blueSL

A three way comparison in the UK between a Porsche 997S, a new Aston Martin V8 Vantage and an SL55 AMG has them ranked in that order.

The article is searching for a sporting drive and the 997s narrowly beats the AM V8. The SL55 is the fastest in a straight line of the three and the best and most comfortable highway cruiser but quickly loses its composure when there's a bend.

Which goes to show that the SL55 is a fantastic GT but it is not a sports car which is what we here have known all along. It also mirrors my experience on the Nurburgring a couple of weeks ago. The 911s and Lotuses were King and what few SLs there were looked very ponderous around Bruennchen. It's just too heavy to be a viable track car and no amount of tuning by Brabus and the like will fix that problem.

Interesting too that the cheapest car is also ranked the best by this authorative source.

sprins

They should have compared an SL65 to the DB9. What they did is apples vs. oranges.

blueSL

If anything, the SL65 is even more hampered by excess weight and it also has traction problems with so much power. Depends of course on what you are looking for - an autobahn stormer or a track car. Recently in over 2000 miles in Germany, I did not see a single SL55. I get the impression Germans have not embraced the SL55 in the way other markets have.

Scruffyone

Agreed.

sprins

Sure, but that's besides my point:

SL65 AMG vs. DB9 or Vanquish
997S vs. AMV8
SL55 AMG vs. 911 turbo

Those comparisons would have made more sense IMO (price/performance/class), regardless of who'd have won the comparison.

Ah, who am I kidding! The SL55 is in a class of it's own and cannot be compared to anything else!

blueSL

I agree your comparisons make more sense but, with the comparison they did make, it's interesting that the cheapest car won.

Since I have both an SL55 and a 911 turbo, I can compare the two directly; the SL55 is slower, but offers a much more refined GT experience and is ideally suited to long trips. The 911 provides better performance and the more sporting drive. Here in the UK, they are comparably priced.

IngenereAMG

I have had alot of cars and in my personal experience the SL55 is the best all-rounder that I have had. I think that it makes a brilliant sports car. Sure its a little heavy........oh well........you just have to adapt your driving style to it. I haven't had any trouble leaving any Porsches, Ferrari, AMs, etc for dust on a twisty road or track with the SL.

sprins

That may say more about the comparison that about the cars.

I can also make a comparison between Pamela Anderson and Claudia Schiffer in which Pamela wins. While Pamela is obviously the cheaper one

Cheap is sometimes better!