So, long story short, I did end up selling the car after all. I only had it for 3 months and it's probably one of the top SL65s in the country. Looks like a brand new car. A guy in Colorado bought it but hasn't picked it up yet.

Here's what affected my decision to sell.
Please note most of these are my fault, the car really doesn't have any faults but if you're looking for one these are some things to consider.

CONS:

1) Despite wanting one for years, and researching for years, I let impulse cloud my judgement here. I overpaid slightly because the car has an aftermarket warranty so I lost a little on the sale.

2) The aftermarket for this car is either non-existent or ridiculously expensive for no reason. (Yeah I already knew this, but I talked myself out of it or ignored it. My fault.) I realized this when I started looking for brake rotors and the fronts were $1000 each for no reason and there's I think one other option from Brembo for 500. I can afford it I just don't want to.

3) I don't like the way this car sounds. I'm tried to talk myself into liking it so many times. I tried downpipes, straightpipes, etc. While I thought I liked it, I really don't, I was kidding myself. If it sounded more like a traditional V12, I would be happy. Some people like it and I totally get that, not judging at all the people that do. The V8s sound so much better in my opinion.

4) I come from very high horsepower cars, and when I was in a 900hp Supra, I was king of the streets back in 2007. Now, 900hp is common here in Florida. This car is barely making 550 to the tires (estimated), it's just not enough for me and I've already invested too much. It would cost more than it's worth to get it up to the level I want. Speeddriven quoted me around $8000 just to get billet turbo wheels on rebuilt turbos. Not even bigger turbos.

5) The technology is really super outdated in the older R230s. This is minor really, because I'm looking at an older car anyway that has almost no technology LOL.

6) I'm a fan of attention, this car gets none. I want something that's a head turner, this is not it. This looks just like an SL500 to a non-enthusiast. It gets some attention from older people at car shows, hardly any from the younger crowd. Most of the older people wouldn't know it from a SL500.

7)The transmission is terrible. Same transmission was used on a LOT of cars around that time. For a car that expensive at the time, they really blew it. Even tuning it didn't help much. It helped a little...but honestly how did this car not have a better transmission for a 600hp car.

8) There's ZERO room for custom upgrades in the engine bay. If you really want to do anything you have to go crazy and do custom rear mount or top mount turbos.


PROS

1) Pretty good interior minus the cheap switches and wood grain trim pieces. The switches feel like they are breaking every time you press them.

2) Torquey, although, I'll be honest, my BMW 335i with bolt ons was way more fun on the bottom end but way less fun on the top end where it lost steam. I was kind of disappointed in the throttle response when I got the car and after tuned. I don't know maybe it's the weight. Feels like you have to give it almost 50 to 75 percent throttle to get it moving. When you here the tales of this car being a torque monster, well, when you drive it, I don't know you just don't get that feeling in my opinion. Maybe other people do.

A lot of these things are objective, and a lot of you won't agree, that's fine. This is a dream car for a lot of people and I get that. I'm really glad the new owner totally is in love with these cars.

Oh and last.

I have an opportunity to move to another country and retire so I can't take it LOL.

 

Although you have a section for pros it seems like they were all cons lol

also I think you meant subjective?

neverheless good luck with your move and whatever your next car is

 

Everyone is allowed their opinion and can buy and enjoy what they like, but this sounds like it was written by an insecure ("car doesn't get attention"... waaa), child ("must have 900hp to race people at lights"), that this car just isn't a good fit for.

These are enjoyed by seasoned enthusiasts who have pretty much been there and done that and can appreciate the 55/65 AMG cars for the brilliant engineering exercise that they are.

 

Yea this is not the car for you. Sounds like you need a GTR tuned by Switzer.

 

I've had high horsepower cars before, 800+ whp, so I'm familiar with this.

 

I don't know about the first two insults hurled at me but yeah I admitted not everyone would feel the same way I do.

 

I just sold my 05 SL65 as well. When I bought it, it had some RENNtech stuff. I got SpeeDriven intercoolers and downpipes put on. My car is on it's way to Colorado too. I guess that's where used SL65s go.

 

Why'd you get rid of it?

 

Bought a McLaren and had no real reason to keep the 65 anymore.

 

Yes, soft ride and terrible gearbox, I still bought 2 , I think it's the 600bhp
plus re mapping will give more that makes you buy it. Funny it felt no where
near as quick as my SL63 231 which had around 550.

 

623rwhp seems really optimistic for that car. I've never heard of a stock turbo one making over 600 and that was highly modified with ice tank in the trunk as well.

 

To me the tuning didn't feel like it made that much of a difference anyway. I want to say that the boost levels are already high from the factory and they don't make more boost with tuning. Just different fuel and ignition curves.

 

Absolutely his numbers are plausible. I made 660 horsepower and 872 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels on stock turbos with my previous SL65.

 

623 was not hard. A little extra boost and fuel, more cooling is all it took.

B Feelgood- you sold yours too? What did you get to replace?