**Video**SL65 BS Review by TopGear

[dbasons55]

this is the link enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtveR8fyLsM

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[2MANYCARS]

Just saw it, I'm surprised he didn't compare it with his CLK Black, to see which one is actually better.

[Kyousuke]

He's actually reviewed the CLKBS on his last DVD "Thriller". He absolutely adored it--much to the point that he'd rather get the CLK than a dbs. I reckon he'd prefer the CLK over the SL.

[QuadBenz]

Ehh, car was nice. Review kind of sucked.

[kevinpuri]

He should have dragged the SLR, it would have been interesting to see who starts to pull on who, instead of just chasing it around some corners.

Confuses me on why he loves the CLK so much and not this.. only thing I can think of is that you just cant put the power down... but IMO thats a nice problem to have!

[Akademiks]

Originally Posted by QuadBenz

Ehh, car was nice. Review kind of sucked.

+1

I was expecting something better from Top Gear.

[transferred]

Every year the show becomes less and less focused on the cars and more about artsy shots and throw away one liners...

[LZH]

Top Gear has become absolute junk.
Extra 10hp and it'd beat an SLR ? A tune will fix that no prob...
Seats are not comfortable ? LOL - what a wimp...
A regular SL can turn better and "run up curbs" ??? LOL, yeah, lets just run over the curb since were too lazy to back up...and then they actualy drag the BS bumper over the curb !!!! Fing idiots...
And the the roof that doesn't fold away into the boot is a bad thing ?? Oh, they did that to save weight and not strengthen the chassis, right ? Idiots...

[rockjock]

why'd they let the deer out so late in the shot?

[Merc-Skycap]

No offense to you guys but I thought the review was fine. Not great but fine. I didn't know it had such a suspension. I did expect it to be a little harder than a regular SL AMG but this seriously has no give at all. I could live with the turning radius issue but Mercedes is known for its great turning radius in its models. I expected better!

[absent]

Originally Posted by Merc-Skycap

No offense to you guys but I thought the review was fine. Not great but fine. I didn't know it had such a suspension. I did expect it to be a little harder than a regular SL AMG but this seriously has no give at all. I could live with the turning radius issue but Mercedes is known for its great turning radius in its models. I expected better!

That car is impossible to drive anywhere but on track.
But then,it is way to heavy for that purpose.
It is the hardest riding car I have ever tried,to the point when it stops being fun.
Other hard riding cars like Stradale or CGT feel soft and compliant next to that thing.
It is hard to believe that the SL BS was developed by the same company that brought the SLR....

[Akademiks]

Originally Posted by absent

That car is impossible to drive anywhere but on track.
But then,it is way to heavy for that purpose.
It is the hardest riding car I have ever tried,to the point when it stops being fun.
Other hard riding cars like Stradale or CGT feel soft and compliant next to that thing.
It is hard to believe that the SL BS was developed by the same company that brought the SLR....

That's nice, I'll still take the SL65 even if just for the sheer intimidation factor it brings along to the fight. Even a LP640 looks rather tame next to an SL Black.

One day...

[absent]

Originally Posted by Akademiks

That's nice, I'll still take the SL65 even if just for the sheer intimidation factor it brings along to the fight. Even a LP640 looks rather tame next to an SL Black.

One day...

In that regard I fully concur.
For the pure "intimidation" factor SL65BS kills all the other cars in it's segment...

[absent]

Originally Posted by Akademiks

That's nice, I'll still take the SL65 even if just for the sheer intimidation factor it brings along to the fight. Even a LP640 looks rather tame next to an SL Black.

One day...

In that regard I fully concur.
For the pure "intimidation" factor SL65BS kills all the other cars in it's segment...

[jbondox]

a couple of things that I noticed when driving between the SLR and 65BS, with the SLR you can't see what is in front of you since it seems it has a 20' long nose, but you stop realizing that at speeds greater than the legal limit where you are looking a mile ahead to ensure what you are going to do to pass the traffic the 65BS, seems more agile and nimble compared to the SLR and seemed faster coming up to highway speeds then the SLR. Honestly I never gave the seating a thought, but reflecting back, I rather come out of the 65 then climbing out of the SLR. I was a bit disappointed in the smaller brakes, and a lot of people notice it right of the bat.

Either way they are both great cars, I wish MB would put the hammer down and stop letting the AMG's take a huge hit after driving them off the lot, it is sad that a Ferrari will hold it's value better than any Black Series or AMG and the AMG's are put together a lot nicer.

just my opinion

[SL65amg]

Hey guys, isn't it true that the few main areas of concern and complaints about the SL 65 Black Series can be easily fixed by a little aftermarket tuning?

Here are the main areas of concern that we and especially the online sites and car magazines have about the 65 Black Series:

1) Rides too rough ..... Solution: Can more compliant springs/dampers be put on from an aftermarket source? There has to be a way to do this without hurting the car's handling abilities...

2) Extremely difficult to put the power down, even more difficult than the normal SL 65....... Solution: Kleemann/Quaiffe/Renntech Limited Slip Differential.. obviously a very heavy duty version will be needed because the 65 Black has more power capabilities all around than even a regular SL 65. This solution should enable the car to put its enormous power down much easier, correct? And what about wider tires, would that help? 325 width rear tires seems not big enough for a car of this power capability.

3) Seats are not comfortable....... Solution: Is there any aftermarket tuner that can either modify the seats to be more comfortable/wider for bigger people, or a different carbon seat maker altogether?

4) Brakes are not big enough/powerful/fade-resistant enough for a car of this caliber/price....... Solution: Evosport/Renntech/Brabus should be able to put a much larger front brake setup solution, correct? Do u guys think an upgrade from the stock 15.4" w/6 piston brakes to maybe a 16.2" or 16.5" brake with a 12-piston caliper would do the trick? Then maybe the front 15.4" 6-piston brakes can just be used as the rear brakes? And maybe a tougher race pad with stainless steel brake lines is in order? Larger brake pump?

5) Its still not fast enough compared to a 599 GTB or Porsche GT2 or Scuderia or LP 670 Super Veloce......... Solution: Let VRP or Kleemann or Renntech or Evosport get to work with some nice ECU/TCU/filters/headers-back exhaust systems... and since the 65 Black already has even larger turbo's than a regular SL 65 then 800 or 850 HP should be no problem... that with the LSD and larger brakes and maybe some carbon lightweight wheels, more compliant springs/dampers should take car of all the issues anyone has had so far with it.... pick one up in 2 years for maybe $120,000 or less and drop 30k in mods and you'd have a devastating car on every level...

Furthermore, has anyone street raced a euro SL 65 Black (The Euro version weighs less than the U.S. version because of the carbon door panels/seats/etc..) against the regular SL 65 or against a GT2/Scud/599/Lambo LP 560 or LP 640 or LP 670? What is the possible potential for this car after some choice tuning upgrades?

Interesting thoughts to ponder.....

[Akademiks]

Originally Posted by SL65amg

Hey guys, isn't it true that the few main areas of concern and complaints about the SL 65 Black Series can be easily fixed by a little aftermarket tuning?

Here are the main areas of concern that we and especially the online sites and car magazines have about the 65 Black Series:

1) Rides too rough ..... Solution: Can more compliant springs/dampers be put on from an aftermarket source? There has to be a way to do this without hurting the car's handling abilities...

2) Extremely difficult to put the power down, even more difficult than the normal SL 65....... Solution: Kleemann/Quaiffe/Renntech Limited Slip Differential.. obviously a very heavy duty version will be needed because the 65 Black has more power capabilities all around than even a regular SL 65. This solution should enable the car to put its enormous power down much easier, correct? And what about wider tires, would that help? 325 width rear tires seems not big enough for a car of this power capability.

3) Seats are not comfortable....... Solution: Is there any aftermarket tuner that can either modify the seats to be more comfortable/wider for bigger people, or a different carbon seat maker altogether?

4) Brakes are not big enough/powerful/fade-resistant enough for a car of this caliber/price....... Solution: Evosport/Renntech/Brabus should be able to put a much larger front brake setup solution, correct? Do u guys think an upgrade from the stock 15.4" w/6 piston brakes to maybe a 16.2" or 16.5" brake with a 12-piston caliper would do the trick? Then maybe the front 15.4" 6-piston brakes can just be used as the rear brakes? And maybe a tougher race pad with stainless steel brake lines is in order? Larger brake pump?

5) Its still not fast enough compared to a 599 GTB or Porsche GT2 or Scuderia or LP 670 Super Veloce......... Solution: Let VRP or Kleemann or Renntech or Evosport get to work with some nice ECU/TCU/filters/headers-back exhaust systems... and since the 65 Black already has even larger turbo's than a regular SL 65 then 800 or 850 HP should be no problem... that with the LSD and larger brakes and maybe some carbon lightweight wheels, more compliant springs/dampers should take car of all the issues anyone has had so far with it.... pick one up in 2 years for maybe $120,000 or less and drop 30k in mods and you'd have a devastating car on every level...

Furthermore, has anyone street raced a euro SL 65 Black (The Euro version weighs less than the U.S. version because of the carbon door panels/seats/etc..) against the regular SL 65 or against a GT2/Scud/599/Lambo LP 560 or LP 640 or LP 670? What is the possible potential for this car after some choice tuning upgrades?

Interesting thoughts to ponder.....

I have my money on the SL65 Black Series over the Scud/GT2 w/e...

[SL65amg]

So you would put your money on a 65 Black with ECU tuning against a 430 Scuderia or a Porsche GT2 then? Do you think it would need all the mods I mentioned in order to be a viable daily driveable alternative to a GT2 or Scud or 599 or Lambo?

And this question I guess can be answered by the guys at Evosport: Would putting a set of Dymags on a 65 Black Series be a good idea?

Still would love to see a race between a Euro edition 65 Black with some mild tuning against some other great exotics....

[Akademiks]

Originally Posted by SL65amg

So you would put your money on a 65 Black with ECU tuning against a 430 Scuderia or a Porsche GT2 then? Do you think it would need all the mods I mentioned in order to be a viable daily driveable alternative to a GT2 or Scud or 599 or Lambo?

And this question I guess can be answered by the guys at Evosport: Would putting a set of Dymags on a 65 Black Series be a good idea?

Still would love to see a race between a Euro edition 65 Black with some mild tuning against some other great exotics....

The 65 doesn't need tuning to compete with the cars posted. A stock non-black SL65 can run (with) and beat Murcielagos and 430s. Stock 65s have been recorded to run mid 11s, low 11s on drags.

A tuned SL65 Black Series would easily take out the cars you listed.