Daytona AMG Challenge today--AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 22
From: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Porcelain Bus
Daytona AMG Challenge today--AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
I spent quite a long time behind the wheel of an E55 today including many laps around the Daytona road course. The car handles amazingly well. I made the following observations:
1) these cars are very fast
2) the E55 is faster than the SL55
3) there really is a slightly more restrictive intake on the E accounting for the HP difference
4) No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the S55 to lose control and spin on the wet skidpad with the ESP on. With it off, I was able to keep the car from spinning by rapidly correcting the understeer but eventually it came around. ESP is amazingly effective and non obtrusive. We didn't test any other car on the skidpad.
5) At 157 mph on the high banking, the E55 was quiet with minimal wind noise and felt like we were going 100 mph.
6) The brakes on the E55 are excellent and do feel smoother than my mom's E500. I took approx 10 laps at fairly high speed with aggressive braking in an E55 and CLK 55 and I liked the brakes on the E better. What you miss from pedal feedback you gain from seat of the pants feedback.
7) The SL55 was great on the autocross. We made several runs in the SL55(only)
8) The stock E55 looks great. Larger wheels or lowering the car is unnecessary IMO.
9) According to the MB reps, between dealer and customer orders there have been almost 5000 requests for E55's through 2004.
10) there were about 40 vehicles there valued at $3.2 million
11) The SL 55 probably handled the best
12) The sound from the S55, CL55 and Sl 55 is slightly deeper and lower than the E55 but all these cars are scary quiet and sedate from the inside
13) the c and slk do not hold a candle to their 8 cylinder kompressor brethren
14) the CL is an amazing cruiser that drives and maneuvers like a much lighter smaller car
15) All the AMG lineup can benefit from a higher ratio rear end since they suffer off the line (but quickly make up for this once moving)
16) At the end of the day, it was my opinion and that of most of the profesional drivers present that the car to own was none other that the E55!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many pics to follow later this week
1) these cars are very fast
2) the E55 is faster than the SL55
3) there really is a slightly more restrictive intake on the E accounting for the HP difference
4) No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the S55 to lose control and spin on the wet skidpad with the ESP on. With it off, I was able to keep the car from spinning by rapidly correcting the understeer but eventually it came around. ESP is amazingly effective and non obtrusive. We didn't test any other car on the skidpad.
5) At 157 mph on the high banking, the E55 was quiet with minimal wind noise and felt like we were going 100 mph.
6) The brakes on the E55 are excellent and do feel smoother than my mom's E500. I took approx 10 laps at fairly high speed with aggressive braking in an E55 and CLK 55 and I liked the brakes on the E better. What you miss from pedal feedback you gain from seat of the pants feedback.
7) The SL55 was great on the autocross. We made several runs in the SL55(only)
8) The stock E55 looks great. Larger wheels or lowering the car is unnecessary IMO.
9) According to the MB reps, between dealer and customer orders there have been almost 5000 requests for E55's through 2004.
10) there were about 40 vehicles there valued at $3.2 million
11) The SL 55 probably handled the best
12) The sound from the S55, CL55 and Sl 55 is slightly deeper and lower than the E55 but all these cars are scary quiet and sedate from the inside
13) the c and slk do not hold a candle to their 8 cylinder kompressor brethren
14) the CL is an amazing cruiser that drives and maneuvers like a much lighter smaller car
15) All the AMG lineup can benefit from a higher ratio rear end since they suffer off the line (but quickly make up for this once moving)
16) At the end of the day, it was my opinion and that of most of the profesional drivers present that the car to own was none other that the E55!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many pics to follow later this week
Last edited by Dr Chill; May 21, 2003 at 11:49 PM.
Thanks for the feedback 
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 22
From: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Porcelain Bus
I have to say it was one of the most fun experiences of my life. I've also had experience racing formula Fords 20 years ago and this was as much fun. Maybe I'm just getting older.
