Thanks. Should be interesting to see what shakes out and on what time frame. The performance of an M or AMG in a car that doesn't wind up in the shop every month would give MB and bimmer heartburn.

Then again, we've heard this before (L tuned which obviously was a big ho hum). And then there is how the press release wound up:

'But for all the near-term changes, Lexus bosses are not about to forget what got them to the pinnacle.

"We can't lose sight of the fact that Lexus is, first, a luxury car," Clements said. "We're not here to reinvent ourselves. We just sold 260,000 vehicles to people who love our products."'

Also sounds like Denny is Lexus NA.

 

I think there is a lot of streching the truth here about Mercedes lack of reliability. Those cars aren't that bad. Sure our R230 was in the shop a lot when we first got it. Now the LS400 is in the shop more

MB isn't losing it's shine, show me another company with a two year old drop top roadster that STILL gets more looks then almost any car out there. A company that has a roadster with so much torque it's not even funny. Show me a sixteen second stripper .. that isn't a Mercedes Benz.

Oh, that's the R230 only.

3.3 Second 0-60? S600..

 

While we Lexus owners probably do have an overly pessimistic view of MB reliability, I beg to differ on the head-turning factor of the new SL, which to me has far less presence than the timeless beauty of the last generation. I think the SC430 gets more looks than the SL, just for looking different.

And does the S600 really do 0-60 in 3.3 seconds? I'm not saying it isn't true (because I honestly don't know), but if that is a fact it is astounding, amazing, and incredible. I know that's a lot of engine, but that's also a lot of car being hauled. What's the 0-60 time on the S55?

 

Vraa, your 0-60 time for the S600 is a mistake. Even the TT SL600 which is lighter than the sedan, can do 0-60 no better than 4.5 sec.

 

You are incorrect. You must be thinking about the AMGs. The the SL600 does 0-60 in 3.8 I believe.

 

I have a SL brochure in front of me . The 0-60 times for both the 2004 AMG SL55 and SL600 are identical.

 

SL55 AMG 493hp@6100rpm, 516 lb-ft tq @ 2750-4000 rpm
SL600 493hp@5000rpm, 590 lb-ft tg @ 1800-3500 rpm

Curb weight: SL 600 4429 lb, SL 55 AMG 4235 lb.

 

S600s will run a 4.3-4.5sec 0-60mph sprint. Pretty amazing for a near 4800lb sedan, which idles and sounds like a true luxury car. Many high-performance sportscars wont pull it off the line, probably including the Z06.

A Renntech can run 11's

If I remember that race the S600 had drag radials or slicks and the Supra had street tires.
The Benz ran some racing fuel, while the Supra was on pump gas.

Thats Ben's slow car, he owns a 1000rwhp Viper that traps 150mph or so I forget.

EDIT:
forgot link
http://www.treynor.com/BenzVsSupra.wmv
Here a Silvino dyno vid
ftp://user497839456238400:ilil4563li...o/Sil_Dyno.wmv
On racegas

 

From Edmunds Link

According to my 2004 SL brochure, 0-60 times for both SL55AMG & SL600 are exactly the same.

 

Times can vary by a 0.5sec. No pt in benchracing cars, the S600 and S55AMG are both autos which require no skill launches. A normal person cant put that kind of power to the ground with a manual unless they have lots of practice.

 

Not trying to argue, just want to point out that a sub. 4 sec 0-60 time for a S600 is way out of line.

BTW, ALL the S & SL class cars, AMG or not ,comes with automatic transmissions.

 

I am specifically talking about Treynor's S600 which has the RENNtech chip and all that does is bring the engine to normal specs.. the same the maybach has.

all 55AMG's are quoted about right
all 600's however are under quoted. They make immense power.

ALl benz's are autos except a few w203. I'm talkling about North America.

 

I beg to differ that you think an sc430 turn more heads on any giving day than an SL. The simple fact is that MB makes a number of cars that will outperform any of its competitors while still maintain luxury. I realize my wife GS is nice and reliability but on my way to work this morning everyone was admire the E55 that just pass in the fast lane. For a brief moment I ask myself will I give up my reliability gs for an e55 if I could afford it.
“In a second”
I truly feel MB need to step up in reliability but you got to give them credit for their amg models & upper models.

 

SLs and AMGs are very well executed. Maybe not so reliable, but I give them love

Yup Benjamin's RennTech has just an ECU upgrade, and sticky rubber. Those are some impressive times.

 

Do you guys really think AMG's are worth what they cost? Yes, they have the panache of the Mercedes nameplate, huge horsepower / torque figures, and of course, the famous Mercedes safety features. But the many posts here concerning the worsening reliability record of these cars, and especlally the price they cost, seems cause for concern. And, even though they have a reputation for rattles and squeaks, a new Corvette will give pretty much the same 0-60 times, top speed, slalom-handling, etc..... as all but the top-dog $100,000-plus V-12 AMG's....and for a much lower price. For that matter, so will a Subaru WRX STi.....for even less. Granted, though....the STi wouldn't be as stable at autobahn speeds, but the AWD would help.