Just been looking at an SL55

[irish boy]

hi mate i had an sl55 and went to a z06 and dont regret it for a second! sl is a great piece of kit but the savage kick and rawness of the Z makes it a much more special machine to have in the garage......hold out for the right car and you wont be sorry!!

[B15TT0]

irish boy said:

hi mate i had an sl55 and went to a z06 and dont regret it for a second! sl is a great piece of kit but the savage kick and rawness of the Z makes it a much more special machine to have in the garage......hold out for the right car and you wont be sorry!!

Don't start that!! I've sneaked off the Corvette forum to avoid people like you telling me to hold out for a Z06. Used black Z06's? There are none out there! I'm getting an SL55 and i'm going to enjoy the summer in it!

[THX138]

markbe said:

As a matter of interest performance figures for the 599 and SL55 are quite
different. Autocar results.

599 ......0-100 = 7.4secs...0-150 = 16.3secs.

SL55......0-100 = 10.4secs..0-150 = 24 secs.

Mark.

Interesting..

For comparisons sake the Z06 figures

Car and Driver
0-30: 1.6
0-60: 3.6
0-100: 7.9
0-150: 17.5
1/4 mile: 11.7 @ 125 mph

[Callughan]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.a...
Interesting

[THX138]

Callughan said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.a...
Interesting

Yes I remember that video.

I think at the time the general consensus was there was something not right with that Vette and perhaps something not quite right with the drivers launch technique,
I'm sure some Z06 owners will tell more.
And worst of all massive Porsche fan Chris trots out the 'yawn' fact that the Vette has 'yawn' leaf springs as if it's got cortina suspension.
And it's not as if it's engine is in the wrong place is it?

I seem to remember a recentish Autocar? article where a Lotus chassis engineer was highly impressed with the Vette underpinnings and couldn't really fault much at all.

And nice to know the 599 uses Delphi (GM) electro magnetic dampers, similar to the Z06

[Callughan]

THX138 said:

Callughan said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.a...
Interesting

Yes I remember that video.

I think at the time the general consensus was there was something not right with that Vette and perhaps something not quite right with the drivers launch technique,
I'm sure some Z06 owners will tell more.
And worst of all massive Porsche fan Chris trots out the 'yawn' fact that the Vette has 'yawn' leaf springs as if it's got cortina suspension.
And it's not as if it's engine is in the wrong place is it?

I seem to remember a recentish Autocar? article where a Lotus chassis engineer was highly impressed with the Vette underpinnings and couldn't really fault much at all.

And nice to know the 599 uses Delphi (GM) electro magnetic dampers, similar to the Z06

I always take videos, articles etc.. with a pinch of salt, it's good to know but there are so many variants and often bias.

Didn't know about the suspension, I guess it's not what you have but they way you use it;)What's wrong with where the engine is;>

Car and Driver always produce encouraging figures.

Edited by Callughan on Wednesday 22 April 23:42

[B15TT0]

Argh. Decision time. 2004 28k black without keyless go, pan roof or the nice 'spline' alloys up for 32 or a 2002 black with full red interior (looks awesome) keyless, pan roof, etc for 30? Or a 2003 that needs some tidying and has 60k on it for say 25?

I really like the red interior and keyless go... Lot of money for a 52 car though..

Thoughts?

[Callughan]

B15TT0 said:

Argh. Decision time. 2004 28k black without keyless go, pan roof or the nice 'spline' alloys up for 32 or a 2002 black with full red interior (looks awesome) keyless, pan roof, etc for 30? Or a 2003 that needs some tidying and has 60k on it for say 25?

I really like the red interior and keyless go... Lot of money for a 52 car though..

Thoughts?

I think the early ones were more prone to electronic gremlins. I would buy the latest one within my budget.

[mikial]

B15TT0 said:

Argh. Decision time. 2004 28k black without keyless go, pan roof or the nice 'spline' alloys up for 32 or a 2002 black with full red interior (looks awesome) keyless, pan roof, etc for 30? Or a 2003 that needs some tidying and has 60k on it for say 25?

I really like the red interior and keyless go... Lot of money for a 52 car though..

Thoughts?

My `03 was a low mileage example, ( 28 k )when purchased a year ago, with a Mercedes warranty but no keyless or Pan roof , no regrets here, tbh , I would have prefered one with all the options but low mileage was my criteria and I stuck to the plan .

Keep on searching until you find exactly what you desire ?

[B15TT0]

mikial said:

B15TT0 said:

Argh. Decision time. 2004 28k black without keyless go, pan roof or the nice 'spline' alloys up for 32 or a 2002 black with full red interior (looks awesome) keyless, pan roof, etc for 30? Or a 2003 that needs some tidying and has 60k on it for say 25?

I really like the red interior and keyless go... Lot of money for a 52 car though..

Thoughts?

My `03 was a low mileage example, ( 28 k )when purchased a year ago, with a Mercedes warranty but no keyless or Pan roof , no regrets here, tbh , I would have prefered one with all the options but low mileage was my criteria and I stuck to the plan .

Keep on searching until you find exactly what you desire ?

Easier said than done now i've seen a couple that are almost perfect. To be fair the black with red would be mine by now if we could agree on a price but he won't shift from 30 and that feels too much for a 52 car.

[mikial]

B15TT0 said:

mikial said:

B15TT0 said:

Argh. Decision time. 2004 28k black without keyless go, pan roof or the nice 'spline' alloys up for 32 or a 2002 black with full red interior (looks awesome) keyless, pan roof, etc for 30? Or a 2003 that needs some tidying and has 60k on it for say 25?

I really like the red interior and keyless go... Lot of money for a 52 car though..

Thoughts?

My `03 was a low mileage example, ( 28 k )when purchased a year ago, with a Mercedes warranty but no keyless or Pan roof , no regrets here, tbh , I would have prefered one with all the options but low mileage was my criteria and I stuck to the plan .

Keep on searching until you find exactly what you desire ?

Easier said than done now i've seen a couple that are almost perfect. To be fair the black with red would be mine by now if we could agree on a price but he won't shift from 30 and that feels too much for a 52 car.

Not my call or my money but the `04 gets my nod I noticed that some good used cars are fetching the asking price just now, I offered £20K for a year old fully loaded 350Z ( sticker price is £1995 more), an offer I feel sure would have been accepted ( begrudgingly ) in January .

[woansleftpeg]

I'd say that the pano roof is well worth paying the premium for, also I'd be wary of a 60K version especially if it's had more than one owner. Too many SL's are bought by dreamers who can just about afford the car but then struggle to meet the bills and hence skimp on maintenance - maybe not the end of the world in a stock vehicle, but a big risk with a sports machine. I made the same mistake on buying a TVR Chimaera a few years ago, bloke who'd owned it before me left it with a host of problems just waiting to happen, and happen they did. A couple of grand saved now on the purchase is quickly swallowed up by repairs.

[mikial]

woansleftpeg said:

I'd say that the pano roof is well worth paying the premium for, also I'd be wary of a 60K version especially if it's had more than one owner. Too many SL's are bought by dreamers who can just about afford the car but then struggle to meet the bills and hence skimp on maintenance - maybe not the end of the world in a stock vehicle, but a big risk with a sports machine. I made the same mistake on buying a TVR Chimaera a few years ago, bloke who'd owned it before me left it with a host of problems just waiting to happen, and happen they did. A couple of grand saved now on the purchase is quickly swallowed up by repairs.

Nice handle that , in tribute to the Forest player ?

[woansleftpeg]

mikial said:

woansleftpeg said:

I'd say that the pano roof is well worth paying the premium for, also I'd be wary of a 60K version especially if it's had more than one owner. Too many SL's are bought by dreamers who can just about afford the car but then struggle to meet the bills and hence skimp on maintenance - maybe not the end of the world in a stock vehicle, but a big risk with a sports machine. I made the same mistake on buying a TVR Chimaera a few years ago, bloke who'd owned it before me left it with a host of problems just waiting to happen, and happen they did. A couple of grand saved now on the purchase is quickly swallowed up by repairs.

Nice handle that , in tribute to the Forest player ?

Indeed. Laziest sod going but a hell of a left foot.

[B15TT0]

Update on this one - hanging on to hear about the car with SL65 wheels on it linked to above. Apparently the guy who has a deposit on it is struggling to get the finance sorted and may turn out to be a bit of a dreamer. Fingers crossed as it's got all the spec i'm after....

[mikial]

B15TT0 said:

Update on this one - hanging on to hear about the car with SL65 wheels on it linked to above. Apparently the guy who has a deposit on it is struggling to get the finance sorted and may turn out to be a bit of a dreamer. Fingers crossed as it's got all the spec i'm after....

Any further developments ?

[B15TT0]

mikial said:

B15TT0 said:

Update on this one - hanging on to hear about the car with SL65 wheels on it linked to above. Apparently the guy who has a deposit on it is struggling to get the finance sorted and may turn out to be a bit of a dreamer. Fingers crossed as it's got all the spec i'm after....

Any further developments ?

Flying down to see it in Cardiff on Monday

The guy who had it on deposit first kindly had an AA check on it which came back absolutely clear. As long as it's as described (which i'm assured it is) i'll just be agreeing the deal and when to pick it up!

[mikial]

B15TT0 said:

mikial said:

B15TT0 said:

Update on this one - hanging on to hear about the car with SL65 wheels on it linked to above. Apparently the guy who has a deposit on it is struggling to get the finance sorted and may turn out to be a bit of a dreamer. Fingers crossed as it's got all the spec i'm after....

Any further developments ?

Flying down to see it in Cardiff on Monday

The guy who had it on deposit first kindly had an AA check on it which came back absolutely clear. As long as it's as described (which i'm assured it is) i'll just be agreeing the deal and when to pick it up!

Good luck , I hope it ticks all the boxes for you. Also a good run back north on debut.!!

[DSLiverpool]

B15TT0 said:

Flying down to see it in Cardiff on Monday

The guy who had it on deposit first kindly had an AA check on it which came back absolutely clear. As long as it's as described (which i'm assured it is) i'll just be agreeing the deal and when to pick it up!

I wouldnt trust a AA report on a 55 S/C - get the engine checked at MB at least

[B15TT0]

DSLiverpool said:

B15TT0 said:

Flying down to see it in Cardiff on Monday

The guy who had it on deposit first kindly had an AA check on it which came back absolutely clear. As long as it's as described (which i'm assured it is) i'll just be agreeing the deal and when to pick it up!

I wouldnt trust a AA report on a 55 S/C - get the engine checked at MB at least

Agreed - taking the AA report with a pinch of salt. It's got full MB SH though and was last serviced 600 miles ago so hoping it's ok. Obviously i'll be reviewing all the previous invoices etc and if there's any question marks at all it'll be off to the MB dealer for a good going over.