tvont

I just picked up a SL55 (2005 black on charcoal, stock) of my own this week. It certainly reminds me of the muscle cars of my earlier days (500 cu in Caddy, 1960 with Carter AFB 4 bbl carb) and fun cars (1993 500SL 1972 Datsun 510 with 2 ltr p/u truck engine conversion and Webber down draft carbs) I've had but it puts a very big smile on my face every time I push the starter. Our company car, that is fun and sweet, is a 2009 X6. Fast, very few around, and the BMW active suspension on this dude can allow this crossover to keep up with 650i iron. It was my fav of all time until the SL55.

That's the background. The purpose of starting this thread is to vacuum up some of the knowledge resident on this forum. I ordered the smartTOP kit this week after reading about it here. What a very cool piece of engineering, provided it works as advertised.

What other enhancements and improvements can you all suggest for my latest addition to the garage?

Not unlike what's been written by others, my personal sense is that these cars need to be driven regularly to obtain the desired ROI. I can't see "keeping it" for some future moment when it will suddenly be transformed. Put the miles on it now, while we still have decent (sub 10% ethanol dehanced) petrol to put in the tank. When all stations are pumping switchgrass and other forms of low BTU fuel, we will rue the days that we didn't enjoy these blower equipped show stoppers.

Thoughts/suggestions/comments/experiences?

__________________________
from then till now:
1964 Pontiac w/ 326 v-8
1960 Caddy w/ 500 v-8
1972 Datsun 510 with 2.0 ltr 4 banger, trick wheels and duPont Imron
1982 Volvo DL (yeah, I know - first NEW car though)
1984 300D (gas crisis mobile)
1988 BMW 535 is
1990 Explorer Eddy Bauer
1994 Expedition Limited
1993 500 SL
2004 A8L (first quattro)
2009 GL550
2009 BMW X6
2005 SL55 AMG