StephenK

Again a general question since we all know they have a lot of models, but again PERFORMANCE wise, straightaway acceleration 0-60 or 1/4 mile, how would the SL600 compare with various porsche models. I saw a Carrera 4S on my way home today and had no idea how much power was in that car. I looked it up and thought it would be more powerful than it actually is.

NO FIGHTING on this one!

sillydriver

Just check the specs at any source on-line. There’s no comparison in acceleration: the 600 wins hands down, even without ECU modifications. I actually owned a 997 Carrera 4S until recently, so I’ve done the comparison first hand. However, run the two cars in an autocross – where turning, not acceleration, is key – and the light, better balanced C4S beats the nose-heavy SL.

LVDell

The numbers are posted on Porsche's website for all models. Porsche's entire line of cars (911's and Boxsters) all have variants of a H6 and your comparison is against a turbo charged V12. One's built for straight line haulin a** and touring, the other for roller coaster ride. Both great cars.

But.....
I'm gonna sit this one out (especially owning a Porsche).

tiggerfink

Numbers from my March 2005 issue of car and driver. Your performance numbers will be different because of environment, location, and time of year. To get a true comparison, all cars must be tested at the same time and same location.


Corvette
0-30 1.7
0-60 4.3
0-100 10.1
1/4 mile 12.8@112
passing 30-50 10.2
passing 50-70 9.8
dba at 70 71

Boxster S
0-30 1.8
0-60 5.1
0-100 12.7
1/4 mile 13.6@103
passing 30-50 7.9
passing 50-70 7.3
dba at 70 74

tiggerfink

Here are the numbers.

F430
0-60 4.1
0-100 9.4
0-150 23.8
1/4-mile 13.2@111
top speed 186

SL65
0-60 4.2
0-100 9.1
0-150 20.5
1/4-mile 12.1@120
top speed 156

911
0-60 4.0
0-100 9.2
0-150 21.8
1/4-mile 12.1@117
top speed 190 (mfr claim)

sillydriver

And if I recall the article, that 911 was a turbo with an X50 engine enhancement, very near the top of the line. Other 911 models are slower.

RennTechV12

I own both, see my signature for my best 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Both my cars are modified, but the stock sl600 and 911 turbo X50 are almost a dead heat to 60 and the 1/4 mile. The 600 is DEFINITELY faster than a stock 911 turbo. The 911 takes a great amount of skill and experience to get the max numbers out of. The 600s are probably the fastest (non-extreme exotics) on the market. It's a torque thing!!! There's no replacement for displacement. HP is how fast you're going when you hit a wall, torque is how far you go through the wall!!!

blueSL

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that I've recently changed my C4S for a 996 turbo. Lower power than the SL55/SL600 but much lighter, by the best part of half a ton, so power to weight ratio is better.

If you only ever drive on a US divided highway, the SL600 is probably the better bet, but the cornering ability of the 911, with less need to peel off speed before a corner, will leave the SL gasping if you like the twisties. We see the SL on drag strips but on tracks? Forget it.

Certainly, the 911 feels much more lithe and direct in my hands compared to my SL55 which is shockingly stodgy when I go back to it. The ABC does a great job of disguising the weight but it would be much better if it were not there to begin with.

The surprise for me is just how good the 911 is to drive and it even eclipses my (admittedly ageing) F355. So if I was to rank overall driver enjoyment, the 911 has it, with the SL bringing up the rear.

RennTechV12

I agree 100% The 911 Turbo is always begging you to open up the throttle, the SL is a great cruiser more like a wolf in sheep's clothing, normally subdued but a raving maniac when necessary. I have to keep both hands on the wheel of the 911 at all times and stay focused on driving and the road ahead, while the SL is much more forgiving. This stems from the 911's roots as a track car (no steering wheel control buttons or homelink for your garage). I love them both, if possible you should have both!!

craiglieberman

Having owned both a 996TT and an SL600, here's what I can tell you.

A STOCK 996TT is NOT a good track car. Heavy, suspension is nowhere near as good as it is on a GT2 or GT3, brakes were utterly destroyed after a half day of tracking. I mean new rotors, new pads, destroyed.

However, on the radar gun, the 996TT posted several 3.9 second runs 0-60 doing a 5500 rpm clutch drop. Again, stock wheels, tires, suspension. Motor was stock, too.

So, in a street fight, the 996TT would get the nod 0-60.

My 996TT ran a 12.31 best time at 116 at Fontana.

I have not run the SL600 yet, car only has 1000 miles, but I can't tell that it's slower than my 996TT, and I attribute this to the SL's big torque number.

Sure, the 996TT was more nimble in corners, but it was no better a track car than my Benz is, at least as far as what's left of the car at the end of a day of tracking it.

I have no doubt the 996TT handled better, but I'm more comfortable in the SL and let us not forget that with an ECU upgrade, the SL would outperform the 996TT in a straight line...however, the 996TT also has ECU upgrades available.

To me, the Sl600 should be only compared to other GT cars, i.e. Aston, Bentley Continental GT, because no one can win the argument "which is better: a Ferrari or a Benz? A Porsche or a Benz? Better for what???

tiggerfink

The Yugo will beat any car with a ECU upgrade.