SL65 test ride

Was thinking about trading my 04 SL600 for a 05 SL65. Took a new 65 out for a test drive. After about 15 miles of driving, not hardly enough, these are my observations. Car felt very much like my 600 in the ride and handling departemnt. I use the higher tire pressures recommended by MB on my 600. I did not want to "hammer" the car as I was thinking about buying it but opened it up on the highway. From about 65MPH the accelleration felt about like my 600 although I only held this for about 3-4 seconds. I really do not like the ugly black steering wheel AMG requires you to have with the beautiful grey (Ash) interior. Found that a real turnoff. A new DVD Command Unit with better "button" control and that was about it. Oh yes, aggresive AMG wheels which I felt were ok. Did not knock me out.
Bottom line, the 65 was $185K. With my trade and tax it would have cost me $85K to buy the 65. Factor in a huge expected depreciation in 2 years of about $50K and the whole deal could have cost me $135.
Standing away from the 65 if It had my 600 wheels on it one would think it could be a 600. Not enough difference in the looks deparment. So much similarily to my 600 I just could not see the "value" of the thing. Yes its a lot quicker I am sure, especially from a standing start but my 2500 mile 600 is no slouch and it has a beautiful wood and leather covered steering wheel. Winner SL600. Money I would have spent on the 65 going toward a F430 or Murcielago and yes I know depreciation will really show its ugly face there, it alway does.

May be this is more of a UK spec thing, but I found a huge difference in the ride and handeling bettween the two. I had a 600 before this, and it was a brilliant car. But I wanted a sports GT with a bit of an attitude, and the 600 was a little to gentlemanly. It seemed to waft around the corners, and while pace was rapid, the feed back lacked the sharpness and directness that I get from the 65.

I like the 65 for the soul reason that it isn't so civilised and restrained as the 600. I have an S class for that type of driving, and I just wanted something a bit different.

Was thinking about trading my 04 SL600 for a 05 SL65. Took a new 65 out for a test drive. After about 15 miles of driving, not hardly enough, these are my observations. Car felt very much like my 600 in the ride and handling departemnt. I use the higher tire pressures recommended by MB on my 600. I did not want to "hammer" the car as I was thinking about buying it but opened it up on the highway. From about 65MPH the accelleration felt about like my 600 although I only held this for about 3-4 seconds. I really do not like the ugly black steering wheel AMG requires you to have with the beautiful grey (Ash) interior. Found that a real turnoff. A new DVD Command Unit with better "button" control and that was about it. Oh yes, aggresive AMG wheels which I felt were ok. Did not knock me out.
Bottom line, the 65 was $185K. With my trade and tax it would have cost me $85K to buy the 65. Factor in a huge expected depreciation in 2 years of about $50K and the whole deal could have cost me $135.
Standing away from the 65 if It had my 600 wheels on it one would think it could be a 600. Not enough difference in the looks deparment. So much similarily to my 600 I just could not see the "value" of the thing. Yes its a lot quicker I am sure, especially from a standing start but my 2500 mile 600 is no slouch and it has a beautiful wood and leather covered steering wheel. Winner SL600. Money I would have spent on the 65 going toward a F430 or Murcielago and yes I know depreciation will really show its ugly face there, it alway does.


You pay to play. Just got mine last night and I can see and tell the difference in the looks and performance wise.

No way it's really worth it to trade up. Pay to play at what cost? In the US there's no where you can drive to really tell the difference.

In a previous post I mentioned I traded out of my 600 for a Caddie XLR. Then Caddie comes out with an XLR-V with a lot more power and about 40K bigger price. Still now woth the minimal performance difference when I can smoke most high end roadsters anyways.