faithful_lothario

Why would somebody get a sl550 when you can get a m6 for a cheaper price, and its faster. I understand that this is a convertible hardtop, but does that really make that much of a price difference?

CY

Because some people want the Mercedes flagship hardtop roadster istead of the Bangled 6 series hump mobile. When paying these prices, most arent bargain hunting; they buy what they want when they want. Just because a car is cheaper and faster does not mean it is better; have you driven either?

vraa

6er is cheap for a reason.

faithful_lothario

no i have not driven either. I just love the design of the 550 but my cousin says the m6 is faster and at idle it has a growl. He says that the 550 is mostly for old people over 40.

vraa

Tell your cousin to shove a pineapple up hi.....

faithful_lothario

no but i am just posing a question. I started looking around and he was kinda right. most of the people driving these cars were either women or peolpe over 40. for this price i can also get a porsche 911. Is there something special about the way the mercedes runs that commands this high price.

LovinMercedes

People are in love with the Mercedes name because years ago is was a trademark that meant wealth and that you had the finest car in the world.

Those days are long over and today, a Mercedes is a regular car just like any other car.

It has its good and bad points as compared to other cars and it is in the price range that Mercedes finds they can charge.

It is a great car for what it is but other cars have equal or better value. It all depends upon what you want.

Go with what you like and not what others thing nor what the brand used to mean some 10-20 years ago.

MJ1133

M6>sl550
Sl55>m6

Beltfed

First off, the 650i vert got owned in the Aug 06 C&D comparison..came in 4th place and the SL550 came in first. This coming from C&D, who is notoriously pro BMW.

Th M6 vert don't forget is going to be heavier than the coupe, by at least 300lbs. So don't expect to see the numbers that the coupe does out of the box. Not to mention, the SL550 is by no means a slouch.

Next, if your sole purpose in buying the vehicle is to throw the car in drive and go.....the M6 is not for you. The auto mode in the SMG is too jerky.

The M6 is also a tank 4 seater, the SL is a 2 seat GT. Soft top vs. hardtop.

Personally, I think the 6 coupe looks MUCH better than the vert and I still wouldn't call the coupe absolutely gorgeous.

Also base $ to base $, they are not the same.....the SL550 is about $9k cheaper than the M6 Vert (approx $104k base).

Two different cars, two different missions.

CY

Wealthy guys over 40 and their wives also are the majority owners of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, etc. Fact: Your cousin is a hater. Not that it matters, but I am 26 I could have gotten a 6er or a 997, but chose the SL for various reasons. The 6 series is in a different league than the SL, and due to its base price it happens to be a lower league. Why do people even come to this forum and say sh*t like this?

Scotsman

I don't think asadkahloon was being offensive when he asked his question, merely wondering why we'd pick an SL over the M6. Guess it's all down to taste rather than age though tastes do change over time. Having said that, I've never really fancied a BMW or Porsche over the years and guess I never will.
Comparing an SL550 to an M6? Can't, they're 2 different cars. But he's right about the growl. My SL500 is quiet at idle but that's what I want.
It's all down to taste.

Chris 45971

Am 30 (damn, can't say I'm 28 anymore) and love the exclusivity of owning and driving my SL 500. SLs are a dime a dozen here were I live but there aren't too many under 40 owning and driving them.

I'm with Lovin. If you're looking at both, go with the one that appeals to you most. For me, the bottom line is the look. The SL when clean, heck, even when its dirty is the nicest looking automobile on the planet. I think that many people share this opinion. For some, speed might out-weigh looks and that fine.

If strictly speed is your thing. Go with the Corvette, it'll blow the doors off of virtually everything out there (and is nicer looking than the M6 in my opinion). Still, while speeding by the SL cruising down the road at the speed limit, you won't look as good it... but you will be faster.

mebeJOE

First, my SL500 is an R129, 2001, so maybe you won't think I am qualified to answer.

On the other hand, I have owned a few BMW's, 3 series and 5 series. I can look out of my office window right now and see at least 8 or 10 BMW's in our parking lot. 6 series hard top. 7 series (big boss's car). A crap load of 5 and 3 series.

I love BMW's. (Only ONE SL in our parking lot, BTW. )

However . . . there is no car ever in the world to compare to an SL.

It is not the MBZ name.

It is the way the car is built and drives.

My R129 is built like a freakin' tank. 4300 pounds of rock-solid dependiblity compressed into a 2 seat rocket.

I drove my baby 300 miles in about 4.5 hours, once. Did I feel tired at the end? No.

215 miles through the desert in under 2 hours. No problem.

One three day weekend, I drove 1800 miles.

I was not tired of her.

I was not tired when I got home.

I was not tired when I drove through Bakersfield or Fresno or Tahoe or Reno or even when I got to Alturas, California.

I drove her up to 140 mph. I did long long streches of over 100 MPH.

This was no problem for her.

Not only no problem, but everything was perfect. Stereo perfect. Ride perfect. Engine perfect.

SEATS PERFECT.

Also, what does the car say to other people about a person who drives it?

I will tell you what I have been told, mostly by women:
Also, do not discount the viture of a HARD TOP convertible. It's two cars in one. (especially the R129)

That is the best I can do to put it into words.

There is no car like an SL. There is something magic in the car. Some kind of soul that you don't expect in a German machine. (one problem with BMW: Ultimate driving MACHINE -- they are fun, but almost 100% machine)

To really really appreciate one of these, you must own one, not just drive it once or twice. (But once I drove one, I knew I must have one).

Of course, I want to own and drive other cars. But now they must be in addition to an SL, as long as I am blessd to be able to afford one.

faithful_lothario

so should i save me money up for a gallardo? or should i just plunk it down on a 550. I'd be happy either way, but one's an exotic and the other....just another merc.

MJ1133

Gallardo

faithful_lothario

Thats gonna take another year to save up. I guess it is worth it?

vraa

Gallardo is a Lambo.
Totally in another class than the Mercedes.
A better class.

Beltfed

I really don't understand this post, what the hell kind of car are you looking for?

The SL is an everyday driving, luxurious, GT coupe/vert.

A Gallardo is a sports car, no more no less.......it's a toy (an expensive one at that).

AMG 17GT

funny post especially the "hump" reference, but beltfed said it right. Make up what kind of car you want and go from there. By the way how old are you?

lorinserbenz

I dont think asadkahloon was wanting to start yet another BMW/Mercedes flame war.
IMO, the Sl is the best looking of the two. However the BMW has some an edge in several areas over the SL. Number one being options, you get bluetooth standard, parktronic standard, and Free service. They also have night vision available, keyless go, and distronic. Overall you get more bang for the buck with the BMW, but you also get a love it or hate it styling.
I have NEVER heard anyone say something bad about the SL's looks.

MJ1133

Yes

faithful_lothario

yeah i know the gallardo is in a different class then the mercedes, but when you are spending a 100K, I dont think another 60 or so thousand matters. Actually used gallardo's cost about 149000. Because people who can pay 100K can almost definitly stretch their wallets to accomodate another couple grand.

AMG 17GT

Ok.............. Just how old are you?

vraa

18.

AMG 17GT

Whats another 60k among friends?