victoryroad

The current Car & Driver review of the SL55 reports the gross weight as a little over 4400 lbs vs the MB spec of 4235 lbs. The 03 CL55 is 4225 lbs according to the brochure, as I recall. Given the same engines, transmissions and final drive ratios, the SL and the CL should have very similar performance. The tires on the SL are wider than those on the CL, so cornering advantage may go the SL, but acceleration should be similar. I am not sure of the grag coefficient of each, so high speed acceleration may differ. Has anyone on this forum seen independent performance comparisons of the two models and if so how are they different?

victoryroad

My questions are answered by today's post by MBUSA of the 03 CL55 specs.
The final drive ratios are different between the SL55 and CL55. The 0-60 time for the SL is 4.5 and 4.6 for the CL.
The build your own section offers the wood/leather steering wheel and the wood/leather keyless go shift lever as options.
The site shows the new AMG wheels that are in the brochure.
The brochure and dealer info make no reference to a DVD based Comand nav system and the order guide offers the CD package. Let us hope that the DVD system will be offered as a retrofit in 03.

///MB

Can you please tell me where on the MBUSA site it says the final drive ratios?
I'm looking for it, but I can't seem to find it.

Thanks.

victoryroad

The final drive ratios are in the printed brochures and on the website under the "features, specifications" tab. The printed brochure also is clear that there is no wood/leather steering wheel available, but the build your own section of the website allows one to select it for the CL55. Both the brochure and the website are silent about Comand using DVD at any point and make brief reference to the CD nav system.

///MB

I found it... thanks. I was looking under the S55, which does not have the information.

Also, I did notice that the 500 and 600 have the larger ratio. So I'm assuming that the 600, should be a lot faster... considering the extra TQ and higher final drive ratio.
I don't know why they changed it on the 55s, if the even more powerful 600 has the larger one too.

dNA3D

It's a shame they don't have 0-100 or 0-150 times or 50-70 times. That would actually be a much more accurate indication of performance, as many things can affect the 0-60 time such as wheel size, diameter, gear ratios etc.

absent

A relative of mine in Germany works for MB R&D and said that S600 absolutely kills S55 in 100-200 km/h and any higher speeds.
I would love to see a real comprehensive test comparing the two.

dNA3D

Renntech is currently working on a 650+HP motor based on the S600's bi-turbo engine. Gotta read a comparison of that vs the standard S600 one day.