So anyone see 5th Gear tonight?

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Steve_Perry

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Messages
3,241
Location
Wales, U.K.
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CLS350CDI Grand Edition
In summary Tiff liked the AMG SL55 but liked the Porsche even more. The 911's drive is more involving.

They showed one shot where it looked like he came close to putting the SL55 into a hedge &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eek:mg:'> <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'> &nbsp;Perhaps it was just me but the car's tail end really flicked as he came out of the corner.

He reckoned that he felt really in control of the 911 whereas he got the feeling the AMG was driving him.

One thing he did prefer over the Porsche was the SL55's vario-roof... coupe/convertible all in one package <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;

It was a pretty good feature, <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbs:'> they also had a story about a 'Smart car' rally/GTG from London to Brighton <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

So anyone else see it? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> Have comments? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

S.
 
Was just watching yesterdays Top Gear too, interesting to see the RS6 v E55 too. The consensus seems to be the electronics are just a bit too interfering. Has the SL got different settings on the traction/handling pack a la BMW/Volvo?

The different settings range from completely safe without over/understeer, through just enough to enjoy it sideways to off altogether.

From my experience the ESP on mine is just too imposing and you can't hold any sort of slide (as Tiff said even if you turn it off without an LSD the inside wheel just spins <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> ).

R
 
From what Tiff was saying I got the impression the SL55's all imposing computer brain behind the traction control was either on or off. As he said (and you mentioned), switch it off and all you do is wheel spin without a limited slip diff. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

S.
 
I wrote about the AMG driving day in another thread - AMG day link here

Billy and I got drive a selection of AMG's with ESP on and off.
Billy can tell you about the SL55, he drove it for over an hour on the road, then on the track. I was in a new CLK55.

I tell you this honestly - ESP is a lifesaver - no doubt about it.
These cars have so much power that sooner or later its going to get you into trouble.

What they are not, is club racers. At least, they are not for experienced club racers or track drivers. There was barely any difference in lap time when the expert drove us round a short circuit in an SLK32 with ESP on or off, but there was an obvious difference in driver involvement.

You can take them to the track, turn off the ESP and have great fun...as my son will testify...he got the CLK twitching on a 2nd - 3rd gear upshift on a bend with ESP off - that's at about 75mph. But he'd have gone off the line, spun, perhaps hit some grass at worst, not someone coming the other way.

It was interesting talking to the Police advanced driving Instructors, and being driven by them. They drove, on the road, with great gusto, but in complete safety. They regard ESP as a wonderful innovation, allowing for the safe® use of a performance car on the road.

I asked the guy driving us whether they found the ESP intrusive, and told him that IMHO it can be if it cuts in when launching into traffic. He acknowledged it can sometimes happen; he told me that the way they overcome that problem is to squeeze the throttle, rather than floor it. His take is that it is all about being progressive rather than brutal, and that its a small price to pay, considering the other benefits. (Also advised using W - we were talking AMG autos).

In the SLK we tried a brake torque start (ESP off), a full throttle ESP start, and a 'squeeze' throttle start. Squeezing was fastest every time.

Richard wrote -
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">From my experience the ESP on mine is just too imposing and you can't hold any sort of slide (as Tiff said even if you turn it off without an LSD the inside wheel just spins </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

After some instruction, and some hilarious spins, Billy and I managed to maintain controlled slides for a couple of revolutions of a large roundabout in a C32...we were assured that the cars hadn't been altered in any way. What I learnt about my driving (contrary to my hopes) was that I can deal with a controlled slide, because I've induced it, I'm expecting it. Its the one that's not invited, that comes at about 80 mph on a bend, because of a pothole, a manhole cover, or a few leaves, that's when I need ESP.

In summary, the electronics can intrude, but you only need them to save your life once...

Just my opinion, I wouldn't be without it now.
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Guy @ Dec. 09 2002,23:56)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What I learnt about my driving (contrary to my hopes) was that I can deal with a controlled slide, because I've induced it, I'm expecting it. Its the one that's not invited, that comes at about 80 mph on a bend, because of a pothole, a manhole cover, or a few leaves, that's when I need ESP.

In summary, the electronics can intrude, but you only need them to save your life once...

Just my opinion, I wouldn't be without it now.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I've had a couple of scares, like pulling onto a slippery motorway sliproad (oversteer city&#33<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>. &nbsp;ASR sorted that one out nicely and I'm sure from the outside it looked like I recovered it like a pro.

I missed 5th Gear, but my tivo will have caught it so I'll watch it when I get home from work tonight <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
 
Guy,

Thanks for your comments on the AMG day, I read your seperate post (with immense jealousy!! <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'> ). I'm very interested to hear the comments from the police drivers, when I did my IAM it was a traffic officer who did the assessment and his whole attitude to enjoying driving was to keep everything smooth, and his style was extremely rapid without any fuss or drama. It was something I've endeavoured to emulate on the road - seems to have worked so far!

I had a similar driving day with Subaru at Millbrook, the experience is still fresh in my mind, the mountain circuit in an Impreza Turbo was awesome!

I must admit I would be much more careful with the throttle on mine if ESP wasn't there!

R
 
I had a ride in an SL55 AMG this morning..... WOW!

the noise, the speed, the comfort &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 

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