[Guest (MBNZ)]

I see a lot people referring to the E55 as the 'Beast'. Is this an official moniker for the car? Who came up with it?<p>When I was stationed in Germany ('89-'92), I remember hearing about an AMG version called the 'Hammer'. Anybody know what that was? <p>Back then I was not up on Mercedes. As an enlisted guy I could barely afford my bare bones Mazda pickup!<p>I miss those days on the autobahns. I also had a sportbike back then (an FJ1100 Yamaha) and routinely cruised at 120mph (my Mazda topped out around 85-90 and not real stable then). Most people drove a more sane 120KPH, which was average.<p>Even at 120mph, I remember Benz's flashing their lights at me to get the hell out of the way.<p>Sigh. Wish I had this beast on the A5 outside of Frankfurt!

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

the "Hammer" is the 500E

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

: I see a lot people referring to the E55 as the 'Beast'. Is this an official moniker for the car? Who came up with it?<p>When I was stationed in Germany ('89-'92), I remember hearing about an AMG version called the 'Hammer'. Anybody know what that was? <p>Back then I was not up on Mercedes. As an enlisted guy I could barely afford my bare bones Mazda pickup!<p>I miss those days on the autobahns. I also had a sportbike back then (an FJ1100 Yamaha) and routinely cruised at 120mph (my Mazda topped out around 85-90 and not real stable then). Most people drove a more sane 120KPH, which was average.<p>Even at 120mph, I remember Benz's flashing their lights at me to get the hell out of the way.<p>Sigh. Wish I had this beast on the A5 outside of Frankfurt!<p>The Beast is the M5.

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

THE HAMMER WAS NOT JUST AN 500E IT WAS A HOLE DIFFRENT CAR!!!!<p>

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

The remarkable AMG Hammer (A 6.0 Litre V-8 300E. The worlds fastest four door sedan in the late 80:s. Top speed about 185 mph. At that time AMG was on it¦s own and had nothing to do with the MB. Today the MB/Chrysler has bought the AMG-business. (Apologise for my english, but I¦m from Sweden.) Hope that you are satisfied with the answer.

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

the beast is the //M5's name.....I think that

<br>the E55 is too elegant to be called a beast.<p>.02<p>

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

The E55 is ..

too trouble free and refined to be called a beast. It's wolf in sheep's skin.

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

Hammer is better

The "beast" is actually what just developed over these boards. I know that Drew likes to call his E55 the Beast. I don't particularly like that name. I also believe that its too elegant and elite for that name.<p>Actually the media has referred to the E55 as the new "Hammer" because of its relationship to the AMG "tradition." I like this designation much better. "Hammer" has always been recognized as a performance 4 door salon.

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

Beast is sweet!

Hey-I like Drew's Beast moniker. The car may be refined, but it is still is powerful and strong which is what beast conjures up. Its better than calling it a little bitch (besides I think Hammer sounds totally stupid even though it was an AMG name-you might as well call it a power screwdriver or hacksaw)!<br>

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

Re: Beast vs. Hammer , Great responses!

Thanks Mark for your info on the 300E hammer.<p>I think I like 'Hammer' better, just because it is associated only with AMG. Seems some M5 folks are referring to that car as 'the beast'. Let'em have it I say. I wouldn't want to be confused with the M5 owners.<p>My star on the hood is better than there propeller any day! (nyah, nyah)<p>Of course this fits on a license plate better: BE55AST. get it? bE55ast .

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

Re: Hammer is better

-----<br>I do agree with you Philguy that the E55 is a very elegant car, and the 'Beast' moniker maybe a little strong for such a refined machine as ours, <p>but, <p>when I drove mine for the first time, the salesman told me to punch it to see if the guys in Afalterbach (sp?) did their job correctly, so I did. When I did, the only words I could utter were "Its a f_cking beast". <p>"A wolf in sheeps clothing" doesn't do it for me either. It sounds to wimpy (wolf: isn't that a relative of the Dog family?). No, that gutteral burble that eminates from under our cars when we plant our right foot just doesn't say anything but that to me: Beast.<p>Either way, we are fortunate to own one of the most elegant, refined, sophisticated and powerful production sedans in the world.<p>You own one Philguy, so you (and all of us) can call it whatever the heck we want!

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

Re: Beast is sweet!

Go easy on Philguy, James. He's a 'goodguy'. Although you and I agree, he is entitled to his opinions. <p>What do you think of calling our AMG's "a wolf in sheeps clothing"? I read (somewhere on some BBS) that someone was calling his AMG that), I don't think it has enough punch ... i.e., a little wimpy!

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

How about "M5 for Breakfast"?

I absolutely appreciate all perspectives. For $70k+, we can call it whatever we like. All I know is that I LOVE DRIVING IT!<p>I love coming up the FWY ramp and feeling the raw torque swallow up the road. I love slaming on the pedal and swoshing past traffic. I love the firm committed brakes! I love the tight grip around an apex. I love the peel and smoke off the lights. I especiallylove the fact that our E55s are superior to the M5 in every way that matters. <p>I should get a license frame that says "Hammering M5s!"

 

[Guest (MBNZ)]

"The remarkable AMG Hammer (A 6.0 Litre V-8 300E. The worlds fastest four door sedan in the late 80:s."<p>Mark is correct -- the "Hammer" was the 6.0L 300E, not the 90's 500E.