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My wife and I just returned from a 700+ mile road trip to Pittsburgh, PA and Dublin, OH. The SL performed flawlessly achieving 31 mpg at interstate speeds. Trunk easily held one large suitcase and several small bags of goodies. We had a small cooler with drinks behind the seats. During several rest stops we had a couple of very positive comments. One fellow said "now I can tell that car is designed to be driven fast". I replied "yes, if you're in Germany driving on the Autobahn". Also my wife was happy unlike our road trips in my C7
Corvette.
Speed limit plus 9.99. I try to stay no more than 10+. Several State Police friends have told me they rarely, if ever, stop anyone for anything under 10 miles over unless they are driving erratically.
Nice job! I am looking forward to a road trip in June..
Originally Posted by rmorin49
My wife and I just returned from a 700+ mile road trip to Pittsburgh, PA and Dublin, OH. The SL performed flawlessly achieving 31 mpg at interstate speeds. Trunk easily held one large suitcase and several small bags of goodies. We had a small cooler with drinks behind the seats. During several rest stops we had a couple of very positive comments. One fellow said "now I can tell that car is designed to be driven fast". I replied "yes, if you're in Germany driving on the Autobahn". Also my wife was happy unlike our road trips in my C7
Corvette.
Speed limit plus 9.99. I try to stay no more than 10+. Several State Police friends have told me they rarely, if ever, stop anyone for anything under 10 miles over unless they are driving erratically.
What's that old police saying? "8 is great, 9 you're mine."
What's that old police saying? "8 is great, 9 you're mine."
I'm counting on my speedometer being a bit fast. I understand in Germany it is OK to have a speedometer read fast but illegal to have it read low so the manufacturers err on the high side. This could be a tall tale.
I'm counting on my speedometer being a bit fast. I understand in Germany it is OK to have a speedometer read fast but illegal to have it read low so the manufacturers err on the high side. This could be a tall tale.
Use WAZE or a similar app's GPS to compare the speedometer to your actual speed. Then you'll know.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Up in Cape Cod right now. The wife and I made the 520 mile trip, though we drive our own cars. That may sound strange, but she likes her audio books and I like mine. Plus, it does add a backup vehicle should anything go wrong. The trip was all highway miles, mostly around 70-75 mph. I got 32.6 mpg in my SL400 with a Stage 2 VR Tune and she got 33.1 mpg in her C350 stock. We did travel together, so our speeds were the same. All-in-all, I'm happy with those numbers.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Oh, Distronic is awesome! We ran into some heavy traffic in work zones and the Distronic brought the car from 65 mph to 18 mph smoothly and quickly, always maintaining a safe distance from the car ahead. By the way, does anyone know if the brake lights light up when Distronic slows you down dramatically? I certainly hope so. My wife, who was usually right behind me, didn't yell at me for slowing down suddenly or tell me I have no brake lights, so I assume they do come on.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Lastly, my speedometer shows my exact speed. I compared it with the speed Waze showed and they were most always the same. If there was a discrepancy because of how GPS calculated my speed, it was usually showing a slower speed on the speedo. But that was always within 1 mph.
Lastly, my speedometer shows my exact speed. I compared it with the speed Waze showed and they were most always the same. If there was a discrepancy because of how GPS calculated my speed, it was usually showing a slower speed on the speedo. But that was always within 1 mph.
This is troublesome. I assumed, perhaps in error, that MB speedometers read high like all of my BMWs. I think I need to slow down.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Use your phone with Waze and compare speeds. Like I said, the difference was only 1 mph and only when I was going around a curve or up/down a steep grade. The other 99% of the time, it was dead on. You'll probably get that much difference between two cars.
If the difference was 3+ mph, I'd still not worry, but just adjust my speed. More than that, and maybe ask the dealer.
Any more, I stay with the stock size tires for my cars. But back when I was younger (and gas was cheaper), I'd always plus up my tire sizes. Sometimes that could cause differences in the speedometer reading.
I'm counting on my speedometer being a bit fast. I understand in Germany it is OK to have a speedometer read fast but illegal to have it read low so the manufacturers err on the high side. This could be a tall tale.
I think it is an EU (& UK) law, however your car will have been made to US standards.
Sounds like a good trip - those USA roads are great for cruising.
My last road trip was to the original Dublin last November.
I am looking forward to a road trip this summer. I can just imagine how enjoyable your trip was.
Nice job!
Originally Posted by rmorin49
My wife and I just returned from a 700+ mile road trip to Pittsburgh, PA and Dublin, OH. The SL performed flawlessly achieving 31 mpg at interstate speeds. Trunk easily held one large suitcase and several small bags of goodies. We had a small cooler with drinks behind the seats. During several rest stops we had a couple of very positive comments. One fellow said "now I can tell that car is designed to be driven fast". I replied "yes, if you're in Germany driving on the Autobahn". Also my wife was happy unlike our road trips in my C7
Corvette.
Originally Posted by JettaRed
Oh, Distronic is awesome! We ran into some heavy traffic in work zones and the Distronic brought the car from 65 mph to 18 mph smoothly and quickly, always maintaining a safe distance from the car ahead. By the way, does anyone know if the brake lights light up when Distronic slows you down dramatically?
I like distronic very much and agree that it is awesome. To answer your question, yes the break light do indicate use when distronic breaks slowly, or dramatically.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Jun 7, 2022 at 06:46 AM.
Cool! You have an amphibious SL? We can't get those here in the US.
So the USA does not yet have ferries ?
On this side of the pond, we look at road trips as a journey that can go beyond the borders of our own country and do not let something like a bit of water get in the way.
2 hours - Holyhead (UK) to Dublin. Nice break in the trip and time to have a meal and relax.
We also have no trouble getting to Europe.
Besides ferries, we actually have a train that goes under the sea with cars onboard . Journey time is about 45 minutes.
Last edited by rorywquin; Jun 7, 2022 at 07:16 AM.
I am looking forward to a road trip this summer. I can just imagine how enjoyable your trip was.
Nice job!
I like distronic very much and agree that it is awesome. To answer your question, yes the break light do indicate use when distronic breaks slowly, or dramatically.
A few different things happen under braking depending on speed and how hard you brake.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by rorywquin
So the USA does not yet have ferries ?
Are those those boat thingies that you drive on?
And yes, we have international travel. NY, NJ, California are all foreign to me. Though living in another socialist state (i.e., Maryland) gives me free passage to those other places.
And yes, we have international travel. NY, NJ, California are all foreign to me. Though living in another socialist state (i.e., Maryland) gives me free passage to those other places.
International = between nations.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the USA for both work and leisure. I love the place (I tried hard for many years to get a green card) and it is huge with tons to see and do so, one could argue that there is no need to travel out of the USA. However I really enjoy traveling to countries with languages, food and cultures etc that are different to mine.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by rorywquin
International = between nations.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the USA for both work and leisure. I love the place (I tried hard for many years to get a green card) and it is huge with tons to see and do so, one could argue that there is no need to travel out of the USA. However I really enjoy traveling to countries with languages, food and cultures etc that are different to mine.
We have that (different languages, food, and cultures) in the US, as well.
We have that (different languages, food, and cultures) in the US, as well.
(I'm not sure you appreciate my brilliant wit!)
Maybe it is not that brilliant ....often difficult to pick on things with the written word.
At one point we had huge numbers of EU people living in the UK. Since leaving the EU, numbers have reduced but we are now short of labour. The low income groups here live better on benefits than they would on minimum wage so they won’t work. The UK is seen as an easy touch by economic migrants. Pretty much like the problem you have there.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by rorywquin
Maybe it is not that brilliant ....often difficult to pick on things with the written word.
At one point we had huge numbers of EU people living in the UK. Since leaving the EU, numbers have reduced but we are now short of labour. The low income groups here live better on benefits than they would on minimum wage so they won’t work. The UK is seen as an easy touch by economic migrants. Pretty much like the problem you have there.
I'm pretty sure it’s brilliant. At least that’s what I tell myself. However, my wife may be more in your camp. She just ignores me.
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. Journey time is about 45 minutes.
