okbarnett

This place is dead. Com'on lets get with it. These are great cars, why not talk about them? Heres pics of my SL63

Speedriven1

Gorgeous car. Unfortunately, I think you'll quickly find there are about as many people trying to sell you stuff for your SL63 as there are SL63s, then the threads get full of vendors really quickly, and that tends to chase guys off (said the vendor).

Speedriven1

^ that's so sikk.

nycphotography

I think there's not much to talk about because the things just run w/o any real issues.

It seems MB got the R231 right. Very right.

okbarnett

I know they arent that old that they require alot of owner repairs. But there are alot of mods available , and i dont see many people sharing their results about that

Steinhart

I'd like to get your thoughts/experience with the ride quality of your SL63. I looked at getting one when I bought my '14 SL550, but felt the ride was a bit too stiff and the bumps too harsh for my liking, however the road surface on the test drive was rather poor. Your thoughts?

The exhaust note was intoxicating though!

okbarnett

Well you dont want to ask me about that. I think you have to go to a dealer and drive a regular one. my car has the amg performance suspension option. It is noticably stiffer, harder than a normal car. But thats why I bought it. I wanted it to be as performance oriented as possible. Its hard to find exactly what it has that is different. theres not much description. What I have found is it has different shocks, sway bar and sits 19mm lower.
It does ride hard. I would say in normal mode it is like a regular SL in sport mode. In sport it is hard-hard. But sticks to the road GOOD

Steinhart

So I just noticed your description as being a Porsche guy who drives an SL63...

does the SL63 fill that sports car desire that a Porsche does? I drove a '14 Turbo S the other day, wow was that fun, but exhaust note was like a glorified vacuum cleaner, I then heard the exhaust note of after market exhausts for the Turbo S on youtube, still sounds like a vacuum cleaner IMO, nothing like a V8. But the SL is a heavier car...

okbarnett

Id say that this is the closest thing to a 911 that I have driven, except its like a completely luxurious 911. You get the comfort added onto the feel

mellowyellow

Really nice looking car. What's the story with your exterior carbon? The mirrors don't seem to be factory painted the way the carbon option comes, and you also have carbon near the rear exhaust. I am pretty sure this was not part of the factory exterior carbon package (code 773).

okbarnett

Thanks. No its not the factory pkg. The performance pkg gives the big rear spoiler & engine cover CF. I bought the front valance and the mirror bodies CF. The factory pkg has the lower mirror and base painted black. And I had the rear valance laminated with CF. Then I matte cleared everything. and the engine cover.

spyder987

okbarnett -

I too am a Porsche guy. I am considering either a 2017 SL63 or a 2017 SL65. I have driven an SL63 without the Performance Suspension and loved it. I haven't yet had an opportunity to drive one with it. How does it compare to the comfort of a 911 just cruising with the top down? Also, have you driven the SL65 and how does that compare?

Thanks,
Phil

okbarnett

I never had the v12 because everybody to me all the v8s were more drivable, more nimble. Also the older ones always had the old 5speed and all the newer sl63 had the 7speed mct a big performance update. Also a 50k difference in cost for a v12.
They always give the same perf specs, and the v8s can be bumped in hp well over the v12.
Buy what you like but Im well satisfied with my 63 drivability and performance. and you can just compare the feel to a porsche with 10x the comfort

spyder987

Yes, I have heard something similar but most all the suspension components are the same. Yes the transmission is different but the weight difference is not that much. The 2017 SL63 curb weight is 4,112 lbs and the SL65 curb is 4,211 lbs so only a 99 lb difference. If you put ceramic brakes on the 65 it probably weighs close to the 63 and with less unsprung weight. So yes many have said the 63 is more driveable but I just wonder whether is a lack of actually 65 drivers out there. Maybe one of them will weigh in here. I did send a PM to jrcart but haven't heard back.

spyder987

I forgot to add I see some reviews/youtube videos actually stating the weight of the SL65 is 4872 lbs which is actually the gross vehicle weight not the curb weight. Strange that they would make such a mistake.

tandan

I am hesitant to make a comparison here because I think the 63 is a great car and I might yet acquire one in the future. With that said, I like the feel and the delivery of power in the 65. The 911 is a great car, but I did not like it as a daily driver. When you start to compare the performance of a 63 with a 65, we are talking about fractions of a second that the average driver cannot make use of. If I leave the 65 in comfort mode, it feels heavy and sluggish to drive. When I put it in sport mode, it is quick and responsive and a great daily driver.

spyder987

Tandan -

I assume you are talking about your 2007 SL 65. I think it is important to note that your car has a curb weight of 4564 lbs whereas the 2017 model is 350 lbs lighter.

okbarnett

in a vw you may feel a heavy passenger but in cars with 500 hp you wouldnt notice any difference. I think its no issue of a couple hundred lbs car weight

tandan

Thanks spyder. I am aware of the weight difference (beginning in 2013 I think) and also 17 more hp. That is one of my considerations in buying a newer car. I believe those differences can only be used on the margins which I rarely if ever approach. With that said I just like the 230 look best of all at this time.

spyder987

I just made the decision and will be getting an SL65. Probably crazy to buy it without ever having driven one but I just could not find one locally. The SL63's I drove were wonderful and I could have easily seen getting one but the lure of the v12 was my undoing. I will report back with my first impressions shortly.

tandan

Spyder, I think you're going to love it. I do.

mellowyellow

I bought my SL63 without ever having driven one, and I don't regret it. It's a great all-around car (handling, accel, decel, usability, looks, noise, etc).

I hope you buy one used/CPO (or lease it), because the depreciation on the 65 is staggering.

tandan

Mellow, regarding the depreciation, I use the word breathtaking.

nycphotography

Yeah because the 63 is just a standout example of automotive value retention. lol

spyder987

I wanted new with ceramic brakes. There was only 1 in the US. Apparently a customer had backed out of a deal in Colorado and my dealer in CA got the car for me.

As far as depreciation, a 2017 twin turbo S Porsche Cabriolet (my other choice) costs about the same as the 2017 SL65 and both suffer the same brutal depreciation. In 6-7 years I am not sure that I will really care.