Drove this.... (56K: Computer says No.)

[Ant]

...this last week!

C55 AMG Merc, 5.5 V8 = AWESOME!

Its not often I get to drive monsters like this, so it was quite a treat, especially as I haven't really driven anything properly with an engine bigger than my 1.4 clio's. The engine note alone gave me goosebumps!

Driving around small streets and residential areas, it felt so tame, and easy to drive. But on the open road, put your foot flat, it turns into a rocket! I have never felt acceleration like it! The speedo started reaching isane speeds in seconds! Its scary! I had to slow down pretty quick though, as I was running out of road. But that gave me a chance to test the brakes. They work very well!

Some pics









To sum it up, I want one.

Ant

[Spunkey]

Don't normally go for Mercs myself, but that is mighty tasty indeed

Who'd you have to carjack to drive it?

[Ant]

Don't normally go for Mercs myself, but that is mighty tasty indeed

Who'd you have to carjack to drive it?

To be honest, I was never really a merc fan either, though this has certainly changed some of that opinion! What I like most about the car, other than the never ending hooooge amounts of power, is that its subtle. To the average person in the street, it just looks like another C-Class. All the "sporty" touches are very discreet, in my opinion.

Its my aunt's new car. Only a few months old! I didn't even ask to take it for a spin, as I thought my chances were extremely slim! My uncle just asked me if my UK licence was valid out there, and then handed me the keys!

Ant

[schmunk]

All the "sporty" touches are very discreet, in my opinion.
Ant

Apart from the honking great wheels...

[Konan555]

Someone gonna tell me why AMG always have the calipers on 'tother side of the disc?

[Knoxville]

Nice, I am beginning to tire of amg's marketing tactic of "we put huge turbo engines in everything with ridculous horsepower even though we're gonna limit it to death electronically" seems a bit of a shot in the foot to me.

[Ant]

Nice, I am beginning to tire of amg's marketing tactic of "we put huge turbo engines in everything with ridculous horsepower even though we're gonna limit it to death electronically" seems a bit of a shot in the foot to me.

Yeah I know what you mean! Same with BMW too, all limited to 155 Mph. Though I'm sure if you really wanted, you could have the limiter removed.

ant

[Spunkey]

Someone gonna tell me why AMG always have the calipers on 'tother side of the disc?

They're in those positions because that is what gives the most effective braking power. If you look at any racing car (heres an FIA GT 550 - yes i do play too much GTR ) you'll see they have the calipers in the same position, maybe moved up or down a degree or two.

Most road cars have them the other way round so that they're not as easy for the your average Mother in the Cayenne to lock up.

[Butuz]

Am i being dull coz I cant see how it would make a difference - its still the same caliper gripping the same disk with the same pads at the same presure. How does moving it around a round disk make any difference apart from moving the weight of the caliper forward or backwards or up or down???

Butuz

[Ant]

Am i being dull coz I cant see how it would make a difference - its still the same caliper gripping the same disk with the same pads at the same presure. How does moving it around a round disk make any difference apart from moving the weight of the caliper forward or backwards or up or down???

Butuz

^^^^

Thats what I would have thought! I am definately not an expert, but would love to know if it does make a difference?...

Ant

[schmunk]

Yeah I know what you mean! Same with BMW too, all limited to 155 Mph. Though I'm sure if you really wanted, you could have the limiter removed.

ant

I understand that the German government requires them to do this by law. It's odd, however, that Porsches don't seem to be limited in this way?

[blockers]

Nice, I am beginning to tire of amg's marketing tactic of "we put huge turbo engines in everything with ridculous horsepower even though we're gonna limit it to death electronically" seems a bit of a shot in the foot to me.

Its for the acceleration i would have thought. Surely it does 0-60 in 6ish seconds....even if it was limited are you ever going to get to use it above 155mph!?

Acceleration is more useful that a 185mph top speed.

[Konan555]

I was thinking more along the lines of it being to do with the practicalities of mounting of bigger calipers. If it's more efficient than a caliper on the front maybe it's to do with the airflow to the disc?

As for the 155mph, it's more of a gentleman's agreement. These sort of cars are more 'prestige' power than 'race' power... overtaking at 50mph in 5th with a slight feather of the throttle.

[Butuz]

Its for the acceleration i would have thought. Surely it does 0-60 in 6ish seconds....even if it was limited are you ever going to get to use it above 155mph!?

Acceleration is more useful that a 185mph top speed.

Your missing the point, the car will do 185mph if you take the limiter off and the acceletation is still the same. The limiter just says right your doing 155 your not going no more even though your only at 4000rpm and theres plenty more left in the engine

Butuz

[Fox]

Beautiful looking car

[Konan555]

Your missing the point, the car will do 185mph if you take the limiter off and the acceletation is still the same. The limiter just says right your doing 155 your not going no more even though your only at 4000rpm and theres plenty more left in the engine

Butuz

I think what he meant was..... The engine power's more for accelerating than for use at top speed.