Tuskir

I certainly would if there was a 600hp civic that had a convertible hardtop, luxurius interior, Mercedes-like styling, quality, and refinement

IanSL55

Makes a lot of sense to me... I wouldn't choose the Cayman over the Carrera for the same reasons I wouldn't take the SLK over the SL... regardless of what you can squeeze out of either car in terms of performance, both the Cayman and the SLK will always be too girly in appearance and message for me. For my girlfriend, sure... I think she would look great in a SLK... but no way for me. Just my personal taste, though I think the majority of SL owners feel the same way...

~ Ian

SLK55R

While both these cars are convertibles, 2 seater, and retractable hardtop that is where the similarities end. They really aren't an apple to apple comparison.

Go test drive both and see what you like.

Tuskir

Yeah.. more like a "fat slow apple vs a light and quick apple"

blk03cl55

There isn't.

blackbenzz

Wow, I cant believe this argument is going on. Every car has something different to offer. It all depends on what you want. Dont try to convince other people to like what you like, it just wont happen. I was choosing between a 996TT, E55, CLK55, and SL600. I chose a Kleemann CLK55 and I dont regret it at all. I smoke all the cars listed and its a super sleeper (at leats it was before I put a huge front mount on it). There are MANY cars that will eat mine for breakfast but I'm happy with what I have and have never second guessed my purchase. I personally love the W208 body style and own 2 of them. Kleemann makes AMAZING products and their customer service is even better.

jmf003

When you first posted, Tuskir, I and a number of the other good folks on this forum assumed you sincerely wanted reactions. But as the posts pile up, it looks more and more like you're simply out trolling.

You prefer the SLK to an SL? Good for you. You want to tune it? Knock yourself out. You want to look down on all the people who purchsed SL's instead of SLK's? I think we'll all somehow manage to perservere in spite of your disapproval.

Now to find something interesting to read....

bltserv

Same here. My ex has a SLK. Too dinky of a car for me.
Only drive it when she cant.
Drove the SLK55 at the AMG Challenge. Hammered it on the road course
Not bad. But it in no way has the feel and power of my SL55.
Yes its lighter.
But its a chic car. Or maybe cool if you are more in touch with the
female side of your brain.

threesticks03

I was generalizing...ok how about this one, why would someone pay 90k for a Cadillac XLR-V when they could pay almost half of that for a C6 Corvette? These are basically the car, in fact the Vette is much faster....so for 80k you can get a luxurious, comfortable, and interesting automobile....or you can spend 50 and get an engine, some wheels, and a couple buckets to put your *** in....now once again I'm generalizing here, but you have to see my point. Yes the SLK can be very fast and has great handling, yes the SL is heavy with a lot of heavy gadgets weighing it down. The SL is like the big older brother who's made his money, and wants to settle down and relax, but still has it in him to go out and tear up the town. The SLK is the little brother, straight out of college, making a decent salary....out every night partying like crazy....you get it yet, because honestly I don't think I can pull any more ridiculous analogies out of my a$$...

They're both great in their own right, you prefer one....and that is great, congratulations, you're awesome. But how and why would you go into the forum for another car and try to sell everyone else on your idea....it's your idea, run with that. You'll have a fast sleeper car that will blow everyone away. So now go out there and blow em away man, while I cruise by content and relaxed, because at the end of the day I know that I drive an SL 55...

IanSL55

Spot on.

~ Ian

blazinginder

SLK55R

While it certainly has been interesting watching some SL owners (flex their muscles) and say that the SLK55 is a chic car ... I agree with some others that I believe your just trolling.

blk03cl55

I have a questions for ya. With the 030 on your car, what is the difference between 030 and normal? I dont have that package, but I still have the 2pc rotors, and my SL does not.

SLK55R

the 030 package on a SLK55comes with :

Alcantara steering wheel
Nurenburg tuned suspension
carbon fiber interior
030 Rims (heavy as hell)
and the front rotors are 14.2 inch
(it was my understanding the normal SLK55 doesn't come with the composite rotors and that was only the 030 package. It could be different now? Mine is an 06. In either case the size of the rotors are very different.)

I wouldn't be surprised if the newer SL55's have composite rotors up front.

Acez

what brand will you recommend for light 5 spoke rim?

SLK55R

since this doesn't really apply to this thread ... you might want to PM in the future.

I'd recommend :

Carlsson UL
Renntech
Fiske
HRE
Kenesis
(in no specific order)

I'm not sure which have a 5 spoke but I'm sure HRE does. It seems that all of these brands have very light(strong) rims. If you want Ultra light then your going to have to go to Magnesium or Carbon-fiber.

vraa

Neez I think makes carbon fiber magesium wheels.
HRE's C-series are light and they have a five spoke I believe.

benzworshiper

Im glad I ran into this thread coz i had many of the same concerns
looks to me like more thought has gone into the sl car especially the quality of the inside, to make it more comfy ajnd ritzy, plus those massaging seats- cant beat that with a stick!
its made to appeal to richer/older folk, the slk's interior is sparse/thin/simple/cold in comparison, which does not appeal to the richest folks
you make something that appeals to the richest folks and then you can go and charge much more for it than its (relatively) worth (or cost to make)
so they make more money on the sl, more proft percentage-wise, coz richer folks will spend more
the slk is targeted at younger folk, seems to me, so benz cant ask as much and dont
space is almost identical but seems not
also the sl has much history, lineage, the slk much newer design, i guess
im not expert but this is how its appearing to me
Im sure there are also differences not visible to the naked eye, that make higher quality and perhaps longevity with the sl car
Still, why a 55amg instead of the similarly priced torque-monster sl600?
Is it just the amg sport hype and fat seats?

I think i might prefer the heated steering wheel, myself!
(only avail on the 600 car)

blk03cl55

Different suspension, monster brakes, sportier seats, and supercharged.
The motor rumble in the 55 is worth the price of admission.

The 600 is also nice, but it's a softer ride, and has wimpy brakes.
That being said, you can mod a 600 to make it hadle better and have WAYYYY more power. You need to drive both of them to see which you will like better. The 55 was what I liked more. Other prefer the 600.

HouTxCLS55

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z5LHGGFZZ...elated&search=

Found this on You Tube (Top Gear) compares SLK55 to the SL55

Scruffyone

You can put all sorts of moda on an SLK55 and beat.............your head against the wall trying to convince an SL55 owner that you car is "better" Better for what? Buy and enjoy what you want. "Better is in the eye of the beholder. Remember that an SL55 owner could have used the same money that they paid for the SL55 to buy the SLK55 modded and had a lot of money left over. We chose not to because the SL55 is "better" for us. That and the K2 kick in the pants was worth it.







I have a GT3RS coming in January, hope to see you on a local road course.

Tuskir

I'm not dissing (or trolling like some have suggested) the SL55 by any means, I'm simply expressing my views that SL55 is relatively slow in comparison with other Mercedeses that cost around the same. If you have enough money to buy an SL55 and think the SLK55 is too girly, its very likely that you can spend like 10k more and get the SL600, which makes a lot more sense to me than SL55. For a car like an SLK55, that only weighs 3,350lbs, supercharged V8 is surely enough to make it fast (i.e. 11 second car), however, a much heavier SL really needs the V12 bi-turbo. Are there even any SL55 in the 11's? The fastest SL55 on drag times (with renntech / kleemann stage 3) are in the low 12's, and only one at 12 flat. So even with the mods, its very hard (near impossible) to break the 12 second barrier with the SL55. When you drop a v12 bi-turbo into the SL, its really clear that that is the right engine for the chassis. Plenty of low 11's with the SL600 to prove the point.

So what am I supposed to do if I want a mid 11 second hardtop roadster that is able to compete with Z06's, vipers, and turbo porches's on the dragstrip? My only choices are supercharged SLK55 or SL600, SL55 is out of the picture. Right now, I am looking at both SLK's and 03 SL600's. If I can find a low mileage 03 (or maybe 04) for low to mid 70's, I would probably get that over SLK55. However, a three year old high performance Mercedes might be more trouble than its worth, so I dont even know.

Doc C

My research showed that the SL600 was very comparably priced to the SL55. Also, from the factory the performance numbers are exactly the same. If it is more expensive then why would you pay more money for the exact same performance? You are defeating your own argument if that is the case. I purchased the SL55 because I had heard much more about trouble with the SL600 engine maintenance-wise. The SL55 engine architecture is more modern than the V-12 on the SL600, plus the AMG name has resale value. I understand the "Mod-ability" of the SL600, but most folks are completely happy with the car out of the box. Plus, I'll bet mods increase likelyhood of maintenance problems on that V-12. I like the looks of the SLK. It's WAY better than the first gen SLK. I just like the SL better. All seem to agree the SL65 is king of the heap. Hell, we'd all probably like an SLR. I like the ride and handling of the SL much better. Go get an SLK and mod the hell out of it. There's more to a car for me than a quarter mile time.

Tuskir

Same performance? Are you kidding me? Stock SL600 runs 11.9 in the 1/4 when even highly modded kleemann/renntech SL55 can't break 12's. Chipped SL600 run low 11's all day at 125mph. SL600 is nearly as fast as SL65. SL needs the v12 bi-turbo to be fast, supercharged V8 is simply not enough to move that pig. As far as the maintance/problems, my research shows that SL55/SL600 is about the same. Like I said before, if I can afford a low mileage SL600 I would probably get that, if not, Kleemann SLK55 will have to suffice. SL55 is simply not fast enough for MY needs, if you don't care about 1/4 mile racing, that's cool with me, I only care about what I want to do with it. I don't think I should be labeled as a "troll" for simply expressing my views on the SL55....

Scruffyone

When you option out an SL55 the price difference is very close to the SL600. The SL600 has a lot of the options as standard. The SL55 will out handle the 600 and the 65 because the nose is lighter, there is even a thread somewear here that shows the ring times of all three. I'll take handeling any day. Take your car out on a road course and you will see the huge HP is wasted because there are very few places on most road courses where you can use that power. The REAL driving is on the corners, chicanes, and esses. Anybody with a chunk of change can plunk down some money and get a car that goes fast just by mashing the pedal. It takes skill to go fast on the turns and that is where the thrill is.

BTW, you were called a troll maybe because you said the modded SLK55 was better?