Would buying an £8k W211 E55 be the worst idea ever?

[TheAllSeeingPie]

E500's are nice, but probably go through brakes faster than an E55 if you drive them hard as they don't have the uprated brakes. With the performance hit, and I'd assume say running costs would be relatively equal, why not get the E55

[vinnie83]

TheAllSeeingPie said:

E500's are nice, but probably go through brakes faster than an E55 if you drive them hard as they don't have the uprated brakes. With the performance hit, and I'd assume say running costs would be relatively equal, why not get the E55

I think I would always wish I had just gone all out and got the AMG too. The non-supercharged 55AMG engines are nothing power wise compared to the supercharged so the 500 would be miles below!

[vinnie83]

martindesu said:

You only live once. If you have your heart set on it, go for it.

vinnie83 said:

I am averaging ~8mpg in the SL by the way

I'm averaging 20.4 mpg since ownership; it's my daily driver (52 miles/day). I absolutely love it.

I guess I pootle around a bit

Mine is a weekend car with a very loud exhaust, so when I drive it I think I secretly give myself any excuse to put my foot down a little

Not sure I would have the discipline to drive in a manner that would get me 20mpg!

[TheAllSeeingPie]

The SL is a few hundred kilos heavier too which won't help. The main problems with these cars is being in traffic, you forget how slow other cars are and it gets frustrating being stuck behind slow overtakers. Usually it's ok but you often get the "remapped 335d" crew who just won't pull over when it's clear.

[vinnie83]

TheAllSeeingPie said:

The SL is a few hundred kilos heavier too which won't help. The main problems with these cars is being in traffic, you forget how slow other cars are and it gets frustrating being stuck behind slow overtakers. Usually it's ok but you often get the "remapped 335d" crew who just won't pull over when it's clear.

I think the average non-petrol head just doesn't realise how fast these cars are - everybody knows an M5 is fast, but a 55 AMG is often overlooked... it was from a time where AMG's were not in the mainstream.

The E55 is fantastic at scaring the crap out of chavs though.. they never expect an 'old mans saloon' to teat them a new asshole! I had so much fun when mine was debadged!

[daveenty]

vinnie83 said:

I had so much fun when mine was debadged!

Mine still is badgeless, and it's a bit lot quicker than my old E55 was, courtesy of MSL Performance in Birmingham. To all intents and purposes it's an old man's car (with an old man driving it). Anyone got a nodding dog for the parcel shelf they could lend me? He could sit on the tartan blanket if we're still allowed tartan after the vote.

[TheAllSeeingPie]

MSL are insane! I had them do work on mine too and a my Range Rover previously. I thought they did a good job on the RR but the Merc was mental afterwards. I've just had an oil change on the gearbox too and that's made things even more rapid.

[vinnie83]

daveenty said:

vinnie83 said:

I had so much fun when mine was debadged!

Mine still is badgeless, and it's a bit lot quicker than my old E55 was, courtesy of MSL Performance in Birmingham. To all intents and purposes it's an old man's car (with an old man driving it). Anyone got a nodding dog for the parcel shelf they could lend me? He could sit on the tartan blanket if we're still allowed tartan after the vote.

I was 24 when I had mine, so naturally people assumed I was a kid driving his dads diesel E class... I remember embarrassing a chap in a 360 and 996 C4S - priceless doesn't come close to the looks on their faces!

I have just been told by Paul at Eurocharged in Watford that he just picked up my SL55 after some exhaust work and it's in the top 3 loudest and best sounding he has heard... not so subtle this time