SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL55 or SL600
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From: Rancho Mirage
2011 E63, 2018 AMG GT Convertible
SL55 or SL600
I have been enjoying the comments on the SL55 for some time. I have also been reading everything I can get my hands on regarding the new Maybach and its V12 and the new Mercedes V12. Detuned? Frankly, I think that I will opt for the smooth power of the V12 over the AMG 5.5. I'm already asking the "tuners" what it's going to take to get the new Mercedes V12 to "tuned" status like the Maybach. Also, I have no problem waiting until the "gotta haves" price war is over and the price settles down to a "reasonable" amount (if even THAT amount can be justified). I will enjoy reading the comments to my decision.
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
The SL55 has been so long coming, just beginning to trickle through after being announced in Germany in August 2001 with first availability there earlier this year.
The SL600 has not even been announced in Germany yet, there's a runt called the SL350 getting in the way, so it makes me wonder when that will be and what it will mean for US availability.
This time next year?
As for which I'd choose, I do have this niggling feeling the SL600 will meet my own requirements mose closely than an SL55. I have a wild sports car already and hardly use it. Long journeys are tedious because the ride is so hard and the engine is so noisy. It's great for a Sunday morning blast and I love the noise for 10 miles or so but after that, I'm like a kid asking the question "are we there yet?".
My existing SL600 on the other hand, with only 390hp, doesn't have the same turn of speed (which will be fixed in the new car) but is a much better deal for a longer journey. Quiet, smooth running and you can drive for hours and step out as fresh as can be. I do wonder whether the noise of the SL55 and the whine of the supercharger will get to me.
So, even though I have an SL55 on the horizon, I also have a provisional slot with my dealer for the SL600 just in case I find the SL55 is a pain to live with.
The SL600 has not even been announced in Germany yet, there's a runt called the SL350 getting in the way, so it makes me wonder when that will be and what it will mean for US availability.
This time next year?
As for which I'd choose, I do have this niggling feeling the SL600 will meet my own requirements mose closely than an SL55. I have a wild sports car already and hardly use it. Long journeys are tedious because the ride is so hard and the engine is so noisy. It's great for a Sunday morning blast and I love the noise for 10 miles or so but after that, I'm like a kid asking the question "are we there yet?".
My existing SL600 on the other hand, with only 390hp, doesn't have the same turn of speed (which will be fixed in the new car) but is a much better deal for a longer journey. Quiet, smooth running and you can drive for hours and step out as fresh as can be. I do wonder whether the noise of the SL55 and the whine of the supercharger will get to me.
So, even though I have an SL55 on the horizon, I also have a provisional slot with my dealer for the SL600 just in case I find the SL55 is a pain to live with.
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From: Lugano, Switzerland
2007 CL 550
I tend to agree with blueSL. I am going to pick up my new SL 55 on Tuesday, and I have that feeling....
Regarding smoothness, a V12 engine cannot be beaten. Furthermore, the news trickling among dealers is that it will have 800 Nm of torque as opposed to 700 Nm of the "regular" 55SL. As a comparison, the latest Porsche Turbo has 520 Nm of torque.
So is the 600SL going to be as good as it gets? Probably on straight roads. But the front of the car is going to be much heavier and handling will certainly suffer.
Oh yes, comfort. Two issues here: first, the Active Body System makes the 55SL a very comfortable car ( certainly at least as comfortable as a previous version 600 SL) and then... if comfort is the real concern one can buy a 55 CL PULS a 230 CLK (for the sunny days ) for roughly the same price of the new SL 600.
Regarding smoothness, a V12 engine cannot be beaten. Furthermore, the news trickling among dealers is that it will have 800 Nm of torque as opposed to 700 Nm of the "regular" 55SL. As a comparison, the latest Porsche Turbo has 520 Nm of torque.
So is the 600SL going to be as good as it gets? Probably on straight roads. But the front of the car is going to be much heavier and handling will certainly suffer.
Oh yes, comfort. Two issues here: first, the Active Body System makes the 55SL a very comfortable car ( certainly at least as comfortable as a previous version 600 SL) and then... if comfort is the real concern one can buy a 55 CL PULS a 230 CLK (for the sunny days ) for roughly the same price of the new SL 600.
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Mercedes | Bmw | Audi
Originally posted by blueSL
Well it will be certainly interesting to have your detailed comparisons between the SL500, the SL55 and the old SL600.
Do you have any idea what the price of the SL600 is going to be?
Well it will be certainly interesting to have your detailed comparisons between the SL500, the SL55 and the old SL600.
Do you have any idea what the price of the SL600 is going to be?
S500 = 84,000 | SL500 = 94,000 Euros
S55AMG = 119,000 | SL55AMG = 125,000 Euros
So my guess is since S600 (500Hp) is 126,000 Euros
Expect the SL600 to be about 130,000 - 140,000 euros!
Note all are base prices!
Thank you!
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and BTW Stricks,
thats what ive been doing last 2 months been reading all the forums about SL and S to make a decision and once the SL600 is out i'll pop up my personalised question
and guys the above prices i gave u'll include a 16% VAT
so dunno if thats the prices you should consider in the US unless of course there is a similar tax there and other things like Dollar Conversion rates etc etc.
but expect it to be a bit more then the S600
Thanx,
thats what ive been doing last 2 months been reading all the forums about SL and S to make a decision and once the SL600 is out i'll pop up my personalised question
and guys the above prices i gave u'll include a 16% VAT
so dunno if thats the prices you should consider in the US unless of course there is a similar tax there and other things like Dollar Conversion rates etc etc.but expect it to be a bit more then the S600
Thanx,
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
I agree with davidegai on the weight.
The 12 cylinder engine does make the car feel front heavy. I love the smoothness and the 800nm torque will be unbelievable, but the SL55 is already heavier that the S55 (by 150 punds+) and the difference between the S55 & the S600 is about 330 pounds, that would make the SL600 a very heavy covertible.
History has also shown that AMG models continue to hold their value well while any 600 model (S, SL, CL) drops like a rock. At least in my area
I'll stick with the SL55
The 12 cylinder engine does make the car feel front heavy. I love the smoothness and the 800nm torque will be unbelievable, but the SL55 is already heavier that the S55 (by 150 punds+) and the difference between the S55 & the S600 is about 330 pounds, that would make the SL600 a very heavy covertible.
History has also shown that AMG models continue to hold their value well while any 600 model (S, SL, CL) drops like a rock. At least in my area
I'll stick with the SL55
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From: NY
ML 500 Sport
I just got a confirmation from friends in Germany close to AMG:
SL 600 is being built
There will not be an SL 600 AMG
The SL 55 will remain the performance leader in the range.
Mercedes only does one AMG version per model and is always the top performing model...the SL 600 will be as before...top luxury model.
Also stated that performance of the w211 E55 will not exceed that of the SL 55.
SL 600 is being built
There will not be an SL 600 AMG
The SL 55 will remain the performance leader in the range.
Mercedes only does one AMG version per model and is always the top performing model...the SL 600 will be as before...top luxury model.
Also stated that performance of the w211 E55 will not exceed that of the SL 55.
Last edited by jco-amg; Aug 24, 2002 at 02:46 PM.
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Member
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From: Lugano, Switzerland
2007 CL 550
Let's face it folks: the 12 cylinder versions have always been some sort of senior citizen cruisers, albeit with very high performance, but the AMG's have always been the hot cars to ride.
The envelope between the two seems to be narrowing, though, as AMG's have become more confortable and more conservative in their looks.
The new biturbo V12 engine, on the other hand, seems to be very temperamental. Gosspis in Stuttgart say that an S600 can out accelerate a Porsche turbo! (until the first curve, whereupon the MB will show a rather unpleasant tendency to continue along a straight path)
The envelope between the two seems to be narrowing, though, as AMG's have become more confortable and more conservative in their looks.
The new biturbo V12 engine, on the other hand, seems to be very temperamental. Gosspis in Stuttgart say that an S600 can out accelerate a Porsche turbo! (until the first curve, whereupon the MB will show a rather unpleasant tendency to continue along a straight path)
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Originally posted by jco-amg
Mercedes only does one AMG version per model and is always the top performing model...the SL 600 will be as before...top luxury model.
Mercedes only does one AMG version per model and is always the top performing model...the SL 600 will be as before...top luxury model.
S55/63 CL63/55
SL55/73 ( Previous Generation)
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 361
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From: Rancho Mirage
2011 E63, 2018 AMG GT Convertible
SL55 or SL600
Been fun reading the replys. Agree that some of the true exotics (usually price and servicing costs keeps it in the exotic realm) are great when you get to stretch their legs. Otherwise they are are just for having people drool while they are parked. Glad I am over that.
The SL600 I drive now is as comfortable on the open road as around town. And when I want to get by some moron on their cell phone going 40 in the fast lane, it just takes a blink to blow by them. Usually wakes them up also.
As to the heavier weight of the v12, come on. If we were really going to go racing, these are not the cars for it. Even Mario indicated he felt the heaviness of the SL55, but still loved the car. These cars are the true open touring cars. While I've added some goodies to my SL (Renn TECH chips, K&Ns, AMG exhaust, wheels, etc.) they are for my pleasure.
Along those lines, I frankly love cruising down the highway and watching the Porsches and BMWs come roaring up in the next lane, and then slow down when they see the twin tipped exhaust coming out of (not under) the rear apron. They usually slow down and go by real slow. They know the car is not stock and is probably a sleeper (it is). I do enjoy that. I have to admit it.
The SL600 I drive now is as comfortable on the open road as around town. And when I want to get by some moron on their cell phone going 40 in the fast lane, it just takes a blink to blow by them. Usually wakes them up also.
As to the heavier weight of the v12, come on. If we were really going to go racing, these are not the cars for it. Even Mario indicated he felt the heaviness of the SL55, but still loved the car. These cars are the true open touring cars. While I've added some goodies to my SL (Renn TECH chips, K&Ns, AMG exhaust, wheels, etc.) they are for my pleasure.
Along those lines, I frankly love cruising down the highway and watching the Porsches and BMWs come roaring up in the next lane, and then slow down when they see the twin tipped exhaust coming out of (not under) the rear apron. They usually slow down and go by real slow. They know the car is not stock and is probably a sleeper (it is). I do enjoy that. I have to admit it.
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Re: SL55 or SL600
Originally posted by Stricks
Been fun reading the replys. Agree that some of the true exotics (usually price and servicing costs keeps it in the exotic realm) are great when you get to stretch their legs. Otherwise they are are just for having people drool while they are parked. Glad I am over that.
The SL600 I drive now is as comfortable on the open road as around town. And when I want to get by some moron on their cell phone going 40 in the fast lane, it just takes a blink to blow by them. Usually wakes them up also.
As to the heavier weight of the v12, come on. If we were really going to go racing, these are not the cars for it. Even Mario indicated he felt the heaviness of the SL55, but still loved the car. These cars are the true open touring cars. While I've added some goodies to my SL (Renn TECH chips, K&Ns, AMG exhaust, wheels, etc.) they are for my pleasure.
Along those lines, I frankly love cruising down the highway and watching the Porsches and BMWs come roaring up in the next lane, and then slow down when they see the twin tipped exhaust coming out of (not under) the rear apron. They usually slow down and go by real slow. They know the car is not stock and is probably a sleeper (it is). I do enjoy that. I have to admit it.
Been fun reading the replys. Agree that some of the true exotics (usually price and servicing costs keeps it in the exotic realm) are great when you get to stretch their legs. Otherwise they are are just for having people drool while they are parked. Glad I am over that.
The SL600 I drive now is as comfortable on the open road as around town. And when I want to get by some moron on their cell phone going 40 in the fast lane, it just takes a blink to blow by them. Usually wakes them up also.
As to the heavier weight of the v12, come on. If we were really going to go racing, these are not the cars for it. Even Mario indicated he felt the heaviness of the SL55, but still loved the car. These cars are the true open touring cars. While I've added some goodies to my SL (Renn TECH chips, K&Ns, AMG exhaust, wheels, etc.) they are for my pleasure.
Along those lines, I frankly love cruising down the highway and watching the Porsches and BMWs come roaring up in the next lane, and then slow down when they see the twin tipped exhaust coming out of (not under) the rear apron. They usually slow down and go by real slow. They know the car is not stock and is probably a sleeper (it is). I do enjoy that. I have to admit it.
i aggree the 12 cylinder cars are very nice on the highway. very quiet and the engine feels so free and unstressed. i had a 95 S600 coupe and it was a blast to drive around in.
now i have an 02 CL600 and the technology is just amazing!!! it feels so light compared to the 95 S600!
in november i will have an '03 CL600. boy that thing will be a monster! and the SL600 will be sooo beautiful! especially with the sport package.
just get the SL600! the extra 4 cylinders make a huge difference!!!!!!!!
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Rancho Mirage
2011 E63, 2018 AMG GT Convertible
The CL600 is VERY tempting. Especially the convertible version. Sorry it is a "rag top" instead of a folding hardtop, but it is still very tempting. Very!
