Picked up car/first impressions
06-12-2003, 11:39 AM
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e55k
Picked up car/first impressions
OUTSIDE:
Picked up my tectite/burl/charcoal/pano at my dealer yesterday at noon. It was absolutely gorgeous, one of the nicest "sculpted" body shapes with BRIGHT aluminum 18" wheels. The panorama roof is almost invisible with tectite.
INSIDE
The seats are HEAVILY bolstereded, especially the seat cushion, and i find them difficult to get in and out of however once you are in the fit and "grip" of the nappa leather is truly like a glove. The steering wheel grip diameter is to small for my liking unlike my old M5 with a thicker rim. The chrome lined burl walnut looks fabulous and really provides a richer and more elegent interior (almost Bentley like). I hate to say it but birds eye maple is more at home in an Infiniti and not this $80,000 hand sewn leather/Alcantara interior. The build quality is fabulous and the double swept dash board is a true work of art. The LOGIC 7 stereo is only adequate providing high quality sound but only to a limited volume.
DRIVING
The car comes to life with a roar when started and settles to a VERY deep and intimidating ..rubrubrubrubrubrubrubrub...like an old 454 Chevelle. As with all Mercedes, the throttle tip in is slow at first then eventually catches up with the pedal. When cruising in this car you hear nothing, no tire noise, no wind noise and only engine noise when you accelerate moderately. The Airmatic works as promised, from S-class to M5 in -two- pushes of a button. Under strong acceleration the E55 increases it's rumbling, never whining or whirring or screaming but ALWAYS rumbling. It is tremendously powerful even under 2800 RPM, YES! 2800rpm. I cant imagine what a full redline run would be like from start to 6500 rpm...it goes 0-50mph in first...The torque levels are so high in relation to the weight of the car that there is always massive acceleration on tap. It feels as though the 469hp hp rating might be a tad conservative! I have revved to about 5000rpm on one or two occasions since yesterday and the car has responded with neck snapping thrust when the LYSHOLM kicks in.
With the build tolerances of this engine I feel that an extended break in is not needed. It should be based on hours driven not distance. The brakes took me all of 2 hours to master yet it comes with a constant battle as you each try to figure out what the hell the other is planning to do. The steering is boring and it does only what it is supposed to do and nothing more.
SUMMARY:
The only limit to this cars acceleration is traction and not hp or torque. It is easy to spin the wheels on imperfect roads RIGHT off idle! The new E55's exterior and interior is right on par with it's engine....Handmade, sculpted, luxurious and state of the art.
This car is a true animal! The power is unbelievable and at times more than my abilitiescan handle......it MUST be respected.
Simply put...I feel it's like a 4 door Cobra with a Bentley interior.
The finest auto I have ever driven and a wicked value!!!
Pics to follow.
Finally eating again,
David
Picked up my tectite/burl/charcoal/pano at my dealer yesterday at noon. It was absolutely gorgeous, one of the nicest "sculpted" body shapes with BRIGHT aluminum 18" wheels. The panorama roof is almost invisible with tectite.
INSIDE
The seats are HEAVILY bolstereded, especially the seat cushion, and i find them difficult to get in and out of however once you are in the fit and "grip" of the nappa leather is truly like a glove. The steering wheel grip diameter is to small for my liking unlike my old M5 with a thicker rim. The chrome lined burl walnut looks fabulous and really provides a richer and more elegent interior (almost Bentley like). I hate to say it but birds eye maple is more at home in an Infiniti and not this $80,000 hand sewn leather/Alcantara interior. The build quality is fabulous and the double swept dash board is a true work of art. The LOGIC 7 stereo is only adequate providing high quality sound but only to a limited volume.
DRIVING
The car comes to life with a roar when started and settles to a VERY deep and intimidating ..rubrubrubrubrubrubrubrub...like an old 454 Chevelle. As with all Mercedes, the throttle tip in is slow at first then eventually catches up with the pedal. When cruising in this car you hear nothing, no tire noise, no wind noise and only engine noise when you accelerate moderately. The Airmatic works as promised, from S-class to M5 in -two- pushes of a button. Under strong acceleration the E55 increases it's rumbling, never whining or whirring or screaming but ALWAYS rumbling. It is tremendously powerful even under 2800 RPM, YES! 2800rpm. I cant imagine what a full redline run would be like from start to 6500 rpm...it goes 0-50mph in first...The torque levels are so high in relation to the weight of the car that there is always massive acceleration on tap. It feels as though the 469hp hp rating might be a tad conservative! I have revved to about 5000rpm on one or two occasions since yesterday and the car has responded with neck snapping thrust when the LYSHOLM kicks in.
With the build tolerances of this engine I feel that an extended break in is not needed. It should be based on hours driven not distance. The brakes took me all of 2 hours to master yet it comes with a constant battle as you each try to figure out what the hell the other is planning to do. The steering is boring and it does only what it is supposed to do and nothing more.
SUMMARY:
The only limit to this cars acceleration is traction and not hp or torque. It is easy to spin the wheels on imperfect roads RIGHT off idle! The new E55's exterior and interior is right on par with it's engine....Handmade, sculpted, luxurious and state of the art.
This car is a true animal! The power is unbelievable and at times more than my abilitiescan handle......it MUST be respected.
Simply put...I feel it's like a 4 door Cobra with a Bentley interior.
The finest auto I have ever driven and a wicked value!!!
Pics to follow.
Finally eating again,
David
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06-12-2003, 02:57 PM
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E55
LYSHOLM, thanks for hte review. I had thought the only wood in the E55 was BLACK Bird's eye. Yours is blond.
Nice color.
How bad is the traction? Would appreciate more details before trying to switch to an RS6.
Nice color.
How bad is the traction? Would appreciate more details before trying to switch to an RS6.
06-12-2003, 03:44 PM
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CLK55, Mini S
Incredible. I have been planning on getting Tectite for months. Now I have no doubt. And I love the wood. Classic. You are a lucky man.
Best pics of Tectite I have seen, though in that drab weather it does not sparkle -- MORE PICS WHEN YOU GET SOME SUN!
Best pics of Tectite I have seen, though in that drab weather it does not sparkle -- MORE PICS WHEN YOU GET SOME SUN!
06-12-2003, 05:09 PM
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Originally posted by LYSHOLM
Car was $72,470 including all options and guzz. I am in Essex, CT---USA.
Car was $72,470 including all options and guzz. I am in Essex, CT---USA.
06-12-2003, 06:10 PM
#21
MBWorld Fanatic!
Hey...you're in my neck of the woods. What dealership did you go to?? I know Carriage house just sold an E55 about 2 weeks ago. If so who's your dealer??
06-12-2003, 06:17 PM
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
Is that Mauro Motors??
Do you drive up on interstate 395 at all??
If you see a black CLK55 that might be me.
I usually head down to the outlets at Clinton and Westbrook on the weekends.
Enjoy that sweet ride.....I know a little piece of me will always long for the W211 E55.....but I'm not married yet!!!!
Do you drive up on interstate 395 at all??
If you see a black CLK55 that might be me.
I usually head down to the outlets at Clinton and Westbrook on the weekends.
Enjoy that sweet ride.....I know a little piece of me will always long for the W211 E55.....but I'm not married yet!!!!
