We're veering off topic a bit but I've come to learn Mercedes pretty well now. I'd put money on your feeling with the Mercedes being two-fold: 1) The gearing: T

We're veering off topic a bit but I've come to learn Mercedes pretty well now. I'd put money on your feeling with the Mercedes being two-fold: 1) The gearing: They're long gears and it defaults to selecting a very tall gear. I have 500hp on tap and doing 50mph in 7th gear isn't fun, but that's what it selects as a default in comfort mode. 2) Traction control: It might not be as much of a problem in non-AMGs but the traction control is surprisingly intrusive and very good at hiding that it's engaging because there isn't a mechanical coupling to the drive wheels. It uses the brakes and I assume some throttle limiting. Even in the sport handling modes it's quite intrusive. I never drive with traction control or in comfort mode - not even in winter. It's a completely different car with them off - if you get another chance to drive one I'd suggest turning it all off. Unfortunately the throttle isn't linear but any more than 20% will spin the tires. I also have an S2000. It has half the horsepower and weights 1,000lbs less but it's a blast.