SL/R232: Aston DB12 Volante vs Sl 63 observations
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 339
Likes: 205
From: Miami/Washington DC
2022 AMG SL63, 2015 Ferrari 458 Spyder, 2021 ALPINA B7
Aston DB12 Volante vs Sl 63 observations
So, I have had my new Volante for a week now and have driven quite a bit - obviously its early going but here are my observations:
Acceleration : The SL is undoubtedly the quicker of the two - not huge but noticeably so.
Fuel Consumption: Same 4.0 liter AMG engine however with more horsepower and torque on the Aston, however, fuel consumption is noticeable less on the Aston. Gearbox, rear wheel drive only - no idea how this is possible.
Suspension: that is a very strong suit on the Aston, just smooth as silk.
Engine sound: SL has more pops and crackles and exhaust note is more baritone whilst Aston sounds more tenor and raspy
Trunk Space : Aston is truly pitiful, I don't golf but no chance ( imo)
Rear seats: Equally silly
Cabin, dashboard etc - the Aston is truly a joy to sit in - everything is just so, I really like wheels and buttons, recognizing that the screen is quite small compared to the SL
Head turning quotient : the Aston elicits a lot of enthusiastic thumbs up and lots of grins and smiles
Electric/software gremlins - a few but nothing serious and they seem to reset when you restart the engine. Big surprise the Aston does not do wireless care play - only wired.
All in all I have truly enjoyed my first week in the car and hope i will continue to be positively impressed - I simply enjoy driving the car.
Acceleration : The SL is undoubtedly the quicker of the two - not huge but noticeably so.
Fuel Consumption: Same 4.0 liter AMG engine however with more horsepower and torque on the Aston, however, fuel consumption is noticeable less on the Aston. Gearbox, rear wheel drive only - no idea how this is possible.
Suspension: that is a very strong suit on the Aston, just smooth as silk.
Engine sound: SL has more pops and crackles and exhaust note is more baritone whilst Aston sounds more tenor and raspy
Trunk Space : Aston is truly pitiful, I don't golf but no chance ( imo)
Rear seats: Equally silly
Cabin, dashboard etc - the Aston is truly a joy to sit in - everything is just so, I really like wheels and buttons, recognizing that the screen is quite small compared to the SL
Head turning quotient : the Aston elicits a lot of enthusiastic thumbs up and lots of grins and smiles
Electric/software gremlins - a few but nothing serious and they seem to reset when you restart the engine. Big surprise the Aston does not do wireless care play - only wired.
All in all I have truly enjoyed my first week in the car and hope i will continue to be positively impressed - I simply enjoy driving the car.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,347
Likes: 6,319
So, I have had my new Volante for a week now and have driven quite a bit - obviously its early going but here are my observations:
Acceleration : The SL is undoubtedly the quicker of the two - not huge but noticeably so.
Fuel Consumption: Same 4.0 liter AMG engine however with more horsepower and torque on the Aston, however, fuel consumption is noticeable less on the Aston. Gearbox, rear wheel drive only - no idea how this is possible.
Suspension: that is a very strong suit on the Aston, just smooth as silk.
Engine sound: SL has more pops and crackles and exhaust note is more baritone whilst Aston sounds more tenor and raspy
Trunk Space : Aston is truly pitiful, I don't golf but no chance ( imo)
Rear seats: Equally silly
Cabin, dashboard etc - the Aston is truly a joy to sit in - everything is just so, I really like wheels and buttons, recognizing that the screen is quite small compared to the SL
Head turning quotient : the Aston elicits a lot of enthusiastic thumbs up and lots of grins and smiles
Electric/software gremlins - a few but nothing serious and they seem to reset when you restart the engine. Big surprise the Aston does not do wireless care play - only wired.
All in all I have truly enjoyed my first week in the car and hope i will continue to be positively impressed - I simply enjoy driving the car.
Acceleration : The SL is undoubtedly the quicker of the two - not huge but noticeably so.
Fuel Consumption: Same 4.0 liter AMG engine however with more horsepower and torque on the Aston, however, fuel consumption is noticeable less on the Aston. Gearbox, rear wheel drive only - no idea how this is possible.
Suspension: that is a very strong suit on the Aston, just smooth as silk.
Engine sound: SL has more pops and crackles and exhaust note is more baritone whilst Aston sounds more tenor and raspy
Trunk Space : Aston is truly pitiful, I don't golf but no chance ( imo)
Rear seats: Equally silly
Cabin, dashboard etc - the Aston is truly a joy to sit in - everything is just so, I really like wheels and buttons, recognizing that the screen is quite small compared to the SL
Head turning quotient : the Aston elicits a lot of enthusiastic thumbs up and lots of grins and smiles
Electric/software gremlins - a few but nothing serious and they seem to reset when you restart the engine. Big surprise the Aston does not do wireless care play - only wired.
All in all I have truly enjoyed my first week in the car and hope i will continue to be positively impressed - I simply enjoy driving the car.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,347
Likes: 6,319
Here they were https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...ml#post9043366
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 413
From: Irvine, California
2022 AMG SL63
So, I have had my new Volante for a week now and have driven quite a bit - obviously its early going but here are my observations:
Acceleration : The SL is undoubtedly the quicker of the two - not huge but noticeably so.
Fuel Consumption: Same 4.0 liter AMG engine however with more horsepower and torque on the Aston, however, fuel consumption is noticeable less on the Aston. Gearbox, rear wheel drive only - no idea how this is possible.
Suspension: that is a very strong suit on the Aston, just smooth as silk.
Engine sound: SL has more pops and crackles and exhaust note is more baritone whilst Aston sounds more tenor and raspy
Trunk Space : Aston is truly pitiful, I don't golf but no chance ( imo)
Rear seats: Equally silly
Cabin, dashboard etc - the Aston is truly a joy to sit in - everything is just so, I really like wheels and buttons, recognizing that the screen is quite small compared to the SL
Head turning quotient : the Aston elicits a lot of enthusiastic thumbs up and lots of grins and smiles
Electric/software gremlins - a few but nothing serious and they seem to reset when you restart the engine. Big surprise the Aston does not do wireless care play - only wired.
All in all I have truly enjoyed my first week in the car and hope i will continue to be positively impressed - I simply enjoy driving the car.
Acceleration : The SL is undoubtedly the quicker of the two - not huge but noticeably so.
Fuel Consumption: Same 4.0 liter AMG engine however with more horsepower and torque on the Aston, however, fuel consumption is noticeable less on the Aston. Gearbox, rear wheel drive only - no idea how this is possible.
Suspension: that is a very strong suit on the Aston, just smooth as silk.
Engine sound: SL has more pops and crackles and exhaust note is more baritone whilst Aston sounds more tenor and raspy
Trunk Space : Aston is truly pitiful, I don't golf but no chance ( imo)
Rear seats: Equally silly
Cabin, dashboard etc - the Aston is truly a joy to sit in - everything is just so, I really like wheels and buttons, recognizing that the screen is quite small compared to the SL
Head turning quotient : the Aston elicits a lot of enthusiastic thumbs up and lots of grins and smiles
Electric/software gremlins - a few but nothing serious and they seem to reset when you restart the engine. Big surprise the Aston does not do wireless care play - only wired.
All in all I have truly enjoyed my first week in the car and hope i will continue to be positively impressed - I simply enjoy driving the car.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,347
Likes: 6,319
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 263
Likes: 148
SL65(R231), SL65(R230), 600SL, 560SL(86), 560SL(89),250SL(68),250SL(67), 190SL, 300SL(GW)
I'm confused, maybe more than normal?? The AM has an additional 94HP and weighs less but is slower??? I did a build......way more colors and matched color combinations unlike MB. Very nice car!!!!!
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 339
Likes: 205
From: Miami/Washington DC
2022 AMG SL63, 2015 Ferrari 458 Spyder, 2021 ALPINA B7
I had a 2022 SL63 and it would appear that the MY22 are slightly faster than the models following.
Car and Driver tested 0-60 at 3.0 and Motor Trend at 3.1 - later models at 3.5
Motor Trend tested the Volante at 3.5.
All I can say that the 2022 SL for sure felt quicker - to be fair - the Volante is still in the break in period, but I notice the difference.
On a daily basis driving it is irrelevant to me, but making the comparison it was worth mentioning.
Car and Driver tested 0-60 at 3.0 and Motor Trend at 3.1 - later models at 3.5
Motor Trend tested the Volante at 3.5.
All I can say that the 2022 SL for sure felt quicker - to be fair - the Volante is still in the break in period, but I notice the difference.
On a daily basis driving it is irrelevant to me, but making the comparison it was worth mentioning.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 339
Likes: 205
From: Miami/Washington DC
2022 AMG SL63, 2015 Ferrari 458 Spyder, 2021 ALPINA B7
Thank you - I would have never thought of this - not that technically minded.
Is there a device that you would recommend. I am sure I could buy one and if it does not work I can return.
So, the Aston connects the phone wirelessly but car play I have to plug it into UBS outlet in the center console and it immediately activates Car Play.
So really not such a huge inconvenience but it would be nice to have a wireless connection.
So I suppose these " dongles " work is that they connect by wire, stay in the center console and the phone connects by blue tooth to the dongle - do I have that right?
Is there a device that you would recommend. I am sure I could buy one and if it does not work I can return.
So, the Aston connects the phone wirelessly but car play I have to plug it into UBS outlet in the center console and it immediately activates Car Play.
So really not such a huge inconvenience but it would be nice to have a wireless connection.
So I suppose these " dongles " work is that they connect by wire, stay in the center console and the phone connects by blue tooth to the dongle - do I have that right?
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,347
Likes: 6,319
Thank you - I would have never thought of this - not that technically minded.
Is there a device that you would recommend. I am sure I could buy one and if it does not work I can return.
So, the Aston connects the phone wirelessly but car play I have to plug it into UBS outlet in the center console and it immediately activates Car Play.
So really not such a huge inconvenience but it would be nice to have a wireless connection.
So I suppose these " dongles " work is that they connect by wire, stay in the center console and the phone connects by blue tooth to the dongle - do I have that right?
Is there a device that you would recommend. I am sure I could buy one and if it does not work I can return.
So, the Aston connects the phone wirelessly but car play I have to plug it into UBS outlet in the center console and it immediately activates Car Play.
So really not such a huge inconvenience but it would be nice to have a wireless connection.
So I suppose these " dongles " work is that they connect by wire, stay in the center console and the phone connects by blue tooth to the dongle - do I have that right?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,142
Likes: 4,363
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I had a 2022 SL63 and it would appear that the MY22 are slightly faster than the models following.
Car and Driver tested 0-60 at 3.0 and Motor Trend at 3.1 - later models at 3.5
Motor Trend tested the Volante at 3.5.
All I can say that the 2022 SL for sure felt quicker - to be fair - the Volante is still in the break in period, but I notice the difference.
On a daily basis driving it is irrelevant to me, but making the comparison it was worth mentioning.
Car and Driver tested 0-60 at 3.0 and Motor Trend at 3.1 - later models at 3.5
Motor Trend tested the Volante at 3.5.
All I can say that the 2022 SL for sure felt quicker - to be fair - the Volante is still in the break in period, but I notice the difference.
On a daily basis driving it is irrelevant to me, but making the comparison it was worth mentioning.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 413
From: Irvine, California
2022 AMG SL63
Often times it is the amount of “DRAMA” that gives one the feeling of quickness & speed. I used to drive 427 Corvettes in the 1960’s. The drama quotient with those cars was off the charts. You wondered if the clutch was going to tear through the cabin or if the engine might not blow up. The SL63 may present more drama, making it feel quicker over the more luxurious & refined Aston.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 339
Likes: 205
From: Miami/Washington DC
2022 AMG SL63, 2015 Ferrari 458 Spyder, 2021 ALPINA B7
So, I have just completed my self imposed break in period of 1000 miles - hard to believe, there is no official break in period on this car!
There is no doubt that the SL is simply quicker, not a matter of drama, just a matter of fact.
I think the deciding factor is - four wheel vs rear wheel drive. The Aston has an incredible amount of power, but a car with 4 wheel drive can put that to more immediate use.
Once you get going there really is not much difference except the SL's accelerator pedal is more immediate and on the Aston you need to put your foot down a bit more.
There is no doubt that the SL is simply quicker, not a matter of drama, just a matter of fact.
I think the deciding factor is - four wheel vs rear wheel drive. The Aston has an incredible amount of power, but a car with 4 wheel drive can put that to more immediate use.
Once you get going there really is not much difference except the SL's accelerator pedal is more immediate and on the Aston you need to put your foot down a bit more.
