SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: New SL55
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Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33
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From: Houston, TX
2003 sl55 AMG
New SL55
Hi, I am new to this forum, although I have been lurking for a few weeks, since ordering my car. I used to be a member of the BMW M5 forum and I think I recognize some names here from that forum. We're all moving up to bigger and better!
I took delivery of my Silver/ Charcoal sl55 2 days ago and have been more than happy so far. No problems, and the only issue is having to keep it under 4,000 RPM for 1,000 miles.
My car was "used" at least so Houston Greenway could get 22K over sticker from me; but I'm not complaining, I did the same for the M5 and had an excellent experience with that car as well. My sl55 has Pano roof, Parktronic, Active seats, Bixenon lights and Keyless Go as options.
Anyway, I'm glad to be on board and look forward to sharing our experiences with this refined beast...
Arcane
I took delivery of my Silver/ Charcoal sl55 2 days ago and have been more than happy so far. No problems, and the only issue is having to keep it under 4,000 RPM for 1,000 miles.
My car was "used" at least so Houston Greenway could get 22K over sticker from me; but I'm not complaining, I did the same for the M5 and had an excellent experience with that car as well. My sl55 has Pano roof, Parktronic, Active seats, Bixenon lights and Keyless Go as options.
Anyway, I'm glad to be on board and look forward to sharing our experiences with this refined beast...
Arcane
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
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1M, F550M, F550B, F40, S600, 365GTC, DBSx2, etc.
Arcane - nice to see you here too! Oddly enough, I was in houston a few weeks ago and met Stan Sowami (SM at your dealership).
Which car did you buy, the red or silver? I believe they had two...
Major congrats!
--Dan
PS: Silly me, I just saw your 'silver/charcoal' comment. Very sharp! When I saw it, they had the roof folded so I didn't see the pano in person. But, I have *seen* your car up close in person.
Which car did you buy, the red or silver? I believe they had two...
Major congrats!
--Dan
PS: Silly me, I just saw your 'silver/charcoal' comment. Very sharp! When I saw it, they had the roof folded so I didn't see the pano in person. But, I have *seen* your car up close in person.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
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Originally posted by bobafett
Arcane - nice to see you here too! Oddly enough, I was in houston a few weeks ago and met Stan Sowami (SM at your dealership).
Which car did you buy, the red or silver? I believe they had two...
Major congrats!
--Dan
PS: Silly me, I just saw your 'silver/charcoal' comment. Very sharp! When I saw it, they had the roof folded so I didn't see the pano in person. But, I have *seen* your car up close in person.
Arcane - nice to see you here too! Oddly enough, I was in houston a few weeks ago and met Stan Sowami (SM at your dealership).
Which car did you buy, the red or silver? I believe they had two...
Major congrats!
--Dan
PS: Silly me, I just saw your 'silver/charcoal' comment. Very sharp! When I saw it, they had the roof folded so I didn't see the pano in person. But, I have *seen* your car up close in person.
your in houston? are you sure instead of *seeing* the car u weren't.. umm.. reproducing w/ it? LOL!
btw.. mookie YOUR RIGHT.. WE NEED PICS! lol
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Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
2003 sl55 AMG
Houston sl55
Thanks, everyone, I feel welcome already. I bought the car. My mom taught me not to buy anything I couldn't pay cash for, so didn't lease it. However, that probably doesn't make business sense. Out the door price with sales tax, etc. was $ 154,000.
I didn't get one on the lot, they found one incoming on a ship and I got it after about a month. It had pretty much everything on it that I wanted, except tire pressure monitor. I wouldn't have used the Distronic much at all, so I don't miss it.
Anyway, I have had it for about 4 days, and I really am getting to like it more every time I get in it. It is quite different from the M5 in the overall tightness and somehow it feels heavier, but not in a bad way. Of course I haven't opened it up yet until the 1st 1,000 miles, but I get the feeling it is close to or better than the M5 in responsiveness. It's certainly better in fit and finish, and the M5 was excellent in that regard as well.
I had trouble getting my golf clubs in the trunk with the roof protector in place but after a couple of days I figured it out. If anyone needs tips on that I can probably help.
Last thought for now: the Panoroof is excellent for 3 main reasons, I think: the overall feeling with the shade drawn is like being in an open- air ****pit, much like a Porsche Targa; the sunshade in the closed position is not completely opaque, but does allow a filtered light through which is really nice, almost a glow; and, from outside on a silver car, the entire roof is a translucent black which really looks great.
Thanks again for the warm welcome. I will miss the M5 but I know this will be a step forward.
Arcane
I didn't get one on the lot, they found one incoming on a ship and I got it after about a month. It had pretty much everything on it that I wanted, except tire pressure monitor. I wouldn't have used the Distronic much at all, so I don't miss it.
Anyway, I have had it for about 4 days, and I really am getting to like it more every time I get in it. It is quite different from the M5 in the overall tightness and somehow it feels heavier, but not in a bad way. Of course I haven't opened it up yet until the 1st 1,000 miles, but I get the feeling it is close to or better than the M5 in responsiveness. It's certainly better in fit and finish, and the M5 was excellent in that regard as well.
I had trouble getting my golf clubs in the trunk with the roof protector in place but after a couple of days I figured it out. If anyone needs tips on that I can probably help.
Last thought for now: the Panoroof is excellent for 3 main reasons, I think: the overall feeling with the shade drawn is like being in an open- air ****pit, much like a Porsche Targa; the sunshade in the closed position is not completely opaque, but does allow a filtered light through which is really nice, almost a glow; and, from outside on a silver car, the entire roof is a translucent black which really looks great.
Thanks again for the warm welcome. I will miss the M5 but I know this will be a step forward.
Arcane
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 490
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From: New Jersey
2003 S500 4-matic, 2003 SL55
were glad u are happy but there is just one problem, were are the pics, part of us making u happy is that u must make us happy , so as Nike says --Just do it, and then u can tell us more about driving the beast. If u are having problems with posting pics just ask someone u know for help,
Last edited by mookie; Jan 2, 2003 at 09:08 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 9
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From: Houston
2002 M5
Arcane,
Congrats on the SL55. I too came over from the M5 board but have since sold it for an 03 996TT. I am on the list for an SL55 from an out of state dealership but that's a long story. I think that's the best price I have seen anyone pay for an SL55 that wasn't on the list. Please give us your driving impressions. Houston group of M5 er's is getting togeather soon although three have traded for 996 TT's. If you are interested I can give you more info, it would be cool to have an SL55 owner there as well.
Bill
Congrats on the SL55. I too came over from the M5 board but have since sold it for an 03 996TT. I am on the list for an SL55 from an out of state dealership but that's a long story. I think that's the best price I have seen anyone pay for an SL55 that wasn't on the list. Please give us your driving impressions. Houston group of M5 er's is getting togeather soon although three have traded for 996 TT's. If you are interested I can give you more info, it would be cool to have an SL55 owner there as well.
Bill
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Houston, TX
2003 sl55 AMG
Houston sl55 and pics
Thanks for the information, Bill, I might try to get together with you all some time. I am going to try to post some pics, although they're somewhat amateurish...in regard to driving impressions, I have to say I like it better than the M5, and I didn't think I would at all. I switched because of the technology and just for a change. I definitely like it better than a 996TT I drove a while back. The paddle shifters work seamlessly and are smooth and fast.
The one thing I liked better in the M5 was the layout of the information center; the sl55 needs time to sort out the menus for the display, and there's a lot of clicking back and forth between them. The M5 had one screen that showed everything happening all at once, and that was really better than the COMAND system display options.
The sound by the sl55 Bose system is better by far than the M5. The sl55 NAV system is smoother and faster than the M5 but not as nice as the Lexus systems.
Anyway, here are pics, I hope...
The one thing I liked better in the M5 was the layout of the information center; the sl55 needs time to sort out the menus for the display, and there's a lot of clicking back and forth between them. The M5 had one screen that showed everything happening all at once, and that was really better than the COMAND system display options.
The sound by the sl55 Bose system is better by far than the M5. The sl55 NAV system is smoother and faster than the M5 but not as nice as the Lexus systems.
Anyway, here are pics, I hope...
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22
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Arcane,
Congrats on the SL! I am waiting for mine to be built next month with a March arrival. I, too, owned an M5 until I recently traded it for the SL (I didn't drive it much this time of year due to rainy/snowy roads). However, I REALLY miss the M5.
I'm glad to hear your excitement and satisfaction with the SL after giving up the M5, because, I must say, I was slightly worried the SL would disappoint me from a performance perspective.
I can't wait for mine.
Have a good one
JB
Congrats on the SL! I am waiting for mine to be built next month with a March arrival. I, too, owned an M5 until I recently traded it for the SL (I didn't drive it much this time of year due to rainy/snowy roads). However, I REALLY miss the M5.
I'm glad to hear your excitement and satisfaction with the SL after giving up the M5, because, I must say, I was slightly worried the SL would disappoint me from a performance perspective.
I can't wait for mine.
Have a good one
JB
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33
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From: Houston, TX
2003 sl55 AMG
SL55 vs. M5
JBSL,
You probably decided on the SL55 for the same reasons you chose the M5: performance and luxury. The performance aspect is improved significantly and the luxury factor immeasureably. The new factor you will appreciate is the artistry, something the M5 had only in limited areas.
The SL55 is a work of art that will have you looking at and constantly finding new angles to appreciate it. Basically, the M5 was a passenger car strapped onto a racing engine, with a consequent edge of roughness. The SL55 has none of that but does have the effortless and SMOOTH application of power that I think all of us wanted from the M5 but never really found.
You will love your new car and forget the M5; I really thought I would miss it much more than I am.
The SL55 is a perfect car. It is better than the M5. Consider yourself fortunate to be able to indulge in it.
Arcane
You probably decided on the SL55 for the same reasons you chose the M5: performance and luxury. The performance aspect is improved significantly and the luxury factor immeasureably. The new factor you will appreciate is the artistry, something the M5 had only in limited areas.
The SL55 is a work of art that will have you looking at and constantly finding new angles to appreciate it. Basically, the M5 was a passenger car strapped onto a racing engine, with a consequent edge of roughness. The SL55 has none of that but does have the effortless and SMOOTH application of power that I think all of us wanted from the M5 but never really found.
You will love your new car and forget the M5; I really thought I would miss it much more than I am.
The SL55 is a perfect car. It is better than the M5. Consider yourself fortunate to be able to indulge in it.
Arcane
