Well my dealer finally got in a SL63 this week so I stopped by to take a look. After spending a few minutes checking it out he asked if I wanted to take it for a drive. I liked the sound and it felt like it handeled better than my 2003 SL55 but the feeling of power is WAY down. I know what the numbers say but I'm sorry it just feels much slower. That said the new trans is to die for. I wish I could put that in my 55 or better yet a 65. The shifts are incredibly smooth and quick. This dealer was asking a $25k premium on top of the $159k sticker price. As much as I liked driving it I don't think it's worth $135k more than my 55.

I went from a E55 to a E63 and while I'm happy with the car, I'd take the 55 engine over the 63 in a heartbeat (I'm soooo happy I still have my SL55).

~ Ian

No flaming please but I bought my CLS55 knowing they were replacing it the next year. The torque is what I was after in that car.

Thought about a SL55 but it was for the wife and we plan on putting lots of miles on it so we got the 500.....

AMG 55 are always better than 63,65 or whatever else imo.

The lack of low end torque is what you aren't feeling when you step on the new SL63.
Just about every auto reviewer has commented on this matter.
On the plus side, the new transmission and exhaust seem to be getting rave reviews.
There are reports (unconfirmed) that Mercedes Benz and AMG are looking into either going back to supercharging, or turbo charging to get that low end torque punch that the SL55 had.
Like other's, I'm glad I have the SL55 too!

torque is what makes a muscle car feel like a muscle car. the 55 had both the torque and sports car handling. you can't beat supercharging

Wow, I remember back in the pre-63 days, people were complaining that 55 was low on torque compared to the 600 and 65 engines. Everything is relative, I guess.

Huh..? A 55 is NOT Better than a 65


I Drove a Preproduction Model updated R230 and yes it was down on power...
Felt like the SL gained a LOT of weight

yeah, so imagine how low the 63 must be ...

Don't pay above MSRP, no matter how rare you might think it is. They are stamping them out as fast as they can.

yes, definitely do not pay over MSRP .. you will want to get BELOW MSRP even right now. if they dont budge, then F them. they will be selling below MSRP very very soon everywhere.

Correct - and what about the "regular" 600? That should outperform the 55 as well....

The dealership I buy my cars from had one of those launch edition $159K cars come in which I took a look at when I was there because I wanted to see what the 2009s looked like in person. My salesman told me they were selling it to a guy for list price though I assume he is a regular customer. So $25K over list???

I drove it too and one thing that really stuck out in my mind was the transmission and the exhaust. It was heaven hearing those rev-matched downshifts. The tranny is a big step foward for MB. The engine....eh, it is what it is. It builds power very smoothly and you can feel the increase as the RPM's climb. Tire-spinning torque was what AMG's were all about, but now MB is trying to play catch-up to BMW M.

they are already discounting launch edition sl 63's on the east coast and msrp everywhere else, that dealer is smoking crack if he thinks he can get $25k over list.

Welcome to Southern California. SL's are like Honda Civic's here.

I liked the sound of new exhaust as well... any possible way that we can install new exhaust to sl55??? would they be a easy swap? are they same size? and anyone know how much it will cost?

I happen to think the SL55's note is PERFECTION.

~ Ian

+ 1

Exhaust note comes from the engine, no muffler or pipe of any type will make your car sound like an SL63...

$135k more than your 55? So you paid $49k for the 2003 SL55? Or did they offer you only $49k to trade-in your SL55?

I was thinking my SL was worth about 50k but they later told me that they would give me 38k on trade in. I don't think I will be going down this road.

^only $38K? what do you have 100,000 miles on it or something?

Nope,
40k miles and with a warranty. It's also in near perfect condition with 2008 SL55 wheels.