I respect, love and admire the SLR more than anyone here. The car is a beautiful piece of machinery. I don't think that it should be compared to anything else for the moment. Lets analyze the car as it is. It is a really good and well made car. It probably is the best MB sports car every made because of the fact that Mcl was involved. The car has style and looks very demon-like which is something that I really like. This demon-like persona is different from the "classy-little boy-good girl" MB that we are used to. It separates the car from MB so much that at times I like to think that it is not made by MB.

Neverhteless MB has control over this devil on four wheels, so they will add their typical plastics and what not. Do I agree? No. This is where you can throw in the CGT and compare and contrast everything each car has to offer for the price. Of course MB fanatics would argue that ever car manufacturer has an individual group that they target therefore not everyone is suppose to like it, but lets face it....its a sports car that will be ranked against other sports cars. The CGT offers, what I like to call, balance in interior. It is typical Porsche but adds spice so that you can recognize you are not in any typical Porsche. The price in my opinion is some how justified. The price on the SLR is a topic that can be debated at another time, but I would like to say is a price that at times might not seem justified.

Do I think MB made a good decision in making the SLR that we see today?
Absolutely
Do people admire the car for what is it subtracting its competitors and its price-tag?
No.

Lets take a look at the SLR for a few moments away from the MB glamour, competition, and price tag. I would say that we all could agree that this car is in a class of its own and stands alone with a powerful persona.



I don't think MB should change the car that much. What are they going to offer? A roadster?

I disagree. I think if MB goes into making a roadster they will de-value this car a lot more than what it is right now because of the aforementioned factors. If there is a roadster offered it will be typical MB. The Enzo is pretty much kept to what it originally was, so is the CGT and it should stay that way. Cars like these should be very limited in what you can pick. They are unique, don't make it look like they are going to be mass produced. This car does not fall into the Gallard, F430, Aston Martin DB9/volante category; this car is in that SUPER CAR category. All in all, adding a roadster to the SLR line is a bad idea in my books. The car is a coupe and it should stay that way.

I voted 'It's the ultimate everyday supercar with ease' but that doesn't mean I like it! I think it should have all the creature comforts that it does, and doesn't need to drive as well as an A class around town! It should be more raw IMO!

Well the Coupe isn't cutting it all the way so a Roadster would be a logical progression IMO. The Enzo was just turned into the FXX, call it what you like but it is nothing more than a tweaked Enzo so Mercedes really isn't doing anything different with a roadster. They most definitely need to do a more powerful, lightweight version that is track-ready.

M

remember my thread "the ultimate garage" the guy with CGT,Murcielago,ford GT etc etc and he wasn't that impressed with the SLR.
So I hope the next SLR is going to be more special to drive.

for those forgot what I talk about
http://germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=3391

No hard feelings my friend but I just don't agree with you or anyone that says the SLR should be made into a roadster. If they want to offer a newer better updated SLR with a more powerful enginge, lightweight body, and other little gadgets then fine. Nevertheless, in my opinion making it a roadster is a big mistake or rather should I say, a MB mistake. I think MB should keep the car the way it is and not push it. It would be typical MB to make it a convertible. Look at the CLK DTM they made it into a convertible. Now that is really not a supersports car like the SLR is made out to be but I guess in some ways you wonder, why the heck would someone want a race tuned track version of a CLK in a convertible.

I really hope someone catches my drift here because I think I am having difficulty explaining myself here. Either way this is my opinion and it is all in the eye of the beholder.

Never any hard feelings. I do agree with you about the CLK-DTM, but the SLR is a super GT not a track car and the original Vision SLR was shown as a roadster so I guess thats why I think they should expand the lineup with a roadster and a more powerful track-ready model. The SLR I would imagine is a huge money maker for MB/Mclaren so they should update/expand the line, expecially if they want to sell all 3500 they plan on building.

Now if were both members on the DCX board there might be some hard feelings if you got your way and I got passed over for the top job, I'd quit......lol. Oh wait that did happen......ala Cordes....

M

You are absolutely right. When they introduced the concepts they showed a roadster if I am not mistaken.