SL65 test ride

[wings700]

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.

[finally_retired]

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.

[VIPER65]

Originally Posted by wings700

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.

[J Rainey]

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.