RE: Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic : UK Review
Discussion
Lukey-C said:
jakesmith said:
Doesn't feel like there is anywhere left to go for car performance, as tire grip and physics become the limiting factor over anything mechanical. If the fastest supercars are doing 0-60 in just under 3 seconds and an AMG E is 3.2, the gap is so small.
And as the technology gets cheaper and manufacturers compete, performance trickles down - today's 330d faster than a Ferarri 348.
I think car performance is at or approaching its peak at the moment, before it all goes electric and autonimous
This, this, a thousand times this. Been saying it for a while, but it seems like in pure performance terms everything is getting "bunched up" around the 3-4 sec mark to 60 - hypercars, supercars and now mega-power family estates too.And as the technology gets cheaper and manufacturers compete, performance trickles down - today's 330d faster than a Ferarri 348.
I think car performance is at or approaching its peak at the moment, before it all goes electric and autonimous
Of course, there is far more to a car than the 0-60 dash (which many people think is irrelevant anyway). The hypercars & supercars will deliver their performance in a very different way, pull harder beyond 60/100/120mph and of course handle far better.
But for me, growing up as a lad reading Top Gear Magazine or (more recently) Evo there was always so alluring about the sheer level performance (read - accelerative performance) that was only accessible with supercar ownership. It wasn't breaking distances, steering feel or weight (I couldn't appreciate those at 12 years old) but 0-60 and top speed. In some respects, the relatively "common" accessibility of these levels of performance kind of detracts a little from the allure of a supercar.
Totally get what you are saying, we have got so used to craving a few tenths here or there because performance was so expensive and difficult to attain, now you can get vast performance for 10 grand, 2004 E55 for example, we read about things and think we need the top version but really, we need to drive the individual options, sometimes there is a sweet spot, a nicer engine with plenty of shove lower down the range, I think the acceleration is a neat party piece but even mine sometimes you feel like you are hanging on, along for the ride.
i think I personally will look more for a decent level of performance, nice power delivery and try not to worry about having the absolute fastest out there and just enjoy what I have, dont need to "beat" anyone" and I suspect with this I would get myself banned in a week
popeyewhite said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
I don't really get these cars. I had an M5 and, yes, it accelerated really quickly.
But on a nice road the fact that it was huge, heavy and high simply removed any fun available. It's ok being able to go fast, but big saloons are compromised to the extent that the performance becomes a hindrance - or even frightening.
The current (rwd) E63 Amg feels neither high, heavy, or huge. It does not feel like a "big saloon" in any way. In fact it feels darty and chuckable in every situation I've encountered.But on a nice road the fact that it was huge, heavy and high simply removed any fun available. It's ok being able to go fast, but big saloons are compromised to the extent that the performance becomes a hindrance - or even frightening.
Can't imagine the E feeling better, full AMG kit or not. It's a huge car for munching miles in comfort and at blinding speed.
scherzkeks said:
popeyewhite said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
I don't really get these cars. I had an M5 and, yes, it accelerated really quickly.
But on a nice road the fact that it was huge, heavy and high simply removed any fun available. It's ok being able to go fast, but big saloons are compromised to the extent that the performance becomes a hindrance - or even frightening.
The current (rwd) E63 Amg feels neither high, heavy, or huge. It does not feel like a "big saloon" in any way. In fact it feels darty and chuckable in every situation I've encountered.But on a nice road the fact that it was huge, heavy and high simply removed any fun available. It's ok being able to go fast, but big saloons are compromised to the extent that the performance becomes a hindrance - or even frightening.
Can't imagine the E feeling better, full AMG kit or not. It's a huge car.
The last E I drove was years ago, an E55 and boy it had some go. It handled like a boat. Scary mix of huge grunt and crap handling. This new one should be pretty sharp and lets face it, no one is going to get passed its limits on a public road.
Burwood said:
It handled like a boat. Scary mix of huge grunt and crap handling.
The current (well, pre 4wd) E63 does not handle like a boat. Ask any owner. All 2011+ models have completely revised suspension and drive train. Before my current '14 model I owned an '08. The 6.3 NA engine was fantastic but the handling and the gearbox let it down. The difference between the two models is night and day. The 4wd version will be utterly sublime and the best saloon money can buy - by some margin. But, as some have pointed out, they can come alive at any speed. 150 on a quick dash is easily done, and you need to recalibrate your distance/speed/timing senses PDQ or you'll end up in serious trouble.They are some epic stats, and totally agree with alot of the posts - it's probably all the car the anyone could ever need, especially in Estate guise.
I feel the front end isn't as aggressive as some previous models, and I think the W212 (pre-facelift) E63 looks mean with its boxy lights (even thought it was thought as rather ugly when launched).
I feel the front end isn't as aggressive as some previous models, and I think the W212 (pre-facelift) E63 looks mean with its boxy lights (even thought it was thought as rather ugly when launched).
Burwood said:
scherzkeks said:
popeyewhite said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
I don't really get these cars. I had an M5 and, yes, it accelerated really quickly.
But on a nice road the fact that it was huge, heavy and high simply removed any fun available. It's ok being able to go fast, but big saloons are compromised to the extent that the performance becomes a hindrance - or even frightening.
The current (rwd) E63 Amg feels neither high, heavy, or huge. It does not feel like a "big saloon" in any way. In fact it feels darty and chuckable in every situation I've encountered.But on a nice road the fact that it was huge, heavy and high simply removed any fun available. It's ok being able to go fast, but big saloons are compromised to the extent that the performance becomes a hindrance - or even frightening.
Can't imagine the E feeling better, full AMG kit or not. It's a huge car.
The last E I drove was years ago, an E55 and boy it had some go. It handled like a boat. Scary mix of huge grunt and crap handling. This new one should be pretty sharp and lets face it, no one is going to get passed its limits on a public road.
I've driven the previous E63 on Merc World's track, I couldn't get over how heavy it felt on track. It is far from the handling mess when pushing hard that my XC90 would be but the E was miles from the SLS or C Black Series I have driven on the same track. It is not a car I would ever consider for serious track work, although if I owned one I would take it out on track just for a few laps as it would be so out of place; having used it to tow my Indy to the track.
As a large, extremely fast family vehicle that you could daily it would be an amazing choice, although I would struggle to see how you could legally use even a quarter of the performance on the road.
As a large, extremely fast family vehicle that you could daily it would be an amazing choice, although I would struggle to see how you could legally use even a quarter of the performance on the road.
jakesmith said:
Doesn't feel like there is anywhere left to go for car performance, as tire grip and physics become the limiting factor over anything mechanical. If the fastest supercars are doing 0-60 in just under 3 seconds and an AMG E is 3.2, the gap is so small.
And as the technology gets cheaper and manufacturers compete, performance trickles down - today's 330d faster than a Ferarri 348.
I think car performance is at or approaching its peak at the moment, before it all goes electric and autonimous
Even my wife said the same. Watching the cars at Santa Pod on the drag strip and she pointed out that there was very little between any of the top cars. A slight hint to ditch my AMG maybe, but she and you are absolutely right. So many cars are sub 7 seconds to 60 now, and while many of the more powerful cars will leave them behind above 60, it all starts to become a little pointless. And as the technology gets cheaper and manufacturers compete, performance trickles down - today's 330d faster than a Ferarri 348.
I think car performance is at or approaching its peak at the moment, before it all goes electric and autonimous
Take the 650S there. Sure, the guy got a bad launch a few times, but it wasn't as lightning fast as I would expect a 'supercar' to be. We seem to be getting to the limit of performance. Most of the cars on the strip couldn't get their power down.
jakesmith said:
Doesn't feel like there is anywhere left to go for car performance, as tire grip and physics become the limiting factor over anything mechanical. If the fastest supercars are doing 0-60 in just under 3 seconds and an AMG E is 3.2, the gap is so small.
And as the technology gets cheaper and manufacturers compete, performance trickles down - today's 330d faster than a Ferarri 348.
I think car performance is at or approaching its peak at the moment, before it all goes electric and autonimous
Does feel a bit like that, a Golf R with a Remap isnt that far behind in the scheme of things in terms of acceleration from a standstill on bare figures, hopefully it means we can perhaps focus on other things that make a car good. Its weird as there was an outcry over the original Lotus Carlton, which, though still a fast car by any measure would get minced by anything in that bracket now.And as the technology gets cheaper and manufacturers compete, performance trickles down - today's 330d faster than a Ferarri 348.
I think car performance is at or approaching its peak at the moment, before it all goes electric and autonimous
popeyewhite said:
J4CKO said:
Does feel a bit like that, a Golf R with a Remap isnt that far behind in the scheme of things in terms of acceleration from a standstill on bare figures,
True, and a Caterham is a bit quicker still. Neither are a luxurious mega-saloon though.
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