SL/R231: 2020 Grand Edition -- Sports Suspension Question
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 415
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From: Florida (primary), South Carolina
2017 AMG SL63 _ 19 AMG S65 Cpe _ 23 R8 Spyder Rwd _ 17 911 C2S _ 16 Boxster Spyder _ 01 BMW Z8 etc.
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.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 415
Likes: 98
From: Florida (primary), South Carolina
2017 AMG SL63 _ 19 AMG S65 Cpe _ 23 R8 Spyder Rwd _ 17 911 C2S _ 16 Boxster Spyder _ 01 BMW Z8 etc.
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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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,556
Likes: 3,680
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
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.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,498
From: Maryland
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.
