ano0oj

i was wondering which would be a better buy...sl55 or the sl600 when it comes out

thanks for any replys

vodc4

sl 600 definitely

its a TURBO!!!! it will be more moddable and fast i think
plus its supposed to be more luxurious and prestigious

if you are not satisfied with the handling just change suspensien etc....

J Lucas

A Tragedy!

vraa

umm..

It all depends on what kinda person you are. Knowing you when we grow up if there is the same choice i know you'd pick the SL55 AMG cuz your like that. Me, well i'd take the 600. V12. Case Closed.

internet_mafia

I think the issue deserves more light to be shed on it than just basing everything on a cylinder count. Each car has its own unique character that goes beyond what's under the hood.

It's all about what suits your style. If luxury is your weak spot, buy a SL600. If you prefer sport, then the SL55 is for you. Comparing the two just by looking at the number of cylinders is irrelevant. In the long run, neither car will outrun each other (both are limited to 150+mph). But the SL600 will be more costly to own because of the fuel consumption rate and the depreciation rate.

morebhp

Agree with all of that - and add the cost of servicing! Suspect the SL600 will be a comparatively softer ride.

blueSL

I agree too... if you look at the marketing promo shorts of the different SL models, the guy driving the SL600 is much older than the guys in the SL55 or the guy and the blonde in the SL500. You also see the blonde driving the SL500, you don't see her driving the SL55 or the SL600.

These things are not chosen by accident. Bottom line is that the SL500 is intended to appeal to women too, the SL55 is more of a "man's" car (leaving aside the gay iconology of two men in it in San Francisco) and the SL600 is for the more mature (= older) man.

As someone who is desparately trying to cling on to lost youth (include a new found intimacy with a tread-mill), the SL55 suits me just fine... The choice is similar to a Ferrari 456/575.

The only thing any modifications you make to the engine/suspension will accelerate is the precipitous deline in value of your investment. The SL55 will hold its value far better, it's very difficult to see the SL600 achieving the almost cult-status the SL55 has.

absent

As far as rarity it is still open for discussion,I see far more CL55's then 600's.
03 600 is limited to 130mph(????!!!!!),55 is limited to 155mph,so if you plan to keep your car stock,go with AMG,but if you want to modify 600 is the best choice considering it's potential.
$4,900.00 will give you 180mph and 550hp !

Wolfman

I would find this very unusual that the CL600 is the only car from Mercedes that has a different speed governor in the US than the rest of the world! The CL600 is restricted to 155mph everywhere else. Have you tested your CL at that speed?

On the SL600, many on this board refer to the "luxury vs. sport" phrase. I just don't buy that and would rephrase it to "smooth vs. sporty" referring more to the feel of the engine, the sound and the ABC calibration (I agree with morebhp on the softer ride).
Both cars simply address different demographic target groups and that's it...

Here are my toughts on the luxury argument:
The old SL600 distinguished itself much more from the lower models with a very different engine, a leather dash and doors+, more wood everywhere, ADS and later on the 2piece AMG wheels.
What will be different in the new 600? Items added on the SL600 as standard equipment already are standard on the US SL55, such the comand, bose sound system and the cd changer. What else? No difference in the wood or metal trim or alcantara roof.

So what's different?
Exclsuive Nappa leather (I won't mention the ruffled leather on the door panels; I have that on my M class) which is nicer but also more delicate whereas the SL55 has better, more supportive seats.
Then there is the wood/leather steering wheel/knob. Looks like AMG doesn't believe in wood on steering wheels and has a differently shaped sport steering wheel with an Alcantara/leather knob. While I am not crazy about the steering wheel, this is probably more an issue of philosphy than cost.

To me this is pretty much as wash

My 2 cents...

Wolfman

absent

That is correct, my 600 with sports pkge cuts at 130 mph, even though it has 180mph rated tires.

blueSL

Don't know if the CL is the same as the SL, but the SL has a speed limiter which can be set permanently when, for example, winter tyres are fitted. It can be disabled when required. Sounds to me like yours might be set, though how you know it's set to 130mph in a country where the speed limit is typically 65mph, I will not ask!! I would not dare to drive that speed here, a certain and significant ban if caught, not to mention being completely uninsurable at next renewal.

Gooch

Has any one seen a sl55 in pueter sliver?What do you think? I want B Sliver w/ char int. Should i settle?

Breeze

My SL55 arrives in the next three weeks.. Pewter with charcoal interior. The GM's VIP SL55 is Pewter and when I saw it I was convinced. Everyone here in Southern Calif has either Black or Silver so I thought I'd be different. Plus I live at the beach and my cars are parked in an open air garage where the ocean moisture makes dirt stick overnight. So we have to have lighter colored cars or get them washed every two days. I'm hoping the Pewter will offset this dirty look and give me more time between washings.

Breeze

2000s Designo (Expresso)

internet_mafia

The whole paint color theory is a total illusion. No matter what color you get, when its dirty...it's dirty. Regardles of color, when a clean car is dirty, an immediate loss of shine and reflection is present. Also, whether or not you wash your car every two days, your rims will still be dirty. And if your rims look dirty, then the rest of your might as well "look" dirty. You will still be washing your car more frequently than you thought.

Breeze

All I'm trying to do is buy a couple more days between washing(s). There are twenty five other cars in my parking structure and all the light colored ones look cleaner longer.

Breeze

Wolfman

In Germany, the setting in the SL for winter tires is done via the permanent speedtronic setting (in the vehicle menu) where the limit can be set anywhere from 160km/h to max speed (100mph to 155mph+). Is that the same in the UK?

Normally if the speed setting is reached, you'll get an alert in the instrument display.

In the US, the menu item doesn't exist system, but if that function was used to limit the speed, the visual alert may still show up. If not, they may have actually changed the speed governor.

I personally can't believe that they reduced the speed setting only on the biggest car they make...

Wolfman

Wolfman

This is definitely not an illusion! After 5 black Mercedes' I know how hard it is to keep them clean. I also had a desert silver and a champagne color and they are definitely better when it comes to dirt.

Granted, when a car is filthy it doesn't matter what color it is but there are many stages of "dirty" inbetween, which start on the black cars about 10 minutes after you're done washing them.

A quick spin and you have the first road dirt coating; very visible on black, invisible on desert silver...

You are right regarding the rims. My trick has been to wipe down the wheels (chrome AMG) which only took a couple of minutes and the cars looked immediately cleaner and lasted a few more days inbetween washes

Wolfman

internet_mafia

Black may be a hobby but no other color shines quite like it.

PediGas

i saw one in Dallas!
Absolutely beautifull. I have a Brilliant Silver 500. Still waiting for my Pewter 55 AMG

blueSL

That's my concern abount black cars, they only ever look clean after you've washed them. Drive them, and they look dirty...

theine

That's exactly why I love them white.

carcrazy

have 83 black 500SL and traded black 95 SL600 for silver 01 CL500 until SL55 arrives in April. Didn't think that I would like silver, but I love it, always looks good even when dirty. Ordered sliver/charcoal. Tired of being a slave to black. Maybe next one will be, but for now I am enjoying low maintnence silver. PS also ordered 5 spoke AMG "low maintenance" wheels, though am eyeing the AMG IVs

White Knight II

I have a Silver S600. It's hard to tell when it's dirty. It get washed once a month.

I have a dark blue Aston. It is easy to tell when it's dirty. It gets washed once a week.

So naturally, I ordered my SL55 in Orion (dark) blue.

But, I can take either Mercedes through the car wash. The manual for the Aston says never do that. I think it's becase they fear the top will leak.

And before someone posts a message saying that a car wash will ruin the finish, let me point out that the S600 has been going to the car wash for about two years, and looks just fine. And if someone say it takes just a little bit longer than two years before the car wash damage shows, I kept my last S600 for eight years, and ran it through the car wash regularly, and it still looked very good when I sold it. And it was pearl black.

JackStraw

With anticipation skills such as these, I suspect you must be an attorney, White Knight, or just paranoid. But I must admit that this discussion has pushed me back in favor of silver; I had been leanng towards black recently.

carcrazy

A little bit of Mequiar's Final Inspection is all I ever use to clean my cars, rarely do they see the hose.








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2003 SL55 silver/charcoal
2001 CL500 silver/ ash
2003 E500 anthracite/ash
1988 Ferrari 328 GTS red/tan
1984 Ferrari 512 BBi red/tan
1983 500SL black/tan