Mercedes AMG SL 55 (R232): A signpost of things to come from Affalterbach!

MotoMan gets back behind the wheel of the all new ‪@Mercedes-AMG‬ SL, this time the 469 HP ‪@MercedesBenz‬ AMG SL 55. He quickly learns that the differences between the SL55 and the ‪@mbusa‬ AMG SL 63 are incredibly subtle and say more about where Mercedes AMG is going rather than model separation strategy.
#Mercedes #MercedesAMG #MercedesAMGSL #MercedesSL55 #MercedesSL63
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[@JP-vg6te]

I pick mine up tomorrow at Mercedes Benz of Ontario, California and I’m so excited to finally take delivery!!!

[@OldSkoolUncleChris]

whats she been like?

[@OldSkoolUncleChris]

Best Car content on KZbin

[@tokio2618]

No!

[@briangehrman434]

Your reviews are spot on to me. I see so many car reviewers with many more subscribers that are not nearly as comprehensive and interesting to watch. You should have millions of subscribers.

[@MotoManTV]

Thank you for the great compliment!

[@culldera1]

That spec is absolutely beautiful. 😍

[@jareknowak8712]

Somehow structurally the car is more rigid than the AMG GT! Cant wait for the rewievs od the "43" model - only 4 cylinders, 90hp less, but way lighter (above the front axle), and thats the only one avaliable with RWD. Acceleration/V-max is still more than enough.

[@stevelee8437]

Very competitive segment this car plays in. It definitely is what a rich guy who’s got a few bucks but not that much into cars but who wants to feel like a car guy who also wants a convertible car kind of car…. Spot on review as always!

[@hadytarabay]

Love, love your intros!!❤

[@MotoManTV]

Thank you, Hady!

[@dash-ryan]

I wanted the new SL bad, but when it finally dropped up here in Canada, it was the SL63 only at $230k CAD with options, and this SL55 would be $200k CAD on the nose, if offered up here. I just got back yesterday from a cars and coffee meet with my C8 Stingray Convertible, which I got instead at half the price. In where I am in Canada, C8's are still pretty rare. Given altogether the reaction at C&C yesterday, the fun I've had so far with my C8 and now this review, I have no regrets! George, you're right, the C8 is a moonshot!!

[@MotoManTV]

Said it before and will say it again, the C8 is hard to beat and not just on money. Even got one of their direct competitors saying as much on camera (end of this episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4HVg6ydgtejeq8)

[@Vanocalifornia]

But you still here watching the review of SL..😂

[@dash-ryan]

@@Vanocalifornia Unless you own an SL yourself, I watched the video for the same reason you did ... I love cars, duh.🙄

[@jackmarston2515]

​@@Vanocaliforniawhy shouldn't he? It's still the superior car over all. That few tenths of a second aren't everything.

[@mattseve]

Great review once again. The V8 still sounds great!

[@jackmarston2515]

No one ever talks about the seats...not only do they massage you with 3 different styles and intensity. But they have ehats called the kinetic seat function. What it does when active is make micro adjustmens in your seat so that your in the optimal sitting position depending on the cars angle or Gs. So for example lets say youre driving up hill and your seat is more reclined, the car will adjust the backrest and tilt it up so you can see the front end better and then returns it back to where it was once the car levels out. It also adjusts the side bolsters intensity based on the amount of Gs the car is pulling in a corner in order to keep you in place better. Once you come out of that corner it returns to your preferred settings. Its not a criticism either. This is a great review. Its just one of these features that they dont advertise, that you eventually find after owning the car for a bit. Another one is the headlights. At night they project different images on the road in order to warn you of different things. The one i see most is it warning me that im getting too close to the shoulder of the road. I wouldnt be surprised if one day theyll even highlight potholes the car detects at night. Just incase anyones wondering why one might get an SL63 over a 911turbo or corvetter ZL1. Those are just 2 of many different examples.

[@MotoManTV]

Would love to drill down a bit further in many episodes, however there is a tradeoff between how techie and how long the episodes gets with how many that watch. Learned the hard way it is about 15 minutes . . . maybe 20 with very specials cars before they come out. Anything more, the ROI goes down considerably for us.

[@glennleslie6127]

I really like my 2022 SL 63; I've had it for about 6 weeks. I don't like the aesthetics of the huge touchscreen, but it becomes 2nd nature in terms of functionality after a few days. The difference between comfort, sport and sport plus setting are night and day. I had the previous version 2018 SL 63; that car was a beast but the tech was very antiquated. I miss its folding roof, but not much else. My partner has a 2019 porsche 911 turbo, and it's a true sports car, the SL is not. That's not a criticism, they do different things. The SL 63 is easier to live with on a day to day basis.

[@MotoManTV]

Appreciate the real world feedback!

[@stevechin1866]

My god that car is stunning

[@ruk2023--]

My guess to why some of this stuff is optional is because the typical SL customer "doesn't want all this techno crap in my car" and this allows them to avoid it. For $300 bucks they certainly aren't charging for it to make more money.

[@erissitone]

My wife and I, having been customers of the Star for many years, were invited a few months ago by Mercedes Italy to an AMG "emotional tour". Among the other test cars were two brand new SL 63s. Nothing to say about the beauty of this car, the performance and how good it makes you feel when you drive it. Unfortunately, we immediately noticed some loud creaks coming from the dashboard (and I'm referring to both SLs, we tried them both). I thought it was a pre-production or youth problem, instead I have recently discovered (thanks to a Mercedes workshop manager of an important Italian dealer) that almost all SLs have creaking problems on the dashboard. It seems due to a design flaw. It is not the first time that the recent new Mercedes have similar problems. I would very much hope my beloved brand doesn't slip too often on little banana peels...

[@AndreasLawson]

I had 3 prior SL's which were flawless in build quality with no creaks. I had this new SL55 and it creaked and rattled from the dashboard on day 1, exacerbated by the much firmer suspension.

[@jareknowak8712]

@@AndreasLawson Did You report it to the service?

[@AndreasLawson]

@@jareknowak8712 Contrary to Motoman, I found 55 to be underpowered, too heavy with a brittle ride quality (63 is much worse) and $30k more than prior 550, and lower build quality generally. So the creak, which was actually a crashing from dash when I passed over expansion joints, was the final straw and I sold it back to dealer. Fast-forward 9 months and there are 30-35 on dealer lot, unsold. I would get a prior 550 but not this one. No, I didn't report it.

[@MotoManTV]

Appreciate the feedback from your neck of the woods . . .

[@erissitone]

I honestly think it's quite shameful that cars sold at such prices have such serious quality problems. The top-of-the-range Mercedes models (S-Class, SL, etc.) have always been the flagship of the brand and have always stood out for their impeccable quality. I think that Mercedes, who knows these problems well, should behave differently instead of pretending nothing happened...@@AndreasLawson

[@RobertMayfair]

The huge tablet honestly ruins it for me

[@kingakim11]

agreed, still like the car tho

[@stevemartegani]

The huge car honestly ruins it for me

[@robertsun8922]

The new aston Martin DB12 finally got rid of the Merc infotainment screen on previous models and looks stunning all around

[@jackmarston2515]

Not for me. I like it and all the functions it provides. I can literally choose what that display looks like.

[@iosgaming2824]

@@stevemarteganiit’s a little bit bigger then the old SL in measurements, guess you didn’t like that generation either

[@irwinscheineson9064]

You forgot BMW M850i convertible, the sleeper of the bunch.

[@jays9211]

Can’t agree with you more. And the BMW is significantly cheaper. MB AMG pricing and leasing numbers are getting just ridiculous lately

[@zoner__]

Agree with losing the giant IPad. Just give me a proper mount for my IPhone and a well made app to control a few critical function switches on the dash for the rest.

[@jackmarston2515]

That's dumb and I'm glad they did their own thing.

[@jnrocktx]

Excited for your CLE review, in particular theV6 cabrio

[@이왕-r4n]

Fit is important for sure!!

[@bazookajoe-theguybehindthe4205]

I can’t wait for mine to arrive

[@TundeEszlari]

Wonderful video.

[@mikemaslanka3786]

Beautiful car especially in that color and I agree with you about the black top. However, perhaps overpriced by $20k? MotoMan, as always, great review!

[@MotoManTV]

Can't say as of now . . . right now, they are hot and going over sticker. We will see in about a year when the market changes. Perhaps inside of six months.

[@filoniz]

I have a true two-seater and one of the thing I miss is not being able to recline my seat. Two+two take care of that.

[@jackmarston2515]

Yeah. Missed that in my slk55 too.

[@HarryShagnasty-sc9zd]

@filoniz You miss not being able to recline the seat?

[@2Bunphettered788]

Nice, but I'll take the SL43 to zip around back roads. At $150k, the 911 Cabrio will probably handle better. 👍 A light blue 🩵 retracting top would look nice too . 🙂

[@c190gtc]

I would actually take the sl55 just because of that v8 and interior even though the 911 outperforms this thing by a mile. I just prefer luxurious cruising over sportiness

[@2Bunphettered788]

@@c190gtc that's a good point. 👍

[@jackmarston2515]

Handle better? Is that the end all be all? Unless you live on a race track, we'll see how well it handles around a blind corner that's got a deer standing in the road. Meantime the porsche doesn't have half the luxury or tech that this car has, never mind its safety rating. Enjoy that VW porsche lol.

[@jackmarston2515]

​@@c190gtcout performs it by a mile at what? Tech? No. Luxury? No. Safety? No. Reliability? No. Handling? Yeah a bit. But unless you live on a racetrack or plan on going to them often what's it matter? That handling won't do A THING around a blind corner with a deer standing in the middle of it or some downed tree or branch. The reasons I hear of why people would pick a VW Porsche over a stand alone company carrying F1 championships is beyond me.

[@2Bunphettered788]

@@jackmarston2515 Must be alotta deer 🦌 where you live. 😏

[@garyclark6747]

So put the analog gauges you suggest behind the stowaway center screen for the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde 21st century experience. 15:55

[@MotoManTV]

Money.

[@kresimirmilisa5560]

very good new sl class i like the design and it has all wheel drive.

[@markdschedler]

Very well done. You do your homework and deliver a lot of helpful information. I like your humor. I like your balanced review. You always look like you love your job and the topic of the day. I’m tall. I play golf twice a week with friends. I take four or five road trips a year. Can I get clubs and luggage for two people and four days in this thing? Are other cars comfortable for four six footers and will they take the same cargo? I have a Boxster S and a Yukon XL. Every golfer, especially the millennials that make this the best time for golf in its history, would like to know.

[@MotoManTV]

As you may know, I am not a golf guy but can say both clubs and a luggage may be a stretch.

[@nicolasmikah4168]

469 hp from a turbo v8 where the LC500 has 471 hp from n/a v8 🤔

[@superset5]

emissions

[@kingakim11]

I love the LC but I think the SL is more athletic

[@Closertotruth2]

They both look great but for my money it’s Lexus. Should be more reliable.

[@jays9211]

The twin turbo has instant torque from low rpm’s which makes a huge difference

[@Closertotruth2]

@@jays9211 True. But it looks like that engine demonstrated more turbo lag than some.

[@skyeranger5873]

The trend I will never understand is having everything blacked out. Like exhaust pipes and side badging. I find in many cases it just makes the car more dull and cheapens the look. There is a place for it, but people make it seem like night package and blacked out parts is the best loook ever. I'd argue in most cases it's used poorly.

[@gordonmccracken1209]

Would love to see a review of the AMG SL 43 (4 cylinder) - I believe they have been delivered to USA dealers during the past week or so.

[@MotoManTV]

Already working on getting one to shoot . . . still not in the US fleets . . .

[@tamasszabo8824]

So the SL55 is only 150 kilograms heavier than the BMW M2? Not bad!

[@gassyjones]

Question: was that the wind or the exhaust gurgling???

[@thewolf61691]

I own a m850i convertible which has a supple ride next to an M8 and it runs to 60 in 3.7 without rollout, fuel economy is much much better than my hellcat. I can't understand why I'd consider SL.

[@jackmarston2515]

Make no mistake. This man hasn't done the homework. Mercedes holds it numbers back. The SL55 hits 60 in 3.5 while the 63 does it in 3 flat while being governed at 196mph. So to answer your question your bmw is crap compared to this car, or any mercedes of equal standing.

[@realitykicksin8755]

The weird dash cockpit and the massive ipad are a big turn-off for me. The high weight is ridiculous considering the L stands for Light.

[@jareknowak8712]

4 cylinder RWD-only version, the "43" is aprox. 160kg lighter.

[@turkishexpress]

The porsche just makes you feel some kind of way. And I trust the porsche reliability a lot more than that of the merc.

[@rockhurstu]

What are your thoughts between value of this vs your LC500? Both quite unique and fairly uncommon on the road.

[@jackmarston2515]

What are they trying to deliver in this car? Let me answer that. Its about max performance without sacrificing ANYTHING else. Top safety, top reliability, top tech, top luxury, nothing gets sacrificed. You just dont find that jack of all trades in VW-porsche and bmw. And if that makes the AMG street cars slightly slower then thats ok. AMG doesnt feel insecrue about that because their racing prowess speaks for itself. And neither VW-Porsche nor BMW can match that record in places where it actually matters, such as F1 for example. Because here on the street, that porsche didnt save paul walker and it wont save anyone else thinking theyre gonna race it around a blind corner with an obstruction on the otherside.

[@pokerfred68]

Gorgeous machine. However, I may just choose a fully tilted Corvette ZO6 and save a few bucks. Plus be able to bust 3 seconds to 60.

[@MrTeslaX-vi2qn]

Why you haven't reviewed Model S Plaid or MX Plaid yet?

[@Wim-b2w]

My 10 year old SL 500 is the better concept but not as beautiful as the new one. it had significant less weight though, a metal top, no ugly screen.. and the drive is more engaging because of the weight. You do not need 4 wheel drive(take your SUV when the weather is bad) And I can no longer take my golf bag with me, on weekends. Today I can do so with the roof open.Why they keep chasing Porsche at Mercedes instead of going there own unique SL way I do not understand. I am happy to borrow my R107 SL to the R&D team. Last but not least the price was double versus the 500SL of 10 years ago.Buy a low millage previous generation SL and save up for the next generation, when hopefully Mercedes gets back on track.

[@longbeachcarguy]

I’d personally go for the $40K cheaper 2024 Lexus LC500 convertible. Now that Lexus finally got rid of the track pad, it’s a winner

[@MotoManTV]

That's exactly what I did:)

[@longbeachcarguy]

@@MotoManTV I am actually looking right now for a 24’ nori green, caramel with sand color top. Those are not easy to find!

[@MotoManTV]

If I am reading the tea leaves correctly, rather than build a bunch and then put lease specials and other incentives on them, I believe what Lexus is doing is lowering supply. That is exactly what Mercedes did with the S Class Coupe & Convertible in their later years . . . That said, if you can find one, I wholeheartedly recommend it but then again, consider the source:)

[@longbeachcarguy]

@@MotoManTV …and I just did today 😉

[@MotoManTV]

@@longbeachcarguy Congrats . . . you won't regret it!

[@jackmarston2515]

Sir you havent done your homework. The SL55 hit 60 in 3.5 and the 63 does it in 3 flat and is governed at 196 mph. The rear seats are meant for laptops and things like that. Btw, those are car and driver numbers using launch control which comes standard in the SL63 and optional in the 55. Got no clue about the 43. Mercedes has a habit of being less than honest with their performance figures, with their estimates always coming up slower than what is capable. If they tell you a car hits 60 in 4.8 it'll do it in 4.5 or a bit less. Ill bet a testicle on it.😅

[@FixItRyan]

I am the car guy in my friend group and they ask me car tips all the time 😂

[@MotoManTV]

We should start charging them:)

[@brian4407]

AMG is just a marketing term at this point. Same engine with different throttle map tune

[@samsharma9207]

I have the SL63. Love it, but that fuel economy is a real crusher!

[@jackmarston2515]

Isn't it? I'm at the gas station every other day 😂😂

[@user-GrahamT]

Could agree more with you about that screen. It has no place in a car like the SL... 👍

[@jackmarston2515]

Yeah it does. You and this reviewer wouldn't know half the functions that screen covers.

[@tcperozi8831]

Not sure what to get m4 comp cabriolet 2025 or sl 55 Amg 2023 anyone ?

[@jameswillard1]

The lower insurance because it has a backseat myth has been debunked …..just as having a red car raises your insurance premiums

[@duckhorn]

it seems have space under the body for full ev

[@femiomomo]

I wonder how this car compares with the Ferrari Roma

[@AtoB12345]

I see the direct comparison to the 911. What are your thoughts compared to the M850i or M8 convertible from BMW? The M850i has similar performance although perhaps not the style and presence but it would be ~$30k cheaper than the SL55.

[@davidrpriest]

The 850i would a be a better all around pure GT car in my opinion.

[@c190gtc]

@@davidrpriest I'm not so sure about that, why? The m850 cab doesn't offer more space or luxury, it doesn't have massaging seats as an option for example

[@davidrpriest]

@@c190gtc It is a bigger car, It's more comfort oriented...more of a classic GT

[@MotoManTV]

Very different. The M850i and M8 are wonderful but feel MUCH bigger than these and for obvious reasons. The wheelbase makes an impact.

[@FrankSchmidt-il1fu]

The badest Sl that I have had in over 40 years. Gears and Elektronik problems are Horror. Many owners in Germany give her car back. Me too.

[@makatron]

I like the car, but I wouldn't be dropping Targa money on this.

[@MotoManTV]

Yes, a very tough call.

[@robertseidl6798]

Love the burbles and pops from the V8.

[@MotoManTV]

It was intoxicating!

[@DuulHomes]

bro your show can use a better camera...

[@pobinr]

I'm confused. Looks like Mercedes are competing with themselves against the amg gt convertible 🤔

[@dash-ryan]

Given this SL is now on par price-wise with the 911 Targa, and if I had the money, truly I cannot see why I wouldn't go for the Porsche for the better dynamics and prestige factor. The SL is beautiful to be sure, but it doesn't look different enough from the upcoming CLE which will have all the same tech as well at over half the price. I think the SL is going to end up like all other SL's before it ... not a good place to be.

[@jareknowak8712]

CLE does not have the same tech. V8 is not avaliable. Its like a streched C klasse, not bespoke platform, like SL. I was full of enthusiasm, but Im disappointed with the CLE design. Outgoing C and E Coupes were better looking in my opnion.

[@makatron]

Also the bubble rear glass looks great in the Targa.

[@MotoManTV]

CLE will not be in the same universe as this in terms of driving dynamics.

[@dash-ryan]

@@MotoManTV What about the CLE AMG variants? One of which is rumored to be a straight six.

[@MotoManTV]

@@dash-ryan You could put the same engine in the CLE and it still won't do what this does. Why? The CLE was originally set up as a compact sedan. This was engineered to be a GT car from the outset.

[@jeffs6090]

I would take an M8 convertible over everything you mentioned.

[@louisalonso1695]

I agree with you.m8 More room,faster And less money.

[@jackmarston2515]

​@@louisalonso1695overall less quality.

[@jackmarston2515]

That's OK. Bmws are for folks who can't afford a mercedes.

[@tinhinnh]

the rear looks like last gen nissan z 😂

[@CSqrdX]

What an absolutely gorgeous unit. Looking forward to the EV version 😅

[@notfabiantapia8942]

McLanren.

[@SibRevs]

Good looking car overall, but that center screen is going to age like milk.

[@fayehall7483]

Smart uses of model names it is, well Smart, otherwise Honda Pilot means the little always on fire ignition of Ma'am's 40 years old stove...Alien needs to sweat for a Japanese Passport to become a citizen?

[@michaelagostino3483]

I'm sorry, if you can afford a 100k vehicle. Are you really thinking about insurance savings because it has a backseat?

[@siegfriedbarfuss9379]

The muffler noise is just idiotic. Why do we need fake ignition sounds ? Only for douche bags to compensate for intellectual and physical short comings …. AMG Marketing ruins the car.

[@Allen-tu7mm]

go buy a LC 500 and thank me later!

[@tedkramer1208]

While I'm a sports car guy, and can appreciate, and even enjoy a great GT car, I loved the older generation of SL55/65. This makes me want to puke. Hate the look. And would NEVER buy. I guess if i'm in the mood for a GT car, it's going to be a non convertible, BMW M5, in green with cognac interior. Next to the 718 Spyder in the mancave.

[@toxicity6629]

Could get a used hellcat and have more power speed and more seats with the 2 door or 4 door. This is why we go with a lot of other brands just not impressed with Mercedes’ at all

[@larukulunaseas]

Some of us don’t live in the hood

[@limacom]

Get that IPad out of the car…😂