SL500?

What does everyone think of the new SL500? After driving one, I am amazed at the suprisngly nice grumble of the engine. There was not much of a difference in the handling when you hit the ABC Sport button though.

 

Good taste MS575M. The SL500 is a gorgeous car - it's aesthetically perfect IMO.
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Really nice car, but its beggining to get played out. Seems like everywhere i turn i see one!I would rather buy myself an M3 and use the remaining money to do some mods.

 

yea, that is a nice car, but nothin special in the performance side. i think that my supercharged suburban has more pick up and go that that thing... but i'll tell ya what, that interior and features are awesome! It rides and handles well too... overall, great car. here in MN, they are still kinda rare. this is the back up car for my dad if we can't get his Maserati Quattroporte...but we'd prolly get the SL55... supercharged V8, 496hp, 5xx tq...hmmm..yummy!
Aj

 

SL65 tastes even better....

 

I think they are beautiful. I am about to get an Sl600 myself. A friend of mine has a black one like the one in the picture.

 

I've put over 500 miles on the new SL55 and absolutely love it, I've driven a decent amount of exotics and can easily say this is the 'best overall' car of any of them. Amazing cars, beautiful, easily maintained etc.. If you can spring for the AMG go for it, otherwise, you'll enjoy!

 

The SL 500 looks really nice. But i found it very boring to drive. Stay away from the first batch/years . The Quality was poor.

 

I did the "love your mercedes" tour, they set up a course on a huge parking lot to "test" the vehicles. One of the cars there was the SL 500.

Coming from an m3, I thought the car was amesome!! Nice handling, smooth power delivery, great braking. I can only imagine how great the Sl55 is

Good Luck

 

Try the Sl600 after the sl55. I drove them back to back and the Sl600 just walks away from the Sl55. Fun car to drive.

 

Agreed. I found the 600 to be a more enjoyable experience as well.

 

WHY SPECIFICALLY?

 

My aunt has an '03. Pretty in and out...very nice car. But after a few months of ownership, it overheated. The problem apparently was a steering wheel column leak and fluid found its way into a "fanbelt" (or something to that effect) area. The dealership handled the situation very well and she decided to keep the car. Have you heard of a similar story?

 

(From the official Mercedes site):

SL55:
MSRP $122,220.00*
Engine AMG-built supercharged 5.5L 24-valve V-8 engine
Net Power 493 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Net Torque 516 lb-ft @ 2,750 - 4,000 rpm

SL600
MSRP $128,220.00*
Engine Twin turbocharged 5.5L 36-valve V-12 engine
Net Power 493 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Net Torque 590 lb-ft @ 1,800 - 3,500 rpm


I'd assume the difference in torque..?

 

actually the new slk, with 260 hp is quicker and better handling with 1000lbs less weight..the sl is very heavy for its size and i felt it driving it.... felt like more of cruiser...with the money you save with the slk, you can buy a used m3 coupe...also in my area, most of the regular sl500s are driven by older men and rich divorcees

 

Combination of torque and smoooooothness. Seamless power available at almost any point. Very refined feeling compared to the more raw visceral feel of the 55.

My chief complaint in any of the new SL line is a feeling that corners have been cut in materials. Really, it feels that way to me in any of the new MB products. I hate the amounts of plastic on both the exterior and interior.

IMO there are two modern MB products that feel the way an MB should feel. E500/500E and the W140.

 

600....2 chips will get you over 500 to the wheels...

Source:http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3067542&postcount=18
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I almost bought SL55 instead of 355 spider this May. It is a wolf under sheepish skin.

SL500 may depreciate too much. BUT it is a very sophisticated sports car.
I remember many girls in college liked SL better than 308/Countache then.
Could be due to the movie "Beverly Hill Cop"...

 

Holy ****. Assuming 20% drivetrain loss. That's 645hp and 820ftlbs of torque. I cant wait to get one.

 

thanks alot for the input guys!

 

I actually checked out both recently as well and felt the opposite. I felt the 55 was quicker, sounded much better and was sportier. Also had the shift buttons on the wheel which were cool. I don't know if that comes on the 600 with the sport package.

 

I was watching one of those ubiquitous "TV clip shows" and they showed a segment from the UK with Damon Hill driving a blue SL600 with a British automotive journalist - flying down country roads at crazy speeds, Damon was placid as could be and the reporter was puking out the window.

 

I owned an SL500 for six months then moved to an SL55. The SL55 is arguably the best all around car I've ever owned. It's useful as a saily driver with fixed top, top down cruiser, grocery getter. It's also fast as sh*t and sounds awesome. I thought I would keep it forever (and I still might), but recently drove and have since ordered an SL65. That thing is unreal! no matter which one you get (SL500, SL55, SL600, SL65), they are the sexiest looking daily drivers around.