tntmcj

sl65 have now gone into production, set to be released early to mid july,

northbenz

Reportedly the first 50 will be special edition Silver Arrow look-a-likes to the SL65 that was on display at the NY Auto Show with sticker prices around $200,000. MSRP on the 500 or so SL65's to follow has been projected at $180,000.00

tntmcj

have not heard about that, the one i am delivering is a v.i.p car for mercedes benz, and what i do know after talking to the guy who is getting it is that pano was not in his list of available options to order from, and his car with, black, black,black ash alcantara,park,tpm,keyless go, is right at 177k. but now pano is part of the available options for sl65

kingvelox

I think that it is fantastic how mercedes is able to charge $40,000 plus over the sl 600 with a slight bump in displacement, bigger turbos and revised trim. They are making a killing on this car and the CL65 . those parts dont add up to all that money but hey they could just slap those on their production line with minimum cost and make good profit. Congrats to Diamler Chrysler. Similarly, using the old slk chassis for the crossfire is also a stroke of genius. Buy more of their stocks, I see their company stocks soaring by the end of 3rd quarter....

Dr. Benz

Called my dealer yesterday, Loeber in Lincolnwood, IL, asked my sales rep about the 65's. I brought it up regarding a replacement for my two 55's. He said " a complete waste of money". I take his word for it, and he had also recommended the Bentley GT over cl65. He knows how to do business, don't mislead the customer, and when the customer needs a car that you sell he will come to you. I have spend roughly 500 grand over the last 3 years at Loeber, from the S600 and SL600 to the present cars. All of my 55's were priced 20 grand above list and I paid list.
DB

tntmcj

wow 500000 in the last 3 years, not much considering the guy who is getting this car from me has spent that much in the last 3 months, seems your guy at loeber has no idea what he is talking about, has he driven the bentley yet? maybe he should, and for the same kind of money, if you want we can drive the bentley, and in june when this car comes in you can drive it and you decide i am not in the business of steering my customers in the wrong direction but after driving the sl65, i can personally tell you the car was great, the gt though fast really did not give me the same feeling, guess it just depends on what you want. maybe your guy cannot get you one of these cars right away and thats why he is telling you to buy a gt, remember trading benzes frequently saves money, i did not sell a 165 new benzes and 45 used benzes last year by giving bad advice.

Dr. Benz

Where do you work? I might take you up on that. PM me.
DB

LBMA65

Hold on just a minute..... Are you saying that you drove an SL65?

"I can personally tell you....."

Exactly where did this take place?

tntmcj

yes that is exactly what i said, drove it in germany, and it was a spectacular feeling, also got to see some benz prototypes, maybe some cars to come, also learned alot about amg, and to answer your next question no, no camera`s allowed.

LBMA65

Well, congrats to you then! So how does it compare to a SL55 with the extra weight?

Any issues with traction? Did you get to drive it alone?

northbenz

Can both be right? Is the SL65 worth $40,000 more than the SL600? Objectively it isn't. Subjectively it could be.

If you think with your mind - no way.
If you think with your heart - OK.

tntmcj

i guess i would describe the ride as eye opening, the feel of all that extra torque over the 55 really makes a difference, and with asr/esp off at 40 mph you can break the tires loose, do i think this car is worth 40 grand more than a 600 maybe,i guess it is all relative, if you want it and can afford it, it is. but than again think about this, is a gallon of milk worth 3.00, is a gallon of gas worth 2.50, yeah if you want it, again the key words if you want it.

Finnish C32

Hey guys, 40.000usd for SL600 to SL65? every day. Here in Finland CL600 is 220.000euros. How about CL65? ***king 329.000 euros! thats about 400.000USD!

Thanks,
Ville

dinko

But now you also have to compare the ration between how much a person makes who can afford a 600, and put that against the 65.

Jon200

IMO MB has gone crazy with their price tag with the SL65 which IMO, isn't necessary.

TMC M5

Is the SL65 worth the $40K premium over a CL600...I think so. Look at it from this perspective... I just went to MBUSA and optioned out an SL600 including the 19" wheels (no panoramic roof and full AMG body kit, and tires not included) at $144K. By the time you add on the full AMG package and tires lets call it $150K. Now for an additional $27K you get all the engine modifications producing an additional 120HP and 148 ft-lbs of torque....with a full factory warranty!!! Plus...you get a car for the ages. They will talk about this limited production machine for years to come....in much the way they talk about the big-block muscle cars of the 60's or even the 300SEL 6.3 or the 450SEL 6.9.

Tom

Wolfman

Of course it is overprized when comparing it with a SL600 or a SL55. Yet at the same time it is a bargain.

How so? First, they are quite rare as the car is the first of the V12 AMG's to actually make it over to the US. Previous models were only available in Europe (S63, CL63, SL73).

The same car, same options in Germany cost about $250K and unlike the Sl600, I suspect that the Sl65 will hold its value significantly better.

Unlike the SL55 which is an assembly-line produced version along with the SL500 and SL350 at the Mercedes plant in Bremen, the SL65 is individually build at the AMG factory.

Another reason for the significant upcharge is that AMG distributes its R&D costs over a very small number of produced vehicles. These cars are usually build for customers where the costs do not matter anyways.

As for the complaint that the car looks so similar to the SL55, apart from the low production volume most of the customers like it that way (outside of the US at least). Most AMG V12's are sold and driven without its model markings...

My 2 cents

Wolfman

Renn 208

Not a true statement. The 55s and 65s are produced in a similar manner, with the engines assembled at AMG (in different rooms, but still the same place) and the cars put together elsewhere.

Wolfman

Interesting...

Wonder where you got this info from. The 65's are considered AMG "Kleinserie" cars, which are not build along the other assembly cars. Both engine and cars are assembled at AMG, not at Mercedes.

The SL65 is not being build in Bremen where all otherSL's are being produced.

Wolfman

Renn 208

Simple answer, by paying them a visit There are really only three cars that I would really say are "wholly assembled" in Affalterbach. Even the safety cars begin as mainline cars that are then modified and maintained at AMG. Honestly, I don't think they have the space for duplicate tooling and assembly of cars that have main lines elsewhere.

Beltfed

It really doesn't matter if the SL65 is worth the price of admission or not. When you get to the $150k+ price point, any form of value or what makes economical sense goes completely out the window.

All that really matters is that MB will be able to sell every SL65 they can build.

Renn 208

And if initial inquiries are any indication, AMG's going to have a great seller in the 65 series.

MadC32

True! Only the engines and special customer stuff is produced in Affalterbach.

Wolfman

Renn 208,

I stand corrected. This was the way the previous models were built (actual conversions of production cars to AMG models) and now only the engines are manufactured in Afalterbach and delivered for assembly at the plant.

Thanks

Wolfman

MB AMG

What waste of money though I wouldn't mind having one!
I wonder what the resale value would be!?