Thursday 7th February 2013

Chris Harris video: SL63 vs M6

500hp-plus, rear-drive German heavyweights battle it out ... in the snow

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It seems both a long time ago, and somehow not that long ago Mercedes announced a car called the SL55 AMG. It was 2001. An obvious addition to the SL range and nothing too radical in terms of styling the 55 nevertheless permanently altered the fast GT market. Here was a car that could do anything: cruise for days or harry a 996 Turbo – roof up or down.

M6 looks better but is crude beneath the skin

It also looked perfect for the role – subtle but threatening, which is why the first time you see the new SL63 it is hard not to wince with disappointment. Everything seems to have changed for the worse over the R230 – the overhangs, the styling, the ride height. I have never judged cars by the way they look, but even I have to admit that, next to the SL, a BMW M6 appears to be the work of a design genius.

The great shame here is that the respective covers couldn’t be more misleading. Underneath the SL’s unconvincing coachwork lies an aluminium masterpiece: a chassis so advanced in terms of construction, weight-saving and rigidity that it makes the M6’s steel frame appear as modern as Paddington Station.

One for all you Photoshoppers out there...

The fast car market has changed beyond recognition since 2001, even Jaguar has a 500hp V8 these days, so grunt alone isn’t enough and you can now get a folding hardtop on a Ferrari. Where the R230 defined a price-point, both of these cars appear to suffer from the perennial GT issues of being neither as good to drive as a 911 Turbo, or as comfortable as larger tackle like the Bentley Continental GT. The truth, as the video shows, is rather different.

Can BMW really charge £20K more for an M6 than it does an M5? Do the SL’s driving characteristics overcome the unfortunate visage? What does 663lb ft and summer tyres mean on a slushy moorland road? Is Garlick going to sell that dreadful little Mazda?

Most of those questions will be answered here.

Enjoy the vid.

 

[BorkFactor]

Good video, I have to say I really do like both of these cars. I am amazed at how far the SL63 AMG has come on since the last version.

Can't say I would go for the M6 (If I had the money...) over the M5 though.

[Contigo]

M6 out of the two for me. The SL is so expensive really but still a great machine.

I agree with Chris there is something special about the M6 over the M5 but it's all about practicality at the end of the day.

[Mastodon2]

Excellent video, I'd take the Mercedes. The most powerful super-GT car I've been in was an E39 M5 and even that felt astonishingly powerful after tootling in silence and comfort for a little while. Having never been in one of these new breed of sports GTs with their huge bhp and torque figures, I can't really comprehend what it must be like to have that kind of power available in a car like that.

[cheddar]

Doesn't that SL cost £50,000 more to buy than the M6?

Test seems contrived, they're not true rivals.

[carinaman]

I liked the Fleetwood Mac reference, a bit of link to Top Gear.

Does the SL have the same transmission as the SLS?

Is that Perranporth?

[FisiP1]

SL for me, cost aside.

Mercedes pricing always seems daft to me, but I suppose it works for them.

[SystemParanoia]

nice

[sagarich]

M6 for me, just looks so much nicer.

[mike-r]

Top stuff.

Wish TG would take a leaf out of Chris' book, I sat through about 30 minutes of laser-questing AM Vanquish to hear nothing remotely pertaining to the spec of the car or how it drove.

[tjlees]

Yep. Missing my m6 already - and that was the old bangled model. Both cracking cars, but now getting heavy and maybe too civilised, however I do miss the drifting ability and balance of these type of cars.

It would be nice if you also compared it to a Aston Martin v12v rag top as well, then you would cause me a real dilemma.

Chris keep the videos coming you may actually review a car I can afford - secondhand that is!

[Holmes14A]

Chris, get your show reel sent off to Top Gear to put proper reviews back on TV again.

Does the matte paint on the SL have the same delicate nature as the stuff on M3s?

[JimexPL]

Nice to see Crantock beach on the video - I can't imagine it was much fun trying to avoid scratching the matt SL on Cornish hedgerows though!

[gumsie]

Two things missing that the 55 had;
Good looks and incredibly bassy sonorous engine.

[jackh707]

mike-r said:

Top stuff.

Wish TG would take a leaf out of Chris' book, I sat through about 30 minutes of laser-questing AM Vanquish to hear nothing remotely pertaining to the spec of the car or how it drove.

Couldn't agree more, I've found out more about the experience of driving those 2 cars in 10 minutes than I did watching an hour of TG, brilliant stuff.

[Shambler]

I know the M6 is fast and Chris is an amazing driver but that chap in the Renault Van at 09:58 looked to be catching him

[tjlazer]

There's a new SL on my street and I agree about the styling, there's just way too much going on and I can't help but think it looks a bit like a tarted up crossfire...not good

[MDubyaB]

I'm a bit tired tonight and once I noticed that god awful music (?) in the background I couldn't focus and sat gnashing my teeth until I turned it off.
I'll try and watch the whole thing tomorrow.

Why?

[Hark]

Enjoyed that.

[Garlick]

Stop pretending you dislike my Mazda...

[Benjaminbopper]

Is this not a fair test? SL vs m6 cab, sounds like SL is better which is an acceptable result, what about m6 coupe against CL63?

A nice video either way, great driving and well shot. I'd take the m6 due to looks!