ClayJ

Tomsilver

Sorry, but what is "netstar"?

ClayJ

MBUSA's computer database ordering system.
Supposed to have the most current information on what's available for purchase/order, current in-builds, available build slots, what cars are in which stage of build and delivery, what cars are in delivery and in what stage, what's currently on the ground across the USA (default is 'by region', but can be expanded to other regions and nationwide), etc.
-- and I don't know or forget what else....
Got to find a car, or when you can get in an order, or what timeframe to expect? Have someone at the stealership go into Netstar.

sprins

That's not mysterious, that's just plain envy

Lets not forget that the 2002 SL55 (which the USA didn't get) also got the 467BPH (or what is it exactly?) the E55 currently has.

sprins

I don't know what I'm trying to say with that last sentence...

IanSL55

Whatever it was you made my day! Cheers!

~ Ian

SLVRSL55

According to the AMG representative I spoke to at the MB booth at the LA autoshow, the SL63 will be a naturally aspirated V8, approx. 515 HP and will be out as a 2007 model starting this Summer. It will have only slight cosmetic changes (no SLK nose) and will be the replacement for the SL55, which will be discontinued. I did not get specifics as to exactly which engine the SL63 will have.

As others on this string have already said, he also confirmed that the SL500 will give way to the SL550, with the same engine that is currently in the 2007 S550 sedan.

From what I recall, the SL600 and SL65 will both remain in the lineup in pretty much the current configurations with only slight cosmetic changes through the 2007 model year. Replacements for both cars are scheduled to come out as 2008 models and he did infer a bi-twin turbo for the AMG 12 cylinder model, although interestingly enough he would not confirm that it would be called an SL65. He was equally vague as to what would replace the SL600. Didn't get much more detail beyond this.

Hope this helps.

PS
He also mentioned that pricing would be comparable, if not a bit lower than current (2005/6) models for both the SL550 and SL63. He ball parked a "well dressed" SL63 at $125K.

ClayJ

Very interesting. Thanks.

Vik888

Very interesting. I wonder if the exhaust tone of the SL63 will be comparable to the SL55.

seattlecarfreak

if a well dressed sl63 is $125k, me thinks the sl65 for 07 at $215k well dressed won't be doing so well... and the used models will most likely plummet even more :I

Tomsilver

Today is sales start in Germany for the upgraded SL's. There is no SL63. Instead, they continue the SL55 und increased the performance. The HP increase is from 500 to 517hp, and torque grows from 700 to 720nm.

I don't think that they would increase the power of the SL55 when there are plans to change the engine in the near future.

vraa

What changes are made or is it all just on paper?

SLVRSL55

I was speaking to my sales guy at [a local MB dealer] last night about a new car for my wife. He asked about how the SL55 he sold me was doing and I mentioned I'd sold it. His response was "then you really ought to get a deposit down on an SL63".

He said that while there's been no official word on the car from AMG, it's absolutely for real and the dealership has already taken a number of deposits — including one from him. His best estimate was availability in Q4 '06.

Now this is a guy I've dealt with for years and he's not prone to BS or overstatement. I realize he's a car salesman and by definition, his words need to be taken with a grain of salt. I've bought 3 or 4 cars from him, though, and my sense is that he's not likely to mislead me as it would cost him a very good customer.

So, that's the second confirmation I've gotten from an MB employee in less than a week about the imminence of the SL63... In my book, it sounds like a done deal.

sprins

First, your salesguy and every other MB employee is as 'reliable' as his sources when it comes to unconfirmed statements. Second, the facelifted SL has just been announced with the old and faithfull 55K engine which will last 'till the end of the lifetime (5 years or more to come, historically) as expected. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a 'hear-say-done-deal' then is becoming less and less likely by the minute. But then again, you never know...

seattlecarfreak

i went to talk to a sales guy up here in seattle a few weeks ago and told him i was considering a new sl55 with the performance package (the $15k sl65 look/performance option) and he had no clue what i was talking about.. after about 15 minutes, he gave up on trying to find out what i was talking about and had to go to www.mbusa.com and found it :>

considering the performance package has been available for a year or atleast the option has been known.. wasn't too impressed needless to say.. <g>

ye have no faith in sales men :>

JackStraw

I am not sure whether the SL will get the normally-aspirated 6.3 liter V8, and have been persuaded by the arguments of others that the S, SL and CL will get a turbocharged variant. However, it does seem unlikely to me that the 55 Kompressor will be unchanged for the remainder of the life of the R230. That engine is based on the 5.0 liter V8 that is being phased out and replaced by the 550. Remember, the 6.3 hasn't gone on sale in any vehicle yet. Just because the engine in the SL55 is unchanged in the German market today does not mean that it won't be changed in the next 6-12 months. A facelift and an engine change don't have to go hand in hand.

SL65amg

The SL 63 won't come out until the twin-turbo version of it is ready for production. Like what has already been said ... the current SL 55's engine will continue (albeit with some more power) in the facelifted 2007 SL class, and then most likely the twin-turbo 6.3 liter V-8 32 Valve DOHC will come a year or two later, or maybe Benz will wait and put it into the all-new 2009 SL Class that will arrive then.

No way Benz will put a N/A V-8 in their top of the line cars like the CL/S/SL with less torque than the current Supercharged 5.5 liter V-8.


Let's just hope that by the time the new twin-turbo engines are ready, Benz will have strengthened the AMG 7-Speed transmission enough to be put into it. Now that would be scary fast for sure. :p :v

ClayJ

I'm all for that! Here's hopin' too!