Pitts Pilot
Active Member
So I sold my Pitts Special stunt plane a few weeks ago, after 7 years of turning myself upside down at 200 mph, and my thoughts have now turned to something on the ground with a little more ‘oomph’ than my beautiful SL350 (With the optional ABC, you know!) (It'll be for sale soon...Anyway!)
I’ve got some test driving to do, I admit, but after scouring the ads for a fortnight I’ve come up with 2 attractive looking SL600’s- bi turbo V12’s.
517bhp now, 600 bhp if you want it remapped. That’s a lot of ponies. Oh, and the torque…wow!
Obviously, travelling fast in a straight line is easy for any powerful car, it’s the bendy sections in the road that are challenging.
For this reason I had started out looking for SL55’s. From what I can read they are stonking cars; fast and they go round corners. But I wanted something relatively late, say a facelift 2007 or 2008, and these seem very difficult to find.
What’s more, most of my driving is either boring motorways in France, or single lane roads with the top down, also in France, where blasting past slow moving traffic is part of the fun!
My track days finished years ago after racing Yamaha RD250 motorbikes at Club level.
So here’s the question that’s on my mind right now:
I’ve identified two R230 SL600’s. One a facelift 2006 (3 front grilles); the other a 2008 facelift (single grille):
The 2006 model has 22K miles asking £24,500
[URL=http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/R4robert/media/SL600%20SL55/SL600-2006-web_zps69e06fd3.jpg.html]
[/URL]
.
The 2008 has 60K miles, asking £31,500
.
I’m trying to get appointments to view them as we speak, but on the face of it they both have full service history, 2 previous owners, and appear to be in good condition.
The 2008 has gear change paddles on the steering wheel and AMG seats, but oddly no AMG badge on the back. The 2006 does not have either.
I mention this to help identify the particular models, as being a novice I want to be as clear as I can.
One important personal requirement, to do with ‘difficulty with walking’ reasons, is that both have Distronic cruise.
(I have however found someone near Amsterdam who will retrofit Distronic, so admittedly it’s a problem I can throw money at (£2,250
), but it opens up the choice of used cars instantly.)
So.
Am I mad even considering a V12 over a s/c V8?
I love a car that flattens you into the back of the seat when you floor it. But I also buy grippy premium tyres because I like going round corners too. (Maybe the motorbike racing still lurking in my system?). Anyway.
Am I looking at repair and service bills that will make my SL350 seem like a pushbike? (Obviously it will cost more…but will I need to win the Lottery, so to speak?).
Secondly, which one would you purchase, assuming both passed a PPI with flying colours?
The 2008 has a better g/box, I believe, and presumably other ‘improvements ‘? (Please go ahead and enlighten me; I’m still in the dark on that one).
For example, do they have the same engine and same brakes, or did MB make some subtle changes with the facelift?
However, 22K on the 2006 car verses 60K miles on the 2008 is quite a difference? Or is it on a V12?
(I read somewhere that very low mileage cars should be treated with caution, because they have hardly been driven and so hoses crack, components rust up, etc.)
Furthermore, £7,000 difference is no trifling amount, but assuming I can afford it, and it's a fair price, should I go for the newer, younger car despite its higher mileage?
On a sub-note, I have had a quick look at SL63’s, but they are busting my budget and various reviews I’ve read don’t rate them any better than the SL55’s they replaced.
I apologise for the long post. But buying one’s next Merc is a big decision that I would be grateful for your help with
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
Robert
I’ve got some test driving to do, I admit, but after scouring the ads for a fortnight I’ve come up with 2 attractive looking SL600’s- bi turbo V12’s.
517bhp now, 600 bhp if you want it remapped. That’s a lot of ponies. Oh, and the torque…wow!
Obviously, travelling fast in a straight line is easy for any powerful car, it’s the bendy sections in the road that are challenging.
For this reason I had started out looking for SL55’s. From what I can read they are stonking cars; fast and they go round corners. But I wanted something relatively late, say a facelift 2007 or 2008, and these seem very difficult to find.
What’s more, most of my driving is either boring motorways in France, or single lane roads with the top down, also in France, where blasting past slow moving traffic is part of the fun!
My track days finished years ago after racing Yamaha RD250 motorbikes at Club level.
So here’s the question that’s on my mind right now:
I’ve identified two R230 SL600’s. One a facelift 2006 (3 front grilles); the other a 2008 facelift (single grille):
The 2006 model has 22K miles asking £24,500
[URL=http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/R4robert/media/SL600%20SL55/SL600-2006-web_zps69e06fd3.jpg.html]
[/URL].
The 2008 has 60K miles, asking £31,500
.
I’m trying to get appointments to view them as we speak, but on the face of it they both have full service history, 2 previous owners, and appear to be in good condition.
The 2008 has gear change paddles on the steering wheel and AMG seats, but oddly no AMG badge on the back. The 2006 does not have either.
I mention this to help identify the particular models, as being a novice I want to be as clear as I can.
One important personal requirement, to do with ‘difficulty with walking’ reasons, is that both have Distronic cruise.
(I have however found someone near Amsterdam who will retrofit Distronic, so admittedly it’s a problem I can throw money at (£2,250
), but it opens up the choice of used cars instantly.)So.
Am I mad even considering a V12 over a s/c V8?
I love a car that flattens you into the back of the seat when you floor it. But I also buy grippy premium tyres because I like going round corners too. (Maybe the motorbike racing still lurking in my system?). Anyway.
Am I looking at repair and service bills that will make my SL350 seem like a pushbike? (Obviously it will cost more…but will I need to win the Lottery, so to speak?).
Secondly, which one would you purchase, assuming both passed a PPI with flying colours?
The 2008 has a better g/box, I believe, and presumably other ‘improvements ‘? (Please go ahead and enlighten me; I’m still in the dark on that one).
For example, do they have the same engine and same brakes, or did MB make some subtle changes with the facelift?
However, 22K on the 2006 car verses 60K miles on the 2008 is quite a difference? Or is it on a V12?
(I read somewhere that very low mileage cars should be treated with caution, because they have hardly been driven and so hoses crack, components rust up, etc.)
Furthermore, £7,000 difference is no trifling amount, but assuming I can afford it, and it's a fair price, should I go for the newer, younger car despite its higher mileage?
On a sub-note, I have had a quick look at SL63’s, but they are busting my budget and various reviews I’ve read don’t rate them any better than the SL55’s they replaced.
I apologise for the long post. But buying one’s next Merc is a big decision that I would be grateful for your help with
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
Robert
