Vehicle Description
Even 12 years later there aren't many cars you can buy that can run
with this 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG. With a burly supercharged
V8, sinister Autobahn-ripping looks, and incomparable luxury, this
is a car that says you've well and truly arrived. The fact that
it's so affordable only makes the ownership experience that much
more delicious.
The SL has always been special, but when the guys at AMG get their
hands on it, incredible things start to happen. The already stylish
bodywork gets longer, leaner, and definitely meaner, giving it
supercar attitude without the clown shoes. The redesign put a more
appealing face on the SL, complete with raked back headlights and
grille that were reminiscent of those found on the concept cars of
just a few years earlier. In typical Mercedes-Benz fashion, the
paint and bodywork are exemplary, and while it shows signs of use
and age here and there, the bottom line is that quality doesn't get
the corners knocked off so easily; it still looks like a very
expensive car. AMG also added a body kit that lowers the car, a
tasteful spoiler on the trunk lid, and, of course, the chrome V8
KOMPRESSOR emblems on the front fenders, a little bit of a warning
label for the folks in the lane next to you. Out back, you get a
cool diffuser under the rear bumper, as well as quad exhaust tips
that have the best baritone soundtrack this side of a Wagner
opera.
Black leather works, whether it's your jacket or the interior of
your Mercedes-Benz supercar. And just because it hammers the
pavement with nearly 500 horsepower, that doesn't mean it can't
also be luxurious and comfortable. The seats feel like they could
hold you in place during the most spirited maneuvers, but they're
no more constrictive than your favorite easy chair. Everything that
looks like wood IS real wood, and the lovely center console is the
focal point of the whole interior. Big, round gauges are easy to
read and have a high-tech look that's perfect for the car's
personality, and while there are a lot of buttons, their use is
pretty intuitive. Of course, everything is standard equipment,
including a big screen for the infotainment system.
The supercharged 5.5 liter DOHC V8 is a heavyweight brawler in a
tuxedo. With 493 horsepower and a towering 515 pounds of torque, it
flings the 4400-pound SL around like a toy. Need to get to that
hole in traffic? Bam! You're there. The car accelerates like it's
got the proverbial JATO booster on its back and all the while those
pipes out back are singing along, urging you to go faster. The only
transmission up to the task of harnessing all that torque is a
5-speed automatic, but it doesn't really matter because the car
seems to accelerate with the same ferocity no matter what gear
you're in or how fast you're going. The suspension uses all the
electronic wizardry that 2004 could offer and the brakes are
massive enough for a bullet train. The hardware underneath is in
good overall condition, with evidence of use but not a life in the
snow belt, and those gorgeous 5-spoke AMG alloys look great and
carry 245/45/17 performance radials.
The bottom line is that you can own this car for about twenty cents
on the dollar compared to its original purchase price. Nobody will
know that, of course; all they'll see is the player with the good
fortune to own one of the most formidable 2-seat convertibles ever
created. Call today!
