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Guys and gals, last year I decided to purchase a "new to me" C6 Corvette Convertible with 500 HP at the wheel. The car is pretty fast, but the comfort sucks. For me speed and acceleration are not the primary drivers, but a combination of those plus comfort and reliability. When driving over Concrete roadways, in the Corvette you feel every seam between slabs, in the SL500 not at all..! The 302HP in the SL are plenty for me since I live in an area near the Sheriff headquarters and those "Speeder chasers" are everywhere. So, I am trying to decide which one to keep for the long run! Any feedback?
This is apples to oranges. Neither car is comparable and nobody is cross shopping a SL to Corvette. You have a beautiful daily driver and a fast sports car for weekends. Both are fast. One is fast and one is made to go fast in comfort. The ABC is the SL is more advanced than nearly anything in the old tech vette. The vette can be tuned to crazy amounts of power and after market is nearly unlimited. Long term the vette will be cheaper to own. Long term your body will love the SL more. All depends what you like. For me I had a C4 and it was fun. Cool car but a SL is more my kind of car. Vettes have changed slot since the days of my C4 that is for sure.
Last edited by C280 Sport; Oct 16, 2025 at 07:02 PM.
I agree the Corvette v. R230 is apples to oranges. That said, I got rid of my 2009 Porsche Carrera S 6 speed after I driving my SL550 a couple of years - far more enjoyable than the Porsche. Instead of a newer Porsche, I got an air-cooled Carrera and I am much happier with my options. To each their own! Cheers Socks
2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, 2004 SL55, 2012 Lexus IS250, 2021 Toyota Highlander
I say keep them both. One isn’t better than the other, they are just different. I also have a 911 and I love driving them both but for different reasons.
I sold my C6 Vette a few years ago and now regret it. I made a lot of track-oriented mods which would be expensive to replicate in another C6 or C7.
While I enjoy my SL600, I don't trust it for longer trips and these cars in general are a source of constant little problems. I do enjoy this forum for the great people who are on it, a few whom I have met.
My vote is to keep the Vette.
I sold my C6 Vette a few years ago and now regret it. I made a lot of track-oriented mods which would be expensive to replicate in another C6 or C7.
While I enjoy my SL600, I don't trust it for longer trips and these cars in general are a source of constant little problems. I do enjoy this forum for the great people who are on it, a few whom I have met.
My vote is to keep the Vette.
Why do you not trust it? ABC issues? If so that can be swapped with could overs
While an ABC failure is always a concern, pretty much any "minor" problem like a blow alternator, starter, PS pump/line, radiator, wheel bearing, etc would be an extreme aggravation far from home. Even if a dealer/repair shop was nearby, was willing to work on the car and could get the parts, the delay and costs would be exorbitant. In contrast a C5/6/7 could be fixed anywhere with readily available parts at modest costs.
IMHO, these are very enjoyable cars, but not suitable for cross country drives.
While an ABC failure is always a concern, pretty much any "minor" problem like a blow alternator, starter, PS pump/line, radiator, wheel bearing, etc would be an extreme aggravation far from home. Even if a dealer/repair shop was nearby, was willing to work on the car and could get the parts, the delay and costs would be exorbitant. In contrast a C5/6/7 could be fixed anywhere with readily available parts at modest costs.
IMHO, these are very enjoyable cars, but not suitable for cross country drives.
Sorry to hear. I drove my 600 from NY to FL many times with no issues. I have a CL600 though not a SL600 but similar years.
When Covid came along, I thought the world was ending so I sold my 2004 SL600 (with 87K miles). Guy who bought it has become a good friend, and he drives it here from Montana to Washington, to visit, every summer. He's had no problems with the car in five years, except for needing a cam sensor replaced, and having to do oil changes.
He also takes a trip down to California to visit family, during these visits, that's about another 1000 miles each way. LoL. Still waiting for a problematical breakdown!
When I was owning the SL600, I did have a coilpack rebuilt by Clark, replaced all the spark plugs, and got the car all new turbo coolant lines. Along with other, small services.
One summer day about two years ago, I was driving my (current R230) the SL55 AMG around the neighborhood with the top down, turned a corner and came upon an impromptu Corvette get-together, must have been about TEN of them. I heard someone say, obviously to me, "Hey, you coulda had a Corvette!" I didn't reply, but I thought to myself, "Yeah, Thank God, I have my SL55 instead!" Not to disparage Corvettes, they're fine, but I'm really happy and have been with all three of the R230's I've owned. Just, fantastic cars. Perfect? No, but nothing is perfect.
Last edited by tonylinc; Nov 16, 2025 at 04:55 PM.
When Covid came along, I thought the world was ending so I sold my 2004 SL600 (with 87K miles). Guy who bought it has become a good friend, and he drives it here from Montana to Washington, to visit, every summer. He's had no problems with the car in five years, except for needing a cam sensor replaced, and having to do oil changes.
He also takes a trip down to California to visit family, during these visits, that's about another 1000 miles each way. LoL. Still waiting for a problematical breakdown!
When I was owning the SL600, I did have a coilpack rebuilt by Clark, replaced all the spark plugs, and got the car all new turbo coolant lines. Along with other, small services.
One summer day about two years ago, I was driving my (current R230) the SL55 AMG around the neighborhood with the top down, turned a corner and came upon an impromptu Corvette get-together, must have been about TEN of them. I heard someone say, obviously to me, "Hey, you coulda had a Corvette!" I didn't reply, but I thought to myself, "Yeah, Thank God, I have my SL55 instead!" Not to disparage Corvettes, they're fine, but I'm really happy and have been with all three of the R230's I've owned. Just, fantastic cars. Perfect? No, but nothing is perfect.
Except your post. Nearly perfect in every way, as Mary Poppins(Pamela Lyndon Travers) would say.
Guys and gals, last year I decided to purchase a "new to me" C6 Corvette Convertible with 500 HP at the wheel. The car is pretty fast, but the comfort sucks. For me speed and acceleration are not the primary drivers, but a combination of those plus comfort and reliability. When driving over Concrete roadways, in the Corvette you feel every seam between slabs, in the SL500 not at all..! The 302HP in the SL are plenty for me since I live in an area near the Sheriff headquarters and those "Speeder chasers" are everywhere. So, I am trying to decide which one to keep for the long run! Any feedback?
