SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: new SL
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 185
Likes: 3
From: Norway
SL 55 and a GT 3000 vr4 Here's my car: http://home.online.no/~ludvs/index.cfm
Testing the new sl (R231)
You have to ask the people over at:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-r231-159/
Then you'll hopefully get your answer
I would also like to hear from someone that has actually tried it, how the new sl 63 amg sound stacks up with ours.
Does the turbo take away the nice sound or not?
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-r231-159/
Then you'll hopefully get your answer
I would also like to hear from someone that has actually tried it, how the new sl 63 amg sound stacks up with ours.
Does the turbo take away the nice sound or not?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 395
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From: So Cal
04 SL 500, 09 R350, 09 E63, 2010 Prius
drove the new SL550 R231. My thoughts:
Engine, powerful, sounds good, but there is a turbo lag
Transmission, not bad
suspension/handling, soft...
interior, very much an improvement over the old... the shift stick is a bit... wimpy, short and stumpy, but shiny... like my old stick on the 04' better. knobs and things feel like good quality, not cheapy...
trunk space, excellent for a convertable.
Looks... well, it looks better in person than in the pics. But still... the rear quarter view is not good, the lights make the trunk angle down too much. Front looks good from certain angles but the nose is still too tall for my taste, not a fault of MB, new Euro Pedestrian laws fault...
Overall: engineering wise, it is an improvment over the old SL R230, better chasis and engine... but the handling still is soft (AMG will probably be better)
Turbo Lag is not so great but every other engine is turbo now so... what can you do.
The overall feel and look is what really didn't do it for me... I mean, it's not ugly, in fact, it's not a bad looking car. From the first pics, the AMG looks good... but there is no... "soul" to the car like the old R230 when it first came out... not revolutionary changes in looks and feel... the R230 was "new" in so many ways for it's time. The R231 feels almost like an updated version rather than a brand new model... the aluminum chasis you can't see... you can feel it but if you cut the fron and back out of the car, what do you get... the R230
I am not excited about it, I like it but my R230 is not ready to be "replaced" by the new R231.
Engine, powerful, sounds good, but there is a turbo lag
Transmission, not bad
suspension/handling, soft...
interior, very much an improvement over the old... the shift stick is a bit... wimpy, short and stumpy, but shiny... like my old stick on the 04' better. knobs and things feel like good quality, not cheapy...
trunk space, excellent for a convertable.
Looks... well, it looks better in person than in the pics. But still... the rear quarter view is not good, the lights make the trunk angle down too much. Front looks good from certain angles but the nose is still too tall for my taste, not a fault of MB, new Euro Pedestrian laws fault...
Overall: engineering wise, it is an improvment over the old SL R230, better chasis and engine... but the handling still is soft (AMG will probably be better)
Turbo Lag is not so great but every other engine is turbo now so... what can you do.
The overall feel and look is what really didn't do it for me... I mean, it's not ugly, in fact, it's not a bad looking car. From the first pics, the AMG looks good... but there is no... "soul" to the car like the old R230 when it first came out... not revolutionary changes in looks and feel... the R230 was "new" in so many ways for it's time. The R231 feels almost like an updated version rather than a brand new model... the aluminum chasis you can't see... you can feel it but if you cut the fron and back out of the car, what do you get... the R230
I am not excited about it, I like it but my R230 is not ready to be "replaced" by the new R231.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
Nice write up. Like you said, the R230 was nearly revolutionary. Maybe some of us expected the same out of the R231. I think what we got instead was some nice improvments and upgrades over the older model. Should they have named it the 230.1?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,214
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2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
I would have thought turbo lag would be minimal on a moderately large engine and sophisticated turbocharging system as well as the gearbox. I've driven the Nissan GT-R and it has no lag, I just couldn't feel it and that's a 3.8 
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 395
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From: So Cal
04 SL 500, 09 R350, 09 E63, 2010 Prius
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
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2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
the turbo lag is there... the sales kept saying you can't feel it but I did... I am not particularly sensitive but it's there. It's not as bad as some of the other turbo lag's I've seen but it's definitely there. Gotta clarify though, this doesn't bother me that much... my point is that the overall car feel just didn't make my heart skip a beat and say "wow, I want that car!"... It's like that nice looking girl that's good to look at but just doesn't pack the "sex appeal!"
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 395
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From: So Cal
04 SL 500, 09 R350, 09 E63, 2010 Prius
I agree they could've made it better, the front for me is pretty good but the rear taillights I would slightly change. The back isn't bad but the taillights I would make a slight change to. The problem for the car is it had massive shoes to fill, the R230 is one of the most popular Mercedes and has it's own signiture look, it's a very beautiful and striking car. Think of it like Aston Martin trying to find a new design to replace the DBS, it's very hard to improve on perfection (By the way I'm not saying the R230 even comes close to the beauty of a DBS but let's face it nothing does and the R230 is also stunning)
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 203
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From: S.E. PA
2011 IS350C
You made my day!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
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2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
You mean adjust 
Or maybe you did mean disgust since alot of people are feeling that way about it. I was on the rocks but I like it now, the back I loved from the spy shots but it turned out slighty different. I think it could be fixed to what I thought it would be like with minor adjustments.
Or maybe you did mean disgust since alot of people are feeling that way about it. I was on the rocks but I like it now, the back I loved from the spy shots but it turned out slighty different. I think it could be fixed to what I thought it would be like with minor adjustments.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 395
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From: So Cal
04 SL 500, 09 R350, 09 E63, 2010 Prius
I think he meant "adjust"... I think the AMG version will be much better looking... the tail was my main problem.. that slope downwards... maybe a spoiler or something will fix it... and dark out the lights... Oh, and the New SL has no ABC suspension, can't go up/down with the button anymore... which means, if you go to a dip, drive SLOW...or you will hit the front spoiler. I had the means to raise the car before ( I put Carlsson spoilers on my front) and it has helped me saved many scratches. without the raise option... I am not sure if any front spoiler is safe...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
I think he meant "adjust"... I think the AMG version will be much better looking... the tail was my main problem.. that slope downwards... maybe a spoiler or something will fix it... and dark out the lights... Oh, and the New SL has no ABC suspension, can't go up/down with the button anymore... which means, if you go to a dip, drive SLOW...or you will hit the front spoiler. I had the means to raise the car before ( I put Carlsson spoilers on my front) and it has helped me saved many scratches. without the raise option... I am not sure if any front spoiler is safe...
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 39
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From: Virginia
1999 SL500, 2003 E320, 2005 SL55
I agree they could've made it better, the front for me is pretty good but the rear taillights I would slightly change. The back isn't bad but the taillights I would make a slight change to. The problem for the car is it had massive shoes to fill, the R230 is one of the most popular Mercedes and has it's own signiture look, it's a very beautiful and striking car. Think of it like Aston Martin trying to find a new design to replace the DBS, it's very hard to improve on perfection (By the way I'm not saying the R230 even comes close to the beauty of a DBS but let's face it nothing does and the R230 is also stunning)
Eh, I prefer the look of the Vantage models.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
To change my 63 is going to cost about 60k and what do I get. A similar
looking car which is slightly lighter and a little faster remembering mine has
been re mapped. Also my car looks superb and in new condition with 12k miles
on the clock. I just can't see the point.
looking car which is slightly lighter and a little faster remembering mine has
been re mapped. Also my car looks superb and in new condition with 12k miles
on the clock. I just can't see the point.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
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From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,214
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2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
To each his own I guess but for me the Vantage is way too small to be taken seriously. When I saw it in real life it was tiny and just not impressive at all. The DBS however is just epic and a whole different level. It's such a special car but severely underpowered.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 395
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From: So Cal
04 SL 500, 09 R350, 09 E63, 2010 Prius
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 80
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C63
A stock r231 sl63 outpreforms your R230 SL63. A tune on the new 5.5 bi-turbo would net you at least 100 RWHP and would certainly embarrass your SL63.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
I don't think anyone would argue the awesome power potential of the new 5.5 Bi Turbo. At 557 HP stock and about 300 pounds lighter it will be quick. I would like to run a stock SL63 Bi Turbo to see what he has. With mods, my 55k has nearly 500 WHP and 540 WTQ. I bet I would get him down low. Once he starts modding, all bets are off.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
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C63
I don't think anyone would argue the awesome power potential of the new 5.5 Bi Turbo. At 557 HP stock and about 300 pounds lighter it will be quick. I would like to run a stock SL63 Bi Turbo to see what he has. With mods, my 55k has nearly 500 WHP and 540 WTQ. I bet I would get him down low. Once he starts modding, all bets are off.
