SL/R230: AWD SL500's - Do they really exist?
#1
AWD SL500's - Do they really exist?
Sometime (probably) within the next year, I'm going to be looking for a "new" car (which will be an old car). I'm looking for something sporty, with all-wheel drive for under $20K. I had pretty much narrowed my choices down to a 996 model Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S or an Audi TT Quattro, both of which can be found to meet those criteria (takes more patience with the Porsche, but they do come up). In the course of looking, though, I've come across a few ads for 2003-2004 SL500's which claim to have all-wheel drive. Everything I've read says that this was before 4Matic was introduced and that, in any case, 4Matic has never been offered on SL-Class cars and there is no indication that AWD was offered on them prior to its introduction. Yet, more than one listing says that the SL500 for sale has AWD. Is this just a case of clueless sellers who are confusing AWD with anti-skid or traction control, or was AWD really offered on these cars? If so, that's a game-changer for me. I know that SL's aren't really sports cars like the Porsche or Audi, but they're classic and probably more suitable for the kind of driving I do these days. By the way, I need AWD because the car will be a 4-season daily driver. I live in the mid-Atlantic (Maryland), so we usually don't get a lot of snow in the winter, but I need to be able to get around when we do. Both the 911 and the TT, with appropriate snow tires, are reputed to be very good in snow (given their ground-clearance limitations). If there really are AWD SL's, how are they in the snow?
#2
Senior Member
There has never been a AWD SL model, although the rumor is that it'll be offered on the 2019 model year, in what is also rumored to be a significantly redesigned SL 2+2, offered as both a Full time hard top coupe and Ragtop convertible. Folks that are listing AWD are doing so in error. The SL from 2003 - 2018 has a system called ABC (Active Body Control) as well as SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) and often those aren't offered as selection options on some of the more automated vehicle posting selections -so people choose what they think is the closest, not fully knowing their error.
While an awesome GT cruising vehicle, I wouldn't be the most comfortable using any 300-600 HP rear wheel drive vehicle with a lightish rear end as a daily driver in the snow. A recipe for disaster imo. Like you, I too would be keeping an eye out for a Carrera 4 or Audi A5. Problem with the Audi TT as a snow bound winter daily driver is the lack of ground clearance, but more importantly - those wide rear tires, especially on such a light vehicle. Of course you can go with a more narrow rear wheel for winter, but it's obviously going to look noticably funky sunken into the wheel well.
While an awesome GT cruising vehicle, I wouldn't be the most comfortable using any 300-600 HP rear wheel drive vehicle with a lightish rear end as a daily driver in the snow. A recipe for disaster imo. Like you, I too would be keeping an eye out for a Carrera 4 or Audi A5. Problem with the Audi TT as a snow bound winter daily driver is the lack of ground clearance, but more importantly - those wide rear tires, especially on such a light vehicle. Of course you can go with a more narrow rear wheel for winter, but it's obviously going to look noticably funky sunken into the wheel well.
#4
There has never been a AWD SL model, although the rumor is that it'll be offered on the 2019 model year, in what is also rumored to be a significantly redesigned SL 2+2, offered as both a Full time hard top coupe and Ragtop convertible. Folks that are listing AWD are doing so in error. The SL from 2003 - 2018 has a system called ABC (Active Body Control) as well as SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) and often those aren't offered as selection options on some of the more automated vehicle posting selections -so people choose what they think is the closest, not fully knowing their error.
While an awesome GT cruising vehicle, I wouldn't be the most comfortable using any 300-600 HP rear wheel drive vehicle with a lightish rear end as a daily driver in the snow. A recipe for disaster imo. Like you, I too would be keeping an eye out for a Carrera 4 or Audi A5. Problem with the Audi TT as a snow bound winter daily driver is the lack of ground clearance, but more importantly - those wide rear tires, especially on such a light vehicle. Of course you can go with a more narrow rear wheel for winter, but it's obviously going to look noticably funky sunken into the wheel well.
While an awesome GT cruising vehicle, I wouldn't be the most comfortable using any 300-600 HP rear wheel drive vehicle with a lightish rear end as a daily driver in the snow. A recipe for disaster imo. Like you, I too would be keeping an eye out for a Carrera 4 or Audi A5. Problem with the Audi TT as a snow bound winter daily driver is the lack of ground clearance, but more importantly - those wide rear tires, especially on such a light vehicle. Of course you can go with a more narrow rear wheel for winter, but it's obviously going to look noticably funky sunken into the wheel well.
#5
#6
MBworld Guru
Even with AWD, consider issues with "snow tracks" and the low ride height of those cars. Honestly, the SL would probably do as well as any FWD car in snow as it has a good bit of weight over the rear drive wheels, and a good traction control system. The main issue would be the low clearance. Of course the SL with ABC can raise about an inch and a half, so that helps some. I am lucky - we have almost no snow here, and when we do, the whole city shuts down because we have no clearing equipment. I did once get stuck at work in my CLK550 when a freak snow storm hit. I tried to make it home, and would have, except for all the idiots who got stuck and jammed up the roads. The CLK did quite well. i was able to navigate hills and curves using "Comfort" mode and the TouchShift to regulate my speed.
#7
Even with AWD, consider issues with "snow tracks" and the low ride height of those cars. Honestly, the SL would probably do as well as any FWD car in snow as it has a good bit of weight over the rear drive wheels, and a good traction control system. The main issue would be the low clearance. Of course the SL with ABC can raise about an inch and a half, so that helps some. I am lucky - we have almost no snow here, and when we do, the whole city shuts down because we have no clearing equipment. I did once get stuck at work in my CLK550 when a freak snow storm hit. I tried to make it home, and would have, except for all the idiots who got stuck and jammed up the roads. The CLK did quite well. i was able to navigate hills and curves using "Comfort" mode and the TouchShift to regulate my speed.