exactly...
mercedes has done a great job in making what they excel at: luxury and comfortable cruiser...

if you want a fast car at track, merc would be a wrong choice for you, take a BMW or Porsche and start eating mercs for lunch on the track...
but on the road, or drag, you will most likely be eaten alive by the AMG series..

for me, i dont track my car often, thats why my old GT2 was put to waste because i dont use my car at the field where it excels: the track..

guys who buy mercs are guys who are looking for a DD with huge power reserves and practicality that they can live with and use everyday...

and to the threadstarter, comparing the SL600 and the SL55 AMG, it seems to me that you will mod your car regardless of what you get....with that extra mod money, i recommend you buying an SL65, you get the full warrenty and without having to worry about going wrong in tuning..

btw, nice SL65! stunning!

 

Extremely well said Sniper, I wish there were more enthusiasts like you who recognized the fundamental differences between cars like BMWs and Mercedes instead of always trying to figure out which one "is the best"

The best one depends on who's buying it, and what they are buying it for.

-m

 

Agreed. I drive an AMG myself (SL 55, not the car in my avatar pic, which is a MB PR pic of a SL 500) after owning a 996 TT for two years.

However, please re-read my post: My point was that the SL 55 is a great cruiser _and_ great on sophisticated racing tracks. The SL 65 (or a mod'd SL 600) might be faster in straight line racing, but the SL 65 is around 10 seconds slower on the Nuerburgring than the SL 55 (obviously mod'd SL 600 cars were not tested).

The car on that pic is not a SL 65, but a SL 600 with a "V12 biturbo badge" (which is okay with me for as long as he didn't put a SL 65 AMG badge on the rear).

 

i know what your saying...
btw, did you track your SL55 before? because personally, i wouldnt want to track a car that weights the same as my house

 

^-^
exactly, there isnt a "best car", you cant even hail the Veryon to be the best, just because it excels at most things does not mean it is great on every other things

 

I agree with all the points made here. I don't track my cars, so a GT2 would be a complete waist for me. I'm looking for a highway cruiser that will get me around with little drama, comfort, and ridiculous bahn burning speed when I want to go fast. The Merc is made to do this. Every car has it's specific purpose..you just have to decide what your purpose is first!

How's the depreciation on the SL65's?

 

exponential

 

expect about 50% value remain after 5 years or so

 

Do you live in a trailer?

No, I haven't raced my SL yet, but I've been to the Nuerburgring track with my previous 996 TT.

Anyway, obviously I know that there isn't "the best" car. While many cars are great for cruising and racing, they suck when you want to transport more than two passengers or furniture. However the SL 55 tries very hard to be "the best" car when trying to be the best coupe, the best cabrio, the best cruiser, the most powerful car, the best sports car and the most luxurious ride.

IF any car can compete in so many categories, then it's the SL. It's obviously not THE BEST in all of the above stated categories, but it tries to be. And that's especially true for the SL 55, which is also the fastest SL on the Nuerburgring ever.

Since the original question of this thread was "SL 55 or SL 600", the issue of the SL 55's excellent handling might be a very useful input for the thread starter.

 

I was fortunate enough to have tracked the SL55 at the AMG Challenge last year on the slalom, and this year on the main track at Lime rock. The SL55 was the ONLY car that allowed me to carry enough speed around the last corner before going up the hill, that the car became slightly airborn. This set of the flashing yellow triangles/traction control and the car bogged slightly after that.

 

600 all day long!!!!

 

^^ Are those Volks? Thats one fast SL!

 

They're Mayas, Thanks!

 

11.2 @ 125mph is insane for a heavy, convertible luxury cruiser! Man, I wish I was in Arizona so I could get a ride in that beast!

 

With AC and massagers on