SL/R231: 2020 Grand Edition -- Sports Suspension Question
#26
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I wouldn’t import a car. There are Grand Editions for sale here in the US which are supposed to have the sports suspension standard; but I’m finding out they may not, which is a disappointment.
#27
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I can tell you the the standard ABC in my 2019 SL450 which I ordered brand new with ABC was not very sporty. Comfortable, yes. Ultimate highway cruiser, yes. But the car didn’t handle twisties as I expected. Not even close to the R231 SL63, which I also own (2017). I am tickled by the idea of sportier springs from the factory in a non-ABC setup. I want to buy one and keep it at a secondary location of mine.
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I can tell you the the standard ABC in my 2019 SL450 which I ordered brand new with ABC was not very sporty. Comfortable, yes. Ultimate highway cruiser, yes. But the car didn’t handle twisties as I expected. Not even close to the R231 SL63, which I also own (2017). I am tickled by the idea of sportier springs from the factory in a non-ABC setup. I want to buy one and keep it at a secondary location of mine.
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2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Even with ABC, I would not call the R230 nimble or agile. With the big V8 up front and the extra weight over the R231, I couldn't imagine an R230 WITHOUT ABC. My SL400 without ABC feels much more agile on the twisties than my SL500 ever did. Still, there were things that made the ABC superior over a conventional suspension -- no body roll in turns; no nosedive on braking; no nose lift on sudden acceleration.