Article Comments - 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 First Drive

7 messages, Last post on Dec 17, 2008 at 10:37 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Convertible

First Drive: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 - First Impressions: Still a unique combination of very-high-performance sports car and luxury roadster, only better.(more)

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#5 of 7 Re: Love lost... [orkman2072] by p0926 Apr 19, 2008 (11:23 am)
Replying to: orkman2072 (Apr 12, 2008 4:50 am) "this thing looks like a Chrysler!" Dang you're right! However, in my book that's not a good thing. When you build a $100k car, the last thing you want is for potential customers to think it looks like a $30k car. I think MB missed the mark on this design. To me it looks less masculine than before. After all, how many guys do you know who drive Chyrsler convertibles? -Frank
#6 of 7 Chrysler???????? by richardga73 Oct 31, 2008 (4:43 pm)
Are you clowns crazy???? Let me understand, the design guys at Mercedes are sitting around thinking to themselves: hmmmmm we are reskinning the flagship model of the finest cars in the world and hmmmm lets make our exquisite convertible more like the famous Chrysler sebring. Yeah, we got a memo from our bankrupted partner Chrysler (deservedly so, by the way) who through their famous and successful designs themselves (like the K car and the sebring itself) suggested that if we make our $100K gorgeous car more like their pieces of american sh-- maybe we can inspire people to buy more of their backlog still on their lots. The very idea that MB would pattern their flagship after a piece of junk is ludicrous.
#7 of 7 My own impressions of the 2009 SL550. by grove2 Dec 17, 2008 (10:37 am)
First let me say that the Edmunds professional review is right on the mark. The car is exactly as described. The review has managed to convey this automobile's very essence. I have owned mine for less than 1 month, having traded in my 2006 SL500. I noticed big differences immediately. The 382 horsepower vs the 2006's 300 makes a big difference in responsiveness. Furthermore, cruising in the new car at 100 km/hr, the engine revs seem much lower. The car is quieter and the ride smoother. Like the man said, the ride feels like an S class sedan, yet the cornering if flat and it handles like a dream. There are two optional packages, the "sport package" and the "premium package". Between the two, you get every option you could imagine and then more. I am still discovering things I hadn't even known I had bought! Take the stereo, for instance. I can listen to regular AM/FM in Logic7 surround sound, tune in the Sirius satellite radio, play directly from my iPod, or listen to MP3s though a USB stick or an SD card. The sound system connects automatically to my Bluetooth cellular phone and the whole thing is controlled by vocal commands understood by voice recognition software. The seats are heated, air conditioned, pneumatically bolstered and even blows warm air over your neck in cool whether. But mentioning these toys doesn't do justice to the car. Like the Edmunds review says, it is unlikely that you are ever going to see the performance limits of an SL550. (I owned the SL500 for 3 years and I don't recall ever activating the ESP system to circumvent loss of control.) I simply don't have the courage to throw a vehicle this expensive around to the degree necessary to exceed its performance parameters. This summer, I'm considering joining a performance driving club to gain access to the local racetrack, where I may be able to reach those limits without fear of smashing the car or getting arrested! The car is beautiful, elegant, fun to drive, comfortable and exciting. BTW, I test drove the 2009 SL63 AMG. That one has 516 horsepower and a novel 7 speed multi-clutch transmission with multiple sports modes. Let me tell you, the 0-100 km/hr 4 sec acceleration is exciting, but the engine is noisy and the shift changes are fast but rough. Do I really want to wake up my neighbors every morning with an exhaust note that can be heard two blocks away? I'm a car enthusiast with a graduate degree, not a high school motor-head. If they took that performance and made it seem and sound more effortless, I think the market would respond. Regards, Michael