the article.

jangy

LOL maybe it does matter who makes it??

dragonAMG

nice... that's pretty cool.

Fikse

should be interesting to hear the M5board wine list......

Vic55

No two E55's are alike especially with handbuilt motors. I have had some stronger cars in the past: my W210 E55 and my E39 M5 were some of the notables. I have also had some weaker models: Audi B4 S4 and E46 M3. These results of my comparo's were with friends' cars that were also stock. I believe I have got a stronger version of the W211 E55 based on stock to stock runs and what Evosport has told me during their test drives against other 55's with the same mods.

BMWEATR

when you look at the mag pics w/ all the cars side by side the benz crushes in looks! i will admit you have to see a m5 in person to appreciate it more but the benz is so much sicker!

regor60

That was a very lame article...

sprins

It wasn't that bad...

jangy

I agree with you on that. Oddly enough, my M3 was also a goat. I can tell a difference in the '06. I dunno if it is that the drivetrain isn't as broken in (the '05 had 10K miles when it left me) or if I was breaking the new one in, but the '06 felt slower on day one. It felt much tighter in the steering, but maybe a tad bit slower. the '05 was a monster and would easily bark the rears shifting into 3rd.

I have also heard that the older 55ks were faster in general than the newer ones. Dunno where that started either, but maybe its true.

Maybe we can take a survey of "good and bad" E55s and see if the builder correlates?!!?!?!

stevebez

Ranking the S6 over the M5 is simply stupid ... and saying the S6 is a whisker behind the E63 is also plain stupid. S6 is slow & heavy period. Only thing in its favour is 4WD.

Interesting they like the new AMG motor and say its "quite a bit quicker" than the E55. They also say the E55 "on homones ... could barely go in a straight line" uhm yeah right... check all the track slips please and tell me the E55 cannot go in a straight line.

Also wierd is they say steering response could be better (I thought they already made it better), and they still moan about the brakes - they too are suppossed to be better. Guess 0-3-0 is a MUST not an option. Just a way to fleece more cash out of us suckers.

E63 test drive approaching will see how good it really is ... mbe quietly take it to the track ??

FrankW

cool article.

you have to admit the S6 is more civilized and thinking about the engine is rooted to the Gallardo is awesome too. The M5 is just too complicated for a sports car, by the time you are ready to do a 500hp quick launch...the other two are already in the horizon because no matter how you pre-set the "M" buttom on the steering wheel you still have to decide whether you want to program it to everything off or etc etc. And from numerous videos we all know that the M5 is not all that unless everything is turned off, but then if you set it like that would you want to press that "M" mode on the road in real world condition where one mistake by you/driver can result in really really bad crashes. And if you do set the M mode in only a more spirited driving fashion, would it be enough to hold off the other two? I personally think ranking the S6 in front of the M5 makes a lot of sense given that they are picking an overall car, not just performance. I can and is imagining that S6 V10 sounds better than the M5's V10. I've already heard the M5 in person.

as for the E63 comment I think they just meant that the E55 had more torque and low-end torque that simply lights up the rear a lot easier and the E63 is more controllable with it's N/A character. I'd take the E55 tho...easier to mod, but the new high revving V8 is also sexy...

MiamiAMG

Well, there goes the M guys' "twisties" arguement.

jangy

Looks like we finally fond another fool, like myself, who actually thinks the E can handle!!

ClayJ

I think the 030 Pkg is a shouldn't-pass-this-up option. And my understanding is that they did test the heck out of the E63 at the Nurburgring - and that this did result in handling tweaks, and better handling.

We shall see....

TopGun32

can't wait to see real comparisons...


I say the AMG will edge out in the straights and close the gap on the handling... however the M5 is really tough to beat on the handling dept.

Another good comparison will be the CLs63 vs M6...

jangy

I agree on most, but the M6 CLS part. i see the CLS as slower and or about same as an E, but the M6 is even a step up from the M5 with the CF roof and all. I am really waiting to take a good look at it.

stevebez

Took the E55 for a spin today and geez did I struggle to launch - flashing esp almost all the time ... my passenger said it was a beast but I hardly had any decent hook up ... the more I think about it the better the E63 will be in this regard.

jangy

HUH? Are you saying that you think the 6.3 will have better out of the hole times, since it has less power to put down at those revs?

Carl Lassiter

S6 is a nice car but not in the same performance league as 63 and M5. It's significantly cheaper, at least in Europe, however. RS6 when it comes along will be a different proposition however.
Anyone heard about M5 hp output getting raised in a CSL version? I read it somewhere but can't vouch for it or really remember as it was just a brief reference.

BTW, how easy is it to get the 155 limiter removed? Is it a dealer job and if so how much? I don't like modding but that's one change I feel is vital as I miss my empty desert freeway 996TT blasts!

m52e55

e63 auto compare. yes, there goes the m5 twistie argument. maybe now the battle will move to the best heads-up display monitor (do not think mbz offers as of yet...//- ok, they win).

Grumpy666

Probably. What good is the extra power if ESP dissipates it by applying the brakes and closing the throttle body to maintain traction? If you think there isn't enough power at lower revs with the 6.3, you can always go to a looser torque converter and have the best of both worlds.

sdsilverm3

Then the M guys will say "You still drove home in a Chrysler"

jangy

I disagree completely. Why blame the beast for making the power? Instead, learn to tame it. I know there is not enough power at the lower end, and that is not of the car that is of te ENGINE. playing with the torque converter is like playing with a clutch plate. if the motor ain't got the grunt, you can't make up for it with gearing or anything else. it simply does not have it.

On the other side, I am not bashing you in any way, but you may want to consider helping the E55 to launch. A simple swap of the tires will help you IMMENSELY. I have no clue why, but EVERY stock E55 I have ever seen has such hard tires on it that they just spin. They don't smoke. they just spin. Maybe it is the contis, maybe it is the load rating, maybe it is the specific contis that MB got. I don't know what it is. Get new tires and then decide for yourself.
If you still aren't happy with softer tires, then try larger ones, and or an LSD.

There are a zillion cars out there that are "fast" once they are up and running. How many do you know that can pull a car length on almost anything just on a launch? I can't wait to see some 1/10 and 1/8th of mile times on the E63. One of the best feelings is being able to pin the gas and just have all that power unwind under your butt!

jangy

Well, a Daimler-Chrysler (hehe).