xpl0sive

Came across some cars browsing craigslist today... First car seems to be very rare, they claim it's the only one in Canada. I tried searching for one on ebay, couldn't find one for sale in the US either...

2009 SL600 with 21,xxxkm (13k miles) on it. They are asking $69k CAD or $53k USD.

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/ctd/5674698621.html

Second car is a 2009 SL63. This guy has been trying to sell it for a while now. Price seems OK, low miles, same as the SL600. Same price as the SL600 as well

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5744103240.html

Third car is a 2011 SL63, higher KM (63k or about 40k miles), same price as the other two.
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/ctd/5667145167.html

Which car would you guys choose and why? SL600 seems to be cool simply because it's so rare.

okbarnett

rare doesnt mean anything, the amg car is always superior in so many ways

xpl0sive

how? I think the SL600 has the same brakes as the SL63, probably is faster (especially if tuned)... suspension is probably a bit stiffer in the AMG I agree.

Quadrobenz

First, disclosure. One of my MB's is a 2009 SL600. Of the three you list I would take the SL600 over the 6.2L S63. The SL600 is a really nice an surprisingly fast car with the large brake package as on the AMG. Stock they are almost identical in performance. Tuned the SL600 will be faster if that matters. 2009 was the final year for the SL600. After that there was only the SL65 if you need 12 cylinders. Also, out of 6 high performance MB's we have owned only the E63 with the 6.2L engine ever required engine repairs. Obviously just my personal opinion.

Viper98912

You should buy my SL65 instead

PoCoAMG

The price seems a bit high still. Very nice car though. I picked up my 07 SL55 in Alberta for $36,000 with 77,000 km's and the performance package. Alberta was hurting at the time though...

Good luck

Shaun

mcguirja

The 2009 63 is over priced (unfortunately) unless the market there is considerably different than Toronto area. A 2009 63 in Toronto will run between 50 and 60 Canadian depending on miles and options. If you can get a 2011 for the same price I'd jump on it. It has the new head bolts and valve buckets. I looked at trading my 2009 for a 2011 recently but the dealer wanted a ridiculous delta.

euphoriaDSM

I always thought the n/a 63 motor lacked the right amount of power to move the heavy SL's properly. I'd take the 600 out of those options but there's better deals to be found.

B Feelgood

I've owned both and I can confidently say that I had more fun in the SL63. If the majority of your driving is around town and in the city, the SL63 is more enjoyable. If you spend the majority of your time on the highway or have a lot of straight back roads that you can play on, then the SL65 is the better car.

The SL63 that I owned had headers, high flow cats, resonators removed, ECU & TCU tune. The car had one of the most amazing exhaust notes and it never grew old. The transmission in the SL63 is much better than the 5 speed in the SL65 and I also preferred the newer body stlye on the SL63. Neither car is going to handle like a 911 but I felt like the SL63 handled better. The SL65 has a nicer interior though as everything is covered in soft buttery leather.

That being said, I have never felt a car go from 60mph-120mph with the same authority that the SL65 does. The way it builds speed can be deceiving and the torque literally pins your entire body into the seat while the 63 just snaps your neck back. Around town you do get some noticeable turbo lag whereas the NA 63 is always ready to go. Keeping the intake temperatures down while driving around town is also a problem but on the highway while constantly moving, it's fine. I personally wouldn't consider the 600 at all as it lacks the other niceties that come along with the AMG cars such as sport seats, body styling, better suspension/brakes, etc.

My 2 cents!

BlownV8

Can't say that I agree with the turbo lag comment. The engine hits peak torque around 1,800 RPM. I think you were just accustomed to the way the tranny was geared to the 63's engine characteristics. The 7 speed tranny makes the car seem more responsive since the 5 speed is so slow to respond and has fewer gears. No argument at all that the 7 speed is light years ahead in terms of responsiveness; however, those tiny turbos on the 600/65's spool crazy fast and I have experienced no such lag in either of the ones I've owned.

PoCoAMG

There is also a SL65 at Bluestar Motors. I know the owner if this is what you are interested in...

Shaun

http://www.bluestarmotors.com/index....ehicle_id=4427

Quadrobenz

As a long time muscle car enthusiast I totally agree on how great the exhaust note is on the 6.2L V8. The 7sp is also a big improvement over the 5sp. There is no noticeable turbo lag in the V12. what is felt is the MB programming of the engine response to throttle movements.In the two V12's I had tuned (Eurocharged) that delay was eliminated. They felt just as quick to respond as the 6.2 V8. The tuned V12 makes so much torque the 5sp is not really an issue.
The 63 and the 600 and 65 are each different driving experiences, that is likely why MB makes the choices available. Most of us prioritize features differently so I feel it is important to drive them to make a final decision.

xpl0sive

i've seen that SL at Blue Star. Not bad, but old body. only reason i was interested in the 600 was because it was new body style.

PoCoAMG

That 2009 SL600 does look really nice....

Shaun