Advice on buying SL 600 or SL 65

[E63joe]

Currently have an E63. Looking to add a convertible. Interested in buying either an SL 600 or SL 65. I am very peformance oriented.

Is there much difference in feel (acceleration) between the two?

Are there chips or other easy mods (want to try to preserve warranty), available for the 600 to boost its performance closer to the 65?

Thanks

[mebeJOE]

You can compare performance and horsepower figures year-by-year at the mbusa.com website:

Mercedes-Benz, Home of Mercedes-Benz Luxury Automobiles

You know what I find interesting is that according to the website, you don't get a ton of extra acceleration for the extra $50,000 to $60,000 -- at least when it comes to zero to 60 (MPH) times:

SL600: 4.5 seconds
SL55: 4.5 seconds
SL65: 4.2 seconds

I would imagine at higher speeds, there is a bigger difference between the models. For example, acceleration from 60 to 120 mph. But I don't know any website that lists them.

Either way, no matter which car you get -- I am sure you will love it. My SL500 is an R129 and I am crazy for her -- I would never trade her for any car other than another SL. I can imagine that any AMG or 600 R230 is even that much better.

[davidsong77]

to tell u the truth, i wouldn't buy any of them. i would stick to sl500... i have sl600 and after like 30min of driving, the engine will get very hot since its turbo. everytime i get home, i would open the hood to let the engine cool down, very pain in the @ss....

but that is just me!!

but if u really want to pick out of the two, sl600 and sl65 are really not much of difference. both are really the top of the class and will beat any car on the street. also both car are agile and fast. sl65 is the amg version of sl600. and most of the time u will not use the full power of the v12 engine so i wouldn't spend that much more money on an AMG version.... thats my 2 cent....

good luck!

[magwheel]

Originally Posted by davidsong77

to tell u the truth, i wouldn't buy any of them. i would stick to sl500... i have sl600 and after like 30min of driving, the engine will get very hot since its turbo. everytime i get home, i would open the hood to let the engine cool down, very pain in the @ss....

but that is just me!!

but if u really want to pick out of the two, sl600 and sl65 are really not much of difference. both are really the top of the class and will beat any car on the street. also both car are agile and fast. sl65 is the amg version of sl600. and most of the time u will not use the full power of the v12 engine so i wouldn't spend that much more money on an AMG version.... thats my 2 cent....

good luck!

davidsong77, I agree with you about the SL550 but only in the fact that I don't think the extra money for the AMGs is worth the performance gain. You'd be better off getting the SL550 and spending the extra 'moolah' on a Z06 or a Porsche 997 Turbo.

But I disagree with you in your feeling that either the SL65 or SL600 'will beat any car on the street'! I THINK the Z06 or 997 Turbo will 'eat their lunch' and so will a F430, SLR or a Carrera GT. Magwheel