C5 acceleration at altitude
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 456
Likes: 144
From: Frederick Colorado
C5 acceleration at altitude
I think my C5 is down on power; I doubt it can go anywhere near the claimed 4.5 second 0-60 mph time. I live at 5500 feet, and although the car runs perfectly, I think it might be producing only around 200 hp at the wheels. I got trashed yesterday at a light by a guy driving an AMG E65 Mercedes, and he walked away from me like I was standing still. I saw a "The Fast Lane" where one guy driving a C5 automatic drag raced a C4 stick and barely beat him, which seems weird... TFL is filmed locally here in the Front Range area at 5500 feet; both cars are stock, and the C5's 0-60 was slow as molasses. What is up with these cars at altitude?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
So you think you 25 year old C5 should beat this car. An almost 100k E63 S sedan’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine with 603 horses and 627 lb-ft of torque that are channeled to all four wheels through a quick-thinking nine-speed automatic transmission. Put a supercharger on your C5 and you might have a chance. E63 does this, E63 S 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds and the quarter-mile in 11.1 seconds at 126 mph.
Last edited by C5MSG2004Vert; Feb 20, 2023 at 10:23 AM. Reason: Added spec
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Well, any car naturally aspirated is going to suffer performance wise in high altitude due to lower air density.
I don't think you have the right model number of your AMG assailant "E65 AMG"?. If it was an E63 AMG they make over 600hp with twin turbos. And 0-60 in 3.0 with 11.1 in the 1/4 mile. No chance for a stock C5 at any altitude. Plus turbos allow the car to make more sufficient power at altitude where an NA car suffers more.
A later model C4 like a 1996 Grand Sport with MN6 is just as fast as a C5 with an auto in stock form. Especially if the C5 has a 2.73 gear mated to the stock slushbox without a tune. So that comparison has a few unknowns without knowing anything about both cars.
None the less, if you want power improvements where you live so your C5 isn't a pig you'll need to go with forced induction. Supercharger with a smaller pulley or slap a set of twins on it.
I don't think you have the right model number of your AMG assailant "E65 AMG"?. If it was an E63 AMG they make over 600hp with twin turbos. And 0-60 in 3.0 with 11.1 in the 1/4 mile. No chance for a stock C5 at any altitude. Plus turbos allow the car to make more sufficient power at altitude where an NA car suffers more.
A later model C4 like a 1996 Grand Sport with MN6 is just as fast as a C5 with an auto in stock form. Especially if the C5 has a 2.73 gear mated to the stock slushbox without a tune. So that comparison has a few unknowns without knowing anything about both cars.
None the less, if you want power improvements where you live so your C5 isn't a pig you'll need to go with forced induction. Supercharger with a smaller pulley or slap a set of twins on it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 2,029
From: In the woods
2024 C5of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I lived in Flagstaff AZ for years, 8300 ft elevation downtown. Cars that felt like hot rods in the Valley of Phoenix were down right SLOW up there. As said, only way around it is boost. Don't feel bad being walked by a modern sedan, I got my a$$ handed to me in my C5 by a BMW M sport something. Turns out he lives in my neighborhood and it's a twin turbo V12 doing 0-100 KPH in 3.8 seconds and cost $165,000. Nothing an A&A kit won't fix..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
I lived in Flagstaff AZ for years, 8300 ft elevation downtown. Cars that felt like hot rods in the Valley of Phoenix were down right SLOW up there. As said, only way around it is boost. Don't feel bad being walked by a modern sedan, I got my a$$ handed to me in my C5 by a BMW M sport something. Turns out he lives in my neighborhood and it's a twin turbo V12 doing 0-100 KPH in 3.8 seconds and cost $165,000. Nothing an A&A kit won't fix..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,543
Likes: 3,281
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
As others have said, you didn't stand a chance against an E63 no matter what the altitude. I do think you would enjoy an A&A kit. I know I love mine. However, I'm basically at sea level.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
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