johnw(to) Report post Posted March 30, 2007 this is a cross post from mb forums. allan asked me what i thought of my SLR. below is my response to him. if ur sitting on the fence with this car now's the time to buy, the prices are getting 'resonable'. when i first saw it in pictures i thought it was pretty friggin ugly and hugely overpriced. then i saw one in person and i thought it looked pretty good. the dealer let me drive it around the block and i was floored. i had it out for about 10 minutes and drove it back to back against an sl65 that i had out for the day. anybody who has ever compared these two cars or think they would take an sl65 over the slr because the hp is the same has never driven an slr. compared to the slr the 65 feels completely out of control- like its all engine. there simply is NO comparison between the two. anyway, i passed on the slr because i still didnt think it was worth the money. about a month ago a silver/red 2005 came up for sale with 2000 miles. the price was right and i had to seriously consider it. the dealer let me take the car on a 30 minute test drive. it was pretty cold so the tires wouldnt hook up but u know ur in a special car. they had a 599 there and it just seemed like a nice ferrai but didnt have that 'special feel' compared to the slr. once u get into the slr u know ur in for a treat. so i bought the car and absolutely love it. the slr gets a knock for being too civilized. well for me i like that. i live in toronto and traffic can get pretty bad. i do not want to sit in bumper to bumper traffic with a CGT or even a 430. i do want to sit in my automatic with perfect ac and be comfortable while i make my way home or wherever. when the traffic clears open it up, it becomes a completely different car! will u get bored of the car? maybe, but it is two cars in one. the civilized car and the complete beast. i know u well from ferrarichat, lambopower etc and know u like big hp cars with lots of torque. which is one of the reasons u didnt like the 360 at all. i own or have owned 2 360's, a modified porsche 993tt, a modified porsche 996tt, a bentley gt, a cl55 and pretty much everything u can think of except lambo's. i was almost going to buy a gallardo spider but bought the slr. the murci just seems to big and bulky for me. based on ur comments from various boards i cannot see you being less than thrilled with this car. the acceleration is wicked at any speed, as expected, but the handling is amazing. mclaren has done an amazing job with this car. lane to lane changes are neck breaking- crank the steering wheel and u r transported to the next lane. like u i am hard on my cars. i used to have my racing license and have done tons of track days. this car is so far above my skills i cant believe it. and yet it doesnt feels like it will bite u in the ass like a cgt would. the car feels loyal to ur inputs and lets u know if ur getting into trouble. it cannot be compared to anything i have ever owned. i know the numbers in the magazines are amazing but u simply cannot understand the car by numbers alone. a Plastic mess-06- which i love- has similar numbers but again feels NOTHING like this car. and again, for me the best part is backing off the gas and just cruising home if i want to or if i hit traffic. the only negative is the long friggin nose which i have scraped on parking curbs twice. f#$!. the autotranny is better than the cl55's i had. there r three settings in the sport mode and they do make a difference, especially on the downshift. or put it in manual mode and it allows the car to stay in gear even if it bumps the rev limiter. however, it is not nearly as raw feeling as the f1 in the ferrari's. but again, for me thats a plus, i had 3 ferrari and and only 1 was f1. i dont really like the jerky feeling or a computer controlling the clutch. if this car were a manual it would be insane- but it would take away that every day useability that no other supercar has. from what i understand you can get some brabus mods but im going to leave the car stock for now. i would probably consider changing the wheels and making the exhaust louder but i wouldnt touch the engine. i dont want to have a problem and have the warranty voided. if you do mod ur engine u will have a serious race car on ur hands with suspension that CAN handle the power, unlike the sl65 which feels like the chasis cannot keep up with the engine. You could probably buy some 722 parts but they will likely have big costs. from my mb slr dealer there are zero changes from 05-06. considering all the cars i have had i can truly say that this car is seriously world class in every regard. i mean it could have a better stereo or better quality buttons but thats the only knock i could give it. it will give you a serious adrenalin rush and take u home in comfort too- u get to decide. i know u have driven cars as fast in a straight line and cars that sounded alot meaner and more exotic but this is truly levels above the 430's and muric's. although i cant comment on the lp or 599 because i havent driven them i cant even believe 430 spiders are nearly the same cost. take a look at the the way this car was built and u know why its so expensive. there are high end racing parts throughout the entire vehicles engine, brakes, aerodynamics and suspension. this car is the real deal on so many levels. 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porter Report post Posted March 30, 2007 I think I need a cigarette. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnw(to) Report post Posted March 30, 2007 lol. porter i know of one available. 05, 5500km. u could probably get it for 400k. its not for sale exactly but owner would sell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Report post Posted March 30, 2007 John, thanks for the write up! Just out of curiosity, how does the exterior door handle work and are the side mirrors retractable? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnw(to) Report post Posted March 30, 2007 John, thanks for the write up! Just out of curiosity, how does the exterior door handle work and are the side mirrors retractable? sounds like a test bert! lol u simply push the door 'handles' in and the door swings open. i truly dont know if the mirrors retract or not. i dont think they do. i will check when i get back home on sunday AND post some pics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bashir26 Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Great write up john! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Report post Posted March 30, 2007 John, that was a pop-quiz, there's going to be an SLR mid-term tomorrow. Just kidding hehe. I've always been intrigued by the little details and workings of an exotic and pondering about them is always a nice exercise for the brain. Thanks for explaining how the door works and I'm looking forward to the answer regarding the mirrors (they look like a rigid unit from all the up close shots I've seen). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Report post Posted March 30, 2007 lol. porter i know of one available. 05, 5500km. u could probably get it for 400k. its not for sale exactly but owner would sell. PM sent. Check your Inbox, sir. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OC Report post Posted March 30, 2007 Thanks for the detailed write-up. -Olivier Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDADDY Report post Posted March 31, 2007 Nice write-up John.If you want PM me you contact number and we can meet up since you live in TO.It would be a nice sight to have both cars together Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedemon Report post Posted March 31, 2007 Thanks, nice write-up. I agree that the 65s feel like all engine (I never drove the SLR) but I wonder how much of this feeling is caused by the crappy stocks tires. I'm having wider Michelin PS2's put on this weekend on my CL65 and I hope they'll make a substantial difference. Also, the 65s have heavier bi-turbo V12s vs. supercharged V8 on the SLR, so that's a handling disadvantage. Still, I don't like the looks of the SLR and the 65s are just a small fraction of its price, so I don't think I'll ever buy one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abolfaz Report post Posted March 31, 2007 There are few SLR daily drivers in my area. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnw(to) Report post Posted March 31, 2007 thanks guys. no doubt the 65's are great cars. i still may get an sl65. different than the slr but still a monster. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnw(to) Report post Posted March 31, 2007 Nice write-up John.If you want PM me you contact number and we can meet up since you live in TO.It would be a nice sight to have both cars together definitely racer. we need to talk! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bashir26 Report post Posted April 9, 2007 For porter Black SLR for sale http://www.kulumotorcar.com/inventory.asp in calgary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OC Report post Posted April 9, 2007 For porter Black SLR for sale http://www.kulumotorcar.com/inventory.asp in calgary I don't know, I think that's a pretty boring interior for the price they are probably asking for it... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Report post Posted April 12, 2007 For porter Black SLR for sale http://www.kulumotorcar.com/inventory.asp in calgary Thanks, man. I think I am close to the one that I want - silver with porno red interior, Brabus wheels. Here's a PS of the car: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bashir26 Report post Posted April 12, 2007 Thats an amazing car. Where was the PS taken? the background looks nuts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Report post Posted April 12, 2007 Thats an amazing car. Where was the PS taken? the background looks nuts! PS = Photoshop... as in I Photoshopped the wheels in place of the stock turbines. Location? Probably anywhere in Canada between the months of October and May haha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bashir26 Report post Posted April 13, 2007 PS = Photoshop... as in I Photoshopped the wheels in place of the stock turbines. Location? Probably anywhere in Canada between the months of October and May haha lol by PS i thought you meant photoshoot. You have good PS skills, i couldn't tell anything was changed. I'm still laughing at the interior you made up lol porno red lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Report post Posted April 15, 2007 lol by PS i thought you meant photoshoot. You have good PS skills, i couldn't tell anything was changed. I'm still laughing at the interior you made up lol porno red lol I got tired of pissing around so I bought one this weekend. Didn't get silver. I'll post up pictures once the Brabus wheels I ordered come in. Should be a week or two. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnw(to) Report post Posted April 16, 2007 yeah porter CONGRATS!!! ok so dont keep us in suspense! what are the details?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan-Herbie Report post Posted April 16, 2007 I got tired of pissing around so I bought one this weekend. Didn't get silver. I'll post up pictures once the Brabus wheels I ordered come in. Should be a week or two. How much were the brabus wheels? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bashir26 Report post Posted April 16, 2007 I got tired of pissing around so I bought one this weekend. Didn't get silver. I'll post up pictures once the Brabus wheels I ordered come in. Should be a week or two. Congrats Porter!!! I'll just have to keep my digital camera with me at all times just incase I see yours! details!?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDADDY Report post Posted April 16, 2007 I got tired of pissing around so I bought one this weekend. Didn't get silver. I'll post up pictures once the Brabus wheels I ordered come in. Should be a week or two. Congrats Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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