Saw my first black w116, Perth.

[koan]

Didn't believe you MT, had to look it up, yes, 0-100 in 7.4 secs is what one review gives. amazing, but max power at 6000RPM and a 5 speed auto.

koan

[Big_Richard]

Having driven most falcons up to current, i can say for sure they were quite rubbish until the release of the barra. Models since then I'd actually quite happily consider making one my own. (but an xr6 turbo of course) That'll never happen though, as i dont have the room.

Timmy raises an important point about sheep though - I'm very anti sheep and prefere alternative choices in life that I've made for myself.

[SELfor50]

6.9's aren't fast anymore and haven't been for quite some time, current base model falcon 6's are now equal if not slightly quicker to 100km/h. Actual performance cars will make a 6.9 feel like a VW Kombi trying to battle a steep gradient with 45 cars in que behind it honking the horn (or timmy rolling back into and hitting another car)

I have to contest.. Not 'all' 6.9's are outdone by newer vehicles.

A SWB 6.9 with a NOS motor & 3.07:1 diff, going up a hill is 0-100 in pretty much 7secs flat (and that was timed before I new about the camshaft issue - I have a witness too).  And it's only going to get quicker.  BUT - as TJ says, it's all about what you spend... 

Cam.

[WGB]

Being the proud owner of a 2005 ex Herz rental "Barra" - They are superlative cheap cars.

I purchased it at 15,000 km. It now has 55,000 km and it is a great drive.

Wobbly front discs, slight whine from the diff and disintegrating rear door seals aside.

The drive is good enough that I am considering a Ford for my next new car purchase - instead of my 20 year history of a new M-B every four years.

But I will still keep my ML500 which is faster in all weathers than a 6.9 - even a modified one.

Bill

[flutes]

Measuring a w116 by straight line speed alone is surely missing the point?

My wife's 159 is much, much faster than my car and while I do enjoy being able to take sweeping uphill bends at dangerous speeds and still have plenty of power to spare I get a bigger smile from driving the 450.

[Squiggle Dog]

Yesterday I bought a black 300SD, but it was originally Walnut Brown (dark non-metallic). It even has real pinstriping, but the clear coat is really bad and makes the car look awful. I will be going back to DB479 Walnut Brown with DB470 Colorado beige from mid-doorline down.

[SELfor50]

Measuring a w116 by straight line speed alone is surely missing the point?

My wife's 159 is much, much faster than my car and while I do enjoy being able to take sweeping uphill bends at dangerous speeds and still have plenty of power to spare I get a bigger smile from driving the 450.

That being said, you can compare times at a number of circuits as follows.. and my W116 450SEL race car, while it only had the 4.5L in it, and for a number of the tracks only a single spinner diff (no LSD) it still matched alot of modern sports cars for lap times.
And alot of the time, that was all through the turns and under brakes.  I was pretty much never able to catch any of them on the straights, they'd pull away because of gearing etc.. 
Reason being is the balance of the car IMO.  The weight in them isn't actually a hinderance, at times it's a positive.

Oran Park GP
Wakefield Park
Winton

Looking to the future, with a modified 6.9 engine and the right suspension / steering / brake / tyre setup - I'm confident there'll be many confused faces in the pits when times go up.

To stay on topic, yes, i'm painting it black. 

[Big_Richard]

spend 15k on off the shelf parts modifying an xr6 turbo and youll have a car faster than just about every other car on the road - youd need to spend 50k on a new 6.9 engine just to get the car to keep up with a stock xr6 turbo.

Not to mention the turdbo also comes standard with the ZF 6 speed auto which shits all over anything made by MB in that era, and will happily deliver 600+HP at the rear wheels with no modifications what so ever.

6.9's arent fast & NOS isnt a modification, anyone can purchase and install a NOS kit for use on any car, its not road legal and its not permanent and unlimmited like real modifications.

[TJ 450]

Seeing as we're on the subject of performance, a stock Volvo 850R will get you from 0-100 in 6.7 seconds and the engine is a quite economical multivalve DOHC turbocharged 2.5L 5 cylinder. That's quicker than a 6.9 and they literally corner as if on rails. You don't want to hit a pothole though.

The problem with these modern cars is that they're simply boring, for me at least, unless it's a new MB.

Tim

[nathan]

so angry MT! your 6.9 love is on the wane at the moment it seems!
comparing old benzes to new vehicles isnt particularly relevant. after all, the 6.9 goes down in history as one the great cars of the 70s...and a falcon?! um, not quite sure how the xr6 will be remembered on a global level in 30 years! and dont even start that GTHO fastest 4 door in the world crap - australia bogans seem to have never heard of the original m-100 sedan!

[SELfor50]

spend 15k on off the shelf parts modifying an xr6 turbo and youll have a car faster than just about every other car on the road - youd need to spend 50k on a new 6.9 engine just to get the car to keep up with a stock xr6 turbo.

Not to mention the turdbo also comes standard with the ZF 6 speed auto which shits all over anything made by MB in that era, and will happily deliver 600+HP at the rear wheels with no modifications what so ever.

6.9's arent fast & NOS isnt a modification, anyone can purchase and install a NOS kit for use on any car, its not road legal and its not permanent and unlimmited like real modifications.

Understand completely.  Bang for buck, there's not much in the region of 'em. My mates brother in law has a 2007 XR6 turbo ute.  Purely with intake modifications (stock manifold just plumbed differently) and different ECU and tuning, he's produced 431RWKW.  However, the tune was un-believable stupid.. now slow curve.. it was either on or off.  So with a slight bit of throttle it just pumps way too hard.  I think he's only spent about 10K on it, and yes it's very very very quick.   I know exactly where you are coming from..
But he's also chewing through rubber like no tomorrow, and he's melted 2 rear bumper bars from the heat of the exhaust.
With that - there's no doubt that something along the drivetrain will capitulate within 2 years.

Understand the comparison of $$ to modify a 6.9 compared to an XR6 is much different, that's because of off the shelf mods.

I've budgeted that by the time i've done Extractors, CAMS, EFI / Manifold, & Turbo  I'll probably have spent about 20K...then I'll worry about paint.
However, I have no doubt that 400+RWKW will be possible (probably a fair whack more depending on turbo size).

At the end of the day though, difference will be, a 600HP 6.9 is WAY cooler than a 600HP Ford XR6. 

[Big_Richard]

The xr6 turbo is likely to end up in the hands of the backwards hat wearing P plater brigade like the VL turbo did once they reach an obtainable price, hell, alot of them now are already in that camp

I agree that a modified 6.9 is alot cooler than a xr6 turdbo, but shit, if i wanted quick and easy speed, i know which one i would choose, its a no brainer. However, I don't really like speed anymore - over here all it results in is a confiscated car, being arrested and loosing your licence.

I work with young pricks that do nothing all day but talk about cars and what they've done to theirs, half the time i think they've got their hand on it and tugging a bit too hard but its all good regardless.

PS, I'm not angry, you've never seen me angry yet

[SELfor50]

The xr6 turbo is likely to end up in the hands of the backwards hat wearing P plater brigade like the VL turbo did once they reach an obtainable price, hell, alot of them now are already in that camp

I agree that a modified 6.9 is alot cooler than a xr6 turdbo, but shit, if i wanted quick and easy speed, i know which one i would choose, its a no brainer. However, I don't really like speed anymore - over here all it results in is a confiscated car, being arrested and loosing your licence.

I work with young pricks that do nothing all day but talk about cars and what they've done to theirs, half the time i think they've got their hand on it and tugging a bit too hard but its all good regardless.

PS, I'm not angry, you've never seen me angry yet

Very true, at the end of the day - if I wanted quick and easy speed it's R32 GTR all the way.  Pick one up for a great price these days, and they're on rails and boost well farkn hard.  Bang for buck, not much in it's league.

Funny you mention VL's.. a chick at work the other day reckons her brother (P Plater) bought a VL Turbo just the other week and it's an 8 second car.  8 Seconds??  Road Registered too.  If it was an 8 Second car, it would be putting out something like 1000HP (maybe i'm overexaggerating a bit, but anyway).. f*k people can talk some shyte..

After conversations with Motec the other night, it appears that there will most likely be 2 Black 6.9's at the summernats next year.  The bogans won't know what hit 'em.   

[Big_Richard]

Funny you mention VL's.. a chick at work the other day reckons her brother (P Plater) bought a VL Turbo just the other week and it's an 8 second car.  8 Seconds??  Road Registered too.  If it was an 8 Second car, it would be putting out something like 1000HP (maybe i'm overexaggerating a bit, but anyway).. f*k people can talk some shyte..

8 seconds of what, 0 - 100? 8 seconds of running till a blown head gasket ?

[SELfor50]

Funny you mention VL's.. a chick at work the other day reckons her brother (P Plater) bought a VL Turbo just the other week and it's an 8 second car.  8 Seconds??  Road Registered too.  If it was an 8 Second car, it would be putting out something like 1000HP (maybe i'm overexaggerating a bit, but anyway).. f*k people can talk some shyte..

8 seconds of what, 0 - 100? 8 seconds of running till a blown head gasket ?

Hahaha... I was blowing my own head gasket hearing the apparent 1/4 mile times.  Doesn't even have a role cage!  Anything in the 10s needs one.

Can't underestimate the predictability of stupidity...  Holden = worlds fastest car.   ...apparently.