SLR [Official] McLaren Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss

[justanthony]

OK, I guess I'm the only one here that doesn't really like or see the purpose of this car. I'm sure it looks stunning in person, but I just don't GET the purpose of this car. What is it????.......a GT? a sports car? a daily driver? a track car? I really don't know!!......other than a REALLY expensive boulevard cruiser. At least with the Bugatti Veyron, I know what I'm getting......

No windshield.....that really bothers me. I can understand cars like the Ariel Atom or Caterham or X-bow that are more like dedicated track cars where the lack of a windshield is less of an issue because you're likely wearing a racing helmut. But this SLR variant aint' no track car.

I think this car will be bought by the ultra, ultra rich and be a trophy car for display. For me, the ultimate SLR is the 722 Edition Coupe.

Dont see the purpose?? Its NOT a C class you know. Nor a hybrid. Or whatever. Its a statement. A last hurrah. No point, the kind of which you speak. And ONLY 75 of. For those who can afford it. And want it. Its extreme. And badass. Thats what it is.

 

[Merc1]

All the press reports say it won't be sold here so why debut it here? Doesn't make sense. I can understand that there will be too much going on at Geneva (new E, S facelift) to debut it there, but they should have picked another European venue if it won't be sold here.

M

 

[martinbo]

A fitting epitaph for one of the great under-achievers of the supercarmmmumble-grumble-come-GT genre and I can see why so many of you do like it and should like it.

But I don't like it one bit. It's disgusting and vulgar and it looks like it ought to be on the set of Sky Captain.

And yeah, hit a rose beetle at 200 km/h and it'll take half your face off - so helmets are de rigeur.

 

[PanterroR]

A fitting epitaph for one of the great under-achievers of the supercarmmmumble-grumble-come-GT genre and I can see why so many of you do like it and should like it.

But I don't like it one bit. It's disgusting and vulgar and it looks like it ought to be on the set of Sky Captain.

And yeah, hit a rose beetle at 200 km/h and it'll take half your face off - so helmets are de rigeur.

My thoughts exactly! I don't like the car one bit. Who can afford it and likes it - fine, but i ain't one of those.

 

[MikeJ]

That SMART car is a concept model that never made production.

Nope, it was a limited-production model. There's currently 27 of them for sale on mobile.de for instance...

As for the SLR thingy, I'll join the can't-see-the-point club. If you want attention, the normal SLR will do the job nicely. Everything else that you could ask from a car, it probably does better than this thing, too.

 

[Centurion]

That SMART car is a concept model that never made production.

A car without a windscreen requires the occupants to wear helmuts just like motorbikes. That's why it is quite pointless. Futhermore, you're a brave man to drive one of these without a close-face helmet or goggles at the very least. A little stone or debris will be enough to cause significant facial damage.

It actually did make it to production some how because I saw on the road here in London for 4 months ago. I have no idea how the dude got his hands on one.

 

[coolraoul]

Like Mike said, the smart Crossblade made it into production. Limited production, yes, but production nonetheless. And it is of course allowed on the streets. And nobody needs a helmet while driving it, even above 100km/h.

I don't know for the SLR Moss, maybe if you plan to hit 350km/h you'll need one, but on regulat speeds you won't.

I disagree with those you said it's pointless. Having a supercar is by itself pointless, a Golf is enough. That car is crazy, it's all about passion, it doesn't need a purpose or a boot or anything. Ity's here to make us dream, to make us drool, not to carry the family to holidays with the dog and the grandma.

Just imagine: a cabrio SLR makes an insane noise. Just imagine this one...The feeling when you hit the throttle, with no windshield (only an aerodynamic one to prevent your face from beeing ripped off at the first big acceleration)... It must be crazy, completely crazy.

I love that. A carmaker who is crazy is a carmaker who still loves cars, still dreams, still has the means and willpower to do splendid cars, not only to win money by making cars like they could win money by making washing machines.

I love that car, I love that idea, I love the concept behind it: Dream.

 

[martinbo]

Artist really!!! I dig your passion but seriously dude you gotta take it easy.

This has nothing to do with this brand vs. that.

In my honest opinion and experience this is the automotive equivalent of the abomination. It's ugly, garish, overstyled, showboaty, retro-kitsch, ugly, messy, useless, crass, unjustifiable, ugly and erm, ugly. Doesn't matter what make of car it is.

This car deserves this kind of opinion - because, surely, not everyone can like such a gratuitous and socially reproachable middle-fingered salute. SL65 AMG BS - bravo Mercedes Benz! What a dramatic masterpiece...

This, this is equally dramatic... but in the opposite direction; it's dramatic like 30 Tequila shorts deciding to leave the stomach in one go.

No offense intended but I find this car offensive.

Just my opinion - that's all.

 

[DaSilva]

I have actually driven that Smart Crossblade car and it's great fun,
a friend of mine has one, and it's excellent for driving around...
I was actually asked when I sold my Smart that we made a change where I got the Crossbalde and they got my Roadster Coupe Brabus...

ANYWAY: Back to topic.. Stirling Moss

AAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAAAAAAAaAAAAAaH!

What a great supercar!
This is the recipe for a modern supercar!

The fact that Mercedes did it proves yet again their will to stay
on top. I love this supercar it's up there with the
Zonda, CCX Lambo, MC12 ++

Creds to Merc for making it!
and special Thanks to thread starter!


I would really really like to bee seen in one of those!

 

[EnI]

Yes, very great car ... Imagine driving this vehicle around the track at 300km/h, and then just a little tiny stone (or a bee) punch a hole in your head or neck.

This is not a usable car ... it's just a collecting item. So, it's not actually an auto-mobile but an auto-item.

 

[fortuner]

Yes, very great car ... Imagine driving this vehicle around the track at 300km/h, and then just a little tiny stone (or a bee) punch a hole in your head or neck.

This is not a usable car ... it's just a collecting item. So, it's not actually an auto-mobile but an auto-item.

eni i disagree this car is usable the person who buys this car can use it in which way he wants i have seen people driving amgs or m series bmws and they barely driving 100 km.h but its the car they chose they drive it how they want..

respect to mb for making such a great car i think this is a masterpiece off a car looks mindblowing this is for shure my dream car yes i can only dream for now..................

 

[EnI]

Yes, very usable car indeed ... It can be only driven in dry & sunny conditions, at max. 40mph - otherwise it's life threating. Unless driver & passenger wear helmet ... and use an umbrella.

To me an useless car is not even a real car. It's an item. A piece of (engineering) art, yes. An automobile, no.

It's more like cloning exhibition Concepts, and offer them for sale. IMO that's exactly what's done here.

 

[fortuner]

Yes, very usable car indeed ... It can be only driven in dry & sunny conditions, at max. 40mph - otherwise it's life threating. Unless driver & passenger wear helmet ... and use an umbrella.

To me an useless car is not even a real car. It's an item. A piece of (engineering) art, yes. An automobile, no.

It's more like cloning exhibition Concepts, and offer them for sale. IMO that's exactly what's done here.

Thats your view and i disagree with you totally.Before we no the 75 will be sold and the owners will love it and i love it i suppose eni for you it has the wrong badge lol......

 

[coolraoul]

You remember this?


A supercar does not need to have no windshield to be useless. No ground clearance, no boot, giantic turning circle, no comfort, super-noisy, often unreliable.

On track it's hyper-expensive, extremely dangerous if not driven by Michaël Schumacher or Walter Röhrl, and not necessarily faster than a more "regular" sportcar (F430 Scuderia faster than Enzo, GT2 faster than CGT)...

But who said dreams have to be everyday-friendly? Sure this Moss is not practical. Sure it needs sunny day. Sure it must be slightly uncomfortable without helmet above 300km/h. Sure the golfbag can't fit. Sure the grandma can't fit. Sure it has a small glovebox.

But does it matter? Is it really what it is about? Do you think the owner of an SLR plus this needs to take the Moss everyday when he needs to drive somewhere?

I'm sorry, the cars that we admired, the car that are in the books, are often the least practical of all.

But if we always were reasonable, mankind would still live in a grave and fight elefants by throwing stones (and not even shoes) at them. Man is powered by his passions. And it is the passion who makes life interesting.

This car's excessiveness is all it needs to justify its existence.

 

[justanthony]

Yes, very usable car indeed ... It can be only driven in dry & sunny conditions, at max. 40mph - otherwise it's life threating. Unless driver & passenger wear helmet ... and use an umbrella.

To me an useless car is not even a real car. It's an item. A piece of (engineering) art, yes. An automobile, no.

It's more like cloning exhibition Concepts, and offer them for sale. IMO that's exactly what's done here.

Eni stop being ridiculous. Its a totally stripped down track car. So what if it doesnt have a roof. You wear a helmet and drive as fast as you want. But hold on... lets just cancel F1 as well right?? I dunno where it says in the press release that it's a car for dashing to Walmart.
The car is a statement, a technological and engineering tour de force. Hell, they'll make ONLY 75, for EXTREMELY wealthy clients and people here are moaning like MB have said this is the new mode of transport for the middle class.
Anyone questioning the point of this car really should question their own reasoning not MB's. IF it makes you happy, the car has no point, that's the point, if you get my point. Seriously though, cars like this have no 'sane' point.
But lemme guess, i'm sure some here LUVED that 'pointless' concept from BMW that 'changes color or shape' that'll never see production right??

 

[Sunny]

I like this car for it's outrageous looks, but if it is a 'stripped out track car', it better have more than that.

 

[martinbo]

It's not a proper track car; Caterhams, GT3 RS's, Exiges and X-Bows are track cars. Heck even the SL65AMG BS is more of a track car than this.

I think you'll like Stirling Toss rocking up at a track day with this barge.

 

[justanthony]

It's not a proper track car; Caterhams, GT3 RS's, Exiges and X-Bows are track cars. Heck even the SL65AMG BS is more of a track car than this.

I think you'll like Stirling Toss rocking up at a track day with this barge.

Really?! I thought i read that it's numbers are right up there with the best of them. Also, isnt it 'stripped out' so it can 'bleed' every ounce of performance? I guess not then, maybe its just a 'stripped out' GT, with no roof...

 

[sako97]

Even More!

 

[coolraoul]

It's not a proper track car; Caterhams, GT3 RS's, Exiges and X-Bows are track cars. Heck even the SL65AMG BS is more of a track car than this.

I think you'll like Stirling Toss rocking up at a track day with this barge.

It surely is very very fast. It is stripped out and I think it's weight-to-power ratio must be prodigious. Some other cars are however even more impressive from that PoV, like the Catheram Levante (1000hp per ton, 0-100 under 3sec).

The Moss is not even made for that.

It's more a sculpture on wheels, a driveable piece of art, a rolling dream. Like it or not, it's down to everybody's taste.
But it's one of the most spectacular Unidentified Driving Object of modern times.

Questionning it's purpose is like asking what a paint is there for. Hell, they're not even useable as tables and too small to properly cover a wall...

One has to love MB for daring such things. They obviously make cars because they love making cars, not only to win money. Unlike the Schrempp-era Mercedes-Benz.