Sorry, but I don't agree.
The SLR is just plain looking, apart from some details.
Take those details away and it's just a(nother) blando-boring benz (unlike the 300 SL, 300 SLR - the only real one, the recent CLS).
The true SLR was designed to beat Ferrari and Jaguar, to be the best- second to none, a true super race car, the ultimate triumph of function over form.
What is the curent "SLR" a joke, an overpowered GT (not racing GT; to the dismay of McLaren) that by some accident of fate is being placed in the class of super sport cars, and getting its a** kicked.
That's the problem with MB, they don't know what they stand for, and they don't know what their SLR moniker stands for.

If you make a comparison with cars by imaginary taking all the details away, all cars would look kinda boring.
It's like taking away the CLS characteristic lines on the flank.
Even though, removing all details it still would have the classic shape, both SLR and CLS.
Well, in this case the SLR does has the details, so it's not a blando-boring benz at all in my opinion at least.
And don't you think the CGT feature some boring/bland design even though it is a superb car?

It's correct that Mercedes made the first SLR to beat Ferrari's and Jaguar.
To be the best of all.
But it's also due the close releases of supercars (CGT, Enzo, Zonda) one after each other which made the current SLR look like the worst performer. Back in those days, releases of supercars were pretty rare thing. When it came out, it took many years/decade untill there's a competitor to compete against it. So in that mean time, that supercar was kind of a benchmark and thus praised by alot of people.
But anyway, in a Dutch magazine they tested the SLR together with old Ferrari's like the F50. The SLR performed better on acceleration and tracktime than the Ferrari despite being heavier and having airconditioning, electric windows, nav-system, cruise control and all other features.
Not forget to mention reliability/durability.
So it is a good performing car but not as hardcore as some supercars but it does deserve some respect.

The SLR is not a joke, it is build to be GT but it comes to have supercar performance.
They did marketresearch and it came out that potential buyers wants a supercar that could be driven everyday. So then you will have some everyday features, like electric windows, A/C etc.
So there you have it, the SLR of today. And alot of people appreciate it.
And Mercedes does know what they stand for. If they really want to build a supercar that will surpass any of their competitors, they can.
They do can develop true racing cars. Look at the CLK-GTR, CLK-DTM.
Same as McLaren but in this case, they didn't develop a true hardcore racer together with Mercedes.
But that doesn't mean that these highly qualified people over there are being stupid together and don't know what they are doing.

Ah well, everyone has its own opinion though and I respect it.
But that was just my two cents regarding the SLR.

it will beat them.. just wait some more months..

Alwing don't waste your breath, or in this matter your fingers for prematurely getting arthritis. The guy clearly lives in a different world. Just ignore him most of the things he says does not have any coherence or makes much sense anyways.

SLR? Plainlooking???

The SLR is a very extra-ordinary looking car thats one of the most beautifull cars on planet. About the driving dynamics, its perfect to use, its just not THAT track-oriented as the Enzo or CGT or Pagani. Because its still a Mercedes-Benz. And I think its very special a supersportcar with an automatic gearbox, cruisecontole, navi,... It should be very nice to drive a supersportscar which is comfortable, while you r driving 330km/h!! Mercedes and McLaren has made a fantastic car, really!! I love it very much, like much people do. Not everyone is so crazy about tracks. Im really sick about those track-BS. If I was rich, and I had an SLR, it would be a really pleasure to drive from Belgium to Turkey when its vacation!(Im from Turkish origin...) Driving 3500 km very very fast and very very comfortable!!!

All of us here would get alot more speed out of the SLR..than any other supersport car..
Cause no one can drive a Zonda Enzo to the max and get out all of the greateness.. atleast i assume that there is no such person on this forum..
So if you guys wanna drive fast.. its easiest in the SLR.. and that is a fact..

I could................ just kidding.

I acknowledge that the SLR is a very fine car, but sorry Martinbo it doesn't stir much passion or emotion in me at all.

I would have a hard time trying to decide between a Zonda F and an Enzo - but the greatest of them all right now is undoubtedly the CGT. I might be limited by my own driving skills with it....but just looking at it is enough..........

My question to Mercedes is, why did they waste McLaren's engineers time building a GT car - the Mercedes engineers could have done that - if the McLaren engineers were to have created a replacement for the F1 - now that would have been something.

I agree Roberto, CGT gets my vote as well.

While the SLR is a very fine specimen in its being, it's heavily comprised at that too. Too much has been done by MB and not enough by McLaren, the only thing McLaren I see is the badge on the side strakes, that's it. It's very disapointing that MB would invest so much in a through and through uber sports car manufacture and tell them to make a GT rather than what it is they do best, no frills uber cars. I don't know what the situation is looking like as far as the relationship between the two companies, but hopefully MB will let them do the work if there is to be another project calibration between the two.

Great minds think alike Stuttgarter - while you were replying to my post, I was adding that last paragraph to it

Indeed my freind

I don't know that MB will ever produce such a car w/ no compromises, other than what we've seen from AMG in the form of the CLKDTM, but this car has had no major impact on the brand name other than in the Euro mkt. as well as for those who actually watch and folow DTM racing. Here MB had yet another chance to solidify it's reputation as leader in the auto industry for making thee most technologically advanced class leading cars. It's hard to even look at the SLR as a milestone for MB being it that this car is so deeply flawed. A major disapiontment and better money spent on an SL55 AMG. What a shame I even had to say that. Further oppurtunities shall present themselves in the future I am sure, but MB had it's chance to shine for all the glory, and somehow missed it.