So far since owning the car it has not given me much trouble although dealer oil changes can run a bit high. The car itself is not that great on gas mileage. But I didn't buy it for that. Its hefty price tag was also an issue ($76,720)
This car is among the best I have owned yet. The engine in this car has 469 horse power which is capable of propelling it through the quarter mile in 12-seconds flat at over 114 mph now that's fast for a 4000 pound car. zero to sixty times on this car are also outstanding it scoots to 60 in 4.4 seconds. With all that power I can put on quite a burnout show and blow the doors off of almost ever car out at the local drag strip. I also managed to beat my friend who has a 911 Porshe turbo.
This car features a touch manual shift selection which allows you to manually shift which gears you would like to be in, all done though the buttons located on the back of the steering wheel. This car out on the highway has the power to pass 15 cars. Its also great for long trips, but so far it has only been on one. After previously owning a Jaguar XJR I feel that the interior is not as plush as the Jaguar, but I much prefer the E-55 over the Jag any day. If any of you are into high performance vehicles, I would recommend the E-55 AMG to everyone.
It is interesting that you say that you car is quicker in a straight line than a 911 Turbo.
Technical data issued by both Mercedes and Porsche don't support this (E55 - 0-100km 4.7, 996 911T - 0-100km 4.2).
Also, you would have to agree that the E55 has somewhat woolly handling compared to the 911 Turbo.
And the 911 Turbo's AWD is superior to E55's RWD on any wet or slippery road.
Don't get me wrong. The E55 is a fantastic car as the overall package - superior performance with four doors, space and a limousine ride. Enjoy!
But I doubt that it would really beat a real driver's car like a 911 Turbo.
With respect to the Porsche vs AMG shootout I offer the following reality check. While the factory figures may confirm the quicker acceleration capabilities of the Porsche, keep in mind that these figures are generated with highly skilled drivers at the helm and represent the best case scenario. In the real world, we are not all expert drivers. I'd be willing to bet that an average driver on the automatic Benz could routinely best an average driver on a manually shifted Porsche. Put another way, in the real world, the tiny acceleration advantage enjoyed by the Porsche can easily be lost in the hands of a less than skilled driver.
Replying to all the comments above. As the writer of this review of the E-55 AMG I have been a race car driver and competed several times in many racing events accross the country as well as over seas along with the mercedes benz club of America. I have had a racing career ever since I was 16 years old, my dad and I used to race dragsters. I have attended many racing schools one being the skip-barber racing school. I have had many years experience of racing many automobiles and in some cases I beaten many well experienced drivers that owned Porches. However it took a lot of practice to acheive the 4.4 0-60 time. I have added a few things to the vehicle to make it slightly faster. I have added a smaller pulley on the supercharger which gave me a slight boost from 11psi to 12psi and that alone was good enough for a flat out 12.00 sec. E-T @119 Mph. Also Changing the tires to the BF-Goodrich G-force T/A radials made a slight difference and reduced spin outs. If any of you want to see me run this car at the bandemers drag strip in Denver, you will have to travel to Colorado which is my home state. I will look forward to seeing any of you. by the way the car is silver. It will be the only luxury four door sedan running out their.
See you there!
Having read the original reviewer's reply I can understand why their E55 may have been faster than a 911 Turbo (albeit in a straight line).
It has been modified!
And it is conceded that (as per another comment) a driver of average skill will do better in an auto.
But lets change the scenario to make it more comparable...
Bring along a Tiptronic 911 Turbo. Chipping it through a respectable tuner will see 0-100km runs below 4 seconds (even faster than one of those overpriced power hungry SL65s).
But more importantly -- even without modifying it -- will an E55 be able to keep up with the 911 Turbo on a reasonably twisty road or track? No?
What about performance in the wet? No?
Comparing oranges with oranges, the 911 Turbo will eat the E55 for breakfast every time.
Recent (UK) Evo magazine (coincidentally August 2004) tested Aston Martin DB9, Bently Continental GT, Mercedes SL55 and Porsche's 911 Turbo - four of the most desirable, fast "every day" Grand Touring cars currently sold on the market today (most true owners would not bother posting a review on any of these cars as they are too busy and succesful).
The car with the consistently fastest standing-start times (viz 0-60mph, 0-100mph) was the 911 Turbo.
The 911 was the only "Grand Tourer" competitor that had the capability of being a real "sports car" (therefore getting the highest 5 star ranking of the lot).
And the SL55 (which was beaten) is a better AMG than the E55. Nuff said then.
With respect to the previous comment, are you suggesting that you are unsuccessful or in some way under utilised seeing as you have the time to rattle off boring statistics and opinion or merely that the rest of us are?
Would love to know how the chap above deems the E55 "inferior" to the SL, just like that, with no explanation given. Nonsense I say. The E55 is the ultimate all-rounder, as real-world quick as any supercar. And I'm sorry, but comparing dragstrip 0-60mph times and niggling over tenths of a second is the sign of someone who has never driven what they're talking about. Such differences are not differences at all.
The E55 is big, quiet, smooth, automatic, and capable of carrying five adults plus their luggage at extreme speeds. I would suggest that rather than referring to glorified lad's mags like Evo, you peruse a few alternatives such as Autocar which will echo pretty much everything I've said. Motoring is not about screeching away from the traffic lights.
Then again, if all you're looking for in a car is the ability to hit 60mph 0.003 seconds ahead of everyone else, perhaps the Porsche Turbo is ideal. Then again, you might want to try the Mitsubishi FQ...
Be aware that BMW are soon to blow the silly merc away with the all new M5.
I am in the market for a new performance/luxury car and have recently test driven the E55 as well as the new (non-turbo) Porsche 911 (997) that has been released.
My priority is performance, although as I will be using it every day, it has to be comfortable as well.
The E55 and 911 cost similar money (the 911 Turbo costs significantly more).
Having driven both, I can make the following objective comments:
1. The Merc is a (slightly) faster "dragster" than the (unblown) 911. But in real life, you won't notice it that much. Both cars have massive, effortless overtaking reserves. Both make a nice (different) sound too.
2. The Merc is far more practical (and luxurious) with much more room (the 911s seats are near useless).
3. Both cars are well engineered with have gadgets/technlogy in abundance.
4. However, the 911 still seems to be the best all round performance car. The 911 sounds, handles and drives like a supercar, whereas the E55 still feels like it's a refined luxury car first and foremost.
No matter what, both are fantastic cars. However, I'm going to postpone my decision until I have a proper look at the new M5 (which I'm hoping may offer the best of both worlds).
I wish I had either one of them.
Interesting read. I for one, would enjoy all the cars noted above. Of course, each one for a slightly different character.
As I read the beginning post, about an individuals E55 AMG besting his friends 911 turbo, I took it as that one specific example. Fun, between two friends.
All the following data comparisons , and entertaining banter were interesting, but had no merit concerning the context of the starting post. Which, laid no claim to being any type of valid "test".
OK... I have to admit, I enjoyed reading them.
All I want to know is where one gets the slightly smaller pulley for the supercharger!!