Please talk me out of this - E55 AMG
Discussion
DJC said:
If I wanted sports car handling Id buy a Caterham.
You can have a big car which handles deftly and AMG have done and still produce in contemporary, alternative offerings, such balance (between grunt and balance.) Relatively speaking, the CL65 AMG's plough on understeer is genuinley disappointing given it's credentials.If you purely want the uber hit and limo thing, this is a far better package - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/405813.htm
derestrictor said:
DJC said:
If I wanted sports car handling Id buy a Caterham.
You can have a big car which handles deftly and AMG have done and still produce in contemporary, alternative offerings, such balance (between grunt and balance.) Relatively speaking, the CL65 AMG's plough on understeer is genuinley disappointing given it's credentials.If you purely want the uber hit and limo thing, this is a far better package - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/405813.htm
And handle deftly? Why would I want something with 4 seats to handle deftly? It has 4 seats for a reason...to transport more than 1 person and their stuff, as such throwing it around in a "fun" fashion is only likely to induce harsh words with the wife.
Ive done the sports car thing and this isnt about that. This is about the iron fist in a velvet glove. A sodding great big sledgehammer wrapped in an agreeable package. The only affordable alternatives to this sort of fun are a 456 and 550, but they are upto 10yrs older and depreciating slower.
Are you remotely serious?
I remember wafting my tribe up through Northern france a few years ago in the Lexus (LS430.)
It was quiet enough for me to get away with a lepton rate somewhere north of worthwhile.
On the fast, sweeping swoops just south of St Malo, a cheeky tete at tete with a local, naturally committed to driving on his doorhandles, soon had the big Toyota scrabbling for composure, even in 'sport' mode.
It was one of the moments which convinced me that I needed a more sporting compromise between comfort, practicality and thrustation. It's when I first realised the potential merit in the //M concept.
A test drive didn't leave me with too many doubts but the same trip a year later illustrated perfectly the brilliance of Munich's finest.
As for the S65 AMG being devoid of class, etc, I'm not a Merc man myself but it would be churlish to deny it's 'God's own supersaloon' stauts (as described by EVO) and surely if you want 4 seats it automatically makes a better case for itself than the CL?
I remember wafting my tribe up through Northern france a few years ago in the Lexus (LS430.)
It was quiet enough for me to get away with a lepton rate somewhere north of worthwhile.
On the fast, sweeping swoops just south of St Malo, a cheeky tete at tete with a local, naturally committed to driving on his doorhandles, soon had the big Toyota scrabbling for composure, even in 'sport' mode.
It was one of the moments which convinced me that I needed a more sporting compromise between comfort, practicality and thrustation. It's when I first realised the potential merit in the //M concept.
A test drive didn't leave me with too many doubts but the same trip a year later illustrated perfectly the brilliance of Munich's finest.
As for the S65 AMG being devoid of class, etc, I'm not a Merc man myself but it would be churlish to deny it's 'God's own supersaloon' stauts (as described by EVO) and surely if you want 4 seats it automatically makes a better case for itself than the CL?
derestrictor said:
Are you remotely serious?
I remember wafting my tribe up through Northern france a few years ago in the Lexus (LS430.)
It was quiet enough for me to get away with a lepton rate somewhere north of worthwhile.
On the fast, sweeping swoops just south of St Malo, a cheeky tete at tete with a local, naturally committed to driving on his doorhandles, soon had the big Toyota scrabbling for composure, even in 'sport' mode.
It was one of the moments which convinced me that I needed a more sporting compromise between comfort, practicality and thrustation. It's when I first realised the potential merit in the //M concept.
A test drive didn't leave me with too many doubts but the same trip a year later illustrated perfectly the brilliance of Munich's finest.
As for the S65 AMG being devoid of class, etc, I'm not a Merc man myself but it would be churlish to deny it's 'God's own supersaloon' stauts (as described by EVO) and surely if you want 4 seats it automatically makes a better case for itself than the CL?
Of course Im serious and I know the St Malo/Cherbourg area more than well enough. If Ive got my wife with me I dont hoon or push on, its as simple as that. Given that has been true whether Ive been in the Grif, the Sagaris, a hire car or her Skoda, then it will remain true for a GT cruiser. I didnt mind uncomfortable spors cars when I was single, but she isnt happy with doing all that.I remember wafting my tribe up through Northern france a few years ago in the Lexus (LS430.)
It was quiet enough for me to get away with a lepton rate somewhere north of worthwhile.
On the fast, sweeping swoops just south of St Malo, a cheeky tete at tete with a local, naturally committed to driving on his doorhandles, soon had the big Toyota scrabbling for composure, even in 'sport' mode.
It was one of the moments which convinced me that I needed a more sporting compromise between comfort, practicality and thrustation. It's when I first realised the potential merit in the //M concept.
A test drive didn't leave me with too many doubts but the same trip a year later illustrated perfectly the brilliance of Munich's finest.
As for the S65 AMG being devoid of class, etc, I'm not a Merc man myself but it would be churlish to deny it's 'God's own supersaloon' stauts (as described by EVO) and surely if you want 4 seats it automatically makes a better case for itself than the CL?
I dont dispute the Merc's claim to be Gods Own Supersaloon, but I loathe supersaloons, finding them hideously ugly and crass things. Hence the whole point about the CL...it actually looks good. It has a style, character and a lunatic of an engine. I dont need 4 seats, hence why such things as a 550 also appeal to me, but I may need the extra rears for transporting guests down to France. Whatsmore if Im honest I would probably look to sell it after 1 year and try out the others on my list, the 456 and the 550 and probably the 996tt one day. The whole point is that this biggest of the Big Dog Mercs (until the recent Black SL) appeals to me, the first Merc since the 190 cossie.
DJC said:
derestrictor said:
Are you remotely serious?
I remember wafting my tribe up through Northern france a few years ago in the Lexus (LS430.)
It was quiet enough for me to get away with a lepton rate somewhere north of worthwhile.
On the fast, sweeping swoops just south of St Malo, a cheeky tete at tete with a local, naturally committed to driving on his doorhandles, soon had the big Toyota scrabbling for composure, even in 'sport' mode.
It was one of the moments which convinced me that I needed a more sporting compromise between comfort, practicality and thrustation. It's when I first realised the potential merit in the //M concept.
A test drive didn't leave me with too many doubts but the same trip a year later illustrated perfectly the brilliance of Munich's finest.
As for the S65 AMG being devoid of class, etc, I'm not a Merc man myself but it would be churlish to deny it's 'God's own supersaloon' stauts (as described by EVO) and surely if you want 4 seats it automatically makes a better case for itself than the CL?
Of course Im serious and I know the St Malo/Cherbourg area more than well enough. If Ive got my wife with me I dont hoon or push on, its as simple as that.* Given that has been true whether Ive been in the Grif, the Sagaris, a hire car or her Skoda, then it will remain true for a GT cruiser. I didnt mind uncomfortable spors cars when I was single, but she isnt happy with doing all that.I remember wafting my tribe up through Northern france a few years ago in the Lexus (LS430.)
It was quiet enough for me to get away with a lepton rate somewhere north of worthwhile.
On the fast, sweeping swoops just south of St Malo, a cheeky tete at tete with a local, naturally committed to driving on his doorhandles, soon had the big Toyota scrabbling for composure, even in 'sport' mode.
It was one of the moments which convinced me that I needed a more sporting compromise between comfort, practicality and thrustation. It's when I first realised the potential merit in the //M concept.
A test drive didn't leave me with too many doubts but the same trip a year later illustrated perfectly the brilliance of Munich's finest.
As for the S65 AMG being devoid of class, etc, I'm not a Merc man myself but it would be churlish to deny it's 'God's own supersaloon' stauts (as described by EVO) and surely if you want 4 seats it automatically makes a better case for itself than the CL?
I dont dispute the Merc's claim to be Gods Own Supersaloon, but I loathe supersaloons, finding them hideously ugly and crass things. Hence the whole point about the CL...it actually looks good. It has a style, character and a lunatic of an engine. I dont need 4 seats, hence why such things as a 550 also appeal to me, but I may need the extra rears for transporting guests down to France. Whatsmore if Im honest I would probably look to sell it after 1 year and try out the others on my list, the 456 and the 550 and probably the 996tt one day. The whole point is that this biggest of the Big Dog Mercs (until the recent Black SL) appeals to me, the first Merc since the 190 cossie.
- I know exactly what you mean.
However, this is precisely where a turbine smooth, uber delivery with a flat stance through scenic sweepers is a valuable arrow in the quiver. Spouses and offspring may nod off and in these moments, a blaring V8 or 10 is the perfect smiter of illicit pedal mashage. Much better a velvet twelve or well plumbed (supercharged) V8...
I love it dearly but it's underpinnings make for antiquated progress when taken next to many of the recent (certainly medium) super saloons.
Of course I'm predictably biased but something like an E39 M5 (/Alpina B10 V8) or a prev gen RS6 is surely quite inoffensive stylistically whilst offering a good, all round compromise?
I saw a '54 plate S500 on Sunday, pootling into the M&S carpark here in Orange County: it was nothing less than svelte elegance and totally inoffensive, aesthetically: maybe an S600L would be a better bet in your application? Unadorned to the point of anonymity yet possessing that wonderful 5.5 litre V12, twice blown to produce near 500 horse and genuinely out-Lexifying the Lexus ito wife undetecting, velvet schnell...
derestrictor said:
I realise the accusations of bias will reverberate but how about this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/840998.htm ?
(Btw, the stock E55 AMG produced 469 bhp.
}
Officially, but then so did the SL55 before Mercedes "notices" that they all made 500 bhp (actually PS) and so re-specified them all as 500. Autocar claimed something like all the 55s probably made 500bhp and the E was officially rated at only 469 so as to keep it away from the flagship SL. It's lighter too you see.(Btw, the stock E55 AMG produced 469 bhp.
} The S class idea is a good one. Not really a sports saloon but it's lovely in its waftyness and kind of big money feeling in a way an E class isn't.
Bing o said:
Crikey, I wouldn't buy that one.1 What's going on with the rear suspension? Lots in the boot? Or dodgily lowered - On my Merc people lower the rear end by tricking the self-levelling linkage, but apparently its not good to do. At worse it may not be self levelling properly by the looks of it.
2 The geezer with thumbs up in the background?
3 Polished every week??
Maybe I am being negative but it doesn't set the right tone for me.
derestrictor said:
Bing o said:
I guess my other question is, would an E500 deliver most of the bang for a lot less buck?
No.The AMG is phenomenal.
RichBurley said:
derestrictor said:
Bing o said:
I guess my other question is, would an E500 deliver most of the bang for a lot less buck?
No.The AMG is phenomenal.
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