SL55 vs. SLK55

in2dwww · 01-02-2007

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**-1-** · 01-03-2007

Great video and comparison. I'd take the SLK 55 hands down over the SL 55. Just can't ignore the look of that beautiful SLK 55. Price helps.

**Woolly** · 01-03-2007

VBH would 'rather walk round the track, than drive an SLK'

It would be good to see a similar comparison, but undertaken by someone who can drive.

DansSlk · 01-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolly

VBH would 'rather walk round the track, than drive an SLK'

It would be good to see a similar comparison, but undertaken by someone who can drive.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I don't see the complaint about the seats either plenty of women have driven mine and nobody's said anything about it, i am using it quite often at the moment to get some miles on it and they are perfectly fine with me so long as you don't plan any long trips

**Ynot** · 01-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I don't see the complaint about the seats either plenty of women have driven mine and nobody's said anything about it, i am using it quite often at the moment to get some miles on it and they are perfectly fine with me so long as you don't plan any long trips

It's a know fact that VBH doesn't have anything positive to say about Mercs, it's no surprised.

DansSlk · 01-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ynot

It's a know fact that VBH doesn't have anything positive to say about Mercs, it's no surprised.

Yeah she's part of the Honda gang

Still_JM · 01-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I don't see the complaint about the seats either plenty of women have driven mine and nobody's said anything about it, i am using it quite often at the moment to get some miles on it and they are perfectly fine with me so long as you don't plan any long trips

How long of a drive is too long?

Los Angeles to Vegas is about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Is that too long of a drive with the sport lumbar type seat?

mtiede · 01-04-2007

I feel the seats are comfortable for long trips. Did 6 hours in one day at end of last year. Was ready for more...

DansSlk · 01-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still_JM

How long of a drive is too long?

Los Angeles to Vegas is about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Is that too long of a drive with the sport lumbar type seat?

No that should be OK you might be a little sore afterward if your back's not too great but thats about it.

I was thinking 6,7,8 hours.

I am talking about the 55 here by the way from mtiede's post above it looks like the 350 is more comfortable

heezyo2o · 01-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolly

VBH would 'rather walk round the track, than drive an SLK'

It would be good to see a similar comparison, but undertaken by someone who can drive.

I would rather have Tiff do the comparison, but I think VBH is a good driver. Can't blame her for letting her opinion and preferences be known.

I'd have to agree with VBH, that when hustling the car around, that "things" do get in the way.

**FishtailnZ** · 01-05-2007

Pretty good showing though for a car that costs considerably less - close enough on the track for it to be a drivers race seems to me.

DansSlk · 01-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishtailnZ

Pretty good showing though for a car that costs considerably less - close enough on the track for it to be a drivers race seems to me.

Agreed mate

RacerCub68 · 01-05-2007

I agree with her, the SLK55 has WAY too much understeer. The V6 SLK's with sport suspensions have a much better handling feel. (I have no 030 SLK55 expierence however.)

The SL just feels like it handles better because it has a longer wheelbase and is less nose heavy then the SLK. I also think she is biased, as the SL has much of the same limitations, like tranction control you can not turn off (unless you put them in Dyno mode.)

She drives like I do. While sideways is the most fun, it is not the fastest way around the track.

That one corner, where she had the SLK oversteering, and it showed it as a ghost car behind the SL, that was driver error not the car, and is a half second time loss right there. A smoother driver would have made the SLK55's weight advantage lead the SL by a long length.

As far as hitting her arms, what is she a gorilla? I'm a big guy and I never hit the glove box.

DansSlk · 01-05-2007

I think the fact the 55 has more understeer is largely due to the fact there's a 5.5 tucked under there and no matter what you do to the suspension your always going to have that problem as you say the lighter V6 does not suffer from it as much.

Not sure about the SL being lighter at the front to be honest mate it has the exact same engine and a considerable amount of junk under there but it is a longer car and i appreciate that will help negate the weight somewhat.

RacerCub68 · 01-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

I think the fact the 55 has more understeer is largely due to the fact there's a 5.5 tucked under there and no matter what you do to the suspension your always going to have that problem as you say the lighter V6 does not suffer from it as much.

Not sure about the SL being lighter at the front to be honest mate it has the exact same engine and a considerable amount of junk under there but it is a longer car and i appreciate that will help negate the weight somewhat.

It's not that the SL is lighter in the front, in fact the supercharger adds like 100 lbs. to it. However, the SL has a heavier rear, so it feels like the weight is more balanced, where as the SLK55 has a heavy front and a lighter rear, making it seem like it handels less.

The understear in the SLK55 is more pronounced when you go to it from a mid-engine car. Typically a mid engine car has maybe 60% of the weight behind you, so it really wants to pivot in a turn. That is just what you get when you put a very big engine into the front of a small car.

Like someone told me on my first visit to Greece: "It's not bad, it's just different."

That's the great part about having the 4 different SLK models, each one for people with different tastes. 200 for European with fuel savings, 280 for people not wanting the higher price, 350 for people wanting more handling and 55 for those wanting more power. Or which ever attributes people use to decide the one they bought.

Oh yeah, I forgot, and 55 030 for those with good dental insurance... (It can't be that harsh, can it?)

DansSlk · 01-06-2007

Well personally i don't like 030 suspension i don't think it would withstand the nurburgring for 5 minutes.

So many different surfaces and the car just cant seem to catch up quick enough personally i think about 50% of the 030 is a rip off the other half a bargain if you could specify the components separately i would have done so but there was no way i was going to order that suspension.

You need both good dental insurance and a great chiropractor

RacerCub68 · 01-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

Well personally i don't like 030 suspension i don't think it would withstand the nurburgring for 5 minutes.

So many different surfaces and the car just cant seem to catch up quick enough personally i think about 50% of the 030 is a rip off the other half a bargain if you could specify the components separately i would have done so but there was no way i was going to order that suspension.

You need both good dental insurance and a great chiropractor

Neither would my non-sport suspension 350. It tends to "float up" and give me that wierd wallowy feel my Dad's 1981 Eldorado would when changing up surfaces. The '05 with the sport suspension had no such problems and felt really buttoned down.

In fact, a loaner car, a C230 Sport I had, felt more in control them my '06 SLK350 does. Are you working on getting me those sport suspension part numbers to order yet, Dan?

DansSlk · 01-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacerCub68

Neither would my non-sport suspension 350. It tends to "float up" and give me that wierd wallowy feel my Dad's 1981 Eldorado would when changing up surfaces. The '05 with the sport suspension had no such problems and felt really buttoned down.

In fact, a loaner car, a C230 Sport I had, felt more in control them my '06 SLK350 does. Are you working on getting me those sport suspension part numbers to order yet, Dan?

Mate i totally forgot sorry i will get onto that now.

RacerCub68 · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

Mate i totally forgot sorry i will get onto that now.

BTW, I just thought of something. I drove the 55 with the roof up. With the roof in the trunk does it remove some of the understeer?

I'm sure a good deal of that understeer is designed in to make lesser drivers not get themselves into too much trouble. I am sure it could be tuned out, but I've been lazy since getting my SLK, not wanting to do anything that would have an issue when it goes to the dealer for service (like different alignment settings, etc.) However, that will change when I have sport suspension parts put on. ;-)

Truthfully, I also thought the SLK55 would do what the Porsche's did to me. Make me want to drive much faster. I probably would kill myself with a 55.

DansSlk · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacerCub68

BTW, I just thought of something. I drove the 55 with the roof up. With the roof in the trunk does it remove some of the understeer?

I'm sure a good deal of that understeer is designed in to make lesser drivers not get themselves into too much trouble. I am sure it could be tuned out, but I've been lazy since getting my SLK, not wanting to do anything that would have an issue when it goes to the dealer for service (like different alignment settings, etc.) However, that will change when I have sport suspension parts put on. ;-)

Truthfully, I also thought the SLK55 would do what the Porsche's did to me. Make me want to drive much faster. I probably would kill myself with a 55.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with the understeer comments there mate well done.

About the roof yeah it does drive better with the roof stowed because you have the extra weight of it above the axle

01-02-2007	#1 (permalink)
in2dwww Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 203 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	SL55 vs. SLK55 asdfasdfasdfdasf Last edited by in2dwww; 03-08-2007 at 11:37 AM.

01-03-2007	#2 (permalink)
-1- Don Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia USA Vehicle: SLK 55 ///AMG The MON55TER on the block Posts: 2,224 Country: Thanks: 54 Thanked 57 Times in 41 Posts	Great video and comparison. I'd take the SLK 55 hands down over the SL 55. Just can't ignore the look of that beautiful SLK 55. Price helps. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *----------------1-----------------* --------SLK 55 ///AMG--------- THE MON55TER ON THE BLOCK

01-03-2007	#3 (permalink)
Woolly Founding Member #8 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK Vehicle: 2004 SLK350 Other Toys: Cars, Bikes, Boats & Aircraft!! Posts: 972 Country: Thanks: 28 Thanked 26 Times in 16 Posts	VBH would 'rather walk round the track, than drive an SLK' It would be good to see a similar comparison, but undertaken by someone who can drive. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 2005 BMW LT - 16 countries, 2 CONTINENTS & counting 2004 MB SLK 350 Andradite Green (6 speed manual] 1999 Ducati ST2 2003 Vauxhaul Vectra 1974 Triumph Bonneville 750 T140V 1937 Norton 500 single (all still current)

01-05-2007	#11 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 211 Times in 94 Posts	Pretty good showing though for a car that costs considerably less - close enough on the track for it to be a drivers race seems to me. __________________ - Bill Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

01-05-2007	#14 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	I think the fact the 55 has more understeer is largely due to the fact there's a 5.5 tucked under there and no matter what you do to the suspension your always going to have that problem as you say the lighter V6 does not suffer from it as much. Not sure about the SL being lighter at the front to be honest mate it has the exact same engine and a considerable amount of junk under there but it is a longer car and i appreciate that will help negate the weight somewhat. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

01-04-2007	#8 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,642 Thanks: 100 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	I feel the seats are comfortable for long trips. Did 6 hours in one day at end of last year. Was ready for more...

01-05-2007	#13 (permalink)
RacerCub68 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Beach (Miami Beach, FL) Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 - All Opts. Except AMG Package & Auto. Clean looking 6-speed. Posts: 710 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree with her, the SLK55 has WAY too much understeer. The V6 SLK's with sport suspensions have a much better handling feel. (I have no 030 SLK55 expierence however.) The SL just feels like it handles better because it has a longer wheelbase and is less nose heavy then the SLK. I also think she is biased, as the SL has much of the same limitations, like tranction control you can not turn off (unless you put them in Dyno mode.) She drives like I do. While sideways is the most fun, it is not the fastest way around the track. That one corner, where she had the SLK oversteering, and it showed it as a ghost car behind the SL, that was driver error not the car, and is a half second time loss right there. A smoother driver would have made the SLK55's weight advantage lead the SL by a long length. As far as hitting her arms, what is she a gorilla? I'm a big guy and I never hit the glove box.

01-06-2007	#16 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Well personally i don't like 030 suspension i don't think it would withstand the nurburgring for 5 minutes. So many different surfaces and the car just cant seem to catch up quick enough personally i think about 50% of the 030 is a rip off the other half a bargain if you could specify the components separately i would have done so but there was no way i was going to order that suspension. You need both good dental insurance and a great chiropractor __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.