jmeyersnv

Which driving mode(s) do you like to use most? For me, it is Sport+ for the engine sounds and downshifting and Curve for comfort. Most of the time these days it is in Sport+; I have a 2017 SL450.

gkgeiger

For me it’s mostly “E” . I don’t see any need to drive around town at 3000 rpm. I use Sport when appropriate.

Utopia Texas

Most of my driving is Hiway and back rural roads at 70-80mph and I don't see much advantage running high rpm's at those speeds so I usually use the C mode. I also want as quiet of a ride as possible and have no need to attract attention so exhaust burble does nothing for me. I will drop into S mode occasionally for twisting roads but in my part of Texas there are a lot of deer near roadways and occasional cows and tractors to watch out for while driving.

Wolfman

Sport is default, Sport Plus & manual when the transmission shift logic gets too lazy. Never Comfort or Curve; don't like the shift patterns. Keep in mind that the SL450 has a louder exhaust than our SL550

jetjok

On the US version of the SL450, Comfort is the default.

Wolfman

TennesseeZ4

Around town, it's E, just set it and forget it. On the Natchez Trace, it's Sport; better transitional throttle. In the mountains, it's Manual. I want to know what the gear is, and I want to keep it in the right RPM range. But I will have to admit that the Sport mode provides a rather spot on and robust attention to the immediate road conditions, even in the mountains. This is an itelligent car. One that you can set and drive, regardless of circumstance. It is all fun!

rorywquin

I live in the countryside with twisty roads that I know well so S+ on those roads or similar roads when I want to have a bit of a thrash . C or CV (still not sure if I like about CV) on the motorways and in traffic with distronic and lane keeping activated - pointless driving 100s of miles at a high RPM on the motorway. I need to fiddle with I mode again as I like the responsiveness of the car / gearbox in S and S+ but would like to combine that with a softer ride on some roads.

I find the 9 gear a huge improvement on the 7 gear SLK the I had before this. I was in M or flicking the paddles most of the time in the SLK

HSCLA

Sport plus - I’m addicted to the deep burble and pops of the biturbo v12 exhaust system. Comfort mode for SF city driving. SF streets are really suffering from all the construction. These newer SLs are truly underrated. Wonderful machines.

F456 V12

Just got a new SL550, I would say the Sport+ is just too aggressive for daily use. Sure the exhaust note is better, blips on downshifts and all that, but unless you are canyon carving, just not practical for normal use. Also road tests show the SL delivers the "full beans" in all modes, so not sure what is left to prove...save the gas and don't be a baller. LOL

MB

SLclass

BINGO! For me, that is EXACTLY how I view it, including the "full beans" testing!

Wolfman

I guess I have to disagree a bit. The modes don't have anything to do with the engine anyway, so you will get the same power but the transmission shift patterns is what makes it noticeably different. Plus the suspension changes more with ABC (height and body roll). The change in steering wheel is very light only ...

rorywquin

Agree - it is how the power gets to the wheels and (IIRC mind pulls off in D2 in C and CV). I've tweaked 'I' mode - so basically S mode for the gearbox (gearing is what I don't like about C and CV) and the softer choices for the other modes. I'm quite liking this setting - will still use C or CV on long highway trips.