RE: Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR

[woof]

I know someone who was lent one this week - very experienced driver - and thought it was like any other merc - easy to drive - effortless and quite boring !

Your granny could drive it - apart from getting in and out - which is apparently is in fact very difficult the huge doors seals means you have to sit on the seal to get in and out

He was seriously disappointed in it !
Though I have to say it sounded and looked amazing !

Suggested he trys the GT next

Saw Naz in his earlier this year - in Park Lane - driving like a granny (funnily enough)



>> Edited by woof on Wednesday 15th June 18:01

[polarbert]

lap_time said:

Sure it sounds nice, but as for keeping up with a Carrera GT on a track? Aaaaah...NO. In a recent supercar test in Aussie magazine Motor, The Carrera was quicker than the Enzo around the Levante circuit, posting a 53.9 against a 55.0 for the Enzo. As for the SLR? It clocked a 57.5, way behind the GT.

i dont mean to sound rude here, but that test may not have been entirely scientific, conditions may have been different when the slr was taken around the track, the driver may not have been as confident driving it as others

>> Edited by polarbert on Tuesday 21st June 23:15

[nickw]

Terrific article. Not often a writer can put the reader in the car with them, but this geezer did it.

[lap_time]

polarbert said:

lap_time said: Sure it sounds nice, but as for keeping up with a Carrera GT on a track? Aaaaah...NO. In a recent supercar test in Aussie magazine Motor, The Carrera was quicker than the Enzo around the Levante circuit, posting a 53.9 against a 55.0 for the Enzo. As for the SLR? It clocked a 57.5, way behind the GT. i dont mean to sound rude here, but that test may not have been entirely scientific, conditions may have been different when the slr was taken around the track, the driver may not have been as confident driving it as others >> Edited by polarbert on Tuesday 21st June 23:15

Yes, true, but it is a fairly large margin. And lets just compare the stats. GT: mid mount 5.0 V10 atmo, 604hp, 435lb-ft torque and 6 shooter manual. SLR: front mount, supercharged 5.4 V8, 617hp, good deal more torque at 575lb-ft and five speed slushbox. But look at the weight difference! GT is 1380kg and the SLR is a comparative lardarse, topping the scales to 1618kg. Theres more to performance than power and torque you know.

[Tap_RN]

On holiday in Marbella at the moment (Puerto Banus). Just seen a silver and a black SLR cruising down the marina. There are a LOT of amazing cars here, Porsches coming out your ears, Rolls, Bentley Continentals, Lambos etc., but the SLR looks like BatMan just parked the Bat Mobile and went for a Latte! Awsome piece of kit - anyone swap one for my SLK 350???