SL55 AMG retractable hardtop for the SRT

[pitviper]

why wasn't this done? you would think that with all of the prevelant product sharing between mercedes and chrysler that they could have found a way to do this in the Viper. i think that the SL55's hardtop is absolutely beautiful. makes it genuinely look like a coupe when it's up. was weight the big issue here? how many of you who are waiting for the new coupe would be much quicker to go with the SRT if it had this style top?

pit

 

[Brad Manhattan Beach]

The SL55 also weighs almost 5,000 pounds. This isn't an apples to apples comparison.

Brad

 

[Snakester]

Yeah, the SL55 is a luxury cruiser that is powerful, but weighs as much as some SUVs.

All of the serious high performance cars are getting lighter, and that's where the Viper needs to go as well.

If the Viper was going to inherit something from Mercedes, the twin turbos from their new V12 would be a better candidate.

-Dean.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

oh jesus....

 

[GR8_ASP]

All of the serious high performance cars are getting lighter, and that's where the Viper needs to go as well.

I absolutely agree with the direction towards lighter as it improves all aspects of performance and not just acceleration. However, based on recent magazines, the Ford GT will be the same weight as the Viper (approx 3350 lb). That tells me it is not easy to get 500 hp packaged in a light vehicle that meets all requirements. And Ford openly admits the GT will not meet 2007 MT collision requirements and thus will be only a couple model year vehicle.

For all the GT promotors what is the result: same weight, same power, less torque. Hmmm, don't think the SRT has to move the needle much to stay in front.

 

[Viperfreak2]

Lighter is better, but you have to wonder about the real HP ratings of these cars. If an SL55 weighs almost 1500!!! lbs more than an SRT-10, how in the world does it have similar numbers???

 

[Wayne Finch]

Actuators to raise and lower the trunk only (still manual top) would have only added about 20 lbs. Should have been done. I know a retractable top was looked at and ruled out due to weight. Naturally a hardtop (fixed or retractable) is going to weigh more than a soft top so does that mean every hardtop is at a disadvantage. While an enormous factor, the car is about more than just speed especially with the new design trying to appeal to a wider audience - it is also about "cool" - and a power top is "cool". This little convenience should have been added.

 

[slaughterj]

Actuators to raise and lower the trunk only (still manual top) would have only added about 20 lbs. Should have been done. .... This little convenience should have been added.

Hmm, what would it take from an aftermarket standpoint?

 

[Viperfreak2]

A Boxster would be a great starting point for parts and ideas. The top folds the same and the rear cover powers out of the way.

 

[pitviper]

exactly what i was getting at wayne...thanks.

pit

 

[Viperzilla]

Lighter is better, but you have to wonder about the real HP ratings of these cars. If an SL55 weighs almost 1500!!! lbs more than an SRT-10, how in the world does it have similar numbers???

How much HP does the AMG claim to have? The SL500 has 302 HP, 0-60 in 6.1 sec., 1/4 mile is 14.5 @ 98.4, and weighs about 4,200 lbs., handling is .90 G which is pretty good.

 

[Viperfreak2]

According to Crap & Diver (****) The SL55 goes 0-60 in 4.5 (SRT is 4.8!) 1/4 mile in 13.0 (SRT is 12.1) The euro rating on the SL55 is 480hp (I think) 469 U.S. hp.
Motor trend lists 0-6 in 4.1 for the SRT and 4.4 for the Merc. 1/4 mile 12.4 @117 for the SRT and 12.5 @116 SL. Numbers that the Viper wins every time, but still the TONNAGE of the Mercedes is absurd. The thing must actually be making 500rwhp to move it almost as quick as it's little brother.

 

[Viperzilla]

Thanks for the info. I think the Viper would be considered the big brother; more power, quicker, wiser, older (Viper just went through puberty SRT, lost the baby fat the AMG has now). That's a big jump from 302 to 470+. I'm surprised C&D couldn't get better #s for the SRT, and they seem to be the most unbiased, esp compared to MT.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

According to Crap & Diver (****) The SL55 goes 0-60 in 4.5 (SRT is 4.8!) 1/4 mile in 13.0 (SRT is 12.1) The euro rating on the SL55 is 480hp (I think) 469 U.S. hp.
Motor trend lists 0-6 in 4.1 for the SRT and 4.4 for the Merc. 1/4 mile 12.4 @117 for the SRT and 12.5 @116 SL. Numbers that the Viper wins every time, but still the TONNAGE of the Mercedes is absurd. The thing must actually be making 500rwhp to move it almost as quick as it's little brother.

try at most 4.0 for 0-60 on the SRT-10.

4.8? shiiite, even vettes run that

 

[Viperfreak2]

If they can't get in the 3's in an SRT, I'd say they are very biased. 4.8 is an embarassing number to report.
Viperzilla, maybe the SRT could be the big brother, but since the HP and torque are close, you gotta consider the weight and history. The SL goes back to the 50's and if my little brother weighed 3/4 ton more than me, I wouldn't call him little bro.

 

[SRT10]

If they can't get in the 3's in an SRT, I'd say they are very biased. 4.8 is an embarassing number to report.

The November 2002 Car & Driver cover story "500-hp Viper SRT-10 roars to 60 in 3.9 seconds". Your 4.8 info is probably a mis-print.

 

[Snakester]

You have to understand that the tests on the SL55 were all done with production cars, and it's quite likely that Mercedes underrates their actual power.

Conversely, the ONLY test so far using a production SRT-10 Viper is the one in the June 2003 Motor Trend (so far), where they got 0-60 in 3.94 seconds, 0-100 in 8.36, and the 1/4 mile in [email protected].

Other test numbers on the SL55 put it at 0-60 in 4.6, 0-100 mph in 10.9, and the 1/4 mile in 13.0 at 110MPH.

So it makes sense that the performance of the 900lb heavier Mercedes would be between 1/2 and 1 full second slower than the similarly powerful Viper. Especially considering that the SL55 has an optimized auto tranny and traction control, which will help a journalist with little experience in driving high torque cars, pull relatively fast and consistant acceleration times.

-Dean.

 

[Viperfreak2]

Underrated is an understatement. I think we all agree the two are about .5 to 1 sec apart (0-60, 1/4 mile etc.) Now imagine the SL MINUS the 1000-1200lbs and with a six speed MANUAL? would that only be a few tenths? The GTS and SRT are a few tenths and we all know that's only 100lbs and 50hp.