I have read that the E55 has a "hair-trigger" throtle. Has this been a problem for E55 owners?

Urrh...What do u mean by that?

Happy motoring,

ET

I'm guessing that hair-trigger means very responsive to input. The throttle is controlled via electronics instead of cable. In SPORT mode, since you start in first gear and there's lots of torque if the driver input is not smooth or if you are on a bumpy road and your foot comes off the gas, you will have a jerky kind of ride....In Winter mode this is not really a problem since torque is decreased by starting in second gear. Once you get used to the car (or should I say the computer learns your driving style) this is a non-issue.
Gary

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http://clubs.snap.com/mercedesbenze55registry/index.lhtml
00 AMG E55
96 DCM Impala SS
94 ZR-1
81 Corvette Cpe

Nice! I think Garry answered it all!! Nothing to add here.

BTW, I Saw an C36 in a big head-on crash today(57 th. & Granville). It hit one of those light pole to avoid hitting a bicycle and the car was totaled... Fortunately the driver & passengers should be fine since the passenger compartment is 99% intact and no blood on the scene...

Happy motoring,
ET

Avoid a bicycle ?? As far as I am concerned, bicycles are a hazard on the road. I can't believe the guts (or is it lack of grey matter) these people have to ride these things on the same roads as cars, trucks, buses, tractor-trailers etc. I am amazed more cyclists aren't injured or killed.
I had my experience with a bike. A guy on a bicycle was weaving in and out of heavy traffic, at speeds of about 20-30 km/h. He came across the front of my car from the extreme right, and didn't even look at me, just expected me to get out of his way. Well, I didn't see him soon enough, and once I did, I was not about to mash the brakes and most likely cause a rear ender or worse, so he "made contact" with the front fender of my car. and proceeded to accumulate the appropriate amount of "road rash" for his actions. I pulled up alongside him (still on his butt on the pavement) and asked if he would like me to get out and "help" him back onto his bike. He declined my offer.

Sorry aobut the long windedness. Don't like bicycles on the streets.

I feel bad for the guy who wrecked the C36 if it was no fault of his own.

Cyclists know that in almost any case it is difficult to prove fault against them. The idea is that you are protected in 4000lbs of steel and they are not. This gives them an attitude. Personally I think they are just really mad at everyone with cars because they can't afford one themselves. I agreee they should not be allowed on the same roads as cars. IF they are to be allowed they should have to follow the same driving laws as cars and be subject to fines and viscious prosecution for violating any traffic law. Even if they have one of those fancy Mercedes-Benz bicycles.



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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

Sorry about the c36, but GEEEEZZZZZ you guys are being a little harsh. I've got 3 mercedes including a 500E and a 190sl, and some days I still prefer to ride my bike. Ever hear of exercise? Fresh air?

ouch...poor car!

I was at Affordable Wrecking near the Queensborough Bridge a few weeks ago and saw the remains of 2000 E55 that had been totalled. Unfortunately most of the damage was to the engine compartment...and the engine.

What a waste.

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Cheers!

Yen-Hsen Liem
'93 500E black pearl/black leather; 89,000km; 245/45-ZR17 Michelin Pilot SX; 17x8.25 factory EvoII
'93 500E bornit(blackberry)/black leather; 69,000km; european delivery; 245/45-ZR17 Michelin Pilot SX; 17x8.25 factory EvoII
'88 560SL desert taupe/dark brown leather; 89,000km; Euro headlights
'87 190E 2.3-16 black pearl/black leather; 55,000mi; Euro headlights
'70 280SL white/red; 135,000mi (original); factory alloys; Euro headlights

Such a sad scene... To be honest I have never liked sharing streets with bikers cause most of them seems to hold the attitude that they "own the road". I have actually been confronted by a young 25-30 yrs old biker after parked saying that I cut him off turning right... I was a bit careless but it is dangerous that they believe I should have yield 4 them cause it is difficult to c a tiny bike with a man coming from all corners.

Happy motoring,

ET

You won't find much fresh air riding a bike on the highway. I take mine on trails that are only for bikes, and I do alot of mountain biking far away from roads. Air is cleaner and I don't cause any trouble there.

Actually, in California at least, cyclists are listed by the Department of Motor Vehicles as having the "Same RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES as any other vehicle. Yeah, there are cyclists out there with an attitude or poor skill levels, just as there are drivers out there with an attitude, including the "I don't yield to bikes" attitude (Try stating that as a defense in court after an accident). Road cyclists know that they are banned from sidewalks in most of California, which are usually reserved for pedestrians, who are also allowed to jog or walk in the relatively few bike lanes, even if there is an adjacent sidewalk! The Cyclist has literally no alternative but to use the street, to which they have a legal right. (In parts of California, it is even legal to use the shoulder of the freeway, as there is no alternative route!)

Some cyclists develop an attitide after dodging car drivers that turn without signaling, run stop signs, or swerve suddenly into the cyclists as they reach down to answer thair cell phone. Cyclists also have to negotiate around arrogant "I yield to nothing" joggers, often with baby strollers, running 3 abreast the wrong way in the street or bike lane. Finally, they - like car drivers - have to deal with idiot cyclists riding the wrong direction, pot holes, road debris, and poorly marked construction work. However, these hazards, which are an inconvenience or frustration to a motorist, can be life threatening to a cyclist.

These facts don't excuse an attitude, nor do they excuse rude behavior or violating road rules. Most road cyclists I ride with know that in any encounter with a car, the cyclist is likely to loose the most - if not their life or physical well being, at very least severe damage to an insanely expensive ($100 - $500 per pound!!!) road bike that is cherished by the cycist at least as fervently as the MB owner cherishes their ($15-$25 per pound) C36, E500, etc. Incidently, the fragile road bikes aren't insured by anyone, and are usually a write-off after an encounter with a car!

But the car driver also looses - at least a scratch and dent to their car, or in cases of negligence on the part of the driver, the loss of money or even their personal freedom. Bottom Line - mutual respect for each others rights is called for. Sorry for the sermon, but I appreciate my precision road bike as much as I do my MB, and hope at some point to be able to buy a Mercedes mountain bike to get the best of both worlds. There really is room for both out there on the road.



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JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver

Yeah you can spout but c'mon - only a coldhearted SOB would take on the cyclist instead of an immoveable object. Possible exception: if you were going to smack that immovable thing at 50+mph. Even then, I'd probably avoid the biker because I know it would kill them.

Less thoughtful idea: you guys from the great white north ought to come on down to San Francisco for one of the monthly "critical masses" where "fed up" bicyclists take over the streets and block intersections, taunt and insult drivers, inadvertantly bump them making for smart-looking dents and scratches then take off into the mob, etc. It's really a fine time.

Though I think their actions criminal and unjust, I CAN see their point at times, and could go on and on about the drivers around here, related cultural/mental/social issues as well as driver training and testing opinions in this great state, etc - only to get permanently banned from this site so I'll keep that to myself.

My one bicycle story: I was driving wife's SUV and this *obviously sponsored* member of team spandex was right in the middle of the lane cruising at 20mph (in a 35 zone) like he owned it. Traffic was stacking up behind. So after waiting for what seemed like fifty oncoming cars to pass I pass him only to come to a stoplight shortly after. This guy rides up, cleats and all and actually grabs my mirror and leans on it for balance so as to not have to unclip. I was aghast (the only word I can think of).

So I reached out and pushed him over. Boy was he in a pisser mood after that.

Oh yeah - I was posting here for a reason. I think "hair trigger" is in reference to what is commonly called "tip-in", meaning that there is instant throttle changes made with pedal movement. Most manufacturers offer a certain amount of pedal travel from it's resting position before a linear and progrssive throttle opening (ostensibly to keep the average numb-foot driver from jackrabbit wrecking at every light). I've only heard (as the local MBZ guys laugh when I tell them I'm ready for a test drive in a 55) that throttle response is immediate on this car.

My two cents.

Makakio, that push is hilarious and should be voted "action of the week" J/K. It was certainly not my intention to raise a war between bikers and motorists. Nevertheless its nice to hear ppl's voices.

BTW, don't worry about the throttle on the E55 because the cpu is very good at interpreting ur intentions at low speed.

Happy motoring,

ET

I think we're really talking about the psychology of young people versus mature folk. Regardless of the activity, whether cycling or driving, younger people with less life experience will take more risks. How they survive their choices is a form of social Darwinism.

It was the same two thousand years ago as it is today. What is really pathetic is the mature adults who still behave recklessly on bicycles or in cars. I wonder what their excuses are?

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Dean Albrecht
94 E500
99 ML320

www.need2speed.web.com