Juice it

I agree with you on the "value" issue when looking to buy the two new but completely disagree on your assessment of the 65's performance and abilities. The weight difference is 280 lbs and in cars of this weight, on street driving,(canyons, whatever) that weight isn't going to mean much. I have driven both cars extensively and the 65's weight distribution doesn't feel any different. It has better brakes that will let you break later, and much more power to shoot you out of the corners faster. Doesn't sound like just a 1/4 car to me. For the extra cash though I agree but for what you can get some for now I would be all over one if I was looking again. I would like to hear from some that owned both, anyone??

IngenereAMG

Maybe it was just the way the car that I drove was set up. But it was a sled compared to my 55. That's why I passed. I thought the weight was more like 400 pounds....and with that hanging out over those front wheels....yikes! Either way, both cars are great and way better than an SLR for the real world.

DBERRY7578

I've owned both and the main difference to me was learning to cope with the thrust, acceleration, and power of the 65 which can make mastering the vehicle more challenging than the 55. The 55 although very smooth lacks the power to dominate higher end sport cars because of its heaviness.
As far as cornering and manuevering, I have not felt any difference in the handling, but I can see that one may feel more comfortable handling a less powerful vehicle after driving the 65 for a short time.

I have run with a few porsche's, and lighter cars, and felt that the 55 and 65 duplicated, and out performed them on quick manuevers. However the 65 has the ability to overdose its competition with raw power. People who are used to driving high end low torque cars may take to the 55 because it is easier to master. Bothrica cars are tough to handle on wet surfaces and a blast to drive any day of the week.

Frank Wiesmann

I agree with you 100%. Power is great, but it isn't everything. Having said that, I still wouldn't mind having an SL 65. For canyon carving I would prefer something like a Porsche GT3 RS or Z06 Corvette.

ano0oj

Wait, you bought a 65...and passed for a 55?

Auraraptor

With 1:15.6 mins. at the Hockenheim short track, the SL 65 AMG is 0.3 secs. faster than the SL 55 AMG.

hbluthi

Couldn't have been said better. I agree very much with that statement!!

hbluthi

With what kind of drivers?

Xeron

The only way I beat him was that he obviously was an inexperienced 65 driver (car was new) and I caught him on the curves. I also am not a great driver and certainly didn't want to endanger anyone else on the road. However, I had my 04 for almost a year, knew the car well and pushed it when I could. I barely bested him, gave him a thumbs up, and looked around for cops. I got lucky.

BTW, the 04 was bought back in case your wondering.

ano0oj

I'm not too sure if those timse are even legit man...SL55 being .3 seconds behind the 65 sounds a bit unreasonable. A CL65 is heavier than a SL65, and it beat the 55 by more than .3 seconds...

Top gear times for a CL65....35 Mercedes CL65 1.29
for the SL55: 55 Mercedes SL55 AMG 1.33.2

on top of that the SL65 is 4,564 lb
the CL65 is 4,654 lb

Frank Wiesmann

That's because Hockenheim is a track that favors cars with power. There are only a few curves where a significant weight advantage will improve the lap time. The Nuerburgring, however, is different. There are more slow curves requiring heavier braking and favoring lighter cars with less front end plow.

Juice it

????

ClayJ

They are very different tracks. The counter-argument - that Nurburgring times are unrealistic in real-world applications because that track is so difficult - is often made as well in the supercar world....

(If one looks at a track map of each the difference is more than obvious).

DBERRY7578

Why is the 1/4 mile always attacked and labeled the unskilled American thing? Sprints are spectacular sporting events all over the world, and for some reason many of the forum members take swipes at anyone who shows the slightest bit of enjoyment in the 1/4 mile run.
Everyone knew the fastest kid in the neighborhood, or the fastest kid in the school, or the fastest football player, or the fastest man in the world. On this forum it seems as if there are a bunch of non-athletic American hatin guys driving sports car who never experienced the thrill of being the fastest at anything, and now that they are all grown up, and criticizing everything that reminds them of what they lacked.
I for one can enjoy the excitement of a driving course or the awesome 10 seconds of g forces unknown to the average man. I guess some people will forever need a reason to feel superior to others, and maybe one day I will get it---------not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

merc655

If you would even like to compare stock cars to stock cars, although the Z06 is cheaper than the SL55/65, I guarantee that with a good driver it will pass a 55 on the highway, and keep right up with a 65. Go look up some 1/4 miles traps on these cars, as the E.T.s don't really show anything due to traction. The trap speed shows the power, and it traps as high as the SL 65. So compare that, and it's even stock...

Of course, drivers make the race, but if you find a competent Z06 driver I will bet the SL55 owner will be left behind...

DBERRY7578

I believe that the Z06 is awesome, however it is not built nearly as good as the 55/65. The speeds are very comparable, and the weight difference gives the Z06 a nodd in factors where weight is an issue. But understanding that the 55/65 were designed as high end luxury cars with the ability to compete and in most cases beat light weight sports cars without compromising luxury or quality is the key ingredient. I didn't really understand that until I was t-boned by that corolla doing about 60, and without the driver braking. The 65 barely looked damage, and the corolla was totaled. The speeds of the Z06 and 65 appear to be very comparable, however, I am more amazed with a heavy weight running with a light weight 505HP speed demon than I am with the opposite. Remember, there is a reason for the price difference.

Frank Wiesmann

Woah there, let's not get carried away. Nobody said anything about hating quarter mile lovers. As far as I'm concerned, people can do whatever makes them happy. If it is quarter mile runs for you, great. IngenereAMG and myself happen to believe in a different form of performance driving that is more demanding on the car as well as the driver and reveals more about driving skill and the car's handling in my humble opinion. Let's face it, there are faster and cheaper cars for quarter mile runs than an AMG. Of course, the same can be said about canyon carving. In the end, let's not have to explain why we like or dislike the other persons interpretation of a good time behind the wheel, but rather enjoy our common liking of the three pointed star and three letter trunklid badge. Have a great day!

DBERRY7578

In the end, let's not have to explain why we like or dislike the other persons interpretation of a good time behind the wheel, but rather enjoy our common liking of the three pointed star and three letter trunklid badge. Have a great day![/QUOTE]

I totally agree, however the slant that one style of driving is superior to the "American" style of driving seems a little arrogant. Personally, I feel that most car enthusiast can separate the two and enjoy both styles of driving. Both styles will determine strengths and weaknesses of an automobile, and both will surely give the driver an andrenaline rush. Nothing personal, just a car forum

clk55fan

Frank & Dberry:
Agreed, 100%.

The comparison of different but similiar hp & tq cars engaging in
public road racing or 1/4 milers and arriving at a conclusion that
one is better than another is ludicrous. We don't know to what
extent each car was modified and the skill/***** of the drivers.
(Do we want to have the cars compete, OR, is the competition
who has the deepest pocket to afford the best mods)

Now, if you really want to compare and conclude, have the same
(professional) driver on the same course track the car...and the car
with the lowest time is the winner (on that particular track), road or
1/4 mile.

As a previously stated viewpoint indicated....some tracks favor raw &
brute hp, others favor skill and maneuverablity of the car. Again,
to conclude, the one constant to make an empirical conclusion is
to use the same driver.

The SLs satisfies a broad spectrum for bang for the $.
Prestige, exclusivity, style, everyday driveability, hardtop & convertible and
power.

Some women say they don't want a man on the way up,
they want a man who has arrived.
Many MB (amg) owners fall into that category

Owning one gives the owner those benefits, and it sure makes
you feel good looking at the steering wheel and seeing the 3 pointed star.
It sure is exhilarating to be in the driver's seat of one.

Regardless of our networth, I tend to think we may all be car junkies.....

Tell you what, I don't mind being 'HIGH' the rest of my days!!

Happy motoring ya'all