Hi..I just raced an SL500, I dont know exactly the year but my friend said that maybe around 95/96. Well anyway, Im not sure which one of us wins coz I have to exit immediately.
I know that the car has approx. 350hp but my friend said that the body was heavy and it decreases the accel. So I decided to race it.
Well, do any of you guys know about this SL500?

 

My parents have one. A 97. It would smoke a G at any speed, especially high end.

2003.5 G Coupe premium. 6MT Black/black
Come join the G35Driver chat on EFnet. Channel name is #G35Driver. Catch me on aim (Xtreme03s10) if you need help setting up mIRC.

 

The SL500 latest generation is slower than 6MT. It's not too big on HP for the engine size, and it's carrying 4300 lbs..

The SL55 on the other hand will walk us.

Black / Black 2004 GcoupeMT. Premium. Splash Guardz.

 

One of my best friends had a 97 and I drove it a few times. Same car as the 95/96.

That generation SL used the tried-and-true MB 5L V8 that's good for around 330 hp, that might not seem so much for such a heavy car (just over 4000 lbs) but it's a very torquey engine with grunt all across the powerband -- the peak torque of that engine starts down around 2500 rpm or so -- and the curve stays pretty flat up to redline.

At almost 600 pounds less weight but with around 50 less hp, the G ends up having close to the same power-to-weight ratio as the Benz. But with the SL's big bottom-end torque he could just punch it from cruising speed whereas you would have to drop a gear (or two) to get into the G's higher powerband. But once you did that, you're probably looking at a driver's race.

The SL's 0-60 and 1/4 miles are almost the same as the G's. That car (mid-90's SL500) has a mid-14's quarter-mile and a mid-to-high 5 sec 0-60 (I'll guess around 5.7, 5.8). Roughly the same as the stock G's.



2004 G35C 6MT + Nav, Silverstone

 

R129 > SL 500 Gasoline 4966 306
1995 4966 displacement and 306 hps www.benzworld.org

 

Yeah, I was going by memory. Sorry, my mistake -- if I look it up it's 306- 320hp depending on the source and the model year (why the discrepancies I'm not sure).

However I just looked up the quarter mile and 0-60 times, and they say:

0-60
5.8 sec. for the 2001 SL500,
5.9 sec. for the 1989 SL500
(both use the same 5.0 L V8 as the mid-90's SL's)

1/4 miles of 14.4 sec. for both.



2004 G35C 6MT + Nav, Silverstone

 

By the way, here's the source for performance data.
If you scroll down using the quarter-mile times until you get to the mid-14's -- the 2001 and 1989 500SL's are listed there.
(But they don't cite their sources, so I'm not sure how accurate this list is...)

<A HREF="http://www.syclone.freeserve.co.uk/rivals.htm">quarter-mile and 0-60 master list</A>




2004 G35C 6MT + Nav, Silverstone

 

From my limited experience with my friend's '97 500SL, I'd agree with your take on the SL roadsters. Gotta love that three-pointed star for their torquey V8... But I'd agree with ya on the G -- our car still feels more intense and raw, plus it sounds way better. (Only the big 5.5L AMG V8's sound nearly as good!)

In the handling department we'd certainly win hands down too. That's the other problem with the Benzes -- there's that little layer of softness/ cushioning between you and the road, which the G (and also the BMW's) overcomes with a real "sense of the road" and immediacy (especially in the steering)-- but without sacrificing comfort.

Somehow Infiniti, BMW and Acura seem to get that right, whereas Mercedes and Lexus (I've found) can't seem to get that part quite right (or maybe don't want to...)


-metasystem

(...okay maybe the IS 300 does it better than the older Lexus cars, but still not nearly as good as the G ;-)


2004 G35C 6MT + Nav, Silverstone

 

Im tellin you, the SL500 is alot faster than they say it is. I raced my friend 02 A4 z28 with it. He could not get away from me, and at highway speeds, he couldnt even get by me. Don't underestimate that motor. Same race, my M6 vs my friends modded M6 Z28....4th gear was unbelieveable, I felt like I wasn't moving and he pulled on me instantly once we hit 4th. Now, I know hes not stock, but you didnt see him pulling. If you did, youd understand. If your gonna race the SL, do not race it from a roll....your only hope is launching on him, which I dont see being too possible because of his torque advantage. Pretty much, its not a drivers race, its luck if you beat him.

2003.5 G Coupe premium. 6MT Black/black
Come join the G35Driver chat on EFnet. Channel name is #G35Driver. Catch me on aim (Xtreme03s10) if you need help setting up mIRC.

 

I agree with EX250, from a rolling start a SL will take a G35 and it wont be pretty. From a dead start a good driver with a 6mt should fair well against a Sl500. Dont waste your gas on a SL55.. with ASR off you will be left in a plum of smoke.. The SL55 is one of the most incredible cars on the road.
There really is no comparison to a SL and a G35...
Id like to know if anyone has raced a C32, that would be a better comparison .

 

How about a Supercharged G35C vs a SL55? That would be really interesting.

 

G35 still wouldnt have a prayer. Sl55 runs the 1/4 in 12.55!
The thing is a SL500 or SL55 SHOULD beat a G35 they cost 3 times what a G does!
I am happy with my G's speed.... Its plenty fast for me!

 

It doesn't matter whose faster but the SL is just a pimp car period. I'd take it anyday.