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View Full Version : Sport Auto Supertest: MB SL65 AMG


st-anger
02-05-2005, 01:53 PM
http://img182.exs.cx/img182/9035/file06279tz.th.jpg (http://img182.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img182&image=file06279tz.jpg)http://img182.exs.cx/img182/7734/file06287nu.th.jpg (http://img182.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img182&image=file06287nu.jpg)http://img182.exs.cx/img182/8489/file06293fs.th.jpg (http://img182.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img182&image=file06293fs.jpg)http://img182.exs.cx/img182/3816/file06305yx.th.jpg (http://img182.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img182&image=file06305yx.jpg)http://img226.exs.cx/img226/923/file06312bv.th.jpg (http://img226.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img226&image=file06312bv.jpg)
http://img226.exs.cx/img226/5935/file06320gg.th.jpg (http://img226.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img226&image=file06320gg.jpg)http://img226.exs.cx/img226/4901/file06330ea.th.jpg (http://img226.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img226&image=file06330ea.jpg)http://img218.exs.cx/img218/4010/file06345vc.th.jpg (http://img218.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img218&image=file06345vc.jpg)http://img218.exs.cx/img218/66/file06354jk.th.jpg (http://img218.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img218&image=file06354jk.jpg)

…just some key facts – inside the article they mainly talk about the engine…

NS:

the test car is an open version, so good for 300kmh, top speed at Döttinger Höhe is nearly 280kmh, but it couldn´t reach the SL55´s time because of weight – sure it has over 100hp more power than SL55 but especially at NS it´s better to have a light car and not one with 612hp but 2049kg!!! we can say – again - same “problem” as always, the ABC suspension is just not a proper suspension for a demanding track like NS, e.g. it doesn´t provide enough negative spring travel.
very annoying ESP system – even when switched off it re-activates when the car is driven at the limit.

HHR:

…here at a smooth track, it´s not a big problem that the ESP can´t be switched off completely, it hardly re-activates. no traction problems because of the 30% lim.slip diff. …
due to the weight understeering is a major problem…
brake pedal travel of the SBC brake is increasing after only two fast laps, with hot brakes it can only deliver 10,4m/s² deceleration…
with cold brakes it only needs 34.9m from 100kmh – quite impressive for a 2ton car…

acceleration/braking:

same time from 0-100kmh for the SL55 and 65, to 200kmh the SL65 is just 0,7sec faster…
nevertheless, 18,5 sec for the combined 0-200 and back from 200 to 0 ( 13,1 sec & 5,4 sec ) is definitely sports car level, here, the 5speed auto box harmonizes perfectly with the engine, fast gear changes, low torque converter transmission activities and a better manual mode, is good for 9 points…

aerodynamics:

even having larger cooling inlets, the cw-value isn´t worse than the one from the SL55, the ascending forces are on an average level but nothing to worry about.

max. lateral acceleration:

handling wise there´s no major difference between Sport and Comfort mode of the ABC suspension – only the continuous-travel comfort and suspension comfort is significantly decreasing. with only 1.1g´s the SL65 is definitely not good for the supercar league, again the weight is the main problem here…

36m slalom and 110m evasion test:

…again, although the steering is very good and precise the weight prevents really good results. and again the re-activation of the ESP system is kinda bad for reaching better times, the SL65 should therefore be driven slightly under the control range of the ESP…

wet handling:

even on wet pavement outstanding traction – even with ESP off – mainly because of the lim.slip diff. power oversteering is easily controllable…


any questions left don´t hesitate to ask… :wink:

Just_me
02-05-2005, 02:25 PM
any questions left don´t hesitate to ask… :wink:


Thanks for telling me, too bad no one have told me about the M5, SportAuto drove.

The price difference between SL55 and SL65 is huge. I have no idea why I want a SL65 over a SL55 when acceleration and trackperformance are so close between them. Waste of money? :roll:

noosee
02-05-2005, 03:13 PM
Nice car but whats the point if SL55 exists

1zippo1
02-07-2005, 06:23 PM
Nice car but whats the point if SL55 exists

True from the "pure car" point of view but you just have people who allways want just a little bit more I suppose!!

thx for the scans st-anger

szumszer
02-09-2005, 11:59 AM
nice, thanks, it is no surprise that SL55 is not much off SL65 numbers, what would be interesting is to see if SL600 is comparable to these two; back some months ago C&D tested an SL600 and recorded a 3.6 sec 0-60 mph time, i wonder if that number is reproducible in any way and how SL600 would perform against the SL's from AMG