Merc SLK55 AMG

[c4koh]

Since there's not many topics

I met a Merc SLK55 AMG, new one, today. It was quite fast, the ZR1 quicker but not by much. Even though it is still a hairdresser's car (and I don't think too pretty), I was surprised how quick it went.

So got back, googled it and it apparently has a 5.4L V8 pushing 380hp or so!!

Gosh - talk about not judging a book by it's cover...

Still nice to know the 17 year old car - for sale STILL :-) at 10 grand - was quicker.

[franv8]

I had one up my behind at some lights toward Nottingham a couple of years ago. There was, er, no way of losing him packing L98 power... in fact were it not for traffic coming the other way I think he would have passed me in a Millenium Falcon manner.

[owenemyr]

I have one, and on the road its difficult to tell which is better, other than obviously in the "quality of build" areas, and also being RHD does not rquire possibly the same degree of road vigilance. The Merc however does not suffer the "lateral hop" of the vette, and is less prone to tramlinning.
The AMG finds it impossible to get anywhere near the vettes frigality on normal dual carrigeway driving, the best I can get is 27 mpg compared to the vettes 32+ mpg.
BIG ADVANTAGE VETTE: PRICE!!!!!
AMG SL55 £95K
IMPORTED VETTE PADDLE SHIFT TARGA £31K.
Is the SL X3 better, probably not.
P.S.
I dont know any local hairdressers that have an AMG SL55!

[Godzilla]

owenemyr said:

I have one, and on the road its difficult to tell which is better, other than obviously in the "quality of build" areas, and also being RHD does not rquire possibly the same degree of road vigilance. The Merc however does not suffer the "lateral hop" of the vette, and is less prone to tramlinning.
The AMG finds it impossible to get anywhere near the vettes frigality on normal dual carrigeway driving, the best I can get is 27 mpg compared to the vettes 32+ mpg.
BIG ADVANTAGE VETTE: PRICE!!!!!
AMG SL55 £95K
IMPORTED VETTE PADDLE SHIFT TARGA £31K.
Is the SL X3 better, probably not.
P.S.
I dont know any local hairdressers that have an AMG SL55!

That's because c4koh was referring to an SLK55, not one of your supercharged beasts.
Shame they never put the supercharged engine into the SLK, but I guess that would hit SL55 sales too badly.

Having said that, Autocar universally slated the uber-SLK Black Series in their recent handling test. Put it firmly at the bottom with no redeeming qualities...

The SL must be one of the oldest shapes still in production, but it still looks really elegant, however surely your Vette runs rings about it in the agility and handling stakes, at least on smooth roads?

[owenemyr]

SORRY, GOT IT WRONG!!
I HAVE AN AMG SL 55, NOT THE HAIRDRESSERS SLK!!!!!
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET FORGIVENESS.?

[owenemyr]

Godzilla said:

owenemyr said:

I have one, and on the road its difficult to tell which is better, other than obviously in the "quality of build" areas, and also being RHD does not rquire possibly the same degree of road vigilance. The Merc however does not suffer the "lateral hop" of the vette, and is less prone to tramlinning.
The AMG finds it impossible to get anywhere near the vettes frigality on normal dual carrigeway driving, the best I can get is 27 mpg compared to the vettes 32+ mpg.
BIG ADVANTAGE VETTE: PRICE!!!!!
AMG SL55 £95K
IMPORTED VETTE PADDLE SHIFT TARGA £31K.
Is the SL X3 better, probably not.
P.S.
I dont know any local hairdressers that have an AMG SL55!

That's because c4koh was referring to an SLK55, not one of your supercharged beasts.
Shame they never put the supercharged engine into the SLK, but I guess that would hit SL55 sales too badly.

Having said that, Autocar universally slated the uber-SLK Black Series in their recent handling test. Put it firmly at the bottom with no redeeming qualities...

The SL must be one of the oldest shapes still in production, but it still looks really elegant, however surely your Vette runs rings about it in the agility and handling stakes, at least on smooth roads?

You are of course, quite correct.
The SL55/AMG oozes that somewhat tired old fashioned phrase "class"

[franv8]

oops, I meant the AMG SL55 too ! Read it a bit quick!

[c4koh]

Good chaps, a bit of life in the forum!

Indeed it was an SLK, I quite like the SL in fact and would be happy in one of those!

But the SLK - and this was the thing - I didn't expect to be even a bit quick (in my small mind it's in the same category as the the Audi TT etc. and how easy the vette goes around those things) and sadly I presumed it would be likewise... so it was a fair giggle when he punched it and it took off - I thought: what the heck! But forewarned is forearmed as they say, so next opportunity I showed him the 4 red tail lights...

[owenemyr]

owenemyr said:

Godzilla said:

owenemyr said:

I have one, and on the road its difficult to tell which is better, other than obviously in the "quality of build" areas, and also being RHD does not rquire possibly the same degree of road vigilance. The Merc however does not suffer the "lateral hop" of the vette, and is less prone to tramlinning.
The AMG finds it impossible to get anywhere near the vettes frigality on normal dual carrigeway driving, the best I can get is 27 mpg compared to the vettes 32+ mpg.
BIG ADVANTAGE VETTE: PRICE!!!!!
AMG SL55 £95K
IMPORTED VETTE PADDLE SHIFT TARGA £31K.
Is the SL X3 better, probably not.
P.S.
I dont know any local hairdressers that have an AMG SL55!

That's because c4koh was referring to an SLK55, not one of your supercharged beasts.
Shame they never put the supercharged engine into the SLK, but I guess that would hit SL55 sales too badly.

Having said that, Autocar universally slated the uber-SLK Black Series in their recent handling test. Put it firmly at the bottom with no redeeming qualities...

The SL must be one of the oldest shapes still in production, but it still looks really elegant, however surely your Vette runs rings about it in the agility and handling stakes, at least on smooth roads?

You are of course, quite correct.
The SL55/AMG oozes that somewhat tired old fashioned phrase "class"

There is no "which is the best" answer here certainly with reference to the AMG SL55, they are "apples and pears".
I suppose that it is a psychological thing, although I have owned many LHD cars over the years, I have to admit that when it comes to overtaking, I feel initially more confident in the RHD ( I live in rural Wales). God forbid, were I to have a high speed accident, I would rather have it in the SL.
I preferr the SL for the start of the mannouver, but the vet for its completion, complicated is it not.! You cant always see in front of the car ahead by looking to its left hand side.
As far as handling etc is concerned on rural mid-Wales roads (even "A" roads), the SL is probably "safer", but not "better".
It is my intention to grow old with a certain degree of "disgracefulnes"

[Gixer]

The mid corner hop you mentioned is easily resolved with coilovers on a vette

[owenemyr]

Gixer said:

The mid corner hop you mentioned is easily resolved with coilovers on a vette

Yes, I know.
It is however at the expense of a certain degree of increased both firmness and stiffness that obviously affects the quality of the ride.
This is why I quite like the magnetic select system.

[Gixer]

owenemyr said:

Gixer said:

The mid corner hop you mentioned is easily resolved with coilovers on a vette

Yes, I know.
It is however at the expense of a certain degree of increased both firmness and stiffness that obviously affects the quality of the ride.
This is why I quite like the magnetic select system.

That is not true. I retained the use of my FX3 on my Z. Doug Rippie bought in a set of new Bilstien FX3 shocks, valved them to his spec and cut a snap ring on to them for the spring. There would be no reason why the same couldn't be done with magnetic ride. How firm the ride is would be down to what spring rate you opt for. My only regret was not doing it sooner. It transforms the car into something more more like a Jap or European model.

[owenemyr]

Gixer said:

owenemyr said:

Gixer said:

The mid corner hop you mentioned is easily resolved with coilovers on a vette

Yes, I know.
It is however at the expense of a certain degree of increased both firmness and stiffness that obviously affects the quality of the ride.
This is why I quite like the magnetic select system.

That is not true. I retained the use of my FX3 on my Z. Doug Rippie bought in a set of new Bilstien FX3 shocks, valved them to his spec and cut a snap ring on to them for the spring. There would be no reason why the same couldn't be done with magnetic ride. How firm the ride is would be down to what spring rate you opt for. My only regret was not doing it sooner. It transforms the car into something more more like a Jap or European model.

I assume that this is equally true of a Z51 set-up.?
I understand that the devil lies in the post coil-overs setting up?
Can you give some more info?
Regards.

[RainerM]

Hi friends,

I AM driving an SLK55 and no, I am not a hairdresser, but my little car has
a Lim.Slip.Diff. (6o%),Bilsteins all-round (just a little lower),special
brake pads, it is great fun to drive, just ask my wife.We did three Eurohoons in it :-)) I bought it just because I was given the best service possible, (BMW and Porsche were pure horror)...and consumption is as on any
car according to your feelings...and as in your country I can see bloody
green-heads getting "unfriendly"

BUT: last year I test-drove the C6 and a Z06, I would take the latter, but
there is not Hard-top as we like open cars.This year my wife drove the open
Corvette two weeks ago, she felt very well in it, the instructor and she did
the whole road-circuit prepared by the dealer in 40 minutes instead of an hour... :-))

SO: we are seriously thinking of some Corvette in the near future, if my
mate, AMG-Dealer, sells me one, which is probable, as there were Exiges,
Ferraris,Maseratis,Bentley and Astons going out of his show-room, much
to the "chagrin"(do not knw if this French word is existing in English)
of sometimes visiting Merc Controllers ;-))

Hopefully the automatic gear-box will be down-blipping on the next model?
Actually we are checking out service-cost as well tyres with their delivery
times.

This is a great forum, we love to browse it. Congrats to the engineers building and planning the marvellous Corvettes :-))

Have a nice week.

Rainer and Dot (Switzerland-Germany)

[franv8]

I am not jealous of your roads, no, I am not jealous of your coutryside either. Oh hang on, yes I am! Good luck with progressing your Vette ownership.

[RainerM]

THAT'S an incentive :-))))

Regards to all vette's girls and men

Rainer and Dot

Beautiful weather here, glorious roads, rear tires wearing off like hot chocolate;-))

[owenemyr]

How can rear tyres wear in Switzerland with their speed limits?

[Gixer]

FurkaPass

Was in Switzerland in June, despite all the 'they hate cars and have crap speed limits' rubbish. Fact is they have the cheapest super unleaded in Europe, the best roads, great views and no traffic. If you can break the speed limit on some of those mountain passes then you're the man. Maybe I needed more than 530hp

Can't wait to get back there next year.

Edited by Gixer on Friday 12th October 21:34

[RainerM]

///
How can rear tyres wear in Switzerland with their speed limits?
////

As mentioned by Gixer,there are some glorious roads here and due to that
rear tyres have a toll to be paid ;-))

Rainer-CH

[RainerM]

to Gixer:

Give me an advanced "warning" next time you are over, I am living not far
away. :-)))

Have a nice week-end

Rainer-CH