Test drove an SL65 today...

[GreenPlease]

Hey guys, I'm shopping around for a new car. I have my eye on a used CL65 (decided to step on up from my 335i ) but test drove an SL65 today and thought I'd share my impressions:

Handling: not as bad as I would have thought. You can tell all the weight was up front and it is super easy to lose the back end if you apply too much throttle in a turn (which doesn't take much). When traction control intervenes you can tell. It's violent and sounds horrible. But all in all it's pretty impressive for a car that weighs north of two tons.

Ride quality: sucks. It's rickety, almost as if the suspension is too stiff for the chasis.

Appearance: eh, it's a Merc SL... AMG. Looks nice but nothing special.

Interior: pretty damn nice. Definately a step up from typical Merc or BMW quality. Even a step up from an S/RS Audi. Everything is very solid, very high quality. The steering wheel was :thumbup:

Exhaust note: very very nice. Hard to describe but you could "hear" the power without it being overly noisy.

Engine/Transmission/Acceleration: Truly, incredibly, incomprehensibly, insanely, mind-bendingly powerful. It's a joke how powerful that car is. It's like a time machine. I was genuinely scared and, get this, I had the car in "comfort" mode and I didn't realize it until I got back to the lot. Comfort basically keeps the revs low and stays in a taller gear which neuters the engine. I was genuinely scared on a couple pulls. Once the revs climb above 3k you feel like you'll just continue to accelerate forever. If the Starship Enterprise were real... it would need maximum warp to keep up with an SL65. The transmission did it's part with aplomb. Quick and discreet shifts. I cannot say enough about how fast this car is. Numbers don't do a justice. I've driven a Ford GT and a Merc SLR and neither pull nearly as hard as the 65 once you're at speed. It's truly an epic powerplant.

That's pretty much it. I'll post up pics of my new ride once I decide. Oh, and my Morrs will be up for sale

[FStop7]

How much does a used SL65 cost these days?

[stickypaws]

fwiw, the ride quality on the CL is much better, imho.

V-12 BiTurbo is a nice motor in both cars.

I just find the CL to be a more versatile and comfortable overall choice.

[Small Yellow]

The only Merc I like and will only like, "as of now," is the SL65 Black Series.. And thats only because I fear it.

2011 Shelby GT500

[UltimateBMW]

[ponch_ki]

Never got to experience riding on a SL 65 but was able to hitch a ride on one of my mates SL Black... the torque is insane and you can really feel yourself getting sucked in the seats. A dangerous car though because the rear wheels kept slipping every time you stepped on the gas.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by my92

2011 Shelby GT500

No, Sentra with slicks and a 1000HP.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by stickypaws

fwiw, the ride quality on the CL is much better, imho.

V-12 BiTurbo is a nice motor in both cars.

I just find the CL to be a more versatile and comfortable overall choice.

+1.

While sometimes more expensive, year/miles, the CL would be my choice unless you just really want a vert.

What year SL?

You can get into a nice CL63, my favorite Benz, in the 80's if you look. Usable rear seats, tons of creature comforts and drop dead looks. IMO the CL has some of the cleanest and most fluid lines in the market. Classy and quick enough.

Both engines get attacked by their nanny goat systems but these are not meant to be dragsters or track assassins.

[gonzo]

Yum.

[BMW269]

I would more think about a 63 AMG than a 65 AMG. 65 AMG is just overpriced. Here in France they cost very much:

CL 63 AMG and CL 600:_____170.000 €
CL 65 AMG:_______________234.800 €

SL 63 AMG and SL 600:_____166.500 €
SL 65 AMG:_______________236.400 €

If you really want a Biturbo V12 over a NA V8, then get the 600 instead of 65 AMG, and add AMG package which look nearly the same. Well, this is just my opinion, but if money is not an issue, make yourself pleasure. If you want a Mercedes CL 65 AMG, you could also consider a Bentley Continental Supersports with 630 HP. In France it costs 236.293 €.

[GreenPlease]

How much does a used SL65 cost these days?

The one I drove was new a new 2010. They wanted $215,000. I'm looking at CPO'd CL65s for $130-140k.

I test drove the CL600 as well. It's surprisingly laggy (probably a software gremlin put in there by merc to neuter it). Also, I'm not a fan of the current 63 engine. Just not enough torque for me (hence the 65 I'm looking at ) There is, however, a new 63 engine coming out. It's code name M157 and is a 5.5 liter twin turbo DFI V8 mated to a 7 speed dual clutch. Two iterations: 540hp/560lb/ft and the "performance package" which puts down 590hp/600lb/ft. I might wait and get one of those new.

I test drove a Bentley but...eh, not me.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by GreenPlease

The one I drove was new a new 2010. They wanted $215,000. I'm looking at CPO'd CL65s for $130-140k.

I test drove the CL600 as well. It's surprisingly laggy (probably a software gremlin put in there by merc to neuter it). Also, I'm not a fan of the current 63 engine. Just not enough torque for me (hence the 65 I'm looking at ) There is, however, a new 63 engine coming out. It's code name M157 and is a 5.5 liter twin turbo DFI V8 mated to a 7 speed dual clutch. Two iterations: 540hp/560lb/ft and the "performance package" which puts down 590hp/600lb/ft. I might wait and get one of those new.

I test drove a Bentley but...eh, not me.

+1.
Wait for the S-Coupé 63 AMG. The 5.5l V8 Biturbo is really better, more torque than 6.3l V8 NA, eats less petrol, and is cheaper than 6.5l V12 Biturbo. It will be unveiled in Paris 2010.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by GreenPlease

The one I drove was new a new 2010. They wanted $215,000. I'm looking at CPO'd CL65s for $130-140k.

I test drove the CL600 as well. It's surprisingly laggy (probably a software gremlin put in there by merc to neuter it). Also, I'm not a fan of the current 63 engine. Just not enough torque for me (hence the 65 I'm looking at ) There is, however, a new 63 engine coming out. It's code name M157 and is a 5.5 liter twin turbo DFI V8 mated to a 7 speed dual clutch. Two iterations: 540hp/560lb/ft and the "performance package" which puts down 590hp/600lb/ft. I might wait and get one of those new.

I test drove a Bentley but...eh, not me.

Then you are sicker than myself re: torque.

63 with a visit to Mr. RennTech personally if I needed more. Maybe someone can chime in but I thought the 63 was more bullet proof than the 12 biT.

[sb335is]

PIck up a used CLK63 black series and shit yourself.

saw one for 75 with 19k miles

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Then you are sicker than myself re: torque.

63 with a visit to Mr. RennTech personally if I needed more. Maybe someone can chime in but I thought the 63 was more bullet proof than the 12 biT.

It is more bulletproof. I have the 6.2 NA motor (E63) and it's very smooth. Enough low end torque for daily city street driving. At least for me where cops also inhabit those same streets. Also a nicer sounding motor, doesn't sound like wailing cat riding a vacuum cleaner. Slamming your passenger into the seat is fun at first, but the novelty eventually wears off. I like the civilized NA V8, personally.

Mr. Renntech can help, but he charges a chunk of $$ for modest gains. If one really wants to mod on the cheap, obviously FI is the choice.

But I personally would wait on the new TTs. AMG did good with the SC, but the TT 5.5 is a new attempt. Wait until they can prove themselves in the real world. And anyway, they will be released in various models slowly with the S63 first. Don't want to get SLS buyers upset right off the bat.

[GreenPlease]

63 with a visit to Mr. RennTech personally if I needed more. Maybe someone can chime in but I thought the 63 was more bullet proof than the 12 biT.

The NA 63 really doesn't do it for me. I'm buying this car exclusively NOT to modify it so Renntech is out. The CLK Black is nice but too hardcore for me (I'm losing cred pretty quickly here, I know...)

I'm glad everyone mentioned the new TT motor. Maybe I'll wait for that to come out. Basically double the fuel economy of the 65 which saves trips to the gas station (might go 450 miles on a tank instead of 250, I drive a lot so that's actually a luxury).

[bavarian19]

MB's are not bad cars. I would own an S class over a 7.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by GreenPlease

The NA 63 really doesn't do it for me. I'm buying this car exclusively NOT to modify it so Renntech is out. The CLK Black is nice but too hardcore for me (I'm losing cred pretty quickly here, I know...)

I'm glad everyone mentioned the new TT motor. Maybe I'll wait for that to come out. Basically double the fuel economy of the 65 which saves trips to the gas station (might go 450 miles on a tank instead of 250, I drive a lot so that's actually a luxury).

You won't see me pay retail for Renn EVER. I just tossed that out (if needed). The 63 or 65 are more than enough onions for me. The functionality and purpose for any of these mentioned cars for me is to get around quickly if needed while in complete luxury.

I have a dollar that says you won't be able to wait on the new version..

The smell of change is in your brain. Not to mention the face plastering feeling you have by now relived more than once.

[GreenPlease]

The smell of change is in your brain. Not to mention the face plastering feeling you have by now relived more than once.

So true.... so true.

[niqui]

u found the sl65 faster than the slr?

[FStop7]

Holy crap, $140k... I will take a Challenge Stradale for that much.