amg55

[QUOTE=Mardeth]

amg55, if you want a complimentary summary: [URL=http://www.autocarmagazine.com/RoadTest...

"M5 is very fast between 100-200km/h. See the list for other cars".

Source: SportAuto"[/QUOTE]

1. My comment about the complete lack of complimentary comments about the M5 was in regard to its appearance. The article you linked is complimentary of many things about the M5. It NOTABLY makes absolutely no comment about the M5's exterior styling. (Isn't that strange?!)

2. The M5 and E55 are very clearly designed for different audiences (which is why it's a bit silly for M5 lovers to infiltrate an E55 board where most (not all) people don't share the same tastes and desires, that is MB vs. BMW lovers.

3. You can pick out any one individual stat to make a case for one car being superior (why 100-200 km/h as oppposed to 20-75 km/hr or 210-250?), braking distances, lateral hold, quietness of cabin, etc. I believe most people think 0-60 is key because it's the most frequently used aspect of the acceleration spectrum for typical drivers. The E55 is virtually always cited as the best of the 2 cars from 0-60. Even Autocar's estimate of M5's top 0-60 time under best of all circumstances (---they got a 5.1 under "standard conditions") of 4.6 is slower than most E55 tests (fastest being 4.2 in one of the 3 major US mags, I don't recall which one).
Motor Trend and Road & Track timed the E55 faster from 0-100 than the M5's time in the current Autocar article.
C&D had the E55 matching the Ferrari 575M from 0-120.

Again, M5 is a great car, no question. For many enthusiasts it will be a much more enjoyable car than E55. But when it comes to looks, acceleration, luxury, value and depreciation, the E55 is superior based on aggregate info. But not everyone's cup of tea.

zdkdeeier493

I NEVER see E55's being involved in R&T or C&D tests. I even have a video on my computer of a R&T "Competition of Supercars" wich involves lots of cars including a CL55 and SL55 but NO E55! Is it because of a bias which drives them to take the most expensive AMG's when they know that the E55 outperforms both? They're just trying to make the price/value of AMG's sound rediculous in my mind.

Mardeth

Ahh ok, sorry. I know a few mags that actually said the M5 looks good but none that its stunning etc. I think that its contoversial at best in silver but in black it actually looks really good.

From 0 to 60 the E55 probably will win most of the time but not in a manner that screams "OWNED!". Tomorrow there will be released a "Supertest" of the M5 which will be really intresting, if your intrested I can copy the results here (you seem to have a negative attitude towards discussing any other car than the E55).

mhh

Some interesting replies here to my original thread. I'm still not sure which way to go. After a hard day at the office, I'm thinking the E55 is perfect. (effortless torque, auto, comfort etc) On those days when I want more driving involvement, the M5 might be a better choice (SMG, V10, handling prowess etc). Ah, choices, choices....

One thing is for sure. The sporting sedan buyer has some great alternatives available these days.

HarveyKorenzo

I'd consider the M5 ONLY if I did mostly night-time driving. I drive a lot in the daylight hours and that thing would hurt my eyes too much!

W210

But the car has no fog lights, it's dangerous to drive it at night! :p

reggid

there is always the option of buying both :p

Mattar

i totally agree with you i was woundering the same thing the other day

EKaru

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=1

neoprufrok

LOL That's awesome.

krispykrme

hmm, short coming in what sense? Have you seen the M5 interior? How would you know it would be cheap? Base E60 interior is not good, but still better than base W211 interior. (actually both are poor compare to a lexus).

You can't compare the E55 upgrade interior to base E60.

As far as outside shape. I like M5's exterior styling way more than E55. It's more agressive, exactly the point of M car.

BTW, how would you know they don't plan to get one? Just because we like M5 more than E55 you can conclude that we don't plan to buy one?

Relax, it's just a car. E55 or M5, both has different mission. I HATE THIS TYPE OF THREAD!

MB Fanatic

Two different cars. Two different types of buyers. Two different goals.

Pick what fits you best and move on. Regardless of whether you have an AMG or an M you will get looks. Life is worth more than a freaking car and this thread is done with!!!!

amg55

Please post the M5 info if you find it.
Regardless of my personal biases, I like to keep up on everything new in the sport car segment.
I'm not "negative" about cars other than the E55. But I will protest inaccurate info about the E55 when I see it, and there are a lot of misconceptions about this car. The car mags, in general, simply don't want to acknowledge that the E55 is a genuine threat to the M5. Their biases are clear. It's interesting, though, to watch them try to come up with creative ways to defend their biases now that Mercedes has closed the previously large gap between these two cars.

Mardeth

Havent seen the article yet but here are some results:

0-100km/h: 4.5s
0-200km/h: 13.8s (100-200 km/h = 9.3 seconds)
8.13 mimutes lap time

The lap time is a HUGE dissapointment. I mean "even" the SL55 is faster by a big margin. Most people on the forum were guessing that the time would have been close or even under 8 min. The mag also said that the comfort mode is faster than the sport mode. Im going to wait for another test eventhought the testers definately know what their doing. The car was pre-production after all...

8:02 --- 154.338 kph -- Porsche 997 Carrera S, Sport PASM setting, Walter Röhrl - WHEELS June 2004)
8:06 --- 152.592 kph -- Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG
8:09 --- 151.656 kph -- Ferrari 360 Modena , 400 hp, 1464 kg, sport auto 10/1999

Bilal

Is the 8.06 time of SL55 confirmed? Thats not stock, did it have the performance package?

reggid

doesn't track challenge say 8:12??? either way a few seconds over 8 mins is not much so in the grand scheme of things.

Its ironic that the M5 was labelled as going to be at its best on the track, but actually its straighline performance is more impressive!!!

Mardeth

I think that the 8:06 is the best SL55 time ever. 8:13 is still impressive. The e39 M5 was close to 8:30 as was RS6.

W210

Relax fat boy, we're only talking about cars, no need to shout.

Bilal

Thats cruel, using info obtained from the average/heght/weight/***** length threads to make a mental image of someone!

W210

Apologies for bringing unnecessary cruelty in the thread, I'm sure it was not something kk is ashamed of or he would not have publicly announced it in his previous posts.

There is nothing wrong with being fat, in fact, I'm a little overweight myself but can still fit comfortably fit in a Porsche or a Lotus.

Back to the main topic, I was also shocked to read how the M5 was slower than the SL55 on the track, and that it couldn't close the gap at high speed when chasing down the CLS55.

What I'm curious is the ride quality of the M5, I have the feeling the SMGIII will be jerky but I wonder how much more harsh the car is compared to the E55. I like the way the 545i drives yet cannot picture myself living with its poor ergonomics, especially its in my opinion unusable telematics.

However, I must say as much as I find the M5 not particularly attractive, I prefer its looks over the CLS. We'll have to check out the CLS in person for final judgement.

shoes

Don't forget that shortly after the new M5 is released, AMG will drop the supercharger and release its answer to the M5 called the E63.

Two normally aspirated 500 HP engines in roughly the same size and weight bodies means, what? I am betting that AMG has something really trick coming that we don't know about, to stay ahead of the M5. AMG has the advantage of knowing what the M5 can do, the new E63 is a mystery right now.

Bilal

W210, you have made your points so many times in so many threads, yet we still have BMW fans being jehovah's witnesses and trying to convert us all! I agree with your points, and at the end of the day, as you mentioned, its our money and we can do what we like....

Moreover, with regards to the E63. The problem is not the powerplants, the AMG will be superior due to its higher torque from displacement, the problem will lie in gearing. The M5 is only quicker due to the fact that it has two more gears, gears are linear and very short, and it relies on quickly revving to the powerband to provide acceleration.

E55, completely opposite. VERY long gears, engine is completely relaxed (doesn't rev that much for kicks), it relies on its torque curve for acceleration.

The E63 will have 600NM, and as for 7G Tronic, completely the opposite, this transmission is completely unlinear, some gears very short and some too long. Because the gearing will not have a short final drive, and due to the power outputs being the same and even though the AMG will have more torque, due to luxuries, the car will probably weigh more.

I'm not saying it will be inferior to the E55, of course it will be faster, it will probably match the M5 and beat it very very minutely. The biggest problem is going to be impressing you current E55 owners, you will be expecting a landmark AMG powerplant to shadow your E55K's, I'm afraid 500hp and 600Nm from a 6.3 V8 is not going to do it.

600hp, now we're talking..... But I heard for policy reasons and costs, and internal brand cannibalistaion, MB wants to limit power of the mid-range AMG's to around 500-540bhp, the current cars are already on the limit, not engine limit, but scary factor limit....


Of course I could be very negative by saying E63 will not be a huge step, but all the info we have right now and assumptions prove it may be true...I won't be disappointed, a big 6.3 V8 N/A AMG is "gonna be the shiz"

1SICKLEX

Well the M5 has been tested in EVO, CAR and Top Gear, the major Euro mags this month and in Road and Track. Only Top Gear had a small article comparing the E55 vs the M5.

Overall, it seems all the mags think the M5 is the new king of the sports sedan hill. The funny thing is, they are not in-love with it for some reason, like the previous one and I think the styling inside and out and the 20% increase in price has a lot to do with it.
507hp yes but only 380 lbs of torque. Unless you are a track driver, the E55 will meet and possibly beat it most all day due to it's low-end torque and seemingly endless powersupply.

And ain't part of the fun of owning such an expensive car is to look at it and have others gave in awe? Like the E55. The M5, its growing on me but still looks.

1SICKLEX

http://www.freep.com/money/autorevie...e_20041111.htm

Beowulf

Great article and nice to see you over here on the "dark side" . LOL You may recall I operated under the same name on the ClubLexus LS430 forum earlier this year (remember http://www.clublexus.com/forums/show...&highlight=e55 ?). I see you're also from the Atlanta area - small world!