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  #1  
Old 09-19-2002, 03:02 PM
SteveH
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How fast have you driven in your SL ?

Well, this topic is bound to raise some flames...

I'm just curious how fast you have driven in your SL? I've not tried to check my top speed, and probably won't, but I've noticed cruising the freeway at 80 is very smooth.

Heading to Tucson for a couple of day trips coming up, and if I can borrow someone's radar-detector I might just see what she's got at 162,000 miles!

(Disclaimer: I don't agree with going over the speed limit, and all the safety issues or legal issues with it...just thought it'd be fun to see how fast folks have gone...)

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  #2  
Old 09-19-2002, 04:41 PM
DALE DORIA's Avatar
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I have only driven my SL to 85 once...living here in NJ.......land of the insurance rapers.......you need to be quite prudent exceeding the speed limit. However, the car was smooooooooooooth and was begging to be driven harder. However, I have often wondered from reading this forum, how the speed limit is exceeded so freely??? The Parkway has a speed limit of 65 (and as low as 50 in some areas), so driving at 70 can be reasonable safe. Most of the roads are 35-50 mph in this state. I read about all the high performance modifications completed on Benzes, but do not see how these modifications can be used to nearly their full potential. This was the MAJOR frustration I experienced after owning Ferrari's and Prosches.........Could NEVER drive the cars as meant to be driven!!!!!
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  #3  
Old 09-19-2002, 05:24 PM
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Well, I've had mine up to 105 on the interstate between Dallas and Austin. I was following somebody else with a radar detector. At 105, she was still smooth. I could tell that she could go a lot faster.

The amazing part is that even at 80 mph, there was so much power in reserve, it was unbelievable. You can pace somebody at 80 and then punch it. You'll go past them like they aren't moving.
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  #4  
Old 09-19-2002, 05:44 PM
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ok i know i don't have an sl but my 92' 300CE w/162,000 miles begged for more speed when i was screaming by at 118 mph
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(my other girls)
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  #5  
Old 09-19-2002, 05:50 PM
Frits
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I have had my 1987 560SL 102k up to 120mph for a very short
time.It seemed like I had plenty more to go.I've only had this
car for 3 months and I love it!!!
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  #6  
Old 09-19-2002, 08:00 PM
elau's Avatar
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I had mine up to 90 once on the Beltway unintentionally. I was just crusing and next thing I look at the speedo and it was at 90. The car was smooth as if it was only doing 50. No wonder so many people get carried away in this beast.
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  #7  
Old 09-19-2002, 11:54 PM
bareftr02
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My 91 300 with 140k drives very smooth at 130. Out here in California there are many places to go for short speed runs. My only concern at that speed was radar.
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  #8  
Old 09-20-2002, 12:16 AM
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Location: Sunnyvale, CA
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I've had my '88 560sl (135k miles) up to 140 on the interstate, at least that's what the speedo said. I wouldn't be surprised if it read high by 5 or more mph. She was smooth and stable, but had no more to give.

I recently had the timing chain replaced, and one of the guide rails was broken. I thought about that high speed run and figured I was lucky not to have destroyed the engine. Now I'm scared to go that fast. But the car just doesn't want to be driven gently .

David
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  #9  
Old 09-20-2002, 01:50 AM
PoloBenz's Avatar
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I had our Euro 300sl (1986 M103) up to 145 according to the speedometer; however, according to my radar detector (built in GPS system gives speed reading) I was going 140-141. Got to love the straight stretches of the northern 101-highway cough cough, I meant up at Sear's Raceway
Although I must say the car didn't feel that stable. I cruise in the 300e at around 80 w/o any problems, and when I tried to hit top speed (wouldn't go past 130 ) it felt much more solid than the SL. The SL is much, MUCH quicker than the E class even though both have the same engine (103). The acceleration is so much better in the sl (even in "economy mode" compared to a first gear start in the 300e).

Quote:
(Disclaimer: I don't agree with going over the speed limit, and all the safety issues or legal issues with it...just thought it'd be fun to see how fast folks have gone...)
I agree with Steve. I just had a little too much fun when we first got the SL. As for cruising 80...it's usually with the flow of traffic in the far left lane.
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  #10  
Old 09-20-2002, 11:02 AM
sbr
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I routinely run mine at 80-85mph. The car loves it. I've done 100mph plus for 3 or 4 miles, after installing new tires, shocks, and tie rods though. Kinda scary. If you have to brake hard or swerve to avoid something the car can be QUITE a handful. High speed handling is terrible IMO. Nosedive while braking hard at that speed can put you in serious trouble. I don't understand how these cars can safely cruise at 100mph+ on the autobaun. If I want highspeed handling I drive my ASC/Mclaren Mustang. 120mph and solid. Handles like it's on rails......Be careful out there.

sbr
'79 450SL
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'89 ASC/Mclaren Mustang#123
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  #11  
Old 09-20-2002, 11:35 AM
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Never got over 90 mph...and that day, I narrowly avoided a motorcycle cop with a radar gun just over the next ridge (don't own a detector)...

Definitely feels like it can do much more, but I argue the claim that some make about the SLs "tossable" feel. This is one heavy car to make that statement.

And at seven years old, I'm sure the undercarriage has loosened up a bit, so I'm sure I won't challenge the car to handle autobahn speeds anyway. Plus, that would be very irresponsible to do on public roads (that's the "dad" in me talking...)
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  #12  
Old 09-20-2002, 12:37 PM
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Quote:
[i]
I recently had the timing chain replaced, and one of the guide rails was broken. I thought about that high speed run and figured I was lucky not to have destroyed the engine. Now I'm scared to go that fast. But the car just doesn't want to be driven gently .

David [/B]
hey david,

are there any pre-warning signs to look for with the timing chain?

how much did you have to pay?

i've got 162K on my car...and i'm not sure when to get all that done....
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1984 300CD Turbo Diesel (soon to be "powered by VEGGIE") - dolphin silver

1999 e430 Sport blk/blk, my sexy ***** ;-)

(my other girls)
1992 300CE 24V 3.0L (w124) (R.I.P. "she was killed 7/12/03 by some ricer kids speeding in a honda accord")
1990 Acura Integra RS (w/94' engine)
1966 Cadillac Sedan de Ville (Hardtop)
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  #13  
Old 09-20-2002, 12:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by sbr
I routinely run mine at 80-85mph. The car loves it. I've done 100mph plus for 3 or 4 miles, after installing new tires, shocks, and tie rods though. Kinda scary. If you have to brake hard or swerve to avoid something the car can be QUITE a handful. High speed handling is terrible IMO. Nosedive while braking hard at that speed can put you in serious trouble. I don't understand how these cars can safely cruise at 100mph+ on the autobaun. If I want highspeed handling I drive my ASC/Mclaren Mustang. 120mph and solid. Handles like it's on rails......Be careful out there.
i too used to have the same feeling of unstableness, however, i upgraded from my puny 15's to 17's and the handling improved like night and day!!!!
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~there is no spoon~

1984 300CD Turbo Diesel (soon to be "powered by VEGGIE") - dolphin silver

1999 e430 Sport blk/blk, my sexy ***** ;-)

(my other girls)
1992 300CE 24V 3.0L (w124) (R.I.P. "she was killed 7/12/03 by some ricer kids speeding in a honda accord")
1990 Acura Integra RS (w/94' engine)
1966 Cadillac Sedan de Ville (Hardtop)
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  #14  
Old 09-20-2002, 04:15 PM
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How fast

I drive a 1985 500sl euro. When I passed a friend of mine's supercharged Pontiac he said he was doing 115. I wasn't taking my eyes off the road but guess I was at 120. At about 95 there is a strange sensation that the car is being forced down onto the pavement. I have heard that the rubber spoiler on the rear deck lid is actually functional.
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  #15  
Old 09-20-2002, 04:37 PM
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Location: Hollywood Hills, CA
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very true,
that's aerodynamic physics proving itself....

the funniest thing about rear wings, etc....they truly do not become useful till you're past 80+ miles per hour....

then that's where the true stability lies, as the rear area, once air has passed over the shape of the car, is where the air becomes it's most turbulent and uncontrolled.....with a wing, it either channels the air farther out so the turbulence is no longer close enough to affect the car, or it is designed to utilize the forward motion of the air as a downward force collector so to speak, cause the turbulence to actually push the car down and in essence work with the undercarriage airflow, creating a stablized ride...rear lid wings usually are designed to take the air flow and channel it up or to the side of the car, again farther away so as not to create turbulence to in the car's rear.....

ugh
mouthful....
please correct me if i'm wrong but that was my remembering from my brief academic stint over at JPL labs....

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~there is no spoon~

1984 300CD Turbo Diesel (soon to be "powered by VEGGIE") - dolphin silver

1999 e430 Sport blk/blk, my sexy ***** ;-)

(my other girls)
1992 300CE 24V 3.0L (w124) (R.I.P. "she was killed 7/12/03 by some ricer kids speeding in a honda accord")
1990 Acura Integra RS (w/94' engine)
1966 Cadillac Sedan de Ville (Hardtop)
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