Holy MOLY, 500E versus ACCORD? Wassup?

[blackmercedes]

Last year my cousin bought a well-used 92 500E. She put some money and hard work into the car, and now at close to 300K-km's, it's an awesome car that she is into for a shockingly small amount of money for such a car.

Anyway, she was in town for today and I helped her do a simple service on the car. We had to drive to the dealer to pick up an oil filter, and she let me drive. Aahhh. Anyone turn that down? Ha!

Anyway, we're at the light on the freeway (yes, some of our "freeways" have suface intersections...stupid as that is) beside a new Accord Coupe. the driver is late 40's and looks a little froggy. Huh? Some doors need to be blown off! Jan gives me the nod and when the light hits green I give the M119 it's head.

Well, that durned Accord was about a half car length behind (his bumper with our front door) and that's where he stayed! Cripes! Not wanting to get too far over the speed limit in someone else's car, I shut it down, but we had made no headway against the Honda.

Are the new V6's that quick? Geez, when we had the C36 I SMOKED a friend's TL-S. The Accord is shorter on power. It looked bone stock.

Call me shocked and awed...

Those Jap cars are always full of suprises, the V6 accord packs 240 HP and is somewhat lighter than the e500 if the accord had a little jump you'd be toast.

Theres nothing like a car with beer cans for tailpipes eating your $196,000 for lunch.

[jcyuhn]

The Accord coupe with v6 & six-speed manual ran 0-60 in 5.9 seconds in one test I read. Faster than it should be; I wonder if Honda is sandbagging on the HP numbers?

Ironically, the four door is far slower than it should be, usually about 8 seconds flat for the 0-60 sprint. That's far too slow for a 240HP midsize, even with a slushbox.

If you didn't win, you just didn't race long enough!

- JimY

[G-Benz]

And remember...these cars are designed to go flat out on the Autobahn all day, not head-to-head drag-strip bracket racing!

Wonder how white-knuckled the old chap would have been had both cars seen the other hemisphere of the speedometer!

[blackmercedes]

Originally posted by jcyuhn
The Accord coupe with v6 & six-speed manual ran 0-60 in 5.9 seconds in one test I read.

Damn! 5.9? Sheesh, that's pretty quick for a FWD Honda! Of course, if you gave me the Honda I'd sell it right away and buy a RWD car, but beside the point that the Accord drives the WRONG wheels, it's got some cojones!

Jan's 500 has some miles on 'er now, but she still runs hard. Guess after 12 years, even "family" cars are starting to pack some serious performance. Too bad old Honda is still mired in FWD land, otherwise those cars might be worth a serious look...

[MTI]

It's all in the power to weight ratio & gearing . . . and as said before, Mercedes weren't built for the stoplight grand prix . . . it's a 'bahn burner.

[jpb5151]

The Honda probably had DVD nav too.

[420SEL]

Most cars have gotten faster since the early 90s. Compare a 2004 E55 to the 500E for acceleration. I can remember as a kid if a car could do 0-60 in 6-7 seconds that was fast. Today its nothing to do it in 5-6, and some are under 4.

[Hatterasguy]

A Vett, Car and Driver tested did it in under 2! It wasn't stock of course.

[jcyuhn]

The late model Altima with 3.5 liter V6 and a 5-speed also does 5.9 seconds. Again, not bad for a FWD family box. Of course, it's more than a bit lacking in refinement, and the interior is some kind of cheap plastic hell. But it does scoot right along.

- JimY