Nam

Hi all:

I've read many things about how an E55 will keep up with a 996 turbo. My E55 will be in very soon, and I will be testing it against my 03 996 turbo.

Here's some specs:

w211e55 0-60 in 4.2 0-100 in 9.4
996 turbo 0-60 in 4.0 0-100 in 9.2

As you can see, the numbers generated by the turbo are from PERFECT shifts whereas the e55 should attain these numbers every time. My guess is that the e55 will beat a 996 turbo in most straght-line situations. Imagine an e55 with an ecu and pulley upgrade - it will rock. Only on twisty roads will the 996TT overcome.

Heck....even my present E500 rocks. Against my friend's Porsche 996 tiptronic, the E500 will spank it from a standing start. It's only above 100 mph that the Carrera passes it.

Years ago....Mercedes cars were boring and performed
much worse than Porsche and BMW. Nowadays...the lines between luxury and sports cars are blurred at best.

Those of you who have e55's already, how many also own Porsches?

Cheers

Nam

03 E500
03 996 Turbo
03 E55 (incoming)
02 X5 4.6 (gone)
01 996 C4 (gone)
00 Boxster (gone)
98 540i (gone)
etc.

JasonC32amg

The most significant factor is that the e55 does this with 4-doors and 4200lbs :p

MN-E55

I also own a '94 3.6 Turbo and I know the E55 will outperform it in most ways except the twisties. But then 355 h.p. was a bunch back then....not so much anymore. That said, they are two very different animals and both extremely gratifying in their own ways.

My wife's Boxster is cute and that's about it.

Rennteam

I owned a 996 Turbo (543 HP RS-Tuning) but I sold it because I really didn't have the time to drive it anymore (wife, kids, work).

We did some 996 Turbo vs. E55 testing (both cars stock) a few weeks ago and both cars practically showed the same performance from 0-125 mph. At speeds over 125 mph, things started to look different, the E55 pulled steadily away.

You're right, Mercedes/AMG started to build really nice cars and I hope it'll stay that way.
Would love to see a E65 AMG with 600 HP but I guess this is wishful thinking.

RU_MATRX

Just a note since we're talking about times, the 996TT 6sp has seen 0-60MPH @ 3.9 secs in various tests with consistent 4.0 secs (AWD). The E55 (which is an awesome sedan) shows 4.5 moreso than the 4.2 secs which is the best I've seen printed.

Anyways, I'd love to own an 2004 E55 next to my '02 996TT in consideration for the family of course



Dave L.
(Hollywood Hills, CA.)
'02 Porsche 996TT Blk/Blk, 6 sp
'02 Lexus IS300, Silver/Charcoal
'03 Infiniti FX45, Silver/Charcoal

Nam

One thing I must say about the 996Turbo...when the going gets wet, the car is even more impressive in the way the AWD puts down the power.

In the wet, a 996 turbo would EAT an E55 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even my E500 has trouble accelerating when it's wet...I can just imagine the E55 will be a handful in the wet.

Mercedes should really come out with 4Matic for the E55. Which brings us to the RS6....that car would eat an E55 when the going gets wet....o well...no car is perfect.

Does anyone know if the E55 will be available someday in 4 matic.

I know the W210 E55 was available in 4matic in Europe.

Nam

03 996 Turbo
03 E55 (incoming)

absent

My wife had 02 996 Cab C4 with tip,traded for new R.Rover.

03E55AMG

Remember though, having the 4 Matic will make the E55 even more heavy.

Rennteam

I couldn't agree more, the 4WD on the 996 Turbo works great.
The biggest problem on the E55 is the too intrusive ESP system setup. Maybe it has to do with legal issues (especially in the US) but it sometimes gets pretty annoying when you try to fully accelerate on dry(!) pavement and the ESP comes on brutally to cut off power almost completely. This is actually the only thing I really don't like about the E55 AND my wife's SLK32.
Maybe Mercedes should start installing some kind of limited slip differential to be able to make the ESP less intrusive.
For me as a sporty driver, the ESP on the E55 is very annoying.
And turning it off doesn't always make things better, especially when it turns on again automatically in certain situations.
How about two different ESP settings, AMG folks? One for sporty driving and one for those who are afraid to be too fast?
It would be OK to me if I'd have to switch it every time I start the car but at least I would have a choice.

Regarding a E55 AMG 4-matic: I heard from many sources that AMG does not plan to build a 4WD version of the E55 (W211).

Nam

How do you like the E55 as opposed to you 996TT.

Any regrets in the change?

What sort of pros/cons in comparing the 2 cars?

BTW, I really enjoy your posts...very informative.

Cheers

Nam

03 996 Turbo
03 E55 (incoming)

CarlssonCRS

but if you pick up that smokin blonde date in a 996TT you are definately gonna get some a$$. i cant say the same for the e55

03E55AMG

You would be surprise.....

CarlssonCRS

you'd definately have to work harder for it driving a benz as opposed to driving a 996 TT...

if i could get rid of my car i would get a 996 TT... even though its used... the lease at bout 1000/month with 0 down. thats affordable considering it cost like 3 times my car and i am paying 665/month.

in LA the only STOCK benz people turn their heads to look at are SL55s.

in a 996 TT you could probably bring her to Mcdonalds and you still get lucky!!

03E55AMG

Sure, you could get a lease like that with 10k per year hardly been able to enjoy the car. I have gotten pretty good responses with my E55 around, of course my TT calls the attention a bit more because is speedyellow..

CarlssonCRS

put a techart exhaust and everyone will look.

Nam

Guys:

The 996TT is to go out initially with my hot date.

Then I change cars to the E55 so we can make out in the back seat.:v

It's true about the 996TT - I get noticed driving it as I replaced the exhaust, added a factory aerokit and slapped on some HRE wheels.

The E55 potrays the image of a gentleman's car while the 996TT makes you look like a playboy

I'mlucky to have both


Cheers

Nam
03 996 Turbo
03 E55 (incoming)

CarlssonCRS

what you need now is a TechArt Type II body kit!! and everyone everyone will not only look, their jaws will drop

Henrik

Then u have forgotten much of MB:s history.. :-)

MBAMGPWR

I know this post is a bit old, but...

I ran into a beautiful 996 Turbo just an hour or so ago. I barely see any really cool cars (well, cars I consider as cool) around here, so it was a nice change. I asked him at the light if he wanted to go at it, he declined. Oh well, next time.

AMGfan

What color and was it stock?

MBAMGPWR

The color was a beautiful dark grayish/gunmetal color. The car looked very stunning! I'm guessing it was stock, but who knows. He didn't want to race me, so I didn't get to find out.

AMGfan

A nice clean used 996 Turbo would make a nice stablemate to the E55. I'd like to get there in about 2 years...mod out the E55 (via Kleeman), when the lease is up, and get a nice 2001 or 2002 996 Turbo for kicks.

MBAMGPWR

I agree with you, a 996 would be great with a 55. But, I think my 55 gets along well with her sister...

AMGfan

Her sister has got a great body...that is a keeper!

MBAMGPWR

Thank you kind sir, I think so too!