SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: 2003 SL 55 or 1997 NSX T
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 356
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From: Toronto Ontario Canada
SL 55 AMG
2003 SL 55 or 1997 NSX T
Some guy told me that the 1997 and up NSXz can keep up with the SL55 .... is this true ?
Ive never driven a NSX ..... but i always liked them in a way. I just never took the time to look @ them alot .
If i have problems getting the SL55 ... do u think the NSX will be a good buy ?
this will be my second car .... i already have a SUV as a daily driver. I still want another car for the summer to be my daily driver, but this time it has to be a nice sports car.
the only cars i have on my list is the SL 55 or NSX now
can someone compare them if they ever driven both or even have both .
thanks guys!
Ive never driven a NSX ..... but i always liked them in a way. I just never took the time to look @ them alot .
If i have problems getting the SL55 ... do u think the NSX will be a good buy ?
this will be my second car .... i already have a SUV as a daily driver. I still want another car for the summer to be my daily driver, but this time it has to be a nice sports car.
the only cars i have on my list is the SL 55 or NSX now
can someone compare them if they ever driven both or even have both .
thanks guys!
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 691
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From: Southern CA
08 CLS63, Honda Accord, 04 911
the NSX will not keep up with an SL 55 thats for sure. Its not a fair comparison in terms of power a Supercharged V8 vs. a NA 3.0 V6.
I can tell you from first hand experience, if you are use to the torque monsters of MB , the NSX is totally different.
It is one of the best cars I have ever owned but does need a handful of mods to make it a real fun car to drive..tack on a supercharger then you are pushing some great power.
Remember the NSX looks and sounds ALOT faster than it really is.
In a nutshell, you can run it hard , high revving, great sounding, exotic looks ( with rims & drop). Its a perfect weekend car if thats what you are looking for, especially the "T". Maintenance will be lower as well, remember the SL55 although now in the 50-60k range is still a 120k plus ( i think) original MSRP type car, vs. the NSX topped out at around 90k..
I can tell you from first hand experience, if you are use to the torque monsters of MB , the NSX is totally different.
It is one of the best cars I have ever owned but does need a handful of mods to make it a real fun car to drive..tack on a supercharger then you are pushing some great power.
Remember the NSX looks and sounds ALOT faster than it really is.
In a nutshell, you can run it hard , high revving, great sounding, exotic looks ( with rims & drop). Its a perfect weekend car if thats what you are looking for, especially the "T". Maintenance will be lower as well, remember the SL55 although now in the 50-60k range is still a 120k plus ( i think) original MSRP type car, vs. the NSX topped out at around 90k..
Last edited by 150shot; May 7, 2008 at 06:25 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: OC, SoCal
08 S65, 06 M3 CS(stick), 02 BMW X5 4.6iS, 07 R1 Raven, 08 F-450 4x4, 08 CooperS JCW
If tight corners are involved then you have certainly got your equation inverted.
Two very different cars. SL55 is essentially a tourer with massive power, the NSX is a light on it's feet genuine sports car. Chassis was fettled with the help of Senna.
Between the two, I'd take the 55 as the NSX looks dated. However, a purists road tool, the 55 doesn't come close.
Two very different cars. SL55 is essentially a tourer with massive power, the NSX is a light on it's feet genuine sports car. Chassis was fettled with the help of Senna.
Between the two, I'd take the 55 as the NSX looks dated. However, a purists road tool, the 55 doesn't come close.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,547
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From: Los Angeles, CA
SL/M6
If tight corners are involved then you have certainly got your equation inverted.
Two very different cars. SL55 is essentially a tourer with massive power, the NSX is a light on it's feet genuine sports car. Chassis was fettled with the help of Senna.
Between the two, I'd take the 55 as the NSX looks dated. However, a purists road tool, the 55 doesn't come close.
Two very different cars. SL55 is essentially a tourer with massive power, the NSX is a light on it's feet genuine sports car. Chassis was fettled with the help of Senna.
Between the two, I'd take the 55 as the NSX looks dated. However, a purists road tool, the 55 doesn't come close.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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..
At some point the NSX will be worth more than the SL. The NSX may not be the bruiser the SL55 is with power but it is a very fun car to drive. Once you test drive it, I doubt the SL55 will have much of an appeal.
The looks might be dated but nothing you can't fix with updated bumpers and lights from the 2002+ model. On top of that, the NSX is much cheaper to fix if anything were to go wrong. (not likely on the 97).
The looks might be dated but nothing you can't fix with updated bumpers and lights from the 2002+ model. On top of that, the NSX is much cheaper to fix if anything were to go wrong. (not likely on the 97).
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 691
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From: Southern CA
08 CLS63, Honda Accord, 04 911
The NSX looks is dated depending on how you look at it.
In stock form I agree, again with a drop and nice wheels, and maybe a front end/side skirt totally changes the car.
Parked next to a Gallardo/360/430 or similar yes it look dated. Most cars will.
In normal traffic, it doesnt look dated at all. I actually still get cell phone pics almost every time I drive it and no one believes its almost 15 years old now.
Also I was on a drive with a new 911 turbo, my buddy even told me everyone was looking at my car and got all the attention also when parked...hard to believe- its just the general public...and not to mention the 911 was worth about 3x my NSX. Ouch...
I also think the SL 55 will be harder to sell, just a very small demographic (us here) actually want this much car. Unfortunately most are happy with the base V6 model, maybe the V8- but anything more becomes overkill for someone just looking to drive an MB. I'm actually in the market for one once they drop a bit more...
In stock form I agree, again with a drop and nice wheels, and maybe a front end/side skirt totally changes the car.
Parked next to a Gallardo/360/430 or similar yes it look dated. Most cars will.
In normal traffic, it doesnt look dated at all. I actually still get cell phone pics almost every time I drive it and no one believes its almost 15 years old now.
Also I was on a drive with a new 911 turbo, my buddy even told me everyone was looking at my car and got all the attention also when parked...hard to believe- its just the general public...and not to mention the 911 was worth about 3x my NSX. Ouch...
I also think the SL 55 will be harder to sell, just a very small demographic (us here) actually want this much car. Unfortunately most are happy with the base V6 model, maybe the V8- but anything more becomes overkill for someone just looking to drive an MB. I'm actually in the market for one once they drop a bit more...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,653
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From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
The NSX was on my list to check out but after I got a close look at an SL55 it was game over. I never got around to looking more closely at an NSX.
As noted by other posters, the SL55 is a powerful grand touring car. The NSX is much lighter and would do a better job of carving up curves.
In terms of the exterior, its definitely a case of beauty in the eye of the beholder. I think the R230s rank among the best looking cars ever designed, but not everyone feels that way. I think the NSX is decent enough looking.
Interior-wise, there's not much of a comparison. The NSX is a very nice Honda while the SL55 represents Mercedes best effort for a $120,000-$130,000 price tag.
In terms of total cost of ownership, the NSX should have a pretty significant advantage. As far as maintenance costs go, the NSX is a Honda while the SL55 is from the dark years of Mercedes reliability. Also, as noted by others, the NSX is less likely to depreciate in the near term. NSX Prime reports 8,900 have been sold and Honda isn't making any more. Automobile Magazine says Mercedes has produced 21,000 SL55s and while no more SL55s will be made, Mercedes is busy making all the SL63s the market will bear.
All-in-all, though, if I had to make the decision over again, I'd make the same choice without hesitation. I still get a lot of enjoyment out of the SL55 and drive it every chance I get.
Good luck with your decision.
As noted by other posters, the SL55 is a powerful grand touring car. The NSX is much lighter and would do a better job of carving up curves.
In terms of the exterior, its definitely a case of beauty in the eye of the beholder. I think the R230s rank among the best looking cars ever designed, but not everyone feels that way. I think the NSX is decent enough looking.
Interior-wise, there's not much of a comparison. The NSX is a very nice Honda while the SL55 represents Mercedes best effort for a $120,000-$130,000 price tag.
In terms of total cost of ownership, the NSX should have a pretty significant advantage. As far as maintenance costs go, the NSX is a Honda while the SL55 is from the dark years of Mercedes reliability. Also, as noted by others, the NSX is less likely to depreciate in the near term. NSX Prime reports 8,900 have been sold and Honda isn't making any more. Automobile Magazine says Mercedes has produced 21,000 SL55s and while no more SL55s will be made, Mercedes is busy making all the SL63s the market will bear.
All-in-all, though, if I had to make the decision over again, I'd make the same choice without hesitation. I still get a lot of enjoyment out of the SL55 and drive it every chance I get.
Good luck with your decision.
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