Discussion
Its a good car. A very good car. For me, the selling points are that a) the roof comes off, and b) the V8 woofle. Both very simple points, but the SL55 just does both so well! With the roof up, you would never know its a convertible - but with the roof down on a warm summer evening its motoring heaven. Plus, there's absolutely no skuttle shake - it really does feel solid. The engine is a masterpiece; so smooth, so powerful, so effortless... and when you really hook it up the noise is wonderful.
The Merc is never going to feel as "sporty" as your 996, its just too heavy, but it does a pretty good job for a big car - it can be cracking fun to husstle around with the ABC suspension set to Sport mode, but the paddle-shift gear change is very slow and the novelty will soon wear off. Fortunately, the auto-box is great. It's not the fastest car in the world, its certainly not the best sports car, the interior may not be as sumptuous or classy as an Aston, but for a car that can do "everyhing" the SL55 is King.
The "But..." is the supercharger, which can develop a serious case of the "chirps". Its a known design fault causing the plate surfacing to glaze after 8-10,000 miles (typically) so that it makes a noise when it engages - which is an awful lot! Mercedes won't do anything about it, and it will drive you insane. Fortunately there is a fix in the form of a liquid called "stop squeal"; apply every 5,000 miles.
Colour is a subjective thing, but objectively I would get one in black with 19" Brabus alloys! It can be an excellent used buy, but do get a warranty. What's your budget?
The Merc is never going to feel as "sporty" as your 996, its just too heavy, but it does a pretty good job for a big car - it can be cracking fun to husstle around with the ABC suspension set to Sport mode, but the paddle-shift gear change is very slow and the novelty will soon wear off. Fortunately, the auto-box is great. It's not the fastest car in the world, its certainly not the best sports car, the interior may not be as sumptuous or classy as an Aston, but for a car that can do "everyhing" the SL55 is King.
The "But..." is the supercharger, which can develop a serious case of the "chirps". Its a known design fault causing the plate surfacing to glaze after 8-10,000 miles (typically) so that it makes a noise when it engages - which is an awful lot! Mercedes won't do anything about it, and it will drive you insane. Fortunately there is a fix in the form of a liquid called "stop squeal"; apply every 5,000 miles.
Colour is a subjective thing, but objectively I would get one in black with 19" Brabus alloys! It can be an excellent used buy, but do get a warranty. What's your budget?
Agree with Marlon and although Mark is right that due to the extra torque on tests the S600 can be a little quicker in a straight line the SL55 has alittle better handling then the S600, the tranny is better for fast use too and it even makes a best noise of tem all including the 65 
.
Although the porkies are the more foucused driving tool, with slightly higher grip, lower weight transfer, that excellent sensitive steering and chassis, most people would be quicker in a SL55 than in a 996 or 997 as it is an easier car to get the best out of, this is due in part to the incredibly fat power band 516lbft torque 493 bhp, which give it amazing power which is avaiable virtually all the time, this will allow you to outpower any non turbo porker and even an x50 pack turbo needs to be well shifted and redlined it to get you. The other reason most would be quicker is although the SL has slightly lower limits it's easier to exploit more of its potential than the Porsche and it's more forgiving if overcooked, I even tracked my big fat S55 saloon (same basic chassis and suspension, actually weighs the same too :O )and I've a passed 996s and other more focused very high performance sports cars, mainly because of the power and its easy to exploit virtually all the available grip.
I find the manual function on the box not too bad, on track I'll let the box change up at the red line and just use it on the down changes and whilst not as quick as the SMG2 I had in the M3, its faster than the Porshe tip I had, the buttons on the wheel are good. Even if you are too slow on a down change into a corner, the box is so smooth that your less likely to upset the cars balance than you would with a late down change or clumsy in a porker.
As Marlon said the SL is as close to limo comfort you can get in a sports car, even in a traffic jam or slow traffic its a much nicer place to be than the porsches and it's a comfier cruiser as well.
This is the S55 give you an idea of the noise and acceleration of the sl55
www.putfile.com/media.php?n=AMGS55bigclipNOsmusic
Make sure you get a warrenty and if possible make it an extendable one just in case
Had various porsches with no problems but although currently my wifes SL500 is trouble free had trouble with the other four mercs owned
>> Edited by JumJum on Monday 16th January 15:15
>> Edited by JumJum on Monday 16th January 15:15
. Although the porkies are the more foucused driving tool, with slightly higher grip, lower weight transfer, that excellent sensitive steering and chassis, most people would be quicker in a SL55 than in a 996 or 997 as it is an easier car to get the best out of, this is due in part to the incredibly fat power band 516lbft torque 493 bhp, which give it amazing power which is avaiable virtually all the time, this will allow you to outpower any non turbo porker and even an x50 pack turbo needs to be well shifted and redlined it to get you. The other reason most would be quicker is although the SL has slightly lower limits it's easier to exploit more of its potential than the Porsche and it's more forgiving if overcooked, I even tracked my big fat S55 saloon (same basic chassis and suspension, actually weighs the same too :O )and I've a passed 996s and other more focused very high performance sports cars, mainly because of the power and its easy to exploit virtually all the available grip.
I find the manual function on the box not too bad, on track I'll let the box change up at the red line and just use it on the down changes and whilst not as quick as the SMG2 I had in the M3, its faster than the Porshe tip I had, the buttons on the wheel are good. Even if you are too slow on a down change into a corner, the box is so smooth that your less likely to upset the cars balance than you would with a late down change or clumsy in a porker.
As Marlon said the SL is as close to limo comfort you can get in a sports car, even in a traffic jam or slow traffic its a much nicer place to be than the porsches and it's a comfier cruiser as well.
This is the S55 give you an idea of the noise and acceleration of the sl55
www.putfile.com/media.php?n=AMGS55bigclipNOsmusic
Make sure you get a warrenty and if possible make it an extendable one just in case
Had various porsches with no problems but although currently my wifes SL500 is trouble free had trouble with the other four mercs owned
>> Edited by JumJum on Monday 16th January 15:15
>> Edited by JumJum on Monday 16th January 15:15
Thanks guys - my budget is upto about £60K so that's about 03 SL55 territory. I agree its a totally different driving experience to the Porsche but feel ready for something different and as you all point out the combination of performance and open top/fixed top motoring is pretty much unrivalled.
Given price new, am hoping that financially the SL55 might not be too bad a place to be if I get into one that is a couple of years old, as the depreciation curve must have eased off.
With the gizmos turned off, if you are pushing hard in a corner, do you get progressive understeer that becomes oversteer or is it a bit more brutal than that? Would be keen to take mine on trackdays!
Given price new, am hoping that financially the SL55 might not be too bad a place to be if I get into one that is a couple of years old, as the depreciation curve must have eased off.
With the gizmos turned off, if you are pushing hard in a corner, do you get progressive understeer that becomes oversteer or is it a bit more brutal than that? Would be keen to take mine on trackdays!
If your interested I have a jan 03 SL55 for sale.
I would let it go for £53500. It's done 18000 miles and has Distronic, Command, Tv, Keyless go, Comfort seats with cooling etc.
It's Tanzanite blue with light grey exclusive nappa leather.
rgds
>> Edited by vpr on Tuesday 17th January 12:02
I would let it go for £53500. It's done 18000 miles and has Distronic, Command, Tv, Keyless go, Comfort seats with cooling etc.
It's Tanzanite blue with light grey exclusive nappa leather.
rgds
>> Edited by vpr on Tuesday 17th January 12:02
Picked mine up from a main dealer in March last year. It's an 02 car, but had only covered 7,000 miles from new. Obsidian black with two tone Nappa leather (charcoal and a lighter grey - not sure what its called) and silver trim on console etc. 19" Brabus alloys - absolutely essential IMO.
Keyless go
Command
TV
Bose sound
Parktronic
Linguatronic
Phone system
Comfort seats (heated and ventilated, massage function)
Tyre pressure monitor
I.e. I think it has everything appart from the panoramic roof and Distronic (wouldn't want that anyway). Got it for a smidge over £60k with 12-month warranty, so a car like it would certainly be within your budget.
Keyless go
Command
TV
Bose sound
Parktronic
Linguatronic
Phone system
Comfort seats (heated and ventilated, massage function)
Tyre pressure monitor
I.e. I think it has everything appart from the panoramic roof and Distronic (wouldn't want that anyway). Got it for a smidge over £60k with 12-month warranty, so a car like it would certainly be within your budget.
Keyless Go = NO GO!!! It can get the jitters from your mobile or better still it can decide to not switch off and leave you locked in Park,,,as happened to my customer in his drive, blocking his wife's car in. Another customer left the spare key in the armrest and tried to lock it with the usual key - won't lock because it sensed the key inside the car, so he left it open all night...and guess what? Yep.
Great car though - IMHO the noise of the 55 beats almost anything, 600 fast but too quiet. Look at the Tansanite one, the car looks great in it. Black is too common now. Check the boot for water leaks and the roof for rattles. Distronic is a gadget and as the radar is in the back of the grille it is very easy to damage, rumour has it that the thing can jam speed guns. Hmmmm, nice.
Great car though - IMHO the noise of the 55 beats almost anything, 600 fast but too quiet. Look at the Tansanite one, the car looks great in it. Black is too common now. Check the boot for water leaks and the roof for rattles. Distronic is a gadget and as the radar is in the back of the grille it is very easy to damage, rumour has it that the thing can jam speed guns. Hmmmm, nice.
I've had many MB's and all recent one have had Keyless.
Early examples with the credit card type were problematic. I've never had issues with the latter type and it's hugely conveinient......If you've ever tried finding keys in your wifes handbag you'd understand. Mind you people do tend to look at me a bit strange when I carry her bag to the car.
Early examples with the credit card type were problematic. I've never had issues with the latter type and it's hugely conveinient......If you've ever tried finding keys in your wifes handbag you'd understand. Mind you people do tend to look at me a bit strange when I carry her bag to the car.
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