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Thread: New King on the Autobahn: E55 AMG and RS6 meets M5

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  1. #1
    Admin Erik's Avatar
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    Talking New King on the Autobahn: E55 AMG and RS6 meets M5

    Ingredients: MB E55 AMG. Audi RS6 Avant (Hohenester 500 hp). Unknown BMW M5 E39

    It’s late afternoon and our visit to AMG in Affalterbach is ended. It has been a very interesting week but now it is time to head back home to Sweden. My weapon for the evening is an E55 AMG with a very loud Eisenmann-exhaust. Apart from a remove speed limited and the exhaust the Merc is stock. My friend is in an Audi RS6 and I let him take the lead through the narrow roads in the village out to the Autobahn. The target for tonight’s drive is
    Hamburg and we fight a battle against time, we like to travel as far as possible before the sun sets.
    We chose the Autobahn through the hills of Kassel because our guess there is much less traffic there. And we know for sure that the roads there are very entertaining – uphill, downhill and a lot of twisties.
    Rush hour is over and we are able to set a very high speed from the beginning – flat out!
    For long sections we are able to keep well above 200 km/h (124 mph) which is good in the AMG. The Eisenmann system is very loud at speed around 80-160 km/h, not very comfortable at all but fun when you downshift and pass other cars. Sitting in perfect cars like this is the perfect combination of man – machine and speed. I only wish I had a CD with some good old Kraftwerk songs to make the sensation complete.
    This part of the Autobahn is sensational and gives me the highest level of driving pleasure. In earlier trials we concluded that the RS6 was much faster than we anticipated. All the talks of the automatic and Quattro taking too much power is soon forgotten. The E55 is only clearly faster in speeds above 240-250 km/h. But the RS6 is much more stable and I’d rather have the stability of the Quattro than that little extra acceleration the E55 offers.
    The only drawback with travelling this fast is the fuel consumption (25l/100km) and the fear of people changing lanes not looking in their rear-view mirror first as you approach. The brakes in the E55 are very good, I like the feeling a lot. But they can’t do miracles.
    At a road construction we slow down and let the concentration fade a little. Then it happens, the moment we all have been waiting for! I discover the badge immediately and within a split second my mind and body are fully prepared. A BMW M5 slowly passes us in the left lane. I am ready to drive again! The guys in the M5 seems prepared to, the construction ends, I move up one lane to the left and we both floor it. After endless threads and discussions on the internet which car is the fastest I am so much looking forward to find out which car is the fastest in practice. Theory is one thing, practice another. How will this end? I keep the pedal to the metal and the M5 is not easy to beat, but frankly speaking he has not got a chance against the E55. And I must say it doesn’t matter if it’s straight or turns, the E55 is faster. But does he like to move over? Not at all! It takes a long while before he moves over and I pass him. Slipstreaming behind someone helps a lot, but in this case it didn’t matter. The E55 has enough power. Through a turn I keep 280 km/h, probably a bit faster than if I didn’t had the M5 somewhere behind. The E55 feels a bit soft in the turns, but I later realise I kept the suspension in the softest setting. Not easy to find all the buttons. Anyway the M5’s gone and I eagerly look in the rear-view-mirror to see how the next, much more exiting, battle goes on. It’s dark so I can’t see who’s first. Swoooosch! The M5 passes first with the RS6 Avant close behind. I floor it again to catch up. Undeniably, the RS6 seems to be the faster.
    Does the M5 driver like to give up the left lane once more? Hell no! If it took long time for him to move over when I passed him, it’s taking forever this time. Only when the RS6 driver goes up in the mid-lane to indicate he’s faster the M5 moves over.
    We both pass the M5 one experience richer.
    An unlimited part of Autobahn comes to an end and a 120 km/h limitation starts.
    The M5 drives up side by side to me. We laugh and do thumbs up. A King of the Autobahn got its scalp picked.



    The day starts with me looking out from this old castle over the Rhein. The sun is shining and it's time for breakfast.
    A perfect day for a drive in the RS6.com-mobile.



    We head south to Singen and the famous autosalon.
    Reality beats fiction by far! Ugly cars like Porsches has to stand outside.
    Note the CLK GTR that just arrived.
    I like the Aston Martin as well, another favourite.
    Check for yourself: http://www.auto-salon-singen.com/



    On our way north. We pick up an E55 AMG along the way.
    I won't go so far to say that it feels tired, but after all I've read I had expected more.



    Look! It's possible to reach 300+ (187 mph)



    Some pics from Autobahn. Playing cat and mouse.







    V8 with Lysholm-compressor



    Do you see the M5? It's there. I promise.



    Thirsty beasts



    The RS6 out of a tunnel



    RS6.com Owner and Admin. The PRISM of RS6.com - Click here to send me an e-mail

  2. #2
    Registered User steve's Avatar
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    Great article Erik! Must have been a lot of fun
    Thanx for the great write-up!

    Any video material?


    Steve

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    Registered User Bingocaller's Avatar
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    Nice trip Erik - Really like the battle of the Beasts
    " I Am A Driving God! "

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    Really great stuff. Now you make me want to take a trip to Europe. Keep it coming.

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    Registered User JP4's Avatar
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    Great story Erik. And well written too. Thanks for sharing.

    JP4

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    Moderator Benman's Avatar
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    Very nice. It is true that it is a VERY weird and scarry feeling to be driving 150mph+ and have a big rig PULL OUT IN FRONT OF YOU going 50!!!:bigeyes: Time to test those brakes!
    Ben

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    Registered User Dark Knight's Avatar
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    It got my heart pumping Erik! Thought I was in the car with you for a second!
    Dark Knight

    "See God, then brake."
    - Kevin Schwantz, 500GP World Champion
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    Registered User Aronis's Avatar
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    FUN FUN FUN....

    Anyone want to try that one in the USA?

    Skip the ticket, they well execute you on the side of the road.

    Mike

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    E55 vs. RS6 vs. M5

    Hey Erik, once again a nice and lifelike story from you, but when I read the last part of your article I had a thought...
    "A King of the Autobahn got its scalp picked." when you say this then have bear in mind that all 3 of these cars have V8 engines but only the BMW in naturally aspirated, so it is quite obvious that the BMW couldn't go just as fast as the AMG and RS6... Supercharging really helps... Try the same race with a turbo- og supercharged M5 E39
    This isn't ment as a negativs post, but only as a comment to your nicely done story, thumbs up

  10. #10
    Registered User Aronis's Avatar
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    Its a great rivalry.

    All three cars are as different as a Pickup, and SUV, and a convertable!

    MB - luxury and balls
    M5 - balls and balls, dry road balls that is
    RS6 - balls and all weather balls

    Mike


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    Erik
    Did you do any pulls agains the AMG? and you said you were not able to catch up with the M5? You also said that the E55 brakes are very good, how would you compare them with the RS6?
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    Thumbs up

    Great story!
    Thanks Eric!!
    Suzuka grey matte coming soon!

  13. #13
    Admin Erik's Avatar
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    Originally posted by nyrs6
    Did you do any pulls agains the AMG? and you said you were not able to catch up with the M5? You also said that the E55 brakes are very good, how would you compare them with the RS6?
    We both smoked the M5!

    We did several pulls RS6 against E55. There were 3 E55s with us, one with Carlsson 560 hp / 980 Nm.
    As usual there was some problem with the tuning so we drove side by side with the Carlsson E55 in the RS6. I think he spent 15.000 Euros on the tuning...
    The E55s were only clearly faster in speed around 240-250 km/h.
    I am still surprised the RS6 Avant could keep up, we expected to be left behind.

    I don't know about breaking performance (I guess it's similar to the RS6) but the feeling in the E55 was very good. When I had an E270 rental I hated the brakes, totally opposite the E55 I must say. Very good for Autobahn useage.
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  14. #14
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    Great article and pics Erik. Thanks. It still makes me laugh picturing an estate car (station wagen) doing those speeds and competing so well in such company.

    Thanks goes to the Reliant Scimitar GTE for starting the sports station wagen trend (yea, I know there were one offs like an Aston Martin station wagen before this, but they were custom vehicles)


    Andy

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    Originally posted by Erik
    We both smoked the M5!

    We did several pulls RS6 against E55. There were 3 E55s with us, one with Carlsson 560 hp / 980 Nm.
    As usual there was some problem with the tuning so we drove side by side with the Carlsson E55 in the RS6. I think he spent 15.000 Euros on the tuning...
    The E55s were only clearly faster in speed around 240-250 km/h.
    I am still surprised the RS6 Avant could keep up, we expected to be left behind.

    I don't know about breaking performance (I guess it's similar to the RS6) but the feeling in the E55 was very good. When I had an E270 rental I hated the brakes, totally opposite the E55 I must say. Very good for Autobahn useage.
    How many car lengths did the E55 pull on you? Dis you race the stock one?

    About the brakes all the magazines didnt like the feel. You also said that by the CL65 AMG. Are the brakes of the E55 the same feel?
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    Great article and great pictures

    Bruno

  17. #17
    Registered User 2046's Avatar
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    GOOD STUFF!
    the out of tunnel pic is awesome!

  18. #18
    Admin Erik's Avatar
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    Originally posted by nyrs6
    How many car lengths did the E55 pull on you? Dis you race the stock one?

    About the brakes all the magazines didnt like the feel. You also said that by the CL65 AMG. Are the brakes of the E55 the same feel?
    How many car lengths? Hmm... I have no idea, we did this so many times and up to 300 km/h plus so I had other things to worry about than car lengths.
    I raced the stock ones several times. All I know for sure is how surprised I am that the RS6 was able to keep up.
    I also drove the SL55 and it wasn't so much faster than the E55s.
    At 270 km/h with the roof down it actually felt a bit slow, like it didn't want to go any faster

    I never said the brakes in the CL65 were bad. I never really tried them, but I guess they're of the same wood as the E55.
    The CL65 just feel so much bigger and more out of control because of its size (and ability to go ultra-fast in a straigh line).
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