CLK 55 ..Shifting

[simbad]

Well I’m expecting to get flamed by a few for being irresponsible but I wanted to share an experience that made me smile.

I bought a CLK 55 a few months back and have opened her up a few times, enjoyed the mid range and off the mark power but never really tested the top end. I have a licence to try to keep after all. (and to that point, this is of course all something I dreamed and not real at all- for legal reasons ;-) )

So I’m coming back from Heathrow airport early on a Saturday morning- about 6.30am and a 1995 M3 overtakes me, I was sitting at 90, he tucks in front of me and slows to 80. After a couple of minutes I nip round him and continue on at 90, suddenly he’s in front again- I know he wants to play. Off he goes and our 2 cars flirt with each other for a couple of miles, me in front, him in front, side by side. Topping out at about 135. All good fun and within a minute or so my junction was upon me, I hit the indicators, he drew up alongside we exchanged a nod- took me back to my 17 yr old boy racer days- and I pulled off the motorway.

By now the adrenalin was pumping a wee bit. I had the speed bug. As I come off the junction, which will remain nameless, I hit a 2 mile stretch of straight dual carriageway. It was empty…. I gripped the wheel and gave her a squeeze. Back of mind knowing that some day I had to see what she could do. Front of mind praying that I don't see blue lights appearing from anywhere !

Smooth, Smooth power that put such a smile on my face.. Scenery seems to have gone into hyperdrive and is just a blur past my window so I glance down. She is reading off the clock- a little over 160 ! I’m amazed at how solid it feels and just sit back and enjoy for another few seconds. Then reality kicks back in and my licence flashes back into my head. Ease off and drop back to a steady 80 for the last ½ mile.

I was smiling for the rest of the day. Makes feel that all that poor mpg and higher insurance costs are worth it after all. Just itching to get her on a track now and do it all without that fear.

 

[C240Sport97]

that's what I got the car up to at Bruntingthorpe last year

She is reading off the clock- a little over 160 ! I’m amazed at how solid it feels and just sit back and enjoy for another few seconds.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Oh Lord thank you for all that is AMG

 

[Alfie]

that's what I got the car up to at Bruntingthorpe last year

With a 430 limited to 155 electronically, the 55 must be good for more than 160!

 

[simbad]

But the 55 has the same limiter on it - right? I had actually presumed that maybe it was hitting the limit and the speedo was just reading slightly over.

Then on the other hand i've read on other forums many instances when speed limiters simply don't kick in and do what they are supposed to.

If i'm right the 155 limit was done as a gentlemans aggreement between the major car manufacturers in Germany (obviously not Porsche) to curb the ever increasing top ends that are not realisticlly usable or safe on public roads.
Makes you wonder how well they work though- can't really see someone going back to the dealer and complaining that they hit 170 and the limiter hadn't kicked in

 

[machasm]

I'm not saying anything
Mac.

 

[C240Sport97]

yes, the limiter did kick in .. the car just hit a 'wall'

however, the speed was measured at 160 by the track device, whatever that was, so I suspect the 155 limit is just slightly more

With a 430 limited to 155 electronically, the 55 must be good for more than 160!

 

[richard]

As I come off the junction, which will remain nameless, I hit a 2 mile stretch of straight dual carriageway.

I hope that wasn't M3 J3, if coming back from Heathrow (i.e from M25), turning left towards Guildford.

Theres a beautiful dual carriage way there, there are sometimes (rarely) accidents on the other side of the carriageway, because you can turn right into Lightwater there, and people turning right sometimes misjudge whats coming from Guildford direction towards M3.

So, what do they do ? They put something that looks just like SPECS (one at the M3 end, and one right by the roundabout at the far end of the dual carraigeway) on the side of the carriageway that doesnt have accidents .... but will catch people as they come of the M3 who have got used to driving a bit above the speed limit.

Anyone else driving down there ? Does that look like SPECs to you as-well ??

Cheers

R

 

[simbad]

nope, not there- bit further north it's a great stretch that i use everyday on the last 3 miles of my journey home. just have to watch out for unmarked cars coming off there too, a friend of mine got done by an unmarked car on that stretch at 125 but i would never try that unless the road was empty.

my motto if there is a car behind or a car in front, it could be the friendly bunch. i've only got to see xenon blue tinted lights and i break out in a sweat
i'm tyring to think what the best track day option would be to play withthe car a little.
Not keen on killing a whole set of tyres in a day- anyone got experience of good options for seeing what your car can do with out killing it?

 

[simbad]

I'm not saying anything
Mac.

come on- you must have had her flat out by now?

 

[Howard]

nope, not there- bit further north it's a great stretch that i use everyday on the last 3 miles of my journey home. just have to watch out for unmarked cars coming off there too, a friend of mine got done by an unmarked car on that stretch at 125 but i would never try that unless the road was empty.

my motto if there is a car behind or a car in front, it could be the friendly bunch. i've only got to see xenon blue tinted lights and i break out in a sweat
i'm tyring to think what the best track day option would be to play withthe car a little.
Not keen on killing a whole set of tyres in a day- anyone got experience of good options for seeing what your car can do with out killing it?

German Autobahns.....

 

[BTB 500]

I hope that wasn't M3 J3, if coming back from Heathrow (i.e from M25), turning left towards Guildford.

Theres a beautiful dual carriage way there, there are sometimes (rarely) accidents on the other side of the carriageway, because you can turn right into Lightwater there, and people turning right sometimes misjudge whats coming from Guildford direction towards M3.

So, what do they do ? They put something that looks just like SPECS (one at the M3 end, and one right by the roundabout at the far end of the dual carraigeway) on the side of the carriageway that doesnt have accidents .... but will catch people as they come of the M3 who have got used to driving a bit above the speed limit.

Anyone else driving down there ? Does that look like SPECs to you as-well ??

Cheers

R

I drive that stretch of road regularly, there's always a big tailback towards Guildford in the evenings so I suspect any equipment there is just to monitor jams/congestion. They put a 50 limit on the section nearest to the M3 roundabout, I guess in reaction to the accidents you mentioned.

Going the other way from the M3 roundabout (towards Bracknell) there are cameras on the first set of traffic lights ... not sure if they monitor speed (some do) or just people going through on red.

 

[campbellju]

i'm tyring to think what the best track day option would be to play withthe car a little.
Not keen on killing a whole set of tyres in a day- anyone got experience of good options for seeing what your car can do with out killing it?

Track days are inevitably expensive and tyres can be the least of your worries in terms of cost. (Brakes service before and after, fuel)
On a track though even in your CLK you'll be lucky to see above 120mph at the end of a straight. Faster circuit will also have faster corners.

Airfield days are good fun, often faster and safer but are more abrasive on tyres too.

Drag racing might be fun for embaressing a few chavs but again you won't see much the dark side of 100mph.

For top speed fun, the Autobahn as Howard suggested could a be a good place or special organised days at airfields though I've personally never done that to comment.

Jim

 

[jeremytaylor]

If the road is clear and safe (i.e. no junctions where numbskulls could wander out in front of you) and you can stop within your visibility (well almost), I don't see a problem with your style of driving.

Of course a track is the best place to explore the limits of your car, although a track may reveal some aspects of the handling of your car that may not be found on the road ...

 

[BTB 500]

Track days are inevitably expensive and tyres can be the least of your worries in terms of cost. (Brakes service before and after, fuel)

And I guess many insurance policies won't cover track use. So maybe temporary cover for the day (or risk going without).

 

[C240Sport97]

depends on the wording on your policy

last year at Bruntingthorpe, my policy would cover 'track use' provided I was not racing and/or being timed

And I guess many insurance policies won't cover track use. So maybe temporary cover for the day (or risk going without).

 

[campbellju]

Many won't but some do and this is the best way to cover your car. The temporary cover policies are normally overpriced and only cover body damage.

I think it was of the order of £10 per £1000 of cover. After the first time I never bothered again.

 

[simbad]

I wonder if we were to organise a run to the Nurburgring on here many people would be up for it, would be cheapest way to do the big track and have lots of fun on the way in convoy.... thoughts?

 

[simbad]

going to post the idea of the nurburgring on the events area and see if there is any take up