SLR Mercedes-Benz And McLaren Building The Last Of The SLR Supercars

[Cashmere]

I dont think there is any car on this planet which is without flaws. Irrespective of everyone's opionions, including motoring journalists, I still believe this is the most stunning machine on 4 wheels to ever flaunt the 3 pointed star.

Most important of all MB had the b@lls to make a production superhyper car ahead of its arch rivals without any nonsensical excuses while BMW were sucking their thumbs waiting for their F1 team to win a chamionship before they could consider a supercar. I wonder if they are still waiting??

Rather build a supercar even if it does have a few flaws then to not build one at all, afterall one has to make mistakes in order to rectify them.

 

[coolraoul]

I beg to disagree. It is not worth the star if it is not excellent. You can't say "let's make it even if it's rubbish", not when you are Mercedes-Benz. It's better to do nothing, than to do something and end up loosing credibility.

I have the feeling that MB somehow discredited themselves with that car, a car that has way more flaws than qualities.

Crazy how they could spent millions of $ for a carbon-fiber structure and end up heavier than the earth, design a stunning shape and use the steering of an A-Class, create the most complicated bonnet hinges ever and stick with a relatively low-grade supercharged low-revving V8, spend millions on a fancy top for the convertible, and have the most ancient automatic gearbox known to man...

This is the most compromised supercar ever. And it's not what it should've been remembered for.

Compared to a 300 SL Gullwing, the SLR is just a huge disappointment. And the SLS seems to be able to shame it even more.

 

[Centurion]

I have the feeling that MB somehow discredited themselves with that car, a car that has way more flaws than qualities.

The flaws you see, is the benefits spotted by another man. Poor handling can be attributed to Mercedes intentionally making the car usable as a daily driver. Somewhat like VAG did with the Veyron. It's supid fast but cannot be accredited as the best sportscar ever made. Both cars are show pieces for individuals who wants supercar looks and performance in a comfortable package. And the formula works. MB have managed to sell an impressive 2,000 cars while the Veyron is being driven about cities like London as if it's a VW Golf.

Where are the CGTs, Enzos and Zondas? Dusting in garages.

 

[martinbo]

Where are the CGTs, Enzos and Zondas? Dusting in garages.

Personal viewpoint. One could just as easily say that the CGTs, Enzos and Zondas are safely parked away under silky covers as befitting the highly sort after collectables that they already are.

My take on it is that supercars have to be special in everyway possible to qualify as bonafide examples of the genre. Not only are they an exercise in excess but they must also present the very best technology and dynamic prowess that a car maker can muster. Supercars are pinnacle cars - cars of the moment in terms of sheer technical sophistication or outright depth of ability. Take a Ferrari F40 or F50 as examples; the effort and spirit behind these cars is emphatically unambiguous. In its own way, the Veyron fits this bill perfectly too - after all it is the fastest car in formal production today.

Relative to the highly sophisticated, bespokely engineered, ultra-capable supercars of its era, the original SLR is a like a diesel grand coupe in comparison. So many concessions were made in the mechanical department that, for all but the die-hardest of fans who think exhaust bass is the be all and end all, the SLR does seem to come across as a half-arsed supercar in the end of it all.

The SLS is a precise example of pinnacle technology and a healthy dose of excess being combined in what is, without question, a car worthy of the breed.

I have an EVO mag back home with a very interesting article on supercar residuals. Interestingly, the Enzo, CGT and Zonda where all deemed as cars that now fetch higher resale values than their original purchase prices. The SLR? I can't remember but I have a feeling it suffers in the depreciation stakes. I stand to be corrected pending my read up on that article.

 

[Centurion]

The SLR? I can't remember but I have a feeling it suffers in the depreciation stakes. I stand to be corrected pending my read up on that article.

The SLR should suffer depreciations for the following reasons:

1. 2,000 produced units is more than twice the optimal number for a car of that calibre to appreciate in value.

2. Production just ended.

3. It has been manufactured over a span over 6 year and as time goes on, cheaper cars catch-up and cars like the SLR look more and more like a bad deal. Plus the car was never facelifted.

But the bottom line is supply and demand. SLR owners might not be too bothered about that considering the milages SLR owners have put on their car. It's a car developed to be used, not own or collect.

I can't say it's my favorite super car because the CGT is, but I do highly appreciate the SLR for what it is. It has served a good purpose although the pricing should have been more in the 599GTB region. Given the heavy use of CF the SLR should have been light too. But it's all forgivable because the design is absolutley top class, much more so than the SLS which is just a reiteration of a classic.

 

[Monster]

I have an EVO mag back home with a very interesting article on supercar residuals. Interestingly, the Enzo, CGT and Zonda where all deemed as cars that now fetch higher resale values than their original purchase prices. The SLR? I can't remember but I have a feeling it suffers in the depreciation stakes. I stand to be corrected pending my read up on that article.

Luckily I have the article on my desk, after 4 years and 12K miles the Enzo is worth 55% more than its original price, the CGT will lose about 24% of its value, the Zonda will appreciate by 8%, the Veyron will lose about 28% of its value. The SLR took the biggest hit, loosing 52% of its original value in the same period. From EVO 134

 

[martinbo]

Ok. So I was mistaken about the CGT appreciating in value, but at least right about the SLR.

Shot Monster you legend Aussie...

 

[Monster]

Ok. So I was mistaken about the CGT appreciating in value, but at least right about the SLR.

Shot Monster you legend Aussie...

I was just flicking through that mag this afternoon

Porsche made about 1500 CGT right? That is still a healthy number but I am sure it is a future classic, a period of 4 years isn't long enough to see the true value of the car.

 

[LaArtist]

SLR: 170K euro
CGT: 246K euro
Enzo: 800K euro
Zonda: 920K euro..

Thats the lowest prices on these out of production supercars in europe at this moment..

 

[Sunny]

I wonder where F1 is, probably a million+ if you can find one...

 

[Zafiro]

Incredible that the Enzo cost so much, not that its bad car.

 

[Nicks]

Nick, can you please calm down a bit in your responses, thanks.

No problem

first of all, cleeeaaarly you are either oportunistic or don't really know top gear well. A top gear review is to be read as a whole, not a quote, since they change arguments 3 times in 1 review.

The final point was that SLR is better car than F1 Mclaren. What else do you need? also it showed best time around their test track.

Secondly, Hammond, you know, the fit one, drove it in south africa and mentioned the points above.

He actually maid points about brakes feel and interior (so did Clarkson ), not a single bad word about gearbox, steering, driving around corners etc.
And i'm quoting: "it grips and handles like no other"

Crazy how they could spent millions of $ for a carbon-fiber structure and end up heavier than the earth

LP640 weighs more

use the steering of an A-Class,

you're wrong

The axle design bears the signature of experienced racing car developers, with double wishbone suspension at the front and rear. The lower struts are arranged so that, as the springs compress and when cornering at speed, the wheels have a negative camber. This ensures the best possible contact with the road in every situation. At the same time the axle technology prevents the front of the car from diving when braking heavily and the rear from diving when accelerating.

Aluminium was the key material for the developers of the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's suspension. The wishbones are made from forged aluminium, while the wheel mounts are cast in aluminium. In addition to a whole series of other advantages over conventional steel designs, the lightweight nature of the material allows the suspension to react significantly faster and to respond more sensitively.

The relatively long wheelbase (at 2700 millimetres) also contributes to the SLR's exemplary handling and makes itself noticed above all in the car's exemplary directional stability, while the large track width, combined with the low centre of gravity, allows high cornering speeds.

Springing/damping combinations at the front and rear axle and an anti-roll bar at the front complete the suspension structure. The anti-roll bar is positioned above the front axle and - as in Formula 1 - is controlled via rocker arms. This means that it does not take up any installation space which could impair the smooth line of the underbody - a vital factor when it comes to the sports car's outstanding aerodynamic properties.

The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion power steering also corresponds with the in-telligent lightweight concept. In comparison with other steering systems, this design is characterised by a significantly lower weight. Thanks to its low installation position in front of the engine and the gear ratio of 12.6, the steering system re-sponds directly to the driver's commands and carries them out with high precision. The three-spoke steering wheel has a diameter of 380 millimetres and is fitted with an electric motor which allows it to be positioned to suit the individual driver. It can be adjusted by 60 millimetres for reach, and the height of the steering wheel can be varied by 2.7 degrees

a relatively low-grade supercharged low-revving V8,

SLR - v8 5.5l 626 bhp 6500rpm, 780 N·m from 3250rpm
Carrera Gt - v10 5.7 612 bhp 8,000 rpm, 590 Nm from 5,750 rpm

I'm sorry but that mercs engine is better almost in every way

have the most ancient automatic gearbox known to man...

Not telling the truth again. The transmission is amg speedshift r, modified specialy for slr. Never heard any1 complaining about it

 

[Zafiro]

Nicks, you seem to be a huge fan and I mean a huuuge fan of SLR. Do you own a SLR? just curious

and regarding engine slr vs cgt, I simply dont agree. Highreeving engines are the most intresting engines in the world, untouchable.

 

[Nicks]

Nicks, you seem to be a huge fan and I mean a huuuge fan of SLR. Do you own a SLR? just curious

and regarding engine slr vs cgt, I simply dont agree. Highreeving engines are the most intresting engines in the world, untouchable.

Sadly,but i don't own it )
i'm just surprised how much negativity gets SLR for absolutely no reason

 

[Tarek]

i'm just surprised how much negativity gets slr for absolutely no reason

+1

 

[Shining Star]

Sadly,but i don't own it )
i'm just surprised how much negativity gets SLR for absolutely no reason

the car was just a fast,heavy roadster. While it certainly looked the part, the SLR's driving dynamics should've been way better for a $500,000 car.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

i'm just surprised how much negativity gets SLR for absolutely no reason

I completely agree. It is absolutely ridiculous how many haters the SLR has. Especially since I highly doubt anyone here could even build a car that could even match the SLR.

Not to mention that most people here (if not all) have NEVER driven the SLR. They are strickly going on what automotive journalist have said. Very sad. It really is....

 

[Sunny]

I completely agree. It is absolutely ridiculous how many haters the SLR has. Especially since I highly doubt anyone here could even build a car that could even match the SLR.

Not to mention that most people here (if not all) have NEVER driven the SLR. They are strickly going on what automotive journalist have said. Very sad. It really is....

lol, so we have to build a car before we criticize one? Haha, I guess I can't even criticize ass wipes by that standard.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

lol, so we have to build a car before we criticize one? Haha, I guess I can't even criticize ass wipes by that standard.

If that is what you took from my post, then so be it.

The issue is that saying the SLR is horrible, terrible compared to competitors and other comments makes your (meaning those who accused the SLR of being such things) posts completely invalid and irrelevant UNLESS you have actually driven the car.

It's the same thing as me saying the F1 drove horrible and had the drive of a go kart because I heard someone else say it.

Just like the current 5 series, I hate to see it and hated the design. That still didn't validate me to talk about the actual "drive" of the car. After test driving it then I would be valid in talking about it's handling and performance...because I actuall experienced the car for myself.

Sitting at your computer and bashing a car "driving ability" because of what you heard (not your actual driving experience) is pointless.

Drive the car yourself. I'm sure there is some way you could get behind the wheel of one. I'm sure Paris Hilton isn't using hers at the moment. It's far better then reading an article and depending on that to start an argument against the car.

Hearing these comments is almost laughable.

Lol...It's like talking bad about a Burger King sandwich taste that you haven't even tasted.

Yes, we are all guilty of bashing cars, but come on.

 

[Cashmere]

I guess I can't even criticize ass wipes by that standard.

so you dont wipe? how do you deal with the skid marks?