When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I was in the market for a new sports car. I have a bit of a car addiction, I switch cars a lot. Seriously, a lot.
Over the past 15 yrs I have had 8 911s, countless BMW M models, 3 or 4 MB AMGs, and quite a few Audi RS cars, not to mention a few Corvettes and Maseratis thrown I. For good measure.
Currently have a 22 GLE 450 (wife’s truck), 23 Audi RS7 ( my DD), and had a 20 Jag F-Type R as my fun car.
I have never bonded with the Jag (too many issues and terrible infotainment) and I have found the RS7 to be numb. Great in a straight line and in the freeway, but boring on back roads, kind of a 7/10th car.
Ordered a 911 C4S (walked into an allocation) 2 months ago and the car just came in. The spec came to $170k+.
On a whim, I stopped at my local MB dealership because the GM is a friend, P-Car enthusiast, and someone I bounce car ideas around with. He walked me over to an SL that was in the showroom and told me that before I pick up the 911, I should checkout the SL.
There were 3 cars in stock. A SL63 (loaded, MSRP $205k) and 2 SL55s that had very different specs, as 1 was a touring trim around $147k and the other was a loaded Performance trim with a $165k MSRP. I immediately ruled out the SL63 because for the $205k sticker you are in Porsche 911TT territory.
After driving both SL55s, I decided to cancel my 911 purchase and purchased the SL55 Performance. Taking it home on Tuesday.
Car is equipped as follows:
Monza Grey Mango/Black interior/black top
Carbon Fiber trim
21” forged black wheels
Performance trim level
driver’s assistance package
night package
extended night package
Steering wheel dynamica/leather
black dynamica headliner
headup display
trackpace
augmented nav
upgraded alarm
Wheel locks
storage pack
indoor cover
first aid kit
Etc….
I traded in the Jag and the RS7, great numbers on trade, got a $8500 discount on the SL55, and I can’t wait to take this beast home. It covers everything I need/want in a car and it feels much more special than the others.
Congrats man! Assume you took it for a test drive. How was the versus the 911? I come from a 992 a cab myself and love my SL63. As you can see on this forum there seems to be quite some complaining… looking forward to something positive 😊
Forums are a funny place. They encompass such a small percentage of actual buyers and potential buyers.
You get great information and technical advice, but any complaint or problem with the car is amplified to seem like it’s such a high percentage of cars that have problems. It really is an injustice at times. And that goes for any car forum.
The 911 forums are filled with complaints and problems, Corvette forums, BMW forums, Audi forums are all filled with great information and community advice, as well as an enormous amount of complaint and problem venting.
No car is perfect. I’ve had quite a lot of them to make that comment.
Compared to the universally loved 992 911 models, the new SL is absolutely on par and it exceeds the 911 is some areas too.
The SL is gorgeous, it’s fast, it handles well, it’s practical for what it is, it can be used for all seasons, it’s exclusive, and it is aspirational.
It is not perfect, nor is it exempt from technology problems. No new car is. Whether it’s Mercedes/AMG, Porsche, BMW, Audi, etc… all of them have issues that are annoying with the technology that is baked into the cars.
2025 BMW Z4 M40i (Manual); 2025 Lexus NXH Luxury; 2021 Porsche Macan S; 2023 Audi Q5
Originally Posted by e350wagon1
Congrats man! Assume you took it for a test drive. How was the versus the 911? I come from a 992 a cab myself and love my SL63. As you can see on this forum there seems to be quite some complaining… looking forward to something positive 😊
I also came from a 992 Carrera S Cab. Unfortunately, I purchased my SL55 prior to the "Conquest Cash" promotion.
In contrast to many on this forum, I think Mercedes is succeeding in broadening its appeal.
I was in the market for a new sports car. I have a bit of a car addiction, I switch cars a lot. Seriously, a lot.
Over the past 15 yrs I have had 8 911s, countless BMW M models, 3 or 4 MB AMGs, and quite a few Audi RS cars, not to mention a few Corvettes and Maseratis thrown I. For good measure.
Currently have a 22 GLE 450 (wife’s truck), 23 Audi RS7 ( my DD), and had a 20 Jag F-Type R as my fun car.
I have never bonded with the Jag (too many issues and terrible infotainment) and I have found the RS7 to be numb. Great in a straight line and in the freeway, but boring on back roads, kind of a 7/10th car.
Ordered a 911 C4S (walked into an allocation) 2 months ago and the car just came in. The spec came to $170k+.
On a whim, I stopped at my local MB dealership because the GM is a friend, P-Car enthusiast, and someone I bounce car ideas around with. He walked me over to an SL that was in the showroom and told me that before I pick up the 911, I should checkout the SL.
There were 3 cars in stock. A SL63 (loaded, MSRP $205k) and 2 SL55s that had very different specs, as 1 was a touring trim around $147k and the other was a loaded Performance trim with a $165k MSRP. I immediately ruled out the SL63 because for the $205k sticker you are in Porsche 911TT territory.
After driving both SL55s, I decided to cancel my 911 purchase and purchased the SL55 Performance. Taking it home on Tuesday.
Car is equipped as follows:
Monza Grey Mango/Black interior/black top
Carbon Fiber trim
21” forged black wheels
Performance trim level
driver’s assistance package
night package
extended night package
Steering wheel dynamica/leather
black dynamica headliner
headup display
trackpace
augmented nav
upgraded alarm
Wheel locks
storage pack
indoor cover
first aid kit
Etc….
I traded in the Jag and the RS7, great numbers on trade, got a $8500 discount on the SL55, and I can’t wait to take this beast home. It covers everything I need/want in a car and it feels much more special than the others.
I’ll post pics when I get it home.
Congrats! Thanks for the little comparison. Enjoy the SL!
Originally Posted by e350wagon1
Congrats man! Assume you took it for a test drive. How was the versus the 911? I come from a 992 a cab myself and love my SL63. As you can see on this forum there seems to be quite some complaining… looking forward to something positive 😊
Don’t be too fooled, half the complaints are the same old R231 owners who have been posting since the car was unveiled about their dislike of the soft top, 2+2 seating, etc.
Thanks for your review and your background as a car enthusiast. I too have "excessively" bought and traded cars over the last 20 years, with 7 911's, 2 Panamera's, 3 Macans, 3 Taycans, as well as about 6 MB AMG's over that time. I have a pretty good perspective of the comparisons on the MB performance cars and Porsche's, especially this latest SL AMG to a bunch of 911's. I purchased a loaded SL55 4 months ago at MSRP, with a similar set of options as you listed above (see attached photos).
I can say this much, the looks (including notices from onlookers everywhere), the performance, the comfort, the infotainment, the convenience features and the overall technology for this SL far exceeds what I have found in any version of the 911's, including the latest 992 version. One exception would be highly spirited driving dynamics, where the 911's excel, including, of course the phenomenal PDK transmission. But the tradeoff for that is unreasonably loud road noise and harsh daily driver conditions in the 911; things the SL sorts out easily. I would even say the SL's driving dynamics with the packages in your options list gets it very close to a 911 in terms of steering, road handling, cornering, etc.; with an edge to the SL in torque and sound and overall versatility.
Last edited by kwrudy123; Mar 20, 2023 at 11:10 AM.
‘24 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo;'22 AMG SL55;'23 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe;'13 Porsche Boxster S
It’s nice to hear feedback from individuals on this forum who actually own the new SL. I’m excited to get mine if it ever gets released from the VPC (3 weeks so far).
It’s nice to hear feedback from individuals on this forum who actually own the new SL. I’m excited to get mine if it ever gets released from the VPC (3 weeks so far).
MB tends to keep cars at the VPC for a while sadly, but trust me, it will come!
Thanks for your review and your background as a car enthusiast. I too have "excessively" bought and traded cars over the last 20 years, with 7 911's, 2 Panamera's, 3 Macans, 3 Taycans, as well as about 6 MB AMG's over that time. I have a pretty good perspective of the comparisons on the MB performance cars and Porsche's, especially this latest SL AMG to a bunch of 911's. I purchased a loaded SL55 4 months ago at MSRP, with a similar set of options as you listed above (see attached photos).
I can say this much, the looks (including notices from onlookers everywhere), the performance, the comfort, the infotainment, the convenience features and the overall technology for this SL far exceeds what I have found in any version of the 911's, including the latest 992 version. One exception would be highly spirited driving dynamics, where the 911's excel, including, of course the phenomenal PDK transmission. But the tradeoff for that is unreasonably loud road noise and harsh daily driver conditions in the 911; things the SL sorts out easily. I would even say the SL's driving dynamics with the packages in your options list gets it very close to a 911 in terms of steering, road handling, cornering, etc.; with an edge to the SL in torque and sound and overall versatility.
1986 Light Ivory R107 560SL & 2024 W206 Starling Blue C300 4MATIC AMG-Line, Exclusive Trim
Originally Posted by kwrudy123
Thanks for your review and your background as a car enthusiast. I too have "excessively" bought and traded cars over the last 20 years, with 7 911's, 2 Panamera's, 3 Macans, 3 Taycans, as well as about 6 MB AMG's over that time. I have a pretty good perspective of the comparisons on the MB performance cars and Porsche's, especially this latest SL AMG to a bunch of 911's. I purchased a loaded SL55 4 months ago at MSRP, with a similar set of options as you listed above (see attached photos).
I can say this much, the looks (including notices from onlookers everywhere), the performance, the comfort, the infotainment, the convenience features and the overall technology for this SL far exceeds what I have found in any version of the 911's, including the latest 992 version. One exception would be highly spirited driving dynamics, where the 911's excel, including, of course the phenomenal PDK transmission. But the tradeoff for that is unreasonably loud road noise and harsh daily driver conditions in the 911; things the SL sorts out easily. I would even say the SL's driving dynamics with the packages in your options list gets it very close to a 911 in terms of steering, road handling, cornering, etc.; with an edge to the SL in torque and sound and overall versatility.
If that dealer is MB San Diego, which it looks like to me, then I’ve definitely seen you driving around, think I gave you a thumbs up once. Guess it goes to your point about onlookers. Beautiful car, especially this spec.
It is a nice spec! I am surprised someone is able to tell what dealership is which from my experience all MB dealerships I visit they look identical (at least here in Canada)
First, let me say that I’ve always leaned towards Porsche 911s and BMW M cars, although I have had a few AMGs in the past (C63S Coupe & sedan, S63 Coupe, CLS55, CLK55)
2nd, I love the SL!!!
My impressions are as follows:
Great exhaust note
serious grunt, not overwhelming like the 63 or 911 turbo, but just enough to make you smile
I’m 6’3” and I have figured out the seat positioning perfectly. So comfortable and supportive
Best steering feel in any car I’ve owned with the exception of 911s. Very responsive
handling is great, both flat and confidence building grip. As I have the performance trim, the ride is firm, not 911 firm, but closer to a 911 than any previous MB product I’ve owned. They have moved to the sports car side of the ledger with enough “luxury” baked in to stay comfortably in the GT range of acceptability
I personally felt a huge difference in the touring suspension compared to the performance setup. It’s not “stiffer”. It is flatter and more responsive. It goes where it is placed
the tech is mostly great and I haven’t had any issues yet. The iPad is simple to use but can be a bit distracting at times
I picked this car over a 992 911 C4S for a few reasons. This will be my 3 season daily driver and it is better suited than the 911 for that purpose, more GT vs Sports car, much better tech and comfort than 911, much less road/tire noise, very well rounded performance.
If I was planning to drive at 9/10ths or 10/10ths the majority of time, the Porsche is far superior (also quite a bit more expensive to maintain), but as a daily the SL55 was quite an easy choice.
Also, to equip a 911 C4S Cab identically to the SL55, I would need to spend $180k-$190k. That is substantially more expensive than the SL55, in fact, much closer to the SL63 pricing that really competes with the 911 Turbo in performance.
First, let me say that I’ve always leaned towards Porsche 911s and BMW M cars, although I have had a few AMGs in the past (C63S Coupe & sedan, S63 Coupe, CLS55, CLK55)
2nd, I love the SL!!!
My impressions are as follows:
Great exhaust note
serious grunt, not overwhelming like the 63 or 911 turbo, but just enough to make you smile
I’m 6’3” and I have figured out the seat positioning perfectly. So comfortable and supportive
Best steering feel in any car I’ve owned with the exception of 911s. Very responsive
handling is great, both flat and confidence building grip. As I have the performance trim, the ride is firm, not 911 firm, but closer to a 911 than any previous MB product I’ve owned. They have moved to the sports car side of the ledger with enough “luxury” baked in to stay comfortably in the GT range of acceptability
I personally felt a huge difference in the touring suspension compared to the performance setup. It’s not “stiffer”. It is flatter and more responsive. It goes where it is placed
the tech is mostly great and I haven’t had any issues yet. The iPad is simple to use but can be a bit distracting at times
I picked this car over a 992 911 C4S for a few reasons. This will be my 3 season daily driver and it is better suited than the 911 for that purpose, more GT vs Sports car, much better tech and comfort than 911, much less road/tire noise, very well rounded performance.
If I was planning to drive at 9/10ths or 10/10ths the majority of time, the Porsche is far superior (also quite a bit more expensive to maintain), but as a daily the SL55 was quite an easy choice.
Also, to equip a 911 C4S Cab identically to the SL55, I would need to spend $180k-$190k. That is substantially more expensive than the SL55, in fact, much closer to the SL63 pricing that really competes with the 911 Turbo in performance.
Thanks a bunch OP! Glad to hear you are enjoying the car.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
