SL/R230: 2005 SL600 Power Versus.....
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,875
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From: Tallahassee, Florida
2006 SL600, 2001 S500, 1996 SL320
2005 SL600 Power Versus.....
I am getting my 2005 SL600 in a couple weeks, have owned several Mercedes over the years, most recently 2001 S500. My question to everyone is on the street with the typical stoplight race a lot of people do, how do you feel the 2005 SL600 would do versus sports cars like Corvettes, Vipers, Porsche's, Mustangs, etc...... What cars do you think would edge the SL600 out? I am buying mine without ever driving it, but knowing my S500 has decent power I am hoping the V12 SL600 will be a beast on the road.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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My 04 SL600 with 1750 miles on it, which is for sale, was tested with a Gtech meter on a hot and humid day in Florida. I got a 0-60 in 4.33 and a quarter mile in 12.55@113mph. In cooler conditions you might do a little better than that. Better than a Viper SRT-10? Not unless the Viper driver makes a mistake or just plain does not know how to launch the car. Corvette, no problem. I had a SRT-10 and you really have to be on your game to get a good launch, in fact, same goes for my beautiful 01 Viper GTS. Beauty of the SL is that all you have to do is step on the gas and hang on!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,447
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
What is staggering about the SL55 (comparable to the SL600) when pulling away from a stop light is how fast most other traffic recedes in the rear-view mirror.
In a race like that, the only thing that matters is power to weight ratio and the ability to put the power down on the road. There's a lot of power but a lot of weight also and the traction control will rein in the power - without it, you'd just smoke the rear wheels.. The Porsche Turbo has the great advantage of 4 wheel drive which allows it to put more power down on the road during the launch.
Overall, though, I doubt you'll be seriously embarrassed, if you want to be completely sure, you need an SL65.
Keep also in mind that by the time the car has travel just 13 times it's own length, it's already doing 60 mph...
In a race like that, the only thing that matters is power to weight ratio and the ability to put the power down on the road. There's a lot of power but a lot of weight also and the traction control will rein in the power - without it, you'd just smoke the rear wheels.. The Porsche Turbo has the great advantage of 4 wheel drive which allows it to put more power down on the road during the launch.
Overall, though, I doubt you'll be seriously embarrassed, if you want to be completely sure, you need an SL65.
Keep also in mind that by the time the car has travel just 13 times it's own length, it's already doing 60 mph...
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Wichita
2005 SL600, 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
