SL55 v SL500

[swisstoni]

Hello Merc folks.

I'm thinking of getting an SL (probably 2004ish) and was wondering if anyone had any real-life comparisons between these two. Obviously the 500's are more plentiful and cheaper, with more colours etc. But the SL55 is an AMG.

Will I be driving around in my 500 and kick myself every time is see a 55, or will I tap my pocket Asda style and be happy that I have got 9x% of the same experience?

[BigBen]

There was a thread about the 55 in General Gassing called "the best £21,000 I have ever spent" which discussed this in reasonable depth.

My answer is get the AMG.

[swisstoni]

I have read that thread. I'd still be interested in the experiences of those who have driven both as a daily. Yes the 500 is down a huge amount of bhp but it is still an SL.

[Legacywr]

Link to that thread please?

[V12 AMG]

Only buy a 500 if you can't afford a 55.

[swisstoni]

I can take a hint
And I suppose most causes of bork are common between the two. I may as well get stuffed with a 55.

[BigBen]

swisstoni said:

I can take a hint
And I suppose most causes of bork are common between the two. I may as well get stuffed with a 55.

Now I have a bit more time I was about to come and say exactly that. The suspension is the main reason to fear either car, the running gear is reliable on both. Brakes and the like will be more for the AMG but are still not massively expensive.

Ben

[MRPULLHARD]

are they not aimed at different buyers ? one is for cruising around in and other is performance car ?

[BIRMA]

Quite a few years ago I tried the SL 500 and it was a really nice cruiser but I felt a little lacking performance wise. So I bit the bullet and tried the SL55 AMG I remember to this day the dealer letting me take the car out for an extended test drive. I was a bit concerned about the fuel consumption which only recorded 15 MPG once warmed up, I lowered the clever roof pulled over and checked the very nice interior and stereo. So I pulled out of the lay-by and knowing the car was properly warmed up I put my foot down and the car squiggled up the road in a very entertaining fashion and with the top down it sounded like a Messerschmitt WW2 fighter. There really isn't any comparison in sound and performance. I never forgot that test ride but bought a late V8 Esprit instead.
Fast forward to now or last April and after trying an Aston Martin 2010 V8S soft top and an Audi R8 I chose an SL63 the sound is there with the wonderful 525 BHP N/A V8 which is the last of it's type I guess but good SL55's particularly with the performance pack are well worth checking out. Just remember that an SL AMG is a hooligan of a car which brings out the hooligan in you and I think 12 MPG is worth every pound although bI have achieved 25 at times.

[ZX10R NIN]

Get the 55 I have had a 500 I had it three months, it was okay but that was it the 55 that replaced it is in a different league the main bork factor is the ABC system but they both have it so get the 55

[swisstoni]

Well I'm starting to view cars and doing a lot of reading on MB forums. I'm not sure this little love affair is going to work out.

The car will be used as a daily ( I only do a low annual mileage and don't care about fuel costs) but would have to live outside. Not a good idea apparently as the electrics live at the bottom of the bootwell in a nice big sponge and the roof seals leak.
The ABC system is a constant liability into old age. Meters of convoluted hydraulic pipework running around the car at very high PSI and capable of springing a leak virtually anywhere it seems.

I'm still looking, but not with the first flush of enthusiasm that there once was.

[ZX10R NIN]

Why not look at a CL for the money you'd be looking at for a low miles 55 you could get a very nice CL which came with the more wallet friendly ABC

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Not as much fun as the 55 but a better option for outside parking.

[swisstoni]

I do like the CL of this era but they are a bit massive for a runabout and town parking plus part of the way of justifying the whole idea is that Mrs Swiss will have access to a convertible if she feels like it.

[Animal]

Having recently test driven an admittedly ropey (actually, I think it was completely fked) SL55 I think I should warn you: if you're unsure about whether or not you can stomach the running costs/AMG tax on parts do not a) listen to one start up from cold; b) take one for a test drive.

The noise is ungodly and the acceleration verges on being uncomfortable. Luckily you have heated and cooled massaging seats to keep your heart rate nice and even.

I've seen a few for sale and at less than £15k I'm tempted to take a punt. However, the potential for bills so big they make your blood freeze looms large...

[wilwak]

I know somebody that loved their SL350 so treated themselves to the AMG. They hated it!

The AMG is a fast hard sports car. The 350 was a comfy GT car. I guess the 500 is a faster 350.

Depends what you want.....

[BIRMA]

I think it's a case of how comfortable you are about taking a risk, after all you are buying a car that was approaching £80K+ when new. There are a lot of very good independent specialists around who can keep the car running as it should be admittedly major parts are expensive but the SL55 is a real road going hot rod with a real Jekyll and Hyde personality. I read somewhere that after 2006 the boot seals design was changed not sure how accurate that is.

[Daniel1]

wilwak said:

I know somebody that loved their SL350 so treated themselves to the AMG. They hated it!

The AMG is a fast hard sports car. The 350 was a comfy GT car. I guess the 500 is a faster 350.

Depends what you want.....

I wouldn't say the 55 is a sports car, rather a muscle car. Its a comfortable cruiser that also happens to go quite quickly in a straight line. The 500 is the refined one, though.

Mpg is a serious consideration with the 55. I get 12mpg round town and 18 on the motorway. Over 1 year and 6000 miles the trip thinks I've done 13.2 mpg.

The noise is worth it.

[CarsOrBikes]

If you get one the v8 SL is best as a supercharged version, they're both a bit loud, and if you're going to waste fuel, you may as well have a quick one. The 500 is a nice under stressed motor, and nice sound, but if not wishing to push it the 350 was also nice.

It's a bit like the old model, the 320 was nicer than the 500, as a GT car. The W230 isn't really a handling car, it's big, or feels big, heavy, yet cramped inside. I'd have the 55, but as most people don't use the roof anyway, much of the time because it doesn't work, like the locking system, the CL is a nice alternative.

The 55 had some melted relays and air pumps as well as the common other PSE issues or water woes

Funny how the 215 is starting to look small on the road next to some later cars.

[BigBen]

Daniel1 said:

Mpg is a serious consideration with the 55. I get 12mpg round town and 18 on the motorway. Over 1 year and 6000 miles the trip thinks I've done 13.2 mpg.

I tend to average just under 20 mpg but don't live anywhere congested so not much stop start stuff.

I agree they are no track cars, I recently took mine out at Bedford (for three laps as that was all I was comfortable with), and whilst it handled miles better than I expected it to it still made its weight felt at every opportunity.

Ben

[BIRMA]

BigBen said:

Daniel1 said:

Mpg is a serious consideration with the 55. I get 12mpg round town and 18 on the motorway. Over 1 year and 6000 miles the trip thinks I've done 13.2 mpg.

I tend to average just under 20 mpg but don't live anywhere congested so not much stop start stuff.

I agree they are no track cars, I recently took mine out at Bedford (for three laps as that was all I was comfortable with), and whilst it handled miles better than I expected it to it still made its weight felt at every opportunity.

Ben

I agree that they aren't a track day car, there are plenty of cars around that do that very well. I was very surprised at it's roadholding ability though when I first tried the SL55 I thought this will be a handful around the twisty bits in the rain. That was a few years ago when I tried one, although I'm now the owner of a 2008 SL63 (the one with the N/A 6.2 engine) and my thoughts were after it squiggled down the road this will kill me the first rainy day around the tight A roads.
With this in mind I booked a three hour session at MB World around the various circuits they have there. As luck would have it it was pouring down with rain all day and I took their SL63 around pushing it to it's limits and I was really amazed at the very, very high level of grip/roadholding these cars have.