Which SL ? 500 or AMG 55 SL

[wheels1]

Hi
I am considering a 500 SL or AMG 55 SL, any one have any experiences? Both cars under 30,000 and only about £5000 difference in price, 2003/2004 models.
Also i am a bit confused on the 500 spec.
some say 308bhp and some 388 bhp, some say 5 sped auto and some 7 speed auto.
Any help gratefully received.
Grant

[mrfunex]

I've had a 54 plate SL500 for a little over 6 months now and absolutely love it.

The years that you're looking at, the 500 has the 5.0 V8 with 306bhp. The newer models (2007/8 onwards?) have the 5.5 V8 with 388bhp. The 7 speed autos make the 500 faster and more economical than the old 5 speed ones. The AMGs are all 5 speed as the boxes are a lot stronger to handle the torque.

The 500 has more than enough power for every conceivable occasion, but I guess if you have your heart set on a 500+ bhp monster, you'll not be satisfied with the slower model. Be advised that although economy/servicing prices are broadly similar, if you need parts on the AMG, they're a LOT more expensive.

Any questions, fire away...

Oh, I did a very brief review a few months ago on another forum....

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=...

Edited by mrfunex on Sunday 31st October 12:58

[whoami]

I had an SL55.

Rubbish.

[mrfunex]

whoami said:

I had an SL55.

Rubbish.

That's a bold comment about what's widely regarded to be far and away the best car in it's class. What didn't you like?

[wheels1]

Thanks for the info.
Do you know if the 7 speed was an option on 2003/4 500's? as i have seen quite a few advertised with a [7] in the add and if so it may be looking out for one of these.

[wheels1]

This is one of the seven speed adds
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2092213.htm

[mrfunex]

I think I remember reading that the 7 speed became standard around 2002. Might be wrong though.

The car in the advert looks nice. Doesn't say if it has the panoramic roof though... That was a MUST for me, and makes the car feel a lot more spacious inside.

Make sure the ABC suspension works, make sure the roof doesn't leak. Both are expensive to fix. I'd also advise getting a warranty.

Edited by mrfunex on Sunday 31st October 14:32

[Digger]

mrfunex said:

whoami said:

I had an SL55.

Rubbish.

That's a bold comment about what's widely regarded to be far and away the best car in it's class. What didn't you like?

Please expand whoami! Your thoughts are of interest as its an option for my next car purchase.

[ayton 1]

Had a SL55 since feb this year & I think its a great car, fantastic noise &
they just pull for fun all the way to limmiter. not much will get away from one,
and so easy to drive in town etc

[SLacKer]

If you want more power than you need then the SL55 is the one. The panoramic is great to have but in my mind the less electronic add ons the better as if you haven't got it fitted it cannot go wrong.

I have ABC which keeps the car flat in corners but I also have an MB warranty

[Dog Star]

SLacKer said:

I have ABC which keeps the car flat in corners but I also have an MB warranty

I have ABC. I keeps my wallet flat. I have no warranty

[mrfunex]

SLacKer said:

If you want more power than you need then the SL55 is the one. The panoramic is great to have but in my mind the less electronic add ons the better as if you haven't got it fitted it cannot go wrong.

I have ABC which keeps the car flat in corners but I also have an MB warranty

The panoramic roof simply has a glass panel instead of a metal one. There's nothing to go wrong!

Agree on the problem of having everything electric and problems occurring, although on an SL, this is a pretty moot point as everything is electric or heated!

[SLacKer]

mrfunex said:

SLacKer said:

If you want more power than you need then the SL55 is the one. The panoramic is great to have but in my mind the less electronic add ons the better as if you haven't got it fitted it cannot go wrong.

I have ABC which keeps the car flat in corners but I also have an MB warranty

The panoramic roof simply has a glass panel instead of a metal one. There's nothing to go wrong!

Agree on the problem of having everything electric and problems occurring, although on an SL, this is a pretty moot point as everything is electric or heated!

Maybe I needed some punctuation. It does have a blind though and that could go wrong

Have had my SLK for 5.5 years and have had 1 problem from the heated seats which are a known weak point and I fitted alternative heater pads to sort it out. How many SL owners have had 5.5 years of trouble free ownership - certainly not me. But after all this I will keep the SL55 for a while now as I love the V8 punch and the noise with the roof down is so much better than the SLK.

Edited by SLacKer on Tuesday 2nd November 10:10

[rubystone]

Will this help you to decide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ughdnASfliY

[mrfunex]

rubystone said:

Will this help you to decide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ughdnASfliY

Thanks to you I've just had to go for a hoon. An awesome one it was too

[wheels1]

Thanks for your help guys.
The Bad news is, the person who was collecting my car tomorrow has [ JUST] found out they do not have enough funds, after putting a deposit down a week and a half ago. So its on hold until/ if i sell it again.

Now i have all the info and just taking my old car out 487bhp, i realized that its hard to use all the power as the traction control kicks in even in sport mode, so if i get the chance i will go for a later 388bhp SL [ i think]!
Thanks again.

[angusc43]

wheels1 said:

Thanks for your help guys.
The Bad news is, the person who was collecting my car tomorrow has [ JUST] found out they do not have enough funds, after putting a deposit down a week and a half ago. So its on hold until/ if i sell it again.

Now i have all the info and just taking my old car out 487bhp, i realized that its hard to use all the power as the traction control kicks in even in sport mode, so if i get the chance i will go for a later 388bhp SL [ i think]!
Thanks again.

I once saw someone try to loon off up the road in an SLK 55 with a Caarlson supercharger. It was warm and bone dry but he just couldn't stop lighting up the rears. Quite funny/spectacular but I suppose you could argue that he simply couldn't use that extra 100bhp/100lb/ft of torque - or at least not from a standing start, anyway.....

[CRACKIE]

mrfunex said:

I think I remember reading that the 7 speed became standard around 2002. Might be wrong though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7G-Tronic