E55 AMG Good to drive?

E55 AMG Good to drive?

Author
Discussion

dodd001

Original Poster:

37 posts

213 months

Thursday 13th December 2007
quotequote all
I know the E55 AMG is a good car and have heard good reviews ect. Since I have never driven owned an Automatic I'd like to know when you are using manual mode do you change with the gear nob or with paddles?

Also if using manual mode will the car hold the gear you select or when you get below a certain speed will it shift down anyway or shift up when you hit the limiter?

As you have a torque converter rather than a clutch do they wear out and if so how often and how much to replace?

Do they roll much in corners?

Sorry for the dumb questions but I don't know much about Auto's I've driven a Gallardo E-gear thats my only experience.

derestrictor

18,764 posts

262 months

Thursday 13th December 2007
quotequote all
They are fecking ace.

Leave it in 'D' and boot the sod.

Great s/c whine, all the expected pick up (i.e. somewhat frantic) and the sort of solidity at the helm not experienced since the Royal Navy had a spot of bother with E boats in The Channel.

Look best in silver, daft value and you really should. wink

dodd001

Original Poster:

37 posts

213 months

Thursday 13th December 2007
quotequote all
Cheers derestrictor!

If i ever needed convincing you are the man. I agree they are excellent value.

Anyone else have a different opinion?

paoloh

8,617 posts

205 months

Friday 14th December 2007
quotequote all
We are talking 02 on?
No, buy one, great cars.

Pre 02, not so great.

dodd001

Original Poster:

37 posts

213 months

Friday 14th December 2007
quotequote all
02 onwards yes.

I'd like some opinions on the Auto box in manual mode as mentioned above shift time, does it auto upshift when it hits the limiter or auto downshift when speed is too low ect.

Do they disguise the weight well on country lanes?

nickb55

276 posts

210 months

Friday 14th December 2007
quotequote all
I had a 2003 e55, ad sold it after 6mths. Straight line speed is truly amazing... zero to warp speed ina picosecond.. in fact accelerating from ANY speed is awesome. Brakes are incedible and with good feel too. The paddles work well, the auto is v good too. And yes, using the paddles is like a manual, it stays in the gear, unless it reaches the rev limit for that gear (or equally, revs drop too low, thne it'l down change). THey work very well.

....but come to a corner, and it tried to kill you! Handles like a sack of potatoes. Once the initial buzz from the straight line acceleration wears off, it's very very boring. ...and in the wet, it's plain dangerous... there's NO traction whatsoever.

If it's motorway/autobahn you're doing, there's nothing better. But fun round country lanes... forget it!



Edited by nickb55 on Saturday 15th December 17:05

jamoor

14,506 posts

216 months

Saturday 15th December 2007
quotequote all
clearly a bahncruiser, i think if you want to handle as well, get an e39 m5

derestrictor

18,764 posts

262 months

Saturday 15th December 2007
quotequote all
Quite contrary to popular opinion, I found the RS6 to be the most surefooted whilst hunting badger: few cars ever reassured so emphatically with uber plantedness.

dodd001

Original Poster:

37 posts

213 months

Saturday 15th December 2007
quotequote all
derestrictor said:
Quite contrary to popular opinion, I found the RS6 to be the most surefooted whilst hunting badger: few cars ever reassured so emphatically with uber plantedness.
Ha ha I thought of the RS6 first however after reading into them on RS246 forum it sounds like the gearbox is a major weakpoint and since most of them are out of warranty now its a serious concern!

Since i dont really need 4 seats im considering a Z4 M-coupe as it would be better for trackdays. The main thing is that its a good allrounder i guess.

My other problem is that i dont have a 40k budget otherwise it would be a lot easier as i would get an M5 or SL55 simple. Beggars cannot be choosers lol.

PK328

564 posts

246 months

Sunday 16th December 2007
quotequote all
nickb55 said:
...and in the wet, it's plain dangerous... there's NO traction whatsoever.

If it's motorway/autobahn you're doing, there's nothing better. But fun round country lanes... forget it!
I'm surprised at that. When I drove an SL55 and CLK63 at Mercedes World, one of the stand-out features of both was their traction/stability control systems and how effective they were in the wet.

Kickstart

1,062 posts

238 months

Tuesday 18th December 2007
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I have only driven an E55 amg for the weekend when my local dealer lent me one. Super quick but not much fun on back roads.
If you have got £40k surely an M3 CSL/CS or a 996 is worth considering and might fit your needs a little better.

RS4john

331 posts

210 months

Tuesday 18th December 2007
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derestrictor said:
Quite contrary to popular opinion, I found the RS6 to be the most surefooted whilst hunting badger: few cars ever reassured so emphatically with uber plantedness.
My RS4 is the same.

paoloh

8,617 posts

205 months

Tuesday 18th December 2007
quotequote all
RS4john said:
derestrictor said:
Quite contrary to popular opinion, I found the RS6 to be the most surefooted whilst hunting badger: few cars ever reassured so emphatically with uber plantedness.
My RS4 is the same.
Now John, you were never going to say different were you??? lol

RS4john

331 posts

210 months

Tuesday 18th December 2007
quotequote all
paoloh said:
RS4john said:
derestrictor said:
Quite contrary to popular opinion, I found the RS6 to be the most surefooted whilst hunting badger: few cars ever reassured so emphatically with uber plantedness.
My RS4 is the same.
Now John, you were never going to say different were you??? lol
You Got Ta try laugh haven't Ya.