waltk88

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?domain=evo&p...ry.php?id=46490

More info from Evo magazine.

The road-going version of Mercedes' DTM racer looks pretty smokin'. Lighter and more compact than the Mercedes McLaren SLR, the CLK-DTM shares the supercharged V8 with the SLR. Under the hood of the CLK-DTM it makes a bit less power (582 v 617) but more torque (590 v 575).

I can't get past the garish styling of the SLR. IMHO, the CLK-DTM is a much more purposeful looking machine. It will also be considerably cheaper than the SLR and even more exclusive (100 cars).

offroadr35

WHY CAN"T MERCEDES STOP USING THESE FAWKIN SLUSHBOX PIECES OF CRAP TRANNIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

sorry it just bothers the hell out of me

dragonacc

My thoughts exactly.

AP1ByDesign

NFRs2000NYC

Why? because there is no need to. I am a full advocate that manual tranmissions are FUN. That is all. They are worse in EVERY respect performance wise. Im not talking about civic automatics....Im talking about well made SMGII, etc.....

The SLR has an "automatic" transmission. Did any of you see the Top gear review of it???

It completely DESTROYED every single car they EVER tested there....with a lap time of 1:20.XX. The closest car was the zonda with 1:23 Koenisseg (spelling) 1:23.2 and Mucielago with 1:23.5

2 seconds is a biiiig margin.

For what these cars are made to do, manuals are a negative. Flame away, but most race car drivers want paddle shift or automatics of some sort for racing.

under-rated

^^ I agree.

under-rated

Ah so a slushbox is automatic. SMG is coo, however manual gives you a better feel of where the horsepower is at in the engine. They're both nice, it takes awhile to appreciate both.

NFRs2000NYC

With the automatics that are produced today....

BMW, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes, etc....manuals are nothing more than a novelty.

under-rated

The Modena has the paddle shifting... also known as F1 Transmission right... I rode in a Modena it had a tubi exhaust... F1 paddle shifting that thing was from one city block to the next in the quickness.

NFRs2000NYC

Thats what I mean...these trannys shift faster than any driver could ever hope for.....so basically, people who want "stick" want to have the *feel* of shifting gears and being in control. In reality, thats all it is, feel.....because the F1 modena, the SMGII M3, and the SLR shift quicker than a human ever could....so you ask....why not ditch the auto.....based on today's results....the question should be "why not ditch the manual"

I love driving stick, and its lots of fun, but again, from performance standpoints, its a drawback.