Great thread (when handled responsibly). Had a bit of a run in on the highway here in CT this week with a WRX sedan and a E36 325 (tuned); I'd yet to see any of the WRX owners actually DRIVE their car, so this was interesting. Verdict is that passing power, lane change / acceleration for the WRX is less than I'd have expected for its 227 horse and aluminum body panels. I wasn't catching him, but he wasn't pulling on me either. The tuned 6 cyl. sounded faster than it was and I'd say it was about an equal matchup all round...

Check out http://www.corvair.org/chapters/necc/page_limerock_track_2001.html to see the lap times of last weeks event @ Lime Rock against many fully prepared race cars (me and a pair of 500E's from Michael and Dave). Rememeber... street tires and virtually stock for us... many of the people there left scratching their heads...

To those 993's and 996ers out there, there's little doubt in my mind that trusty 500E would have a field day on them (normally aspirated, obviously not them Turb's). Had a tuned E28 ///M5 previously that walked on many, many 993's on the highway. A 930 was able to just barely inch on me... the 500E is the older M's big bro...

Paul

'87 190E 2.3-16
'98 ML 320
'58 TR3A

[Edited by krasuskyp on 07-16-2001 at 06:40 AM]

A friend of mine has one of those 454 SS Chevy pick-ups from the early 90's...he was so sure his chipped and exhausted truck could whip a factory "Kraut" car...well, I didn't bother to slow down and let him catch up to see my sh_t-eatin' grin. I'm sure I'll have to tangle with his built Vette now. Bring it on , babey. Hey, everybody, when you check out the Lime Rock lap times...look at 'ol Jimbo!!! I was so fast I doubt any of yous even saw me flying around the track. See you next time. Eat me!!!

jimmy, what kind of numbers have you posted down at the strip? Your professing to beat your father-in-law's '93 vette sort of amuses me. You see, I have an LT4 '96 vette to stretch my legs after driving my little 380sl.

An Audi A4 1.8 tried messing with me Sunday as well as a Chevy Z71 pickup on the on-ramp.

Creamed them both. The Chevy didn't have a chance (0-85), and the Audi A4 just ran out of steam at 120.

I wonder if I can take on the 2.6L Audi A4 . . .

Only time will tell.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG

I have yet to track this car, I purchased the car in Feb2001, I have hit the rev-limter at 155 several times on the Interstate 384 by my house and as for 0-60 times, it must be around 5.5 secs according to my friend with the 454 Chevy P-up who has one of those G-meters. I do have the launching technique down though. The car is quite quick; must have been broken it perfectly. When fall comes as with the Renntech chip and the maintenence is fully completed I will take the car to Lebanon Valley to drag it. As for the 93' vette I beat...I didn't blow him away, rather, we walked away from him at about 120 and being a older man with quadruple by-pass surgery under his belt, I'd imagine the stiches in that tired old heart began leaking at 130 mph and his shorts may of filled up with the brown stuff after that...but he would never admit that for sure as I am young, thin and white.

I also have heard the WRXs don't move like they have 220+ or whatever horses. Which car did you leave him with? Both look really nice. What kind of horses are you pulling out of those C-Class cars?

Jim 1992 500E

blackmercedes


correction : 95&96 C36 has 268 hp/280 lb-ft (4 spd auto)
97 C36 has 276hp/284 lb-ft (5 spd auto)
and both have curb weight of 3550 lbs

BTW nice looking car.



J Irwan

[Edited by J Irwan on 07-25-2001 at 12:50 AM]

Hey blackmercedes, I just can't find any good C36 pics online. If you have time and you don't mind, could you post some pics of your C36??

Let's see- numerous C4 Vettes, a Supra Twin Turbo, all these were close but I won. Lexus SC430, and he was a little upset because it was brand new(prob paid over msrp), saw me in his rearview, and tried to pull me. I pulled him hard, and blew by pretty dramatically. Camaros, CLK 430. . .

BTW unless we're talking Carrera 4 Cab, or Boxster, or an older detuned car or a poor driver, we don't beat Porsches. E 500 runs stock in a straight line with Boxster, maybe Boxster S and will get destroyed once there are curves. My E55, same story, except acceleration is between 996 C4 and C2.

I'm here to tell ya that an E500 or E55 should be able to run with a C2 Porsche...I've done it, and repeatedly.

And AJ, since your car's apparently a lot quicker than a 500E/ E500, we should run 'em at the drags and see just HOW much quicker, eh?

Methinks you underestimate your car's older brother

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Michael-
unfortunately, there is a paucity of information on E500/500E performance, or I just haven't found it. All I found was data claiming 0-60 in 5.9, 0-100 in 14.0, top speed 155, hp 322, TQ 358, and curb weight 3855. The rarity of these gems makes for little contribution to the vast majority of discussions. If you have stock unmodified performance numbers to share on these cars, which I was not intending to malign, please share them with me. I have no experience running against an E500/500E, but the data I've read puts it more in line with my Boxster than a 996, E55, and certainly not a 996Turbo(taking delivery 11/01 of an '02 model).

The best numbers I saw for an E55 were 0-60 in 4.8, 0-100 in 12.2, 1/4 in 13.3@107, top speed 155, curb weight 3680 hp 349, TQ 391. The best numbers I recall for a 996 C2 were 0-60 in 4.7, 1/4 in 13.1, top speed 176.

I was not intending to malign the E500, as surely at roll on with a 996 C2 in top gear versus kickdown on an E500 at, say, 70 mph would clearly give the MB the advantage. However, off the line to top speed, the E500 should never see anything but the rear of the Porsche.

Again, if you have accurate data from a reputable source regarding unmodified E500/500E models being faster than an E55 or 996 in anything other than some isolated scenario, please educate me. In this forum, we all have great cars, and there is no intent to malign or belittle anyone's vehicle, because a few simple mods can make any of these cars lethal to anything they run against. Further, we're all fans of German performance, and most of my friends that own one marque usually own a car from another German marque. Being both a Porsche and Mercedes owner, I can testify to the performance, engineering, quality and intangible driving experience that escapes the masses that purchase the vanilla Lexus or Infinity(which are also fine cars). So please, rather than letting this degenerate into a flame war, educate me if I'm wrong.

A.J.
'01 E55 triple black
'99 Boxster Guards Red/Savanna Beige
'02 996 Twin Turbo Arctic Silver/Graphite Gray

I assure you, AJ, it was not my intent to initiate a flame war-who has the time? I just figured that rather than bench race we could perhaps boogie over to a track and see what really happens when the rubber hits the road

I think the deal with 500Es is that they were underrated, especially the 92s. Indeed the cars are supposed to have 322 BHP, 354 lb/ft, however I turned 13.8 in the 1/4 before any mods so I think the number's closer to 350 (many HP calculators put it near 400). Since adding a PAD EPROM chip and K&Ns (plus adequate rubber) I was able to pare the 1/4 down to 13.38 per Gtech, and knock off a 0-60 of 5.0.

As to comparing the car's acceleration to a 996, all I can offer is that the guy I danced with tried to lose me several times, and was unable to shake me in flat-out accel runs. I was quite surprised myself.

AJ, do you ever run your cars at track events? Looks like you're loaded for Bear

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

The other problem with published acceleration stats on the E500 is the darn traction control. I have yet to bypass mine and can't get a good launch. My light comes on even while accelerating through 2nd with 245's on the rear. Need to upgrade to Pole Positions and ASR defeat.

Randy
'94 E500

I will say that my 245/45-17s hook up fabulously...I've also seen that same tire mounted on high HP Corvettes, likely for this reason. Rarely do I get ASR intervention unless it's loose or broken pavement, or obviously in the wet. And since they've taken track abuse so well, I'll likely replace them with the same exact tire; don't like the way Pilot Sports handle repeated abuse, which appears to be poorly (Hendy?)

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Michael,

Thanks for the input. I currently have SO2 Pole Positions on my Porsche and they are awesome! but I get 8-10K out of the rears and maybe double that out of the fronts. The SO2's have been replaced by the SO3's which I will buy when I burn through my current set.

I've always bought Michelins for my sedans but feel the E500 needs a more perfomance oriented tire than what I've bought in the past. I hate the thought of using really soft tires like the Pole Positions. There is probably a compromise somewhere in the middle. What kind of mileage are you getting out of the XGT-Z4's?

The PO had BF Goodrich's on the car and I'll be replacing them around year end. Also want to do the 17" upgrade at that time. My ASR light comes on all the time even on a good dry road. I love to steer my Porsche with the gas pedal but when I try it in the 500 the light comes on and the car bogs down!

Randy