SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Stop knocking SL 63
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Stop knocking SL 63
I don't know why the SL63 R230 always comes bottom in comparison
with other SL's .
IMO the 2008 SL63 was the best, and still is the best
looking SL. I have had 1 SL 55, 2 SL 65 , 2 SL63, and 1 bi turbo SL63.
I think it's fair to say the SL Black is the best looking, and basically it is
a SL63 230 , obviously much quicker. If the SL63 comes last why do people
fit wide body kits with SL 63 looks, or just change to the 63 front end.
To get the SL63 to go you need to drive it properly, using the revs and
gear changes, and that wonderful sound easily better than the bi - turbo.
It's just because it doesn't have a turbo that it comes last, well a purist will
tell you naturally aspirated is best.
with other SL's .
IMO the 2008 SL63 was the best, and still is the bestlooking SL. I have had 1 SL 55, 2 SL 65 , 2 SL63, and 1 bi turbo SL63.
I think it's fair to say the SL Black is the best looking, and basically it is
a SL63 230 , obviously much quicker. If the SL63 comes last why do people
fit wide body kits with SL 63 looks, or just change to the 63 front end.
To get the SL63 to go you need to drive it properly, using the revs and
gear changes, and that wonderful sound easily better than the bi - turbo.
It's just because it doesn't have a turbo that it comes last, well a purist will
tell you naturally aspirated is best.
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 16
From: Port Coquitlam BC
2018 E63S AMG
..I love the SL63 AMG
...and I have a 030 SL55 AMG. All of the SL's are amazing cars in their own way and I think in many cases there are too many comparison's. Many guests on this forum are looking for an SL and they ask the members what is the best with pros and cons. I don't think they can be answered really. That person needs to drive each one and make their own mind. Your SL63 is an awesome car, my SL55 is an awesome car. I have a client that has an 2009 SL63 030 and he loves it. I want to get a picture of them side by side. Mine is black and his is white. He thinks my car is amazing and I think the same for his SL. Bottom line when you sit in those comfortable seats and fire up that 6.2 beast, it puts a smile on your face as you rip out of your driveway.
Drive on my friend!
Shaun
Drive on my friend!
Shaun
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Yes we all love our SL's but out of SL55, SL65 and SL63 the 63 always is
last in the desirable contest. Just remember all wide body cars are SL63,
except the real black, but even that looks like a 63.
last in the desirable contest. Just remember all wide body cars are SL63,
except the real black, but even that looks like a 63.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
The answer is pretty simple, when looking at R230's.
The 09+ facelift was never very appealing. The hard new lines did not match with a soft rounded body. Add to that the mixture of just ugly lines in general. They tried to make it match the newest generation of MB design (204, 212, 221, etc), but you can't facelift a previous gen car (203, 211, 220) to a new one, plain and simple.
Then put in a V8 engine that performs worse than the outgoing V8 Supercharged engine, which already responded to higher HP numbers with simple changes due to the power adder. The only thing that helped with 63 engine was the 7 speed transmission (which wasn't great, but gave better numbers than the aging 5 speed and gaps between gears). And the 63 V8 sound was awesome, yes.
The V12 is just in a different league, so it doesn't compare against the the V8's. You get the V12 because you want the V12. The V12 has its own flaws with the transmission and reliability.
So in the end, an uglier car that has (in a way) less power? Yes, the facelifted 63 is the worst of the 3. In my opinion.
In the end, I respect all of the 230 AMG's, and enjoy when I see them.
The 09+ facelift was never very appealing. The hard new lines did not match with a soft rounded body. Add to that the mixture of just ugly lines in general. They tried to make it match the newest generation of MB design (204, 212, 221, etc), but you can't facelift a previous gen car (203, 211, 220) to a new one, plain and simple.
Then put in a V8 engine that performs worse than the outgoing V8 Supercharged engine, which already responded to higher HP numbers with simple changes due to the power adder. The only thing that helped with 63 engine was the 7 speed transmission (which wasn't great, but gave better numbers than the aging 5 speed and gaps between gears). And the 63 V8 sound was awesome, yes.
The V12 is just in a different league, so it doesn't compare against the the V8's. You get the V12 because you want the V12. The V12 has its own flaws with the transmission and reliability.
So in the end, an uglier car that has (in a way) less power? Yes, the facelifted 63 is the worst of the 3. In my opinion.
In the end, I respect all of the 230 AMG's, and enjoy when I see them.
Super Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 816
Likes: 21
2008 W204
Facelifts...
The answer is pretty simple, when looking at R230's.
The 09+ facelift was never very appealing. The hard new lines did not match with a soft rounded body. Add to that the mixture of just ugly lines in general. They tried to make it match the newest generation of MB design (204, 212, 221, etc), but you can't facelift a previous gen car (203, 211, 220) to a new one, plain and simple.
Then put in a V8 engine that performs worse than the outgoing V8 Supercharged engine, which already responded to higher HP numbers with simple changes due to the power adder. The only thing that helped with 63 engine was the 7 speed transmission (which wasn't great, but gave better numbers than the aging 5 speed and gaps between gears). And the 63 V8 sound was awesome, yes.
The V12 is just in a different league, so it doesn't compare against the the V8's. You get the V12 because you want the V12. The V12 has its own flaws with the transmission and reliability.
So in the end, an uglier car that has (in a way) less power? Yes, the facelifted 63 is the worst of the 3. In my opinion.
In the end, I respect all of the 230 AMG's, and enjoy when I see them.
The 09+ facelift was never very appealing. The hard new lines did not match with a soft rounded body. Add to that the mixture of just ugly lines in general. They tried to make it match the newest generation of MB design (204, 212, 221, etc), but you can't facelift a previous gen car (203, 211, 220) to a new one, plain and simple.
Then put in a V8 engine that performs worse than the outgoing V8 Supercharged engine, which already responded to higher HP numbers with simple changes due to the power adder. The only thing that helped with 63 engine was the 7 speed transmission (which wasn't great, but gave better numbers than the aging 5 speed and gaps between gears). And the 63 V8 sound was awesome, yes.
The V12 is just in a different league, so it doesn't compare against the the V8's. You get the V12 because you want the V12. The V12 has its own flaws with the transmission and reliability.
So in the end, an uglier car that has (in a way) less power? Yes, the facelifted 63 is the worst of the 3. In my opinion.
In the end, I respect all of the 230 AMG's, and enjoy when I see them.
Well said.
I always thought that about face lifted Benzes... that the pre-face lifts just looked better perhaps because everything, (e.g. the doors, and front bumper) were designed at the same time.
Really also always thought that the the pre-face lifts aged much better, which is consistent with what you're saying... pre face lifts truly showcase the generation and everything that made it attractive when it first came out. Whereas facelifts are an attempt to update, and they do succeed in making the car look better WHEN IT FIRST COMES OUT, until the new generation just makes the face lifts look old and outdated, but the pre-face lifts look classic. It makes sense really, I don't think Mercedes would want it any other way then to end a generation by making it look like an outdated version of the new generation...the 221 S Class is the epitome of this.
There are some exceptions and sometimes I like the R230.2s, but at the end of the day the R230.1s are the most beautiful, proper looking iterations.
As a counter argument, some would say that the 230.2 is the most aggressive, sexiest SL out there because the new one is truly ugly, whereas the 230.2 has the sleek likes of the 230 and an aggressive front end. So it is subjective, but I still think the non-P30 2007-08 SL55 is the most beautiful...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-Mercede...FYyyYe&vxp=mtr
Last edited by LandSeaAir; May 25, 2017 at 02:37 PM.
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I feel the SL65 Black is the sexiest of all the SL's. Agree with what you are saying about the 231 SL's. They are not the most attractive. Much like the shift from the beautiful 126 SEC to the 140 based SEC. Yuck!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 19
From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
finished it off looking slightly more modern. Then I bought the 231 63, and
I just couldn't get the same satisfaction, apart from power, but as I said
power is not the most important, it's actually the feeling of being one with
the car, and the 230 63 feels just right. exhaust sound, gear change steering
feed back, especially in manual. There are faster, but how many tick all
the boxes. My 63 is 7 years old, but with the wide body kit it attracts more
attention an compliments than anything I have had. So looks like I might
be keeping quite a long time, but that doesn't bother me.
