SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: My03 Sl55 Eta
The SL6xx will arrive about a year later and may, or may not, be the new 6.3 liter V12. As I understand, M-B wants to keep a common V12 engine platform so if the 6.3 V12 is slated for Europe we should expect it in the US, too. I will keep updating as I receive 'official' information. ...RAB
Last edited by Robert ...RAB; Dec 19, 2001 at 12:40 PM.




After seeing the SL55 on the MY03 order list, along with the SL500, I inquired with my excellent M-B sources as to when we might expect an ETA. Good News! I've been told it will be much sooner than previously expected; JULY '03.
The SL6xx will arrive about a year later and may, or may not, be the new 6.3 liter V12. As I understand, M-B wants to keep a common V12 engine platform so if the 6.3 V12 is slated for Europe we should expect it in the US, too. I will keep updating as I receive 'official' information. ...RAB
That's good news Robert ! When you get one in FedEx one of those to me as well ! Yippiee !
There are rumors that the SL55 is to be expected in June '02? It is VERY confusing!
FYI, "Prices subject to change without notice." Just to stay legal. ...RAB
RAB
So it's confirmed July 03 is the arrival date? Right??
Thanks!
Last edited by Robert ...RAB; Dec 19, 2001 at 12:39 PM.
It was late and I made a typo error. So shoot me!
Second thought, just erase all my previous Posts and make me start all over to qualify as a fully tenured "MBWorld.org Member." If I were to live so long. ...RAB
RAB.. Thank you again for the excellent information!! I am VERY confused though...
There are rumors that the SL55 is to be expected in June '02? It is VERY confusing!
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The Best of Mercedes & AMG
You will not believe it but the SL kicked everybody's ***. Without the speed limiter the SL reached 208mph (338km/h) and lapped at an average of 202mph. Nothig came close. The suspension stability programme made it possible to take the car to the limit without risking the dirver's life....
I have started saving to get one. List price in Europe is 126,000 euros to which u have to add the Comand, metallic paint and a stereo... So make it 130,000 euros... around $117k
Talk about one-upmanship. No sooner has Mercedes' new SL been launched to rave reviews than the company's in-house tuning arm has gone one better. The SL55 AMG is the three-pointed star's new flagship, and the most powerful production car ever to storm out of the factory gates. But can AMG improve on the superbly accomplished SL500?
In a word, yes, although the sports specialist has wisely left the stunning styling and roof mechanism well alone. The car's shape is a masterclass in understatement, so external changes are limited to modified bumpers, four chromed exhausts and a choice of two new 18-inch alloy wheel designs. Few onlookers will be aware of the car's Ferrari-bashing performance potential lurking within the sculpted body. AMG's designers have been bolder in the cabin, but with mixed results. The new 'sandcast-effect' anodised aluminium trim is meant to imitate the crackle finish on the engine cover, but it looks cheap and feels rough to the touch.
The instrument pod is much more successful with the classic silver dials topped by a suede cowling. The seats have also been altered to feature contoured backrests with electrically inflatable side bolsters. They're incredibly comfortable and lock the body in place.
That's essential, given the SL55's performance. AMG admits that when developing the 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine, torque was the primary concern. A supercharger is ideal as it operates at low engine speeds, and AMG had already developed the technology for the SLK32 and C32 models launched earlier this year.
But the SL55 is in another league, producing an astonishing 700Nm of torque at only 2,650rpm. Compared with that, its 476bhp power output seems almost insignificant. And the engine's sound is amazing. Even at idle, it reverberates through your ears and makes the ground tremble. Crack the throttle open and the full-blooded roar is nothing short of phenomenal.
However, it takes a while to notice the sound - to begin with, you're too busy concentrating on the speed. Despite weighing the best part of two tons, AMG's flagship will pass 60mph in 4.5 seconds. By that stage, though, it's only just getting into its stride. With the standard car's 155mph limiter removed, Mercedes claims 180mph is easily achievable. However an AMG engineer has admitted to us that an otherwise unmodified SL55 has already achieved over 205mph in testing! And this from an engine that meets EU-4 emissions regulations, which don't come into force until 2005. It's no surprise to find the power being channelled through a five-speed automatic gearbox. However, this one features a manual mode, with buttons behind the steering wheel. The only downside is that the buttons are rather easy to hit by mistake. Apart from that, it's great - the shifts are swift and perfectly smooth. The same goes for the driving experience. AMG models of the past used to be rather hard and brutal, but not any more. The SL500 is a phenomenal starting point and the SL55 moves the game on from there. It's not a pure sports car, and it's never going to offer a Ferrari-type thrill, but it is astonishingly capable and flows beautifully.
Yet it does have a flaw as a high-speed cruiser. While well heeled owners are unlikely to worry about the horrendous fuel economy (we averaged about 11mpg), they might be concerned about the car's range. Exploit the performance, and the fuel light will blink on after only 160 miles - hardly suitable for a grand tourer.
British prices have still to be announced, but expect the SL55 AMG to command a £17,000 premium over the SL500. Yet, even with a price potentially in excess of £85,000, the waiting list is already 18 months long. People's faith in AMG is not misplaced, though. The SL55 is an exceptional machine.
With the SL55, AMG has not only built the best and fastest Mercedes ever, but it's also managed to eclipse the standard SL500. Beautifully designed, the driving experience is dominated by a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine that lets 700Nm of torque do the talking. Although it lacks the sporting aspirations of a Porsche or Ferrari, the SL55 AMG is every bit as fast as its illustrious rivals while being a more capable and polished all-rounder. Our only wish would be that the fuel consumption and range weren't so dismal.
At a glance
* SL55 AMG on sale in UK this summer, likely to cost £85,000
:p
Model Topspeed 0-300 km/h
SL 55 AMG 325 km/h 32.5 s
Lamborghini Murcielago 329 km/h 34.2 s
Porsche GT 2,315 km/h 40.9 s
Ferrari 550,306 km/h 61.2 s
Aston Martin Vanquish 316 km/h 55,0 s
Can you imagine what the SLR will be like???
It's only competition seems to be the Carrera GT, new F60
and the Bugatti....
What's so great about the SL 55 is that with such fantastic low end torque and ABC it will be an uncompriomising daily driver capable of blowing the doors of anything on the road both in acceleration and handling., not to mention being being safe, comfortable (reviews of the seats say they are incredible) and to top it off: an all weather convertible top....
M-B seems determined to set a new standard for the front engined roadster...wonder if they will ever do a midengined street supercar....
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Standard $1000.00 deposit....MSRP.
I placed my deposit back in early April....As of last month my dealer had 26 SL 55's on reserve...but dealership had not yet printed out the list by reserve date nor did they know what their alotment will be...so I still do not know where I am on the list nor when I can expect the car... they were not expecting the first carsbefore the fall but it sounds as though the first cars will arrive in the summer.
I am hoping I am not too low on the list... I want to save some more pennies before it arrives. My guess is MB is waiting to see what the economy looks like over the next few months before deciding what their production rate will be.
Last edited by jco-amg; Dec 26, 2001 at 06:18 PM.


