First of all I know the SL55 is faster than the V but I had to see how much faster... The SL looked great, it was eigther new or it had just been detailed and the top was down. The guy driving it was eigther in a rush, excited with the new car or just an agressive driver so I knew he'd go if I provoked him a bit :p . So I race past him in 3rd to get his attention and maybe 10 seconds later I see him nail it from about 70 - 100 ft. behind me. I was in 4th AC was off and downshifted to 3rd (approx. 5500rpm). I can tell that he's gaining real fast by the time I shift into 4th (nailed it by the way) and lets just say I didn't pull on him like the M3, in fact he started to steam on by at about 90 - 100mph but alas another car was in his way. I was going to get a serious beat down, which I expected and this was from a roll... forget about off the line :eek: .

OTHER info: AC was off, it was 60 degrees F, and I had a bit more than 3/4 of a tank of gas and two golf bags in the trunk.

The important point and moral of the story is YOU HAD FUN! :lildevil:

So what he would have been crawling up you @$$, his car did not sound better, did not feel better, MAY have looked better (but i doubt it) :canttalk:

Lets just say the V ROCKS! :worship:

a supercharged sl55 puts down 469 hp. according to motor trend, they are about a full second faster on the quarter mile than the V, and only 6-7 tenths faster to 60. if you can attain factory acceleration (4.6 0-60, 13.0 1/4), then the V will be much closer, but still fall short by about a half second. that said, any supercharged vehicle putting down that much power is going to pull pretty well.

now if you put a "modest" blower on your V... :lildevil: :lildevil: :lildevil:

Is anyone planning on SC their V with a roots type or ATI style blower?

I just wanted to add that the SL55's exhaust could have been modified. While I was behind him at the light I could clearly hear his exhaust burbling?

That's how the AMGs sound my biz partner almost pulled the trigger on an E55 and I test drove the CL55. You can definitely feel the power at throttle and the thing gets going FAST (the E55 and SL55 are the 2 fastest 55-series AMGs, no idea whether the 65s are faster) in no time at all. E55 and SL55 should be running 11s with no modifications. A pulley and some other work (chip I guess?) and they cruise. But yeah they would get eaten on a road course with tight turns. Only reason I would consider the E55 is because the V doesn't yet come in SMG. The interior fit & finish on the CL55 I drove was very nice, and the E500 was nice as well.

a supercharged sl55 puts down 469 hp. according to motor trend

According to my 2005 AMG brochure, the SL 55 has 493 hp, 516 lb-ft of torque and does 0-60 in 4.5 secs.

The E 55 is the one with 469 hp, also with 516 for torque and also 4.5 to 60 mph

SL 65 is the beast. Twin rurbo V12 604 hp, 738 torque and 0-60 in 4.2 secs.

Like Ralph said the 65 is the one you have to look out for. If you search it on the Motor Trend web site you can find all the info these cars. The E55 runs a 12.69 1/4 mile and the SL55 only runs a 13.0 flat. A slightly modified V could run with either of these two but I thought I saw the 65 run int 11's???
-Sean

Now the question must be asked - how much do the 55 & 65 cost?

Now the question must be asked - how much do the 55 & 65 cost?

As the old saying goes " if you have to ask....."

Respectfully, you're missing my point - they have to be 20K to 30K more than a V, right? Can you imagine what that amount of money would do to a V (if put into mods?)

$85k for an E55 with the same equipment as the V. Starts at 79.9k I believe.

SL55 is into the $120-130k range if I'm not mistaken. It STARTS at 122k, and that is without xenon etc, as all benzes are. SL65 is a whopping 180k MSRP. CL65 is 1k cheaper.

From the E55 boards stock cars run in the high 11s often. Not sure why MT is unable to match owner times on a stock car, who knows. The cars have a lot of power and can put it to the ground in a straight line very effectively.

But a V with a 447ci and a blower would still be barely cheaper than an E55, and would basically smoke anything on the road other than 447ci blown Z06s. :lildevil:

Respectfully, you're missing my point - they have to be 20K to 30K more than a V, right? Can you imagine what that amount of money would do to a V (if put into mods?)

So now you have an $80,000 Cadillac and no warranty, the fastest thing about that car will be the depreciation. Somehow in my book that's a poor comparison to an E55, but hey, I guess I missed your point.

The Benz accomplishes what a modded V does without voiding any warranties and without knowing how to turn a wrench. (good for us guy's that are mechanically challanged and I know I'm not the only one here) Yeah, it costs 80 grand, but for a stock 4 door 11 second car that's the going rate.

Agreed, the V would end up costing you more money in the long run, your ROI would be meager at best. E55s retain value very well.

All depends if you just want ridiculous speed with or without good handling and that nice american torque.

Spend 60k or more on a car and depreciation is gonna kick your a$$ no matter what the car....

Spend 60k or more on a car and depreciation is gonna kick your a$$ no matter what the car....
unless you are fortunate enough to purchase a f50/enzo... the price goes up instead of down

According to my 2005 AMG brochure, the SL 55 has 493 hp, 516 lb-ft of torque and does 0-60 in 4.5 secs.

The E 55 is the one with 469 hp, also with 516 for torque and also 4.5 to 60 mph

SL 65 is the beast. Twin rurbo V12 604 hp, 738 torque and 0-60 in 4.2 secs.


that should be for the new SL 55 amg...i was going by the 2004 motor trend that was covering the 02' SL 55 .

still a freak of a car though.

still a freak of a car though.

True, until it breaks down and they charge about 5 times more for parts over a Cadillac. I've posted good links on that. :D

Modern Cadillac parts are no cheaper than Merc parts.... AND mechanics dont want to work on either car....

Modern Cadillac parts are no cheaper than Merc parts.... AND mechanics dont want to work on either car....

Really, the last time I checked GM didn't charge $3550 for 2 cat converters! $1500 each (U.S.Currency)

p.s. "Merc" is MERCURY. MB, Benz or Mercedes is MERCEDES BENZ. :shhh:

CLICK ML class and go 4 down:enjoy!

http://www.mercedes-benz-usa.com/mlclass.php

p.s. "Merc" is MERCURY, MB, Benz or Mercedes is MERCEDES BENZ. :shhh:


:histeric:
It's funny you'd say that because I was thinking the same thing when I originally posted (almost called it a Merc SL55). Someone should put a MERCury racing 1075hp big block in their V :lildevil: .
http://www.mercurymarine.com/1075sci

This is also partially unrelated to this thread: I saw a Lotus Elise in light Blue this afternoon in Newtown Sq, PA. And back in late June the porsche dealer across the street got a black Carrera GT. It's bar far the coolest sounding car I've ever heard in person :D (I have pictures on my cell phone that I'll try to post). It was shipped to Colorado in an all black extended trailer that looked like a landscaping equipment trailer. My brother looked inside and an Aston Martin and Laborghini were there as well. Yes, the guy who drove into the trailer stalled a few times . :banghead:

:histeric:
It's funny you'd say that because I was thinking the same thing when I originally posted (almost called it a Merc SL55)


I know what you mean, and it just doesn't sound right. Some guys were calling the Fleetwoods FWD's which was confusing because it could also mean front wheel drive. We straightened them out. :lildevil:

I don't get to this section too often but I was wondering, is there any talk of offering the CTS-V with an automatic transmission in the future? I was curious because the Corvette ZO6 can be had with your choice, why can't they offer it for a luxury car? I think all the MB's have automatics.

Automatic in a "V"...........Heaven Forbid.......The Horror!! :blasted:

I know what you mean, and it just doesn't sound right. Some guys were calling the Fleetwoods FWD's which was confusing because it could also mean front wheel drive. We straightened them out. :lildevil:

I don't get to this section too often but I was wondering, is there any talk of offering the CTS-V with an automatic transmission in the future? I was curious because the Corvette ZO6 can be had with your choice, why can't they offer it for a luxury car? I think all the MB's have automatics.

Corvette Z06s are not available with a slushbox.

If must have an auto, buy a STS-V.

Despite what people are saying the V needs an SMG. The M3 sells well because it has that option, and even though it's a poor substitute for a manual in most opinions, in my experience it's bearable at least and very fast at best.

And from my experience so far Cadillac parts are very reasonable for the V and service is not outrageous.

Really, the last time I checked GM didn't charge $3550 for 2 cat converters! $1500 each (U.S.Currency)

p.s. "Merc" is MERCURY. MB, Benz or Mercedes is MERCEDES BENZ. :shhh:

CLICK ML class and go 4 down:enjoy!

http://www.mercedes-benz-usa.com/mlclass.php

No, but how about $5000 to change a headgasket (timeserts are extra and no guarantee that it will be good), or $250 for a remote keyless transmitter ($40 for a buick), or $285 for sparkplugs and wires, or $85 for a kit to put your rain-sensor back on. GM does have cheaper parts on average than Mercedes-Benz, but unfortunatly they dont use these low cost parts in Cadillacs. (All Canadian Currency)

PS If you go to a Mercedes forum you will find that many people call them Mercs, and these days it seems there are more mercedes on the road than mercury anyway...

and these days it seems there are more mercedes on the road than mercury anyway...

Not in Saskatchewan, all I see are those '89-99 Grand Marquis and maybe a couple of MB's a month. Remember, you live in a rich Province because your Provincial govt. lets the wealth trickle down the taxpayer in the form of reduced taxes, grants to build, etc. We have enough natural resources here but the NDP are crooks and make many bad investiments that the taxpayers have to bail them out all the time! Therefore increased taxes=less expensive cars!

I know that Cadillacs cost more for parts and service than a Pontiac or Chev, etc. In fact, they even advertize in the paper for our dealership that "Cadillacs and Vans extra." (for tune ups) However, I think if you check around, Cadillac parts are a bit cheaper than the upscale European parts. Labour is high for anything nowadays.

Not in Saskatchewan, all I see are those '89-99 Grand Marquis and maybe a couple of MB's a month. Remember, you live in a rich Province because your Provincial govt. lets the wealth trickle down the taxpayer in the form of reduced taxes, grants to build, etc. We have enough natural resources here but the NDP are crooks and make many bad investiments that the taxpayers have to bail them out all the time! Therefore increased taxes=less expensive cars!

I know that Cadillacs cost more for parts and service than a Pontiac or Chev, etc. In fact, they even advertize in the paper for our dealership that "Cadillacs and Vans extra." (for tune ups) However, I think if you check around, Cadillac parts are a bit cheaper than the upscale European parts. Labour is high for anything nowadays.


There are definatly more MB than Grand Marquis around here, The ones that are here usually have Saskachewan plates on them.:confused: As far as parts go I agree that the Cadillac parts are a bit less pricey than MB, but not signifigant enough to make the Caddy more attractive on a service stand-point. (Even though there is a GM dealership in every $hit town, yet most of the "technicians" dont want touch it) :(