[RJC-1]

From what I've seen thus far MB did a nice job, although the stated power ratings are disappointing, the 55 should have the 63's 577hp and the 63 @ 677hp... especially at their price points and that they are AMG's.

[seakraken]

Originally Posted by RJC-1

From what I've seen thus far MB did a nice job, although the stated power ratings are disappointing, the 55 should have the 63's 577hp and the 63 @ 677hp... especially at their price points and that they are AMG's.

I briefly entertained the idea of the new AMG SL Roadster, but my local dealership asked for 50k ADM for a place in their waiting list. Also, at this price point, I'd expect MB to fix the ugly rear park bumpers/bumperettes on their US models. I hated them on my AMG C43 and looks like they are still present on the SL and the upcoming hardtop version of the convertible.

All in all, I've grown less and less excited about the current status of MB/AMG over the last couple of years (AMG GT Coupe was on my shortlist, but the US spec rear bumpers is a deal-breaker for me).

That said, I do think the AMG 4.0-liter V8 is one of the best sounding engines available on the market today.

[OCBimmerFam]

I ordered one which is coming in next month, an SL55 in black with red interior. Decided to just go with a new M850i convertible for now. Engine and performance numbers are similar for a lot less $$. Obviously, the Mercedes design and cabin are nicer in my opinion, but not worth the premium over the BMW. Dealer is selling it to me for $15k over so I may even try flipping it.

[dan boines]

I had considered the new AMG SL but I went with the M8 which has the Borg Warner 8 Speed Torque Converter transmission which has excellent all around drive ability. The SL has the 9 speed Multi clutch transmission which has a harsh 1 to 2 shift which is terrible around town.

[bloozemanAZ]

They are on my list for a potential 2024 replacement and hopefully by then things settle down on the ADM front.

[Van_bimmer]

It’s on my potential list for 2024/25…

Few things I DONT like:
In Canada, there is no SL55 available (yet?), which is a total joke. Only the SL63… which starts at $215cad. Ridiculously overpriced. I don’t know what makes it a whopping $50k more than a M8. They are on drugs with that price point, I don’t care about performance, how rare it will be, blah blah blah.
Not enough exterior colours available. No full leather option, no leather airbag cover on the steering wheel, that’s a bit of a miss.
If an SL55 is introduced at a palatable price, I will likely be a buyer.
The car is sleek and sexy looking, and I’m a sucker for SL’s having two retro classics currently.

[Ben_K]

I was considering an SL63 up until mid March. With the way things played out, I went with the M8 competition.

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by OCBimmerFam

I ordered one which is coming in next month, an SL55 in black with red interior. Decided to just go with a new M850i convertible for now. Engine and performance numbers are similar for a lot less $$. Obviously, the Mercedes design and cabin are nicer in my opinion, but not worth the premium over the BMW. Dealer is selling it to me for $15k over so I may even try flipping it.

Be careful MBUSA may blacklist you

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by dan boines

I had considered the new AMG SL but I went with the M8 which has the Borg Warner 8 Speed Torque Converter transmission which has excellent all around drive ability. The SL has the 9 speed Multi clutch transmission which has a harsh 1 to 2 shift which is terrible around town.

Geez, still plagued with this, when is MB finally going to outsource their gearboxes?

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by bloozemanAZ

They are on my list for a potential 2024 replacement and hopefully by then things settle down on the ADM front.

From overblown housing values to wacko ADM's on cars and other big-ticket items, there's just been way too much $ out there, much of it a byproduct of COVID stimulus unnecessarily or even fraudulently induced, and many wonder why there's been so much inflation lol sigh...

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by RJC-1

From overblown housing values to wacko ADM's on cars and other big-ticket items, there's just been way too much $ out there, much of it a byproduct of COVID stimulus unnecessarily or even fraudulently induced, and many wonder why there's been so much inflation lol sigh...

Can't speak to the COVID stimulus fraudulently or not as I don't count in that world (and guessing 99% of the forum members as well). That said inflation is a reality and increasing interest rates that my friends in the mortgage brokerage world are now dealing with it. Perhaps call me lucky or more so carefully planned but inflation is on my lowest of the lows for consideration to impact my life now or even 20 years into the future.

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by bloozemanAZ

Can't speak to the COVID stimulus fraudulently or not as I don't count in that world (and guessing 99% of the forum members as well). That said inflation is a reality and increasing interest rates that my friends in the mortgage brokerage world are now dealing with it. Perhaps call me lucky or more so carefully planned but inflation is on my lowest of the lows for consideration to impact my life now or even 20 years into the future.

The fraud is well known and well documented, here's a snippet:

They came into their riches by participating in what experts say is the theft of as much as $80 billion — or about 10 percent — of the $800 billion handed out in a Covid relief plan known as the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. That’s on top of the $90 billion to $400 billion believed to have been stolen from the $900 billion Covid unemployment relief program — at least half taken by international fraudsters — as NBC News reported last year. And another $80 billion potentially pilfered from a separate Covid disaster relief program.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...n-ppp-n1279664

My point is, take away the squillion$ in covid stimulus/theft, and things like the ADM's, insane housing prices and uber inflation overall would never have approached these levels.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by RJC-1

The fraud is well known and well documented, here's a snippet:

They came into their riches by participating in what experts say is the theft of as much as $80 billion — or about 10 percent — of the $800 billion handed out in a Covid relief plan known as the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. That’s on top of the $90 billion to $400 billion believed to have been stolen from the $900 billion Covid unemployment relief program — at least half taken by international fraudsters — as NBC News reported last year. And another $80 billion potentially pilfered from a separate Covid disaster relief program.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/biggest-fraud-generation-looting-covid-relief-program-known-ppp-n1279664

PPP was an absolute debacle and have watched it unfold with $ reclaimed, jail sentences, etc. Here's the key, i.e., if one is intelligent and can find a loophole (legally) they will take advantage of the situation. So for everyone caught in their stupidity I'm guessing the smart ones are still laughing at taking advantage of the situation.

That said being educated (along with a life long friend who is an estate attorney) I took advantage of every loophole possible to settle my family's estate. I was the executor and can guarantee we walked away with more (all legal) than those that are not educated or willing to pay for a high powered attorney literate in the space.

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by Van_bimmer

It’s on my potential list for 2024/25…

Few things I DONT like:
In Canada, there is no SL55 available (yet?), which is a total joke. Only the SL63… which starts at $215cad. Ridiculously overpriced. I don’t know what makes it a whopping $50k more than a M8. They are on drugs with that price point, I don’t care about performance, how rare it will be, blah blah blah.
Not enough exterior colours available. No full leather option, no leather airbag cover on the steering wheel, that’s a bit of a miss.
If an SL55 is introduced at a palatable price, I will likely be a buyer.
The car is sleek and sexy looking, and I’m a sucker for SL’s having two retro classics currently.

+1

[RJC-1]

An interesting take, although some of the points I don't agree with/are not fully accurate, the verdict makes some sense:

https://www.carsguide.com.au/bmw/m8/...-benz-sl-class

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by bloozemanAZ

PPP was an absolute debacle and have watched it unfold with $ reclaimed, jail sentences, etc. Here's the key, i.e., if one is intelligent and can find a loophole (legally) they will take advantage of the situation. So for everyone caught in their stupidity I'm guessing the smart ones are still laughing at taking advantage of the situation.

That said being educated (along with a life long friend who is an estate attorney) I took advantage of every loophole possible to settle my family's estate. I was the executor and can guarantee we walked away with more (all legal) than those that are not educated or willing to pay for a high powered attorney literate in the space.

Legal loopholes are one thing, but the fraud #'s speak for themselves, and we the legitimate taxpayers paid for this. I looked at the list of those individuals and companies that received PPP and was shocked at who/what I saw. The sales manager for my local Lamborghini dealership shared several stories of people coming into the dealership literally right after their PPP funds came in bragging about how they got one over the gov and bought their most expensive cars...not cool.

[hinckley]

Back to the topic at hand . . . I was really looking forward to considering the new SL as well, but as others have said, the price point is way off. You need the 63 to approach the M8's performance, and for the price of the 63, no one in their right mind would choose it over a 911. Too bad. I really like the styling, the size and the much lower weight of the SL. But Mercs have always been overpriced compared to BMWs and people are still drawn to the brand.

[Ben_K]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Back to the topic at hand . . . I was really looking forward to considering the new SL as well, but as others have said, the price point is way off. You need the 63 to approach the M8's performance, and for the price of the 63, no one in their right mind would choose it over a 911. Too bad. I really like the styling, the size and the much lower weight of the SL. But Mercs have always been overpriced compared to BMWs and people are still drawn to the brand.

I had loyalty to Mercedes until this last Spring, 4 vehicles in 12 years. Corporate Mercedes, for whatever reason, took forever to release the SL63. My local dealership had gone through an ownership change. The people I was working with moved over to BMW, not leaving any quality people at Mercedes. This is what got me to looking at the M8. I am definitely a happy camper with my new M8.

[Vic55]

Im trying to get back to Benz (its been 4 plus years since my 2018 E63S). I wallowed for a while around the GT63S but ulimately took the M8 but the SL has re-piqued my car manhood for AMG.

Locally and the ADM is 35k --- someone will buy it. Its a good looking car for sure and I did enjoy my 2013 SL63 so this can only be exponentially better.

Must Drive, Must Drive...

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by Vic55

Im trying to get back to Benz (its been 4 plus years since my 2018 E63S). I wallowed for a while around the GT63S but ulimately took the M8 but the SL has re-piqued my car manhood for AMG.

Locally and the ADM is 35k --- someone will buy it. Its a good looking car for sure and I did enjoy my 2013 SL63 so this can only be exponentially better.

Must Drive, Must Drive...

That SL looks really nice ^ Go for it!
A new 17 S Coupe was my most recent MB
Glad you got the M8 over the fugly GT63S, no comp.
I am hearing there's still issues (harsh down shifting) with MB gearboxes both AMG and non, that's rather disconcerting

[RJC-1]

Originally Posted by hinckley

You need the 63 to approach the M8's performance, and for the price of the 63, Too bad. I really like the styling, the size and the much lower weight of the SL.

That has been the biggest dissuasion factor for me as well, even the M850 is a better bang for the buck comp'd to the 55, but the SL sure is purdy

[Vic55]

Originally Posted by RJC-1

That SL looks really nice ^ Go for it!
A new 17 S Coupe was my most recent MB
Glad you got the M8 over the fugly GT63S, no comp.
I am hearing there's still issues (harsh down shifting) with MB gearboxes both AMG and non, that's rather disconcerting

Dont get me wrong the GT63S handled excellent but you need brilliant roads and the MCT tranny really has left me yearning for more over the years (had quite a few). The lack of fluidity up and down the gears (you mentioned to that effect) always made me wonder why Benz didnt program it better with their TCU. The main deal breaker was the incredibly painful kidney punching ride and even the sonorous exhaust couldnt make up for it. Of course I only considered one with the full aero kit which created a very polarizing look.

Irony, I had a 2017 C63S Coupe ... lots of funny and a riot on the streets; I just grew tired of it.