Paddles in S65????




What happened to the paddles???
Official pics on MBUSA site show them prominently.
What's up????
What happened to the paddles???
Official pics on MBUSA site show them prominently.
What's up????





What happened to the paddles???
Official pics on MBUSA site show them prominently.
What's up????

Let's see if CL65 also goes for the wannabe 2-dr limo approach....will be really confusing as CL600 will have optional AMG body kit avail....
SL65 is being positioned as the only 997TT/599 driving feel competitor.....but it's saddled w/antiquated infotainment systems vs new-gen S/CL....
Interesting that, w/$7K+ off avail on new '07 SL65s and rather cheap lease terms from MB Credit, a new '07 SL65 isn't much more costly than a $150K SL55 w/PP (and w/a soon-to-be obsolete motor).....
MB seems confused re: how to market/price/position the 65s generally....
Even on 997TT Tip (P buys the tranny from MB and writes its own software for tranny and links it into eAWD, PTM, PSM, etc), various competent amateur drivers admit they are faster/more stable drivers by letting tranny work in auto mode, w/o any destabilizing human input on gear selec....only annoying aspect of P's Tip buttons is one can accidentally press button during rapid steering in twisties....
In any case, know several guys getting 997TT Tip, 599 and SL/CL65/63 over next few mths as daily commuter cars; will be interesting to see how these great cars subjectively compare in real world, CA urban fwy 60-100MPH accel, all while one is on a phone call and running late to a mtg....and in wkend twisties driving feel when steering/chassis/brakes/traction become more apparent....




I really like stationary paddles,use them constantly and exclusively in DB (my current daily driver),when buttons are hidden in the back of the wheel and when turning the wheel ,you quickly lose track which is up or down shift.
In my M5 the paddles were attached to the wheel but at least you could see them.
Hated the buttons in the E55, so now CL is the last hope....
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I really like stationary paddles,use them constantly and exclusively in DB (my current daily driver),when buttons are hidden in the back of the wheel and when turning the wheel ,you quickly lose track which is up or down shift.
In my M5 the paddles were attached to the wheel but at least you could see them.
Hated the buttons in the E55, so now CL is the last hope....
I much prefer paddles attached to the wheel. Just a lot easier when travelling at pace. Tip buttons on a Porsche are pretty good too. When the paddles are stationary you have to take a hand off the wheel unless you have disturbingly long fingers which kind of defeats the point of having them in the first place
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
I really like stationary paddles,use them constantly and exclusively in DB (my current daily driver),when buttons are hidden in the back of the wheel and when turning the wheel ,you quickly lose track which is up or down shift.
In my M5 the paddles were attached to the wheel but at least you could see them.
Hated the buttons in the E55, so now CL is the last hope....
Am seriously considering getting an '07 SL65....but concerned that having one car w/column-mounted paddles (599) and another w/steering wheel mounted paddles (SL65) could be disorienting.....
Have greatly enjoyed two 996TTS Tips and a 997S Tip in past....and getting a 997TT Tip next mth....but find buttons utterly worthless to use from an ergonomic standpoint....
BTW, absent, am huge fan of Chicago and Lake Forest, but am under impression that there aren't any twisties within 50 mis of Chic/N Shore....am I wrong?




Am seriously considering getting an '07 SL65....but concerned that having one car w/column-mounted paddles (599) and another w/steering wheel mounted paddles (SL65) could be disorienting.....
Have greatly enjoyed two 996TTS Tips and a 997S Tip in past....and getting a 997TT Tip next mth....but find buttons utterly worthless to use from an ergonomic standpoint....
BTW, absent, am huge fan of Chicago and Lake Forest, but am under impression that there aren't any twisties within 50 mis of Chic/N Shore....am I wrong?
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"Did my time" in NYC....and know several car nuts who, early in their careers, migrated to SF/LA, b/c no matter the car, the lack of interesting high-speed fwys/twisties within 50 mis of Manhattan/Chic and lack of reasonable speed enfcmt (and onerous weather 4-5 mos/yr) makes NYC/Chic fairly unfriendly for car guys....
What's astounding to me as a fmr NYC resident is how many interesting twisties are within 30 mins of SF's fin dt/SilicVy/BevHills and how fast rush hr traffic moves on the SF-SilicVy fwys....the "poor man's version" of Munich....




"Did my time" in NYC....and know several car nuts who, early in their careers, migrated to SF/LA, b/c no matter the car, the lack of interesting high-speed fwys/twisties within 50 mis of Manhattan/Chic and lack of reasonable speed enfcmt (and onerous weather 4-5 mos/yr) makes NYC/Chic fairly unfriendly for car guys....
What's astounding to me as a fmr NYC resident is how many interesting twisties are within 30 mins of SF's fin dt/SilicVy/BevHills and how fast rush hr traffic moves on the SF-SilicVy fwys....the "poor man's version" of Munich....

See attached pic. No paddles! *sigh*
What happenned? I thought paddles were going to be standard (or at least available as an option). Even AMG's website has them in their pics.
2007 S65 AMG
Unsurpassed. An astonishing 604-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-12 AMG engine linked to a resilient 5-speed automatic transmission adjusts to your driving style for smoother shifting, F1-inspired manual shifters, AMG-tuned Active Body Control (ABC), race-bred brakes, along with 20 inch AMG 5-spoke light alloy wheels.
http://www.mbusa.com/models/body-sty...ighPerformance
Also:
Transmission AMG-enhanced driver-adaptive electronic 5-speed automatic. Driver-adaptive programming adjusts shift points to the driver's current driving style. Touch Shift allows driver to manually downshift and allows upshifts via shift paddles behind the steering wheel. Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts vehicle moving in 2nd gear or a second Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm, to help improve control on slippery surfaces.
http://www.mbusa.com/models/features...S65&class=07_S
Anyone have a definitive answer for us?
Last edited by sithlordabe; Jul 20, 2006 at 11:52 PM.

Anyone from MBUSA or a dealer reading this thread... we'd greatly appreciate some official responses. Thanks!

How do they explain the S65 pics on the MBUSA website though? That couldn't have been a photoshopped image... I mean, who'd even bother to do such a thing?!
OK, I think I'm done and will wait until we hear officially.


