| Author | Message | ||
| Larry Leonard (Larryleonard)
New member Username: Larryleonard Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2003 |
Here's an amusing video with Coultard driving the SLR. http://www.mercedes-benz.com/slr-unlimited | ||
| Alex Papas (Alexpapas)
Junior Member Username: Alexpapas Post Number: 79 Registered: 2-2003 |
Geez Marty.... run out of Prozac? Get a grip man. High end Benzes are terrific cars. I own a couple (S55 and CLK 430 Cab). They do exactly what they promise. No ifs ands or buts. My wife's Mas Spyder, ditto. Mas offered and installed all the 03 upgrades for her 02 and the car is better than ever. The 575M... also great. Everything works and the quality of fit and finish on mine is excellent. I'm not sure where you're coming from with all your ranting, but it sure ain't planet earth! | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6241 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ferrari is an independent company in a network of car companies controlled by the Fiat Group. I guess if they would have put McLaren on the car instead of Mercedes I would be more acceptable of the fact it is a super car. To me it is another mass produuced shi*tbox with a star on it. sorry just my personal opinion. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 634 Registered: 9-2002 |
Martain...Are you saying that you would not purchase a high dollar car from a company that also makes low dollar cars?...Why not? I would think that the company that produces the lower dollar car in volume would have the money to produce a high dollar car properly. They would have the income to design, test,and build a super car with a warrenty, and be able to service it through the local dealer. They would also be able to keep the price of parts to a reasonable level, and the company would be able to properly train and give all the proper tech support to the dealer network. In my eyes,the company would more them likley produce a better car then a small company could. Audi owns Lambo,they produce small affordable cars. Fiat owns Ferrari, they produce shitboxes, Bently is owned buy Audi, Aston Martain is owned by Ford. You own a car that was made by a company that also produces junk. Why would you say somthing like that? By the way..the car is built by Mclaren. I don't think you would call Mclaren a company that produces junk. Would you? | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 721 Registered: 11-2001 |
Yes the one thing I noticed on the new SL is the cheap plastic fins, I was so turned away when I seen it. The only Benz I really like is the CL coupe because everything about it is top notch. I know about the smart cars and some of the euro ones but I don't like the way they look and they are too small. I know most of them are auto trannys but I like them for the ease of driving them and not for a sports car, heavy yes but that's what makes them so comfortable, if too light you'll feel all the bumps on the road. Drive the new CL 600, it's buttery smooth and comfortable yet powerfull and you can still let your wife drive it without worries. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6217 Registered: 5-2001 |
You are right in Europe you get all kinds of MBs for low money. The agerage 18year old middle income family daughter gets a A-Class for graduation. It is just another brand however with the stigma of being good quality built and that they have lost in the last years. They also failed to realize that the US market is not Europe and has to be treated differently. MB in the US is high end. You can not get the 200CLK with cloth int, 5 speed, no AC. They have always filled all options and their best engines in the US cars. What is standard in the US is full options in Europe. We joked in germany in the 80s that even the steering wheel was an Option at MB. Failing to realize how different the market is in the US has burned them big time. And so it has Maserati. Big mistake. It will take a lot of soal searching for them to turn this around. I can not believe someone will pay $ 300,000 for the MB supercar while they produce a $25K C-series. And the worst thing is they almost all look the same. | ||
| Andrew-Phillip Goalen (Andrewg)
Member Username: Andrewg Post Number: 385 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ben, Dont forget they also make the Smart!  | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 370 Registered: 7-2003 |
To that end, Modman; the Chrysler Crossfire may be less a magnet to the conglamerate and more a repulse to those who would normally aspire to the Benz. By this, I mean selling neither a Chrysler or a Benz to those who have traditionally been Benz's core, captive audience. Might tap the low end of the price spectrum, but it's a risky venture when dealing with the monied clientele. But of course, I could be wrong. ; p | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 938 Registered: 6-2002 |
Modman- they make the A-class in Europe. MB is just a carmaker there, a very big one, that has all kinds of models. The idea of Mercedes as a "Highline only" or "Exclusive" brand is a US marketing inovation only. The bottom line on the SLR is the slushbox. Auto tranny? NO THANKS! Contenders don't drive slushboxes, I don't care how fast it is. (and the SL55 is dam fast!) Can you guys belive the fins are PLASTIC though? Someone ought to offer brushed aluminum replacements. Sheesh MB! I couldn't belive it when I saw the SL in person for the first time. Total hogwash with those fins. Damn! Other than that, I like the SL design very much, looking forward to the SL65 (or SL73 depending on who you ask!) Best! Ben. | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 720 Registered: 11-2001 |
I like Mercedes for a highline luxury car over any car I've ever seen to this day on this planet, and I'm not talking of E classes or SLK's, or ML's. I've never encountered any major problems with any of my Benzes and when something needs to be taken care of my Benz dealer takes care of it immediately and I don't get charged for it so I'm happy with my cars and the service that comes with it. I haven't seen the SLR in person but looking at it in pictures there is no way I would pay the price they are asking for it. I am looking forward to get the CL65 when it comes out though. Mercedes went wrong when they came out with the more affordable Benzes that were made here in the states and now the public sees German brand cars as some other cars made here and it's ironic as it truly is. Mercedes should have never made a car worth under 60K. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6214 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jeff I would not even say way overpriced but the markes reputation is still bad. When you think Maserati you think the old 80s crap that broke down every day. It is not prestigious is the US. If you ran a car company you would not want to name your next release "Pinto", no matter how great the idea of the Pinto was. Figure Ferrari starts producing instead of 4000 cars per year 40,000 and therefore dropping prices by half. The Spider could be had in 3 months waiting for $ 100,000. You can sell for a few years cars like crazy and then your name is crap and the used car market is hurting and then your brand name gone. Porsche 996 Convertible. I just had it as a trade in request. 1999, full leather pack with upgrade leathe (natural)2 tops, all kinds of options. 19400 Miles. New $ 80,000 (?) maybe more. Wholesale trade in value $ 40,400. 50% loss in 4 years. 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena, 19400 Miles, comes with full leather standard and almost all options New $ 150,000 list after 4 years wholesale $ 120,000, a 20% loss. | ||
| Jamil Jamal (Jameel)
Junior Member Username: Jameel Post Number: 120 Registered: 9-2002 |
It's ugly, especially the side pipes and the fins. Wow it's 4,000 lbs and they're using carbon fiber. And MB is still using an automatic. You would think with MB and McLaren's experience in F1 it would weigh less and have some sort of F1 style shifter. Like somebody else mentioned Ferrari has nothing to worry about. | ||
| Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Member Username: Azzuro328 Post Number: 421 Registered: 4-2003 |
Martin, You are spot on. It's a shame too. I've always been a big fan of all of these marques but I am losing interest quickly. Thankfully, because they were so good, many of the older ones still exist!  | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 476 Registered: 8-2002 |
I agree with you on the Maserati Martin, they did sort of dump it on us here quickly, and its way over priced for what it is | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6211 Registered: 5-2001 |
and as far a Ferrari is concerned they should have never released the Maserati Brand here in the US before they had established it perfectly in Europe and the US market demanded it from them. Too much looking for the quick buck to justify production. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6210 Registered: 5-2001 |
Porsche has sold out their name in times of mass production and BMW is following close behind but they have not even been smart enough to make profits during these times. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6209 Registered: 5-2001 |
I look at my wifes 4th time cracked front spoiler, because it does not clear parking stoppers (okay she is partially responsible for that one herself), I look at the legroom for tall German drivers in the SLK (or better the lack thereof), I look at the cheap plastic they put in $60,000 cars, I look at the cost of a parking light bulb, that blows out every year ($10 instead of 99c for the same one in Discount Auto, except that one little socket that is moved a few degrees so you have to buy the MB one) and best I look at the horrific lines at the service department. It took us 3 weeks to get an appointment to have a warranty item installed in our car. 3 weeks, the earliest appointent we could get at Mercedes Benz of Miami. Yep those are quality cars. They are tanks, never fail, never break, that is why they have 3 weeks wait time with some 15 bays operating. Mercedes has effectively stired themselves to be just another US automaker. One of the things they should have never copied of the american market. Mercedes benz = German Built Crap | ||
| Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Member Username: Azzuro328 Post Number: 417 Registered: 4-2003 |
Frank, I have heard many of the rants about Ferrari quality problems and the factory's often poor handling of them. I have to take the words of others because I have yet to own a newer F-car and therefore I cannot vouch for it. MB is a little closer to home though. I work with my father in his Chrysler Dodge dealership and, since the "merger", we've been trying to instill in our customers the benefits of having Mercedes as our mother company. Quality was always a hallmark of the three-pointed star brand, but in recent years MB has been fighting a ton of quality issues on their own vehicles. It's been a tough sell with all of the bad press out there. Just recently MB had to buy back 2,000 of the new E-class from customers because of a problem with retro-fitting the Sat-Nav system that wasn't initially available when the cars were delivered. MB made good on it by supplying them all with brand new cars. The problem is that, despite how expensive this fix was for them finacially, the damage to their image was infinitely more so. | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 475 Registered: 8-2002 |
Typical cold Germanic styling, Ferrari has nothing to worry about. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Intermediate Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 1056 Registered: 5-2002 |
Much better in black... The doors are a great touch to any exotic, but the long nose has got to go... | ||
| Ryan Alexander (Ryalex)
Junior Member Username: Ryalex Post Number: 110 Registered: 8-2003 |
Luca says, "Eeeet doz nut haave de pazzion laike duh Fu-rah-ree." MB's persistence on the slushbox gets me too. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6205 Registered: 5-2001 |
 | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Advanced Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 2864 Registered: 1-2002 |
The SLR looks like a glorified pimpmobile. Side pipes??? super-long hood & cramped artificially-rearward-sitting cabin? Automatic transmission only? 3,980 lbs., despite near-total use of carbon fiber, composites, and alloys? Puh-leeze. | ||
| Kds (Kds)
Junior Member Username: Kds Post Number: 198 Registered: 5-2003 |
Ross Koller..... Exactly...order a new SL65 for less than half the price... | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 3004 Registered: 9-2001 |
Augustine, while MB may have had some recent QC problems on their cars, it is NOTHING like the almost non-existant quality control of a Ferrari ! | ||
| Noelrp (Noelrp)
Member Username: Noelrp Post Number: 328 Registered: 8-2001 |
Six months ago when I was searching for an SL55, I talked to a broker in Canada for an SLR. During that time, the list price has not been announced yet but he offered me a Canadian allocation car for $500k (US dollars). It was very silly. It may win the critics but no way this car is worth half a mil. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1312 Registered: 3-2002 |
it does look better in black. silver shows too many distracting elements. the thing i don't understand is why would anybody buy this car for 3 times the cost of an sl55, and only get about a 5% increase in performance (restrictors deleted). furthermore, amg is now going to take the new sl600 and make an sl65 out of it which is reported to be aiming for 600hp, and it will cost about $150-170k. the sl is a beautiful shape, everyday useable, and (with the sl65), will have the same performance as the slr. guess there are a lot of people out there with money to burn and poses to strike ! | ||
| Tom RM (Tgitom)
Junior Member Username: Tgitom Post Number: 182 Registered: 8-2002 |
I dont see how the car can be called ugly? But mercedes and lightweight...they usually dont mix well. | ||
| Ansgar Sch�rmeyer (Taunus)
Member Username: Taunus Post Number: 271 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have seen that car in Frankfurt. The SLR looks great in reality ! The car is lighter (nearly 1.600 kg) than a 575 or a Murci�lago (both about 1.800 kg). | ||
| Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Member Username: Azzuro328 Post Number: 413 Registered: 4-2003 |
Personally, I think that Mercedes has to "watch out" for Quality Control! They've been having some major problems lately. Spreading themselves too thin? my 2 cents. | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Intermediate Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 1357 Registered: 10-2001 |
Ugly car and the interior is even worse. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1724 Registered: 2-2001 |
I like the Enzo, but dont like its doors... they could have easily put normal doors on it. Ernesto | ||
| Kds (Kds)
Junior Member Username: Kds Post Number: 196 Registered: 5-2003 |
It's ugly and it weights way too much.....oh....it's overpriced by about 50% as well. | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 288 Registered: 4-2001 |
Are you saying you dislike the Enzo because it has the same doors? | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1723 Registered: 2-2001 |
They are still trick doors, regardless of who invented them. Ernesto | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
Member Username: The_bart Post Number: 348 Registered: 1-2003 |
Well, let's see it on the track! | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 287 Registered: 4-2001 |
I think the car actually looks nice coming from Mercedes. What are you talking about trick doors, Mercedes actually invented trick doors with their 300sl gullwing-another beauty. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1722 Registered: 2-2001 |
Looks like an SL with an ugly body kit and trick doors. Ernesto | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 825 Registered: 10-2001 |
Looks better in Black  | ||
| Gabe V (Racerxgto)
Junior Member Username: Racerxgto Post Number: 118 Registered: 4-2003 |
What Mitch said(below) | ||
| Greg (Teflon)
Junior Member Username: Teflon Post Number: 72 Registered: 5-2003 |
It weighs almost 4000lbs. Greg A | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Intermediate Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 1076 Registered: 4-2002 |
Its ugly! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6363 Registered: 12-2000 |
I like this car. | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 823 Registered: 10-2001 |
The joke is, you have to have those doors to get into the supercar class. Its the new rule for 2000's "Got the doors? Lambo, Enzo, MB?" "You're in the club!" | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 3157 Registered: 2-2001 |
The MB SLR is fugly. The 55SLAMG is very nice | ||
| GThomas (Ferrariartist)
Junior Member Username: Ferrariartist Post Number: 220 Registered: 2-2003 |
i have a feeling these are the proportions that we can expect on the 456-replacement - as seen in those renderings released a while back. Here they are in a real (although competitors - sort-of ( - car... that loooooong hood with that extra space between the front wheel-well and the a-pillar/door-seam. i have every faith in Pinifarina but it will take some getting used to thats for sure... GT | ||
| Larry Leonard (Larryleonard)
New member Username: Larryleonard Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2003 |
The profile is similar to a Viper and the doors...well. The rear end is very similar to the SL. I don't think it looks radical enough for a new generation supercar. I bet it has amazing performance, but I'd still take a 575M over it. | ||
| Warren Balla (West662)
New member Username: West662 Post Number: 31 Registered: 8-2003 |
Im not sure this has been posted before, but, since it is in the same class as the Maranello, I thought it would be suitable to post it (competition). BUT, I think Mercedes and McLaren did a good job on the SLR. It looks great (except the nose of the car might be a LITTLE too long). The power is amazing. over 600 horse, with nearly 600 lb of torque. Incredible. What do you guys think? http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=9&article_id=744 |