Hi Gang:

I'm new to the forum, just having purchased my 1st SL, a 2005 SL500.

Already I'm beginning to wonder if I should have spent the extra bucks and picked up an SL55 (I know what you guys will say; unequivically YES).

Anyway, just wondering what the general consensus is on what makes a fast car. I mean, obviously, to be really fast you need to be in the low 4's or even the 3's.

BUT, what I'm asking is for the SL500, being at around 6.1 seconds, where would you put this car? Seems pretty quick to me compared to most cars, although any really high end sports car (e.g. F430, 911 Turbo, SL55/65, M5, etc. will blow it away).

 

Hi, SpainSL.

"Pretty quick" is a good description. To give some additional context, according to this website (http://www.ssmoparmuscle.com/speedcomp.htm) your car is in the 82nd percentile; that is, it's faster than 82% of the other cars on the list.

However, since Toyota has sold vastly more Camrys than Ferrari has sold F40s, your car is almost certainly among the top 90% of all cars actually on the road.

If you'd like to get a little more performance out of your 500 I'm sure some of the forum sponsors would be glad to help you. One of the best and most affordable improvements would be to replace the OEM tires with a high traction after market tire.

Enjoy the ride!

 

That's just the type of comprehensive analysis I was hoping for.

I was thinking of going with 18 or 19 inch wheels anyway to enhance the appearance of the car.

Any recommendations on the wheels, and specific tires? I've always been happy with Michelin PS2's on other cars I've owned, once example being a Porsche Boxster, another being a C32 AMG. The C32 came with Pirelli's which wore poorly and did not provide much traction at all.

Thanks again

 

I think 6.1 may be a bit off the mark/slow from a time perspective. I thought your car is in the 5.8 range (maybe faster).

You could very well surprise a 55, M5, etc. from a dead stop. They may spin the wheels while you are gone with no traction issues. JUST HIT THE BRAKES HARD when you hit 40 MPH and act like you "took 'em"!

TK

 

http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/to...z-SL-Class.htm

"The SL 500 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds (predecessor model: 6.2 seconds)".

 

I don't think the difference was that big, but that has to do w/ the switch from the 5spd to the 7spd tranny.

SL500's are quick enough that if you stand on it at any point it'll feel like somethnig's happening. It's a totally subjective feeling since relative to a 55K owner your 500 will feel like molasses. My 540 is in the same region of 'quickness' as you. Few will say they're slow, most will say they're quick.

But times are evolving fast and a top-of-the-range 3 series will slap you around now. A kid diving mom's new V6 Camry or Accord will be on your tail and stay there to your dismay.

Get a 55K car if you want to be one of the kings of the road.

 

But times are evolving fast and a top-of-the-range 3 series will slap you around now. A kid diving mom's new V6 Camry or Accord will be on your tail and stay there to your dismay.

Get a 55K car if you want to be one of the kings of the road.[/QUOTE]

This is true enough. Nowadays some punk in moms new 3 series with twin turbos (not even an M3) has 300 HP at their disposal in a lighter car; more than even to burn me.

BUT, it's the exception rather than the rule, PLUS, they still won't look nearly as good as I do with the top down in my red SL 500

 

Fast The way traffic is in most locations the SL500 gets the job done moving through traffic. I've had Porsches and other very fast cars never could come close to using their potential in 99% of the driving that I found myself. I look at the SL as one of the most beautiful cars on the road no a high performance car. JMHO

 

There is more to a fast car than just 0-60 times. Its the way that the power is delivered. The handling. The way the car stops. The high speed stability. In other words, its the package.