SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: 2009 Vette ZR1 or 2009 Benz SL65???
#1
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: CALIFORNIA
2007 ML320 CDI, 2008 Smart ForTwo
2009 Vette ZR1 or 2009 Benz SL65???
Ok guys I need opinions... New Vette ZR1 or SL65..... The new vette is smoking hot..... And I have been been a Benz guy for years. Thanks for the feedback.
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
ZR1 is a special car which may never be made again with the Green Revolution now underway.
They'll always be plenty of 65's waiting for you if you don't like.
Go ZR1.
They'll always be plenty of 65's waiting for you if you don't like.
Go ZR1.
#3
Go with the SL65! You won't regret it. The benz is a better quality car. Has more safety features than almost any other car in the world.
#4
There's no right or wrong answer to that question. Drive both at length and buy whichever one suits you best. They have very different personalities which will be obvious to you when you drive them.
Good luck and enjoy!
Good luck and enjoy!
#5
I highly doubt you'll get a chance to drive a ZR1 at length... at least for awhile. Also, I'm sure there be some markup to begin with. If I went SL65, I'd get a preowned car and save 30-40%
#6
SL65 is a convertible GT and ZR1 is a high-performance sports car. They are totally different cars for different purposes, you can't compare them directly against each other.
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#8
i personally would go with ZR1, not only is it very limited but it is going to be very exclusive. SL is not really exclusive, I would say more like just the people that can afford that car are haha.
sure the quality on the SL will probably be better, but its obvious if you are going with the SL your looking for some sport, and go go juice, well where you gonna get more for the price than the ZR1, they say its gonna eat just about everything on the road.
But it Would also depreciate ALOT slower. and good point that these cars are soon probably going to be a thing of the past. Im sure if you buy it and then decide you want an SL, that you can pretty much sell it a while afterward and buy the same year SL, and have money left over, if not buy it a new one with the money from the car. Rarely driven car might even be worth more depending on how many total they will make.
sure the quality on the SL will probably be better, but its obvious if you are going with the SL your looking for some sport, and go go juice, well where you gonna get more for the price than the ZR1, they say its gonna eat just about everything on the road.
But it Would also depreciate ALOT slower. and good point that these cars are soon probably going to be a thing of the past. Im sure if you buy it and then decide you want an SL, that you can pretty much sell it a while afterward and buy the same year SL, and have money left over, if not buy it a new one with the money from the car. Rarely driven car might even be worth more depending on how many total they will make.
#10
****kkkkkkkkkkk thattttttttt i went to car show today and seen them all!!!!!! zr1 is hot new sl is smoking hottttt , zr1 is faster sl65 is a better car to drive around and feel special all the time , but i would personally go with the gt-r i would never expect the car looking so good , and for that price it's wow no words and its better handling than both. but i think you should go with either that or the new cl65 wich is extra luxury inside and sick from the outside , but zr1 did look good
#11
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: South Florida
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S
Larry
#12
I'm not sure why this is even a topic on this board -
but anyone who has ever set foot in a Corvette knows the difference in build quality between a GM product and a Benz. The ZR-1 will be made by the same guys who are bolting together the same cheap mass produced crap that caused us to lose most of our manuacturing jobs to Japan twenty years ago.
If we're just here to run the fastest 1/4 mile times, I suggest an '85 Mustang with a built race motor. It can be put together for $25K and will run sub-10 sec. times.
If you're interested in a well engineered high performance coupe, consider an AMG SL.
but anyone who has ever set foot in a Corvette knows the difference in build quality between a GM product and a Benz. The ZR-1 will be made by the same guys who are bolting together the same cheap mass produced crap that caused us to lose most of our manuacturing jobs to Japan twenty years ago.
If we're just here to run the fastest 1/4 mile times, I suggest an '85 Mustang with a built race motor. It can be put together for $25K and will run sub-10 sec. times.
If you're interested in a well engineered high performance coupe, consider an AMG SL.
#13
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
Unless the SL65 has a new updated engine I would go with the ZR1. The 65 engine is old technology and runs way too hot without a proper intercooler pump and heat exchanger. The new toys in the 09 SL will be nice but save yourself a boat load of money and get a used 07 SL65 for less then the ZR1. Just my opinion. Don't ever buy a new 65 because you will lose almost have the value in one year. Even if I was crapping out money I wouldn't do it just for the principal of it. Just my opinion. Good luck.
Larry
Larry
The SL65 Black Series will be introduced in July and will be about 680 hp and easily upgraded to 720 hp.
Jimmy
#14
your question should be - do i want a pure sports car or a gt car?
answer that one and it will be easier to make your choice.
the sl65 is a car you can live with every day.
the zr1 will be a snotty weekend warrior and will always be a vette. it will most likely depreciate less as it costs less, aside from the potential collector status...
however, in a 20/20 - most people buy that type of cars not to drive them as they are intended to be driven, but to be associated with them... soooo- do again- ask yourself...
alex
few cars
answer that one and it will be easier to make your choice.
the sl65 is a car you can live with every day.
the zr1 will be a snotty weekend warrior and will always be a vette. it will most likely depreciate less as it costs less, aside from the potential collector status...
however, in a 20/20 - most people buy that type of cars not to drive them as they are intended to be driven, but to be associated with them... soooo- do again- ask yourself...
alex
few cars
#15
The ZR-1 will be made by the same guys who are bolting together the same cheap mass produced crap that caused us to lose most of our manuacturing jobs to Japan twenty years ago.
I see you're in S. Florida. You would be pleased to know that MB (from the corporate figureheads in Germany), have decided to start pretesting models there in Jacksonville (where MB's arrive in the Southeast), prior to releasing them to the public. MBCA also said something about this recently.
On the Corvette, new models are NOTHING like the dated ones. The build quality is far superior than the past. (The ZR1 specifically, is specially built and will be limited.) Of all the people that I know that have vettes (newer than the C5 onward) and those I know with MB's in general and SL's in particular, care to guess which ones are in the shop more often? I don't think you'd like the answer, but the print publications (and even MB's own internal sources) would confirm the dreaded reality.
I find it best to have appreciation for both of these cars for their specific purpose. As another said here, one is more a luxury GT and the other is a pure sportscar in the fullest sense of the word.
#16
Anybody ever drive a C6 Vette? Quality is excellent and liveability is at the top of the sports-car market. The ZR-1 comes with a adjustable suspension which can be softened for these bumpy US roads. My Z06 drives very comparable to the SL55 over the same roads. I can imagine the ZR1 to be great.
Also, it's going to be $95k cheaper. My dad is pricing up an 09 SL65 and it's around $195k.
But again, top of the line sportscar or top of the line gt.
Also, it's going to be $95k cheaper. My dad is pricing up an 09 SL65 and it's around $195k.
But again, top of the line sportscar or top of the line gt.
#17
I've owned an R230 SL600 and a C6 Z06. I do not think you can compare the two cars because they offer drastically different driving experiences.
The SL is not really a driver's car - it focuses more on being a GT with a comfortable ride and luxurious refinements, the Z06 and presumably the ZR1 will be much more raw, unrefined, and lack a lot of the luxury the SL offers.
With that said, after owning a Z06, I question exactly how drivable the ZR1 will be. The Z06 really stuggles to put down power at low speeds and when it's cold outside (below 30F) the car will spin them at 60-70mph. The ride is rough with the Z06, tranny tunnel gets hot (which there is a fix for) and overall it's not a car I'd want to drive cross country.
The SL, with it's buttery smooth power delivery, top down enjoyment, and attention to comfort is something you could really enjoy year round, and I see a lot more AMG SLs being driven through inclimate weather than I do Z06s (or any C6 for that matter). However it's automatic, and with the weight and suspension configuration it's not the best handling car on the road.
It's not really a matter of which car is better - it's a question of which one suits your needs and wants better.
-m
The SL is not really a driver's car - it focuses more on being a GT with a comfortable ride and luxurious refinements, the Z06 and presumably the ZR1 will be much more raw, unrefined, and lack a lot of the luxury the SL offers.
With that said, after owning a Z06, I question exactly how drivable the ZR1 will be. The Z06 really stuggles to put down power at low speeds and when it's cold outside (below 30F) the car will spin them at 60-70mph. The ride is rough with the Z06, tranny tunnel gets hot (which there is a fix for) and overall it's not a car I'd want to drive cross country.
The SL, with it's buttery smooth power delivery, top down enjoyment, and attention to comfort is something you could really enjoy year round, and I see a lot more AMG SLs being driven through inclimate weather than I do Z06s (or any C6 for that matter). However it's automatic, and with the weight and suspension configuration it's not the best handling car on the road.
It's not really a matter of which car is better - it's a question of which one suits your needs and wants better.
-m
#18
If you can get the ZR1 at MSRP, you can drive it for a year or till 2010 with little or no depreciation when you sell it.
Then, get a slightly used 2009 SL65 in 2010 and save yourself atleast 65k from the depreciation, then you get the best of both world.
Then, get a slightly used 2009 SL65 in 2010 and save yourself atleast 65k from the depreciation, then you get the best of both world.
#20
The SL is not really a driver's car - it focuses more on being a GT with a comfortable ride and luxurious refinements, the Z06 and presumably the ZR1 will be much more raw, unrefined, and lack a lot of the luxury the SL offers. With that said, after owning a Z06, I question exactly how drivable the ZR1 will be. The Z06 really struggles to put down power at low speeds and when it's cold outside (below 30F) the car will spin them at 60-70mph.
The SL 65, when pressed from a standing start, let's go of its rubber and getting any real traction is nearly impossible. (At the drag strips, the SL/CL 600's were routinely beating the 65's for this reason.) The 65 does not come into its own until its comfortably cruising - suited best for the Autobahn which shares its homeland, even in inclement weather (heck, it now comes with a heated wind "scarf" in the headrests!!) as the true (heavy) GT that it is. (Did you know that SL stands for "super light"? Yeah, imagine that. But this was when the model first started and they kept getting heavier [safer] since.)
The ZR1 could not possibly struggle any worse from the starting line and, in a performance contest would be very tough to beat, as again, this is a borderline racecar in streetcar trim, designed to rival the super exotics. But the ZR1 is no comfy cruising (hardtop convertible!), like you said "buttery" GT luxury car as the SL series is, even the 65 at mid range and beyond. The original poster needs to better define his real purpose for the car. (Does he want an all-out cigarette speed boat, or a powerful luxury yacht?)
It's not really a matter of which car is better - it's a question of which one suits your needs and wants better.
#21
this is what I would do. I would buy the ZR-1 of course if I could get it at MSRP, keep it, drive it around for a little bit, spank some lambo's and ferrari's
then if he decides he doesnt like it and wants a luxury cruiser, and would like to try out the SL, even if it takes him a few years to come to this conclusion, not only should he have no problem selling the ZR-1, but he would be able to buy a barely used SL, with the money and still probably have money left over
#24
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From: Silicon Valley, CA
1999 C280 Previous / 2008 E350
#25
That's exactly why there is no 'better' or 'worse' choice...
Those are the decisions and problems you're facing even if money is not the #1-issue. Well, unless you have that much and can get both - You're on the safe side then..