ninjamagic
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2017
- Messages
- 68
- Reaction score
- 15
- Your Mercedes
- SL55 - 2004
So today I took out a beautiful 2004 SL55 for the first time. I experienced the thrust and rumble of the V8 and discovered a few quirks of handling (wheels lose a bit of traction when rapidly accelerating)
As it was a test drive I did a bit of sharp braking, and some sharp acceleration (who wouldn't) and did some quick lane changes too see how she worked at speed.
The dealer seemed to imply that if I drove like that in real life -- that the car wouldn't last very long.
Now I didn't do anything do anything dangerous or reckless and as far as I could tell(!) I just wanted to see how she worked.
But it does make me wonder. When I drive my BMW e90 or SLK R170, I like to accelerate fast, often as fast as the car will let me -- which, to be fair, isn't close to the power of the SL55 -- and I've never had a problem.
(Its worth mentioning that a while back my brother in law let me drive his 911 turbo and in his words "it's a car meant to be driven" so its totally meant to go fast which suited my driving)
SO -- My question.
Was the dealer exaggerating? Is a 14 year old SL55 supposed to be driven lightly? Can it take a lot of acceleration in a straight line? Because I want to drive my car. That's the whole point of me getting one of these.
I don't want to race it. I'm not talking donoughts or drifting. I just want to let it rip as often as I can. I live out in Essex with a lot of country lanes and A roads so the opportunity is ample.
Thanks.
As it was a test drive I did a bit of sharp braking, and some sharp acceleration (who wouldn't) and did some quick lane changes too see how she worked at speed.
The dealer seemed to imply that if I drove like that in real life -- that the car wouldn't last very long.
Now I didn't do anything do anything dangerous or reckless and as far as I could tell(!) I just wanted to see how she worked.
But it does make me wonder. When I drive my BMW e90 or SLK R170, I like to accelerate fast, often as fast as the car will let me -- which, to be fair, isn't close to the power of the SL55 -- and I've never had a problem.
(Its worth mentioning that a while back my brother in law let me drive his 911 turbo and in his words "it's a car meant to be driven" so its totally meant to go fast which suited my driving)
SO -- My question.
Was the dealer exaggerating? Is a 14 year old SL55 supposed to be driven lightly? Can it take a lot of acceleration in a straight line? Because I want to drive my car. That's the whole point of me getting one of these.
I don't want to race it. I'm not talking donoughts or drifting. I just want to let it rip as often as I can. I live out in Essex with a lot of country lanes and A roads so the opportunity is ample.
Thanks.