CL55 AMG, CL65 AMG, CL63 AMG (C215, C216) 2000 - 2014 (Two Generations)

Check out Motor Trend Road test

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Old May 1, 2003 | 04:04 PM
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Check out Motor Trend Road test

Just received the new issue of Motor Trend dated June 2003.
Page 82 has a road test and also a comparison of the SUPERCARS such as Lambo, Z06, Ferrari, etc.
A decent read. Just not so sure of the statement that only 500 CL55's are to be shipped to the US this year.
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Old May 5, 2003 | 11:31 AM
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Incredible performance for a 4255 lb. car! Beats the Z06 in the 0-60 and standing quarter mile by a small margin. MB limited the top speed to 187, otherwise it would likely have been in the 190's. 4.29 seconds 0-60 is quite amazing for such a large car. Do not know why MT did not test the SL55. I am obviously partial to the CL, but for very good reason. The CL is a much easier car to drive daily than the cramped SL. Also, for distance, the CL is far more comfortable and quiet. The CL also has much better brakes than the SL. Don't know why the SL55 still sells at a big premium over the CL55 though. BTW, for those with the new SL, be extremely careful when loading the trunk, as the top is easily bent out of shape when it encounters any resistance from any baggage in the trunk when putting the top down. Too bad MB did not put a pressure sensitive release in the mechanism.
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Old May 5, 2003 | 09:00 PM
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Interesting how the CL55 was the second fastest car only to loose out to the Lambo - which it went neck and neck with.

Now, if I can only get my limiter taken off...haha
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Old May 5, 2003 | 10:10 PM
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Can someone scan this article ? My damn MotorTrend issue must of gotten lost in the mail this month.
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Old May 6, 2003 | 09:53 AM
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Re: Check out Motor Trend Road test

Originally posted by bt1340
Just not so sure of the statement that only 500 CL55's are to be shipped to the US this year.
Shoulds like the usual U.S. allotment to me. 500-700 is usually max for U.S. Maybe a few more for the C32.
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Old May 6, 2003 | 10:37 AM
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Originally posted by awiner
Can someone scan this article ? My damn MotorTrend issue must of gotten lost in the mail this month.
The test was on SPEED Channel last night. I'm sure they'll replay it.
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Old May 6, 2003 | 11:36 PM
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The acceleration from 0-60 was 4.27 seconds.
Is there anywhere in the web where we can get the video for this test, just like we got the one for the SL55 a while back?
I wonder what the CL65 would have achieved.
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Old May 8, 2003 | 07:08 PM
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Originally posted by victoryroad
I am obviously partial to the CL, but for very good reason. The CL is a much easier car to drive daily than the cramped SL.
I saw Michael Jordan in an SL55, so the SL being "cramped" theory goes out the window there since he is 6'8". But if you like driving a living room, then the CL is a nice compromise.

T
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Old May 9, 2003 | 08:26 AM
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T
Have fun with you SL. BTW, I do not like driving in a living room. I certainly hope that your SL meets all of your expectations, including the brakes. The CL55 has exceeded all of mine by a significant margin.
I fit in the SL just fine and I am certainly smaller than Michael, at only 6' and 198 lbs. It is just that it is cramped if one intends to use it as a daily driver. The SL is the best value in its category, just rather common. South Florida is well populated with 03 SL's. You will see yourself coming and going a lot, especially if your SL is brilliant silver.
Andy
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Old May 9, 2003 | 09:56 AM
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Originally posted by Doctodd33
I saw Michael Jordan in an SL55, so the SL being "cramped" theory goes out the window there since he is 6'8". But if you like driving a living room, then the CL is a nice compromise.

T
Michael Jordan is not 6'8", he is not even 6'6" what is listed playing height is. He is more like 6'3" or 6'4" tops.
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Old May 9, 2003 | 09:59 AM
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MJ, may fit in the SL at 6'8", but the car is not designed for his height "demograpic". Plus, he may have had the car altered in some way for him, ie custom seat brackets or cushions, etc. All cars are designed with a medium & average sized customers in mind. The SL is not designed for a driver of 6'8". Very few cars are.

I see many drivers in cars which they are too tall for, too small for or too fat for. I read a report that stated much of the popularity for SUV's is due to many overweight Americans that can not fit into cars. So if you got a big *** those narrow sport seats in cars like like SL are just not wide enough.

Some guy on the SLK section is 6'4" and swears that he is comfortable in it. What a laugh.
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Old May 9, 2003 | 10:52 AM
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Michael Jordan may not be 6 foot 6, but Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond is a reported 6'9 and he also has a SL55
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Old May 9, 2003 | 01:49 PM
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I had the SL55 and sold it - for a few different reasons - least of which is headroom height. I am 6'3" and slender build and yes, when the top is down (as you saw with MJ riding it) there is no issue. However, put NJ in it with the top down and its a tad different.

I now have the '03 CL55 and the seating constraints are not the same in both cars - for one, you have a back "seat" area that allows you to extend the seating farther back.

The interesting thing is the headroom in the SL55 is listed as .8" more than that of the CL55...that must be unadjusted. But not sure.

I dont think you are going to find too many tall people in the SL55 with the top up that are comfortable for long periods of time int he car....but I could be wrong. I am not slamming the SL55 at all...it is a great car - but I still prefer the CL55.
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Old May 9, 2003 | 02:18 PM
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Could be his wife's car!

previous Brad Garrett thread:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...t=brad+garrett

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Old May 11, 2003 | 01:10 PM
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Originally posted by E55 KEV
MJ, may fit in the SL at 6'8", but the car is not designed for his height "demograpic". Plus, he may have had the car altered in some way for him, ie custom seat brackets or cushions, etc. All cars are designed with a medium & average sized customers in mind. The SL is not designed for a driver of 6'8". Very few cars are.

I see many drivers in cars which they are too tall for, too small for or too fat for. I read a report that stated much of the popularity for SUV's is due to many overweight Americans that can not fit into cars. So if you got a big *** those narrow sport seats in cars like like SL are just not wide enough.

Some guy on the SLK section is 6'4" and swears that he is comfortable in it. What a laugh.
lol Kev, I am 6'8" and I have a lot of trouble getting in and out of the SL55. It is very cramped for me especially with the top up. I would much rather get the CL55 just because of my height. In the SL55 my knees are on the dashboard and I can barely move the steering wheel.
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Old May 12, 2003 | 03:59 AM
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Originally posted by CL55NYC
I had the SL55 and sold it - for a few different reasons - least of which is headroom height. I am 6'3" and slender build and yes, when the top is down (as you saw with MJ riding it) there is no issue. However, put NJ in it with the top down and its a tad different.

I now have the '03 CL55 and the seating constraints are not the same in both cars - for one, you have a back "seat" area that allows you to extend the seating farther back.
Couldn't agree more with this statement which just comes to show that height alone doesn't make all the difference. I admit I am only 6'2"+, but I found the SL55 actually having more headroom than our CL. I have tried everything on the CL and moving the seat back didn't do it for me, legroom was always fine. I found that the SL actually has better seat height adjustment than the CL. The SL also has a panorama roof, which gives you another inch or so of headroom.

Bottomline, people are have different preferences for seating. Take both cars and try them on for size...

Wolfman
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Old May 13, 2003 | 12:42 AM
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996tt, E55, X3 and a few others not worthy of mentioning here...
Well, there's always the Continental GT in which Bentley claims to have tested basketball players. We'll find out in spring 2004. On a separate note, I find the seats on the SL55 a touch too low for entry/exit.
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Old May 13, 2003 | 01:50 AM
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Originally posted by victoryroad
T
Have fun with you SL. BTW, I do not like driving in a living room. I certainly hope that your SL meets all of your expectations, including the brakes. The CL55 has exceeded all of mine by a significant margin.
I fit in the SL just fine and I am certainly smaller than Michael, at only 6' and 198 lbs. It is just that it is cramped if one intends to use it as a daily driver. The SL is the best value in its category, just rather common. South Florida is well populated with 03 SL's. You will see yourself coming and going a lot, especially if your SL is brilliant silver.
Andy
I dont really mind seeing other SL's around me in South Florida since exclusivity is not what determines the car i drive. Maybe that is what determines what you drive, and if so im not knocking it. I just dont need a car to be seen in or get attention from or to stroke my ego. As it is, i get very dark tinted windows on my cars because i like my privacy, especially when im picking my nose. If i want to impress anyone, it's my dad when i put him in the passenger seat.

I like the SL55 because it is a unique car with 500hp on tap, handles great, and can go from convertible to hardtop in 16 seconds. No other car can say that. A trip to the Keys on an early sunday morning with the top down is rather exhilirating.

The CL is a great car, but it has other competitors for less money, including cars built from the same manufacturer, the S class. If i wanted a hardtop with 500HP i would just buy a Mustang Cobra, increase the boost just a tad, and i would have saved about 90 grand. Or a Dinan BMW 7 series for less money and less weight that can be driven harder. If and when i get a CL, it will be a V12. 700HP is unique.

T
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