SL/R230: C & D: Mixed review of new SL
03-14-2002, 12:53 AM
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2002 CLK 55 AMG Coupe ;)
C & D: Mixed review of new SL
Unlike the previous generation SL, the new gen appears not to be getting the enthusiastic welcome by the trade press.
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...00.xml?&page=1
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...00.xml?&page=1
03-14-2002, 10:23 AM
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ARE you joking???
press not liking new SL??? Every magazine from Road and Track which titled the article "Best Ever" to Car magazine has praised the new SL. I mean autoweek, Evo, Motor Trend and others have called the car a masterpiece and all around perfect. They says it handles incredibly has an exquisite interior, and more very fast! come on this car has gotten 5.8 to 60, .90 on the skidpad, and 67.6 on the slalom whats not to like.
03-14-2002, 10:36 AM
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ML 500 Sport
Winston Goodfellow of Sports Car International called it maybe the best car ever built...called several car collector friends and told them to "get this car" something he had never done before!
03-14-2002, 12:37 PM
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sl500 1998/ferrari 355gts 1997
I disagreed with much of what the C&D said...I think the car is stunning, inside and out. I can't say I've driven one, though.
I do agree with one big thing he said: that 302HP 3V 5.0L is a clunker. My 98 SL has 4V and makes 315HP, and even that is 7HP less than when they introduced the motor in 1990 (when it was leading-edge).
BMW does more with less on the new 745i, and has a 6sp automatic, I believe. So does Nissan/Infiniti
We need the 5.5L 4V. Or at least a 5.0L 4V with around 350HP.
I do agree with one big thing he said: that 302HP 3V 5.0L is a clunker. My 98 SL has 4V and makes 315HP, and even that is 7HP less than when they introduced the motor in 1990 (when it was leading-edge).
BMW does more with less on the new 745i, and has a 6sp automatic, I believe. So does Nissan/Infiniti
We need the 5.5L 4V. Or at least a 5.0L 4V with around 350HP.
03-14-2002, 01:27 PM
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2005 Mercedes SLK350
WHAT IS THIS??? they gave the car a horrible review!!! those car and driver editors must have been smoking something while they wrote that up.
03-14-2002, 02:57 PM
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2001 C240
I discarded the whole C&D article. I toss it up to a new reviewer that was trying to impress all the BMW lovers at C&D by bashing on the SL500 extra hard. I didn't recognize the name of the reviewer which I usually can. If you read the counterpoints, you get a more accurate view of the car. I trust the opinions of Csaba Csere and Frank Markus. Their reviews always lean towards the BMWs in comparisons and tests because they want more performance than luxury. BMW provides that so they win. Notice how they haven't tested the SL55 against the Z8 yet. They know that MB might have just trumped BMW and don't want to admit it. To paraphrase Casba Csere " Isn't the SL the ultimate statement of luxury?"
BTW - Black is definitely the best color for the SL. The car in C&D was gorgeous to say the least.
BTW - Black is definitely the best color for the SL. The car in C&D was gorgeous to say the least.
Last edited by pdutta2000; 03-14-2002 at 03:07 PM.
03-23-2002, 09:47 PM
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330Ci
What a joke! I love MB's and BMW's...so when I first heard C&D favors BMW...I didn't believe it, I thought that maybe MB just lost the battle between its competitor (M3 vs. CLK55). However, after reading the first page...didn't read the rest because its a complete joke!...I finally realized that C&D try to shoot down MB to promote BMW. The SL is an amazing car...it is beautiful, powerful and beyond comfortable. "Cheap side vents", who are they kidding, this isn't a honda (no offense), this is a MERCEDES BENZ...I think they forgot what car company they are talking about.
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03-23-2002, 10:22 PM
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500 SEC
C & D as well as several of the astute forum folks here hit it on the head, the HP is far too low for a top of the line sports car.
Several of the reviews say wait until the SL600, for that fact alone. THe design is top notch, the technology is as always leading the field. But a four thousand pound two seat sports car with 302hp is not going to cut the mustard. You know the choices out there, it just does not set the sporting heart a flame. THe SL 55 is a terrific move, I applaude the initiative. But the limited production is hurting the public. Possibly not the brand nor the 4,000 lucky folks who get one.
As always the first year production for MB in a new model is low. This is standard. Maybe the hp will come up next year, if MB is true to form it will be a small increase. THe SL 600 would be the right move for it will truely be a contender in sports car experience.
So C&D is correct about the conservative nature of the brand, but hey that is what has kept MB going for many many years. I like what I see here in several threads about the CL and the CLK. MB is getting car fans who have the taste and money to take up a real car and turn it into a true sorts car. MB has not been known for that, just too conservative. Maybe they see the demographics changing as we all do. Maybe the SL 55 will launch the MB powers that be into a more adventureous production line.
Time will tell.
Several of the reviews say wait until the SL600, for that fact alone. THe design is top notch, the technology is as always leading the field. But a four thousand pound two seat sports car with 302hp is not going to cut the mustard. You know the choices out there, it just does not set the sporting heart a flame. THe SL 55 is a terrific move, I applaude the initiative. But the limited production is hurting the public. Possibly not the brand nor the 4,000 lucky folks who get one.
As always the first year production for MB in a new model is low. This is standard. Maybe the hp will come up next year, if MB is true to form it will be a small increase. THe SL 600 would be the right move for it will truely be a contender in sports car experience.
So C&D is correct about the conservative nature of the brand, but hey that is what has kept MB going for many many years. I like what I see here in several threads about the CL and the CLK. MB is getting car fans who have the taste and money to take up a real car and turn it into a true sorts car. MB has not been known for that, just too conservative. Maybe they see the demographics changing as we all do. Maybe the SL 55 will launch the MB powers that be into a more adventureous production line.
Time will tell.
Last edited by Ski Guru; 03-23-2002 at 10:26 PM.
03-24-2002, 03:09 AM
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2006 SL55 with 030 Performance Package
More HP would be great, but you have to complement Mercedes for lauching the SL55 AMG the same year as new SL introduction, and it being such a monster with 469HP and 516 foot pounds of TQ. I think it was a impresive move to do that then just have all the new SL's with 350HP and no monster AMG near launch.
I think Mercedes really shocked the automotive world with the SL55AMG and that means MB is heading in the real performance market!
I think Mercedes really shocked the automotive world with the SL55AMG and that means MB is heading in the real performance market!
03-24-2002, 03:10 AM
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2006 SL55 with 030 Performance Package
As far as C/D mag goes they are crazy, trying to make the SL driver some kind of idiot that just wants to show off his or her car that according to C/D has no substance. If that is the case how come a SL55AMG can walk away from a 911 twin turbo on straight and beat the Lambo to 187.5 MPH.
C/D complains about the wieght, I love the wieght and was very pleased to see it the same as the R129 around 4200 pounds. That is one of the things that seperates the SL from other sports cars, and makes it a safe, great riding, and vault like MB feel. And lets face it this new SL can be driven well past the abilites of 95 percent of thee people driving them including Mr. Robinson from C/D!
I like honest test reports but that report was a JOKE with alot of hidden meanings about people who drive MBs are not real drivers what a bunch of BS!
But in defence of C/D the issue before had a great article on the new SL55AMG!
C/D complains about the wieght, I love the wieght and was very pleased to see it the same as the R129 around 4200 pounds. That is one of the things that seperates the SL from other sports cars, and makes it a safe, great riding, and vault like MB feel. And lets face it this new SL can be driven well past the abilites of 95 percent of thee people driving them including Mr. Robinson from C/D!
I like honest test reports but that report was a JOKE with alot of hidden meanings about people who drive MBs are not real drivers what a bunch of BS!
But in defence of C/D the issue before had a great article on the new SL55AMG!
03-24-2002, 05:37 PM
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C/D has really pissed me off over the years. Sometimes you can tell that they're just looking to find something bad about a particular car. Then they go off and ***** about things like cup holders and whatnot. Other things besides performance, like the interior is important too, but if I want someone to talk about why they liked the cup holders or whatever tiny thing it might be, i'll just read consumer reports.
03-24-2002, 11:34 PM
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This is exactly what they wanted, everyone said it was great, they say it was bad, it causes people to talk about them, it causes people at the news stand to buy their magazine on the fly, it did it's job if it caused such a stir...
Everything is objective, but their purpose is to sell their magazines more so then anything else... got some good extra buys from here at least I bet...
-Petey
Everything is objective, but their purpose is to sell their magazines more so then anything else... got some good extra buys from here at least I bet...
-Petey
03-25-2002, 10:59 PM
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New SL info
There is some good info on the CLK's here...I got it at http://www.autospies.com/report/default2.asp
03-26-2002, 07:06 PM
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2001 CLK320
However, when the SL55 was reviewed...
this was in the previous month's C/D
they really liked the SL55.
In fact the byline was, "its so fast, no one makes tires capable of the top speeds the SL can achieve"
Who said horsepower isn't that important?
they really liked the SL55.
In fact the byline was, "its so fast, no one makes tires capable of the top speeds the SL can achieve"
Who said horsepower isn't that important?
