SL-Class (R230) Mercedes R230 SL 55 AMG Acceleration and Top Speed

[Rolf]

This car is still one of my favorite SL models of all time as when it debuted in 2001 it literally blew away many supercars double its price.

324km/h top speed is incredible and look how fast it gets to that speed!

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[Mick Briesgau]

Great car @Rolf I once had the privilege to sit next to the driver in exactly this car, for at about 200 km drive. Though over 14 years ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday...

 

[Tarek]

Not to mention the engine sound of that Kompressor 5.5 V8..still one of the loudest and most muscular ones.

 

[DeDe]

A swiss customer car managed a GPS-verified topspeed of 318 kph in Nardo once. A year later it did 319...

Fantastic car indeed!

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Still my favourite generation of the SL. Beautifully designed. I would take the first facelifted SL65 AMG V12 version though........haha.

 

[Rolf]

Here is acceleration and high speed test for SL65 AMG, it hardly looks any quicker than the SL55.

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[sako97]

About 13 years ago (man time flies), I traded an early build Continental GT (worst car I've owned) for a CPO Diamond Silver SL55 and it was an absolute blast. The bassy & omnipresent exhaust, the power, the comfort, and the duality of being a GT and a Roadster made it the perfect car at the time.

For quite some time it was the prettiest car the under $200k and it had no fromidable rival.

After a year I parted ways with it only because I needed a practical 4 seater

Whenever I see one in good condition I begin to wax poetic. It also peeves me how MB completely missed the mark from the 2008 FL onwards - to the now very lackluster R231.

 

[WAND]

@sako97
"I traded an early build Continental GT (worst car I've owned)"
Can you give us more details about that ?

 

[klier]

This SL55, and the E55 AMG W211.

Legends.

Hope the next gen SL returns it to glory: great drive, great tech, great comfort, great quality, and great looks!!

 

[Yaz]

About 13 years ago (man time flies)

.

You took that shot in my neighborhood. That parking lot is a building now.


There's one I always see on 3rd and 20 something with a collapsed airmatic. But I always stare and admire it.

 

[sako97]

@sako97
"I traded an early build Continental GT (worst car I've owned)"
Can you give us more details about that ?

It was a MY2004 that was plagued with problems. I initially bought into of hype of the "new Bentley Coupé".

The engine would shut off spontaneously, particularly when sitting in traffic. Initially, the service claimed it was an issue with the O2 sensors, which were replaced. The issue persisted the day after I collected it from service. Then they claimed it was the alternators (I thought this was BS) and were replaced. A short while later the issue reappeared and it was determined that a turbo was faulty. This time when service was complete a tow truck collected the GT and delivered it 10 blocks away at the MB dealership, which I promptly traded in for the SL.

The old (poor) management of the NYC Bentley dealership refused to accept the fact that it was a lemon despite having spending a combined 30+ days at the service center.

Although everything was covered under warranty, the costs were astronomical. Whenever I see early Continentals I wonder if some owners are able manage service cost when even something minor inevitably goes wrong.

I also had issues with build quality typical of first model year cars - the passenger seat frame creaking and loose leather on the front seats (which was a common issue - Bentley addressed this with redesigned seats MY06+).

The best part of the ownership experience was driving an Arnage loaner for week. What a stately automobile

MY2008+ Bentley's are well-built and reliable, but I have zero interest.

 

[WAND]

@sako97
Thanks for sharing your experience. Appreciate it.

 

[lukeswiss]

Still one of my favourites. Whenever a potentially good example shows up I always go and have a look. Unfortunately lots have been abused. A first facelift black on black is all I need.

 

[Yaz]

Freddy got one:

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[lukeswiss]

They're so hard to find in Europe.

( I mean for a first facelift, in good condition)

 

[sako97]

They're so hard to find in Europe.

( I mean for a first facelift, in good condition)

Likewise in the states.. most can be found in shaddy car lots with either a chequered service history, some sort of body damage, or cheap aftermaket wheels. The examples in stellar condition are largely still owned by the original or second owners.

The only exterior modifications I'd make to a SL55/65 is SL63 LED tailights and SL63 rear spoiler.

 

[Kowalski]

Jeremy Clarkson once had a green SL 55.

 

[sako97]

Jeremy Clarkson once had a green SL 55.

Back in '02-'03, it seemed as if every celebrity had a SL55. The "it" car of those years with no real rival at it's price point, before the DB9, 6 Series, Gran Turismo, Continental GT, etc.

 

[Kowalski]

Back in '02-'03, it seemed as if every celebrity had a SL55. The "it" car of those years with no real rival at it's price point, before the DB9, 6 Series, Gran Turismo, Continental GT, etc.

This was Clarkson's very own SL 55 that was up for sale in
2014 Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson sells his Mercedes SL55 AMG | Daily Mail Online

Simon Cowell also had one.

And so did Steve Jobs

 

[Kowalski]

Freddy got one:

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My ears might have tricked me, but I think I heard him saying that the reason why he got it for so cheap is because it has a salvage title.