RE: Driven: Mercedes SLS AMG In The UK

[1000TCR]

Verde said:

This car is sooo disappointing, but perhaps it shouldn't be. It's big, as in too big. It's odd looking, with too long a nose, a badly sculpted rear, and a misuse of gull-wing doors. It's heavy and thus, no matter how magnificent the engine might be, it's a GT and not a sports car. As noted, it's disappointing, but probably not much of a surprise. The McLaren, the recent SL's, SLK's, etc. None of them are sports cars. They are all cars that show what happens when you ask a sedan company to build a two-seater.
So this new one should really be competing in the 'overpriced fat rich guy car category'. Not competing against Ferrari's and Porsche's. Bummer though. Mercedes clearly has a bunch of brilliant engineers but the company DNA just doesn't allow for the design of true 'sports cars'.

So what exactly did you expect the SLS to be? I mean, they haven't build a light wheight, nible sports car in the last 120 years, so why should they start now?

[Beefmeister]

Verde said:

This car is sooo disappointing, but perhaps it shouldn't be. It's big, as in too big. It's odd looking, with too long a nose, a badly sculpted rear, and a misuse of gull-wing doors. It's heavy and thus, no matter how magnificent the engine might be, it's a GT and not a sports car. As noted, it's disappointing, but probably not much of a surprise. The McLaren, the recent SL's, SLK's, etc. None of them are sports cars. They are all cars that show what happens when you ask a sedan company to build a two-seater.
So this new one should really be competing in the 'overpriced fat rich guy car category'. Not competing against Ferrari's and Porsche's. Bummer though. Mercedes clearly has a bunch of brilliant engineers but the company DNA just doesn't allow for the design of true 'sports cars'.

You could not be more wrong. Drive one, then comment.

[Sierra Mike]

Beefmeister said:

Verde said:

This car is sooo disappointing, but perhaps it shouldn't be. It's big, as in too big. It's odd looking, with too long a nose, a badly sculpted rear, and a misuse of gull-wing doors. It's heavy and thus, no matter how magnificent the engine might be, it's a GT and not a sports car. As noted, it's disappointing, but probably not much of a surprise. The McLaren, the recent SL's, SLK's, etc. None of them are sports cars. They are all cars that show what happens when you ask a sedan company to build a two-seater.
So this new one should really be competing in the 'overpriced fat rich guy car category'. Not competing against Ferrari's and Porsche's. Bummer though. Mercedes clearly has a bunch of brilliant engineers but the company DNA just doesn't allow for the design of true 'sports cars'.

You could not be more wrong. Drive one, then comment.

Beefmeister's right. My other car is a 997.2 GT3 and, since I own and drive both on a daily basis, I think you're way off the mark.

To be honest, I'm quite surprised that you've also chosen to bundle the new McLaren in with SLs and SLKs since the MP4-12C is fully intended to be both a track and road car in the same vein as the GT3. Furthermore, you state that 'sedan' companies cannot make two seater sports cars. Ford 'DNA' predominantly allows for the design of 'sedans' as well as utility vehicles, MPVs, utility vans and trucks but certainly not sports cars. For the avoidance of doubt, the Mustang is not sports car. By implication, your contention is that Ford couldn't possibly build a two seater sports car. I strongly disagree since I believe that the Ford GT is exactly the kind of car that Ford's DNA does not allow for.

The only reason I can find for your comments is that there's some "fat rich guy" who you don't like and he owns an SLS

[braddo]

Verde said:

This car is sooo disappointing, but perhaps it shouldn't be. It's big, as in too big. It's odd looking, with too long a nose, a badly sculpted rear, and a misuse of gull-wing doors. It's heavy and thus, no matter how magnificent the engine might be, it's a GT and not a sports car. As noted, it's disappointing, but probably not much of a surprise. The McLaren, the recent SL's, SLK's, etc. None of them are sports cars. They are all cars that show what happens when you ask a sedan company to build a two-seater.
So this new one should really be competing in the 'overpriced fat rich guy car category'. Not competing against Ferrari's and Porsche's. Bummer though. Mercedes clearly has a bunch of brilliant engineers but the company DNA just doesn't allow for the design of true 'sports cars'.

The SLS's dimensions, weight and performance seem to all be in the same league as a Ferrari 599's. Do you consider that an overweight GT as well?

Almost no new cars appeal to me in the slightest; the SLS is very much an exception!