rroberts

Just got back from the AMG Challenge at California Speedway. Last year we got hot laps with pro drivers on the big oval at 140 mph+ --- this year we drove E55s, SL55s and CLS55s ourselves on the big oval. I topped out at 130 in the E55, 140 in the CLS55, and I was too busy too look in the SL55s. I used to call oval tracks "Bubba in the round," but feeling the Gs at speed changes things a bit.

People were almost fighting over driving the 07 verses the 06 SL55 (we had both). There were some styling differences, too subtle for me to remember, but the sound difference was unmistakable. Waiting between my turns to drive, the sound of the 07 SL55 and CLS55 going by at speed is fantastic. I read somewhere that the 63 engine's oversquare bore/stroke produced a better sound, but I got a chance to listen to a couple of pre-production 63's and that is just marketing hype. Tommy Kendall took a SLR around the track at 175 and even it just did not sound as sweet.

I am still buying a SLK55, but now I know what I want playing on my CD player.

Scruffyone

Good post. I have to wait till August for Lime Rock. We only had E55s and CLS55s for the main track though. I hit 132 on the straight in an E55 when allowed to pass 3 other slower drivers. I hope we get to take the SL55s on the main track this year.

deedee

Thank you Rrboerts for this informative post. I would like to ask you more about 2007 SL55. How do you like the peddle shifters, how's the new break and new steering feel?? For over a month now, I'm comparing between BMW M6 convertible and facelifted SL55.

AMGBENZ

Does 2007 SL55 sound alot different than the 2006 SL55? The SL55 always sounded much better than E55, S55 ect...


Thanks
AMGBENZ

rroberts

Deedee, I did not notice any difference in the stering and brakes but I could have easily missed it. On the big oval I only drove the '07 SL55. We all each got some laps there in an E55, a CLS55, and a SL55. Some drove the '06 SL55 there and others like me dove the '07 SL55. In other events I drove the '06 SL55 and even an '06 SL65!

Last year I accidentally downshifted with the paddle shifter in autocross events in both a SL55 and a SLK55. I came away leary of that feature, but this year I did not notice it. In any case, I did not use it can really cannot comment.

AMGBENZ, IMHO there is a quite noticable difference in the sound of the '06 and '07 SL55s. The '07 officially has 13HP more, so there has been some tweaking by AMG somewhwere. But I just do not know whether the HP gain is due to a less restictive exhaust or whether the new sound is the coincidental result of engine changes.

Vik888

so which sounds better? 07 SL55 or 06 SL55?

deedee

Thank you rrboerts.....

How do you like the exhaust note from 63 AMGs?? Did you get a chance to test-drive one??
I mean except new engine and transmission, hardly there would be other changes on 63 AMGs... including performance I believe. So , exhaust note really becomes the crucial cool factor to compare.....

Making decision is killing me......