DoctorV8

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...401130116&rd=1

Not too many SL74s out there....


Granted, this is a crazy car, but if you see my sig below, I do have a tendency toward off the wall machines with BIG power.

In Car and Driver's 0-150-0 competition back in 1998, this Renntech SL hit 150 in 20.9 sec (!) and stopped faster than ALL the other (lighter) sports cars in the comparison.

I may never find one like this again....but obviously it won't be as refined (or as new) as a CL55.

I'm looking for a luxury machine that I can drive on a semi-daily basis, don't mind occasional repairs....

Humor me guys....what do you think? It's only a 3 hour drive to go see it, so I'm at least going to drive this BEAST once!



Sanjay

Mr. Xristo

Don't forget the "Bullet Proof side windows" that comes with it...

Tezta

victoryroad

There is a huge difference between the new SL and the CL. The difference is even greater for the older SL, even if it is modified for better speed and handling. All three are excellent cars, it just depends on what you want and how much you are prepared to pay for the differences. If I did a lot of driving in the hill country I'd want a 996 TT with X50 power. It's not a drag racer, but once rolling is astounding. My next choice would be the CL55, which is what I will take delivery of in March (Black/Java/Burl Walnut, keyless go, parktronic, trunk closer and CD Nav kit, but no tire pressure monitor because of my experience with that system on my 2002 CL 500 Sport).

DoctorV8

That's why I enjoy my Corvettes out here on the all the twisty hill country roads. I'm looking for more luxury now.

Even with the X50 package, the 996TT would have its hands full keeping up with the 600 HP Renntech on the straights.

Victoryroad, could you please elaborate on your tire pressure sensor experience?

Thanks.

victoryroad

I found the tire presure monitoring system to be very accurate and helpful, but temperture differentials from when the car is turned off and then started again after the temp dropped a lot in the winter here caused an malfunction message. Also, when a tire is low, but not too low in pressure the malfunction came on more than a few times. Once I got a legitimate red warning light from the system, but did not have a significant leak, just one tire a couple lbs below what it was at start. Could have been a temperature differential. Were it not for the relatively frequent malfunction warnings and the need to go through the reset procedure, I would have gotten the system in my CL55. I never realized how much loading tires in a corner increased their pressure or how much ambient tempature can affect pressure until I got the monitoring system. BTW, I am very aware of the impact of correct tire pressure and check my tires regularly with one of those digital meters on my cars without the sensor system.
Having driven the twisties in Bandera Country around Medina Lake in a 1998 SL 500 quite a few times, I can tell you that the Renntech version will be a hanful on those reverse bank corners. I would much rather have ABC in the CL working for me or have PSM in the 996 TT under me.

DoctorV8

Got to spend some quality time in the SL 74, and it was a truly amazing car. THe sound of the V12 was stirrling, but hushed, and the car accelerated in endless rushes of pure torque. Felt similar to a new CL55 up to maybe 80, but above that, it was clearly quicker. Nothing short of my Lingenfelter ZR-1 accelerates harder in the triple digits.

victoryroad

DocV8
You can, of course, get Renntech mods for the new CL55 that will get it close to or perhaps more than the SL you drove. BTW, the Cd for the CL55 is 0.29, which is very probably lower than that of the Renntech modified SL. Even the SL55 has a cd of 0.30. So at high speed with more hp/torque, the CL55, while not faster than the Lingenfelter Vette, will be very fast.

DoctorV8

Absolutely....the SL'd drag coefficient can't begin to compare.

The CL is so amazingly fast for a luxury car in showroom trim, I have no doubt that with the Renntech mods, it will be a terror on the autobahn (or tollway, in my case...) Such is the untapped potential of forced induction big displacement motors!

As an analogy, just look at how fast some of the Ford guys are going with their supercharged Lightning pickups and 2003 Cobra Mustangs. 450+ rear wheel horsepower is just a pulley, chip, and exhaust away!

But the sound of a 452 cubic inch naturally aspirated V12 ripping up to redline was truly something to behold. That was one memorable drive.

awiner

Slap a Kleemann on the new 2003 CL55... Good for ~650hp !

Canuck

Power junkies only need apply. For something safer, try the new Bentley.

victoryroad

OT, but since it was just mentioned I wonder what the performance stats for the new Bentley Continental GT are? I have seen that it will have all wheel drive and an engine (V12 turbocharged, I believe) that produces over 500 bhp. I have not seen its weight. The design is certainly bold, distinctive, and more exclusive so will get the valet spots up front over the CL55, but will it outperform the CL55?

absent

Based on my experience with CL600,the Bentley will be more usable and faster in real life.
CL will just burn tires.

FInality

Why did you sell it Abent? Did you spend too much time driving it with ESP off? I remember you mentioned something about how the exhaust note was way too quiet.

absent

Had to buy a townhouse,building a new house,demolishing old house,lost garage.If really wanted to,probably would come up with a way to keep the CL but was not 100% happy with it(would have to spend additional $ to delimit it's stupid 130mph,about $5k,replace rear tires every 1000 miles,loose to every Dodge Neon in 0-40mph etc etc):o

glowrider

Is the AMG 55 ('03 of course) limited at 130mph too? I drive to Boston quite frequently (not a big fan of flying when it isn't absolutely necessary) and I like to fly up 95 doing some sprints that would probably be well into the limited range of the 600...Just wondering if that is the case on the 55 as well

awiner

The AMG 55's are limited at 155 mph .

glowrider

Thanks...

Wolfman

Sorry to hear that the CL didn't work out

I agree with the low speed governor, that's unacceptable, but I still don't get the tire or the Dodge Neon comments...

Why would the Bentley be faster in real life? Please explain...

Btw, the new Bentley sounds like a great car and I love the looks, but I reserve judgement until it's actually out and tested.

Wolfman

absent

With that much torque,CL is almost impossible to launch quickly on stock tires(sport pkge) on anything but dry ,warm,extra smooth surface.(full torque of 800 NM at 1800 rpm)
You really have to feather the throttle to avoid spinning the tires excessively,hence the Neon(SRT) thats faster of the line.
Of course you'll kill almost anything else out there once you're moving.
Bentley will have even more torque,will be limited at 186 MPH and most importantly will be 4WD,so all that power will be always at your disposal.

victoryroad

If the Bentley is not too heavy and has more torque it should with 4WD put down power better than the CL55 or 600 apparently do. As to the much higher speed limiter, the CL55's 155 is more than enough for me, as I cannot imagine traveling at that speed, much less 180+ on public roads. Of course, the price of the Bentley GT will be much higher than the CL55, so it will not be surprising if it is a better overall vehicle. Despite the GT's apparent advantages, the mid range punch of the CL55, say from 60 mph to 100mph has got to be hard to beat--even without modification.

AMG4life

go with the SL 73! that car is a beast!!! but u can go with the Zonda!!! that car has the same crazy engine plus a really cool exterior.

theine

So the solution would be an AWD or 4WD CL55, to prevent it from spinning.