SLR/C199/R199/Z199: SLR...hmm
I am sick and tired of defending this car, I personally think its the best car ever made. Period.
MB initiated the SLR as a pinnacle and the symbol of their brand and their cars. Since no car in their curent line-up is rear-mid-engined, it did not make sense for the epitomy of their cars to be thus. THis car is still mid-engined, in the technical meaning of the term.
I haven't checked this thread in a while...was surprised to see how it went the way of performance and such.
I started the post with just some anguish about it's styling. Performance and powerwise we'll have to wait and see what this thing can do.
However on another note, calling this a supercar in leagues of Enzo, Carrera GT, Ford GT40, and the likes is a bit odd to me. Those cars are mid engined and look as if they are ready anytime for track use. The SLR on the otherhand looks more like a 550 Maranello in my opinion, and I for one don't think the 550 can run a track in the same leagues as those aforementioned creations.
Putting a high output engine in a lightweight car does not mean it's in the league of Enzos and such. At least not in my opinion. If that was the case, then Acura can stick a higher output Supercharger unit in the NSX and label it in the same league. Would everyone else here all of a sudden conclude that this Honda creation could then be in the same league as the Enzo. And also all the AMG 65 models with 600+HP would then supercars as well no? In the same accompaniment of Enzo, GT...?
Better yet...here's a question. What makes a car a "supercar"? What qualities define it? What are the criterias? The Carrera GT, Bugatti, Enzo, Ford GT, etc....do they all have these things in common and as such can be labeled a "supercar"?
I'll say this though...if I was walking down Rodea Drive and an SLR pulled to a curb and the door opened towards the sky...I would still be
Last edited by reminder99; Jul 16, 2003 at 09:48 PM.
I am sick and tired of defending this car, I personally think its the best car ever made. Period.
i'd definately take a zonda over an slr....but i do think its a special car i just thought more could be done while having the opportunity to team up with mclaren. well see how it performs on the track
Its funny how so many people who can not even PRETEND to afford the car can be so critical of it..... Lets ease off criticizing a car that so many hard working people spent countless hours CREATING from scratch, especially when you are not even potential buyers.. I can understand if you plan on buying it, but cmon dont HATE on the price because you can't afford it. How are you going to tell the manufactuers what to charge for their OWN products??Sorry just ranting again.....
Why defend a car against someone who cant even afford to buy it even if they did like it? THEY ARE OPINIONATED LAMES.......
It is one thing to compare and contrast but to trash a car of this magnitude is disrespectful to car enthusiast worldwide.......
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
choice between a slushbox slr v. a carrera gt
carrera GT hands down.
its n/a and had to be tuned down because it was too powerful, has a manual, and just look at the articles about its cf subframe.
that my friend is a supercar, the slr resembles another gt like a 575 or vanquish, pagani has done something with an mb engine that mclaren could have done, like they did with the f1.
this is by no supercar, in fact i find it quite boring and overpriced
Why is it that M3s come ordered 80% of the time in SMG mode same with Ferraris? People couldn't be bothered shifting gears anymore.
I think the SLR is great probably matching the Carrera GT in sales.
AS NICE as the McLaren was it was never a cornering machine the car sat a bit too high up and was optimized to provide a comfortable ride. Take a look at the skidpad rating and braking distance both are pathetic compared to cars out there today. Even the 350Z outperforms the car in pure skidpad and braking distances. The McLaren has a wonderful name it has a beatiful racing history and was the personal obsession of a great engineer. It was a street supercar which raised the bar for everyone else, it is not however an all seeing all dancing wondercar.
It lacks many of the safety features common today. There are no electronic linkages between the driver and the pedals/brakes/steering etc all mechanical all 'pure' no LSD no TC either. Basically you need tremendous amounts of skill to drive that car which is probably why it scared real buyers away it was too pure. Reviewers and car nuts love it but when it came down to it, it was perhaps too pure for most sane people to own.
Im back to defend this car once again, just throw whatever you can at me
Let me help you,
Many magazines complain lack of cabin space:
Defence,
Hey, I ain't 6'1, so no problem for me.
sure its performance is probably astounding, but as i said and as some of the designers have stated it is not intended to be a supercar.
check out the new evo...still aint no zonda in my opinion...but hey to each his own just give me an enzo instead
but my question for you all is with the 65's coming out what truly is the difference between the slr and these upcoming amg monsters to account for the price diffeernce? i would surmize that the performance will be quite similar.
I you don't think the slr will will drive circles around an sl65...you know very little about cars.
As a side note...any of you see the Maybach 62 passing a Bentley GT through the Flugpaltz on the Nurburgring!!!...in this months EVO...great read...what a car
for all the poeple who beat up on my posts about the slr not being a supercar, even the guys at mclaren call it a gt not supercar.
sure its performance is probably astounding, but as i said and as some of the designers have stated it is not intended to be a supercar.
check out the new evo...still aint no zonda in my opinion...but hey to each his own just give me an enzo instead
The exhaust coming out of the sides looks unfitting for an MB. It has a kind of "draggster" appeal which in my opinion seems to contradict a technological, sophisticated sports car.
more pictures of the car here: http://www.highresautoimages.com/mer...lrmclaren.html
this is my favorite mercedes by far.. it used to be the CL.. but this.. is just a whole other level of car
I also think that the fact that it is a Mercedes is going to make it more refined and comfortable than a Ferrari or a Porsche. So may be it is heavy and it won't handle as good as a Porsche GT or an Enzo, but it is still s supercar.
more pictures of the car here: http://www.highresautoimages.com/mer...lrmclaren.html
I think this car looks superb.
Can't help but feel it will be a big gamble financially with Merc beating it up with so many cheaper big BHP models and I suspect other more sports oriented models (ferrari, lambo, etc) beating it in the pure sports car 'on track' mode.
Hope I am right - I'll be able to have one second hand
Shame the drop top was shelved (for the moment
) Is this still the case?
On times and stats there was not a lot in it, but on the road very different animals.
I guess I preferred the animal rawness of the 360, but can very much see the appeal of a every day drivable performance car like the SL55 (and thoroughly enjoyed it).



