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convertibles compared to the SL500
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return to history and comparisons among the SL
detailed comparison to the BMW 540
| Length | Cir. | Lbs | Engine | Ft-Lbs | HP | 0-60 | 1/4 mile | MPH | Trunk | City | Hwy | |
| 96-98 SL500 | 177.1" | 35.4' | 4,165 | 32V VVT V8 | 347 @ 3900 | 315 @ 5600 | 6.2 | 14.5 @ 99.2 | 155* | 7.9' | 16 | 23 |
| 97 SL600 | 155* | 7.9' | 13 | 20 | ||||||||
| 97 SL320 | 6 | 18 | 24 | |||||||||
| 05-07 SL65 AMG | 178.5" | 36.2' | 4,565 | 36V V12 | 738 @ 2,000 | 604 @ 4800 | 4.2 | 12 | 19 | |||
| 03-05 SL500 | 178.5" | 36.2' | 4,065 | 24V VVT V8 | 339 @ 3-4k | 302 @ 5600 | 6.1 | 155* | 7.3' | 15 | 22 | |
| 03-04 SL55 AMG | 178.5" | 36.2' | 4,319 | 24V blown V8 | 516 @ 2.7-4k | 493 @ 6100 | 4.5 | 13.0 @ 116 | 8.2' | 14 | 20 | |
| 03-04 SL600 | 178.5" | 36.2' | 4,429 | 36V V12 BiTurbo | 590 @ 1.8-3.5k | 493 @ 5000 | 4.5 | 155* | 7.3' | 13 | 19 | |
| 2007 SL600 | 178.5" | 36.2' | 4,429 | 36V V12 BiTurbo | 612 @ 1.9-?k | 510 @ 5000 | 4.5? | 155* | 7.3' | 13 | 19 | |
| 2019 BMW M850i Convertible | 191.2" | 39' | 4,643 | 32V VVT V8 BiTurbo | 553 @ 1.8 ~ 4.6k | 523 @ 5.5 ~ 6k | 3.5 | 11.8 @ 119 | 155* | 12 - 18' | 17 | 26 |
| 70 Hemi 'Cuda | 426 CID | 425 gross** | 13.1 @ 107 | |||||||||
| 70 Challenger R/T 440 six-pack | 440 CID 16V 6-BBL | 390 gross** | 7.1 | 14.8 @ 97.8 | ||||||||
| 04 CLK320 | 182.6 | 35.3 | 3770 | 6 | 229 @ 3000 | 215 @ 5700 | 9' | 20 | 26 | |||
| 04 CLK500 | 182.6 | 35.3 | 3905 | 24V VVT V8 | 337 @ 2700 | 302 @ 5600 | 9' | 17 | 22 | |||
| 04 CLK55 | 182.6 | 35.3 | 3960 | 5.4l V8 | 376 @ 4000 | 362 @ 57500 | 9' | 15 | 22 | |||
| 05 SLK350 | 160.7" | 34.5' | 3231 | 3.5l 24V V6 | 258 @ 2.4-5k | 268 @ 6000 | 5.4 | 13.9 @ 103 | 155* | 6.5' | 18 | 25 |
| 05 SLK55 AMG | 160.9" | 34.5' | 3397 | 5.4l 24V V8 | 376 @ 3,500 | 362 @ 6000 | 4.9 | 155* | 6.5' | 16? | 22? | |
| 97-04 SLK230 | 157.3" | 32.9' | 2992 | 16V Blown I4 | 200 @ 2500 | 185 @ 5300 | 7.6 | 3.6' | 22 | 30 | ||
| -04 SLK320 | 157.9" | 32.9' | 3120 | 18V V6 | 229 @ 3-4.6k | 215 @ 5700 | 6.6 | 3.6' | 17 | 26 | ||
| 02-04 SLK32 AMG | 157.9" | 32.9' | 3220 | 18V blown 6 | 332 @ 4400 RPM | 349 @ 6100 RPM | 4.8 | 3.6' | 17 | 22 | ||
| 85 - 89 560SL | 180.3" | 3,780 | alloy V8 | 279 @ 3,250 | 227 @ 4,750 | 8 | 137 | 14 | 17 | |||
| 80 - 85 380SL | 182.3" | 3,605 | alloy V8 | 196 @ 2,750 | 155 @ 4,750 | 11 | 121 | 16 | 18 | |||
| 80 450SL | 182.3" | 3,750 | iron V8 | 239 @ 3,000 | 160 @ 4,200 | 10.3 | 124 | |||||
| 70 - 80 350SL | 172.4" | 3,487 | iron V8 | 9.2 | 127 | |||||||
| 72 450SL | 172.4" | 3,780 | iron V8 | 278 @ 3,000 | 230 @ 5,000 | 9.2 | 127 | |||||
| 05 E320 CDI | 189.7" | 37.4' | 3691 | Turbo Diesel 24V I6 | 369 @ 1.8 - 2.6k | 201 @ 4200 | 6.6 | 15.3 @ 91 | 151, 130* | 15.9' |
27 | 37 |
| 03 E500 | 190.3" | 37.4' | 3815 | 24V V8 | 339 @ 2.7 - 4.25k | 302 @5600 | 5.8 | 15.3' | 16 | 23 | ||
| 88 190D | 175.1" | 34.1' | 3020 | Diesel I5 | 122 | 93 | 100 | 11.7' | 30 | 34 | ||
| 95 325iC | 174.5" | 34.1 | 3352 | I6 24V VVT | 181 @ 4200 | 189 @ 5900 | 8.9 | 20 | 28 | |||
| 99 M Roadster | 158.5" | 3086 | I6 | 236 @ 3800 | 240 @ 6000 | 5.3 | 19 | 26 | ||||
| 00 BMW Z8 | 173.4" | 38.7 | 3494 | 32V VVT V8 | 369 @ 3800 | 394 @ 6600 | 4.2 | 13.0 @ 110 | 155* | 5' | 13 | 21 |
| 03 BMW 540iA Sport | 188.0" | 37.4' | 3803 | 32V VVT V8 | 324 @ 3600 | 290 @ 5400 | 6.1 | 14.39 @ 96.60 | 155* | 16.2' | 17 | 23 |
| 04 645Ci | 190.2" | 4178 | 32V VVT V8 | 330 @ 3600 | 325 @ 6100 | 6.0 | 149* | 15 | 23 | |||
| 04 BMW M3 | 176.9" | 3781 | 24V VVT I6 | 262 @ 4900 | 333 @ 7900 | 5.4 | 155* | 16 | 23 | |||
| 04 330ci | 176.7" | 3616 | 24V VVT I6 | 214 @ 3500 | 225 @ 5900 | 6.9 | 128* | 19 | 28 | |||
| 04 325ci | 176.7" | 34.4' | 3560 | 24V VVT I6 | 175 @ 3500 | 184 @ 6000 | 7.7 | 128* | 19 | 27 | ||
| 05 Z4 3.0i | 161.1" | 2998 | 24V VVT I6 | 214 @ 3500 | 225 @ 5900 | 5.9 | 155* | 21 | 29 | |||
| 05 Z4 2.5i | 161.1" | 2932 | 24V VVT I6 | 175 @ 3500 | 184 @ 6000 | 7.1 | 137 | 20 | 28 | |||
| 02 Jag XKR | 187.4" | 4039 | Blown V8 | 382@3600 | 370 @ 6150 | 5.4 | 13.9 @ 102.4 | 16 | 22 | |||
| 18 Panamera Turbo | 198.8" | 4593 | 32V V8 BiTurbo | 550 @ 6000 | 567 @ 1960 | 2.9 | 11.3 @ 122 | 190 | 17.6 - 46' | 18 | 25 | |
| 06 Cayenne Turbo S | 188.3" | 39' | 5192 | 32V V8 BiTurbo | 521 @ 5500 | 531 @ 2750 - 3750 | 4.8 | 13.5 @ 107 | 167 | 19.1 - 62½'' | 13 | 18 |
| 02 911c | 174.5" | 34.8' | 3075 | flat 6 | 273 @ 4350 | 320 @ 6800 | 5.6 | 14.1 @ 101.6 | 18 | 26 | ||
| 05 Boxster | 171.6" | 2965 | 3.2l 6 | 236 @ 4700 | 280 @ 6200 | 9.5' | ||||||
| 04 Boxster S | 170.1" | 35.8' | 2911 | 3.2l 6 | 229 @ 4500 | 258 @ 6250 | 9' | 18 | 26 | |||
| 04 Boxster | 170.1" | 2811 | 2.7l 6 | 192 @ 4750 | 228 @ 6300 | 9' | 20 | 29 | ||||
| 00 Boxster S | 171" | 35.8' | 2855 | 3.2l 6 | 225 @ 4500 | 250 @ 6250 | 5.8 | 9' | 18 | 26 | ||
| 00 Boxster | 171" | 35.8' | 2778 | 2.7l 6 | 192 @ 4500 | 217 @ 6500 | 6.5 | 9' | 19 | 27 | ||
| 99 Boxster | 171" | 35.8' | 2822 | 2.5l 6 | 181 @ 4500 | 202 @ 6000 | 6.5 | 9' | 19 | 26 | ||
| 97 Boxster | 171" | 35.8' | 2822 | 2.5l 6 | 181 @ 4500 | 201 @ 6000 | 19 | 26 | ||||
| 05 Miata MS | 155.7" | 30.2' | 2540 | 16V I4 turbo | 166 @ 4500 | 178 @ 6000 | 6.7 | 15.2 @ 91 | 127 | 5' | 20 | 26 |
| 98-05 Miata | 155.3" | 30.2' | 2299 | 16V VVT I4 | 120 @ 5500 | 140 @ 6500 | 8 | 5.1' | 25 | 29 | ||
| 94-97 Miata | 155.4" | 30.6' | 2293 | 16V I4 | 110 @ 5500 | 130 @ 6500 | 8.8 | 3.6' | 23 | 29 | ||
| 90-93 Miata | 155.4" | 30.6' | 2116 | 16V I4 | 100 @ 5500 | 116 @ 6500 | 3.6' | 25 | 30 | |||
| 01 MR2 (00- 05) | 153" | 34.1' | 2195 | 1.8l I4 | 125 @ 4400 | 138 @ 6400 | 1.9' | 25 | 30 | |||
| 95-02 VW Cab | 160.4" | 32.8' | 2778 | I4 | 122 @ 3200 | 115 @ 5400 | 10.2 | 8' | 24 | 31 | ||
| 88-93 VW Cab | 153.1" | 31.2' | 2307 | 8V SOHC I4 | 100 @ 3000 | 94 @ 5400 | 6.5' | 25 | 32 | |||
| 86 VW Cab | 159.3" | 2254 | I4 | 100 @ 3000 | 90 @ 5500 | 6.2' | 24 | 29 | ||||
| 02 - 05 S2000 | 162.2" | 35.4' | 2809 | 16V I4 | 153 @ 7500 | 240 @ 8300 | 5' | 20 | 25 | |||
| 04 Mini S | 143.9" | 34.8' | 2844 | Blown I4 | 162 @ 4000 | 170 @ 6000 | 7.4 | 15.6 | 138 | 4.2' | 25 | 34 |
| 04 Mini | 143.1" | 34.8' | 2700 | DOHC I4 | 111 @ 4500 | 115 @ 6000 | 8.9 | 16.5 | 121 | 4.2' | 28 | 37 |
| 05 Crossfire | 159.8" | 32.2' | 18V V6 | 229 @ 3200 | 215 @ 5700 | 6.5 | 14.9 @ 96 | 150 | 3.6' | 17 | 25 | |
| 05 Xfire SRT6 | 159.8" | 32.2' | blown 18V V6 | 330 | 5 | 158 | ||||||
| 05 Mustang GT | 3483 | V8 4.6l | 320 @ 4500 | 300 @ 5750 | 5.1 | 17 | 25 | |||||
| 86 Mustang GT | 179.1" | ~3,000 | V8 5.0l | 285 @ 3,000 | 200 @ 4,000 | 6.6 | 125 | 17 | 25 | |||
| 2005 Ferrari F430 | 176.6" | 3494 | V8 | 343 @ 5250 | 483 @ 8500 | 4.1 | 12.4 @ 115 | 193 | 10 | 21 | ||
| 2002 360 Modena F1 | 176.3 | 3064 | V8 | 275 @ 4750 | 400 @ 8500 | 4.6 | 180 | 11 | 16 | |||
| 67 Dodge Monaco*** | 219.6" |
4585 | 6.3l 16V 2BBL 3/spd | 390 @ 2800** | 270 @ 4400** | 9.2? | 17.1? | ?117? | 97' |
KEY:
Cir = turning circle.
Engine:
V = valves.
VVT = variable valve timing.
MPH is top speed.
Trunk: cubic feet of space, top down.
City/Hwy = US EPA fuel economy.
Notes:
Manual transmission listed if both auto and manual available, otherwise auto is listed in case of SL. All are convertibles.
* means limited electronically. Why 155 MPH for every brand? It's actually a very round 250 km/h, a gentleman's agreement for electronic limiting in Germany.
** gross ratings which are about 33% higher than the net power ratings used since 1973.
*** Dodge cargo space: 44.9" W x 96" d x 29.5" T; 97 cf. Dodge 3-speed 2.55:1, 1.49:1 and 1.00:1 with 3.34:1 axle.
SLK 1997 - 2004 had 3.6 cubic feet of trunk space with the top down. if you put the top up you had 9.5 cubic feet.
BMW 645Ci: Big, heavy, solid, smooth, nimble and powerful four seater introduced in 2004. Very similar ride to SL500 except even bigger. Too many blinking lights and electronic interference, like steering ratios that change while you drive. Glass rear window, cloth top only. Turn signals are almost invisible to drivers behind you.
2005 S2000 (Honda): Much sturdier and better made than you would think for a Honda. Feels very solid and well made. Very comfortable leather seats. Pachinco-parlor inspired blinking light dash devoid of real gauges works quite well. Quite drivable around town and peaky powerband the top. Trunk deeper and roomier than you'd expect. No room behind seats and seats do not recline. EPA 20/25MPG on regular with manual trans, pretty poor considering the SL500 has twice the engine, far more weight and and automatic and still gets about the same fuel economy.
VW Cabrio (Rabbit) convertible: a tiny, practical 4 seater with a trunk that's shorter than the other cars. Front wheel drive, small engine. Latest models have heated seats. The gauges have always been excellent, far better than the Mercedes 2003 - 2005 SL
2004 Mini (BMW): German made. Feels like a toy in a bad way, unlike the Miata which feels like a toy in a good way. Collapsed top obscures rear view. Front-wheel drive?
Miata: Always an excellent and extremely fun car.
Chrysler Crossfire: This is built by Karmann in Germany with parts from the 1997 - 2004 Mercedes SLK, including the engines. It rides more softly and has comfier seats compared to the SLK, which is sportier than the Crossfire. The Crossfire only has a soft top, not the miraculous collapsing hard top of the SLK.
2005 Mustang: sorry, no convertible. '86 is convertible. Note the '86 has a 5.0l vs. 4.6l V8 and still got the same fuel economy.
1986 Mustang GT Convetrible: 18.8s to 100 MPH, 69.1" wide and 52.1" till. Ratios 3.35, 1.93, 1.29, 1.00 & 0.68. I think 3.08 special order rear vs. 2.71. 100.4" wheelbase. 15.4 gallons. 225/60VR15.
Dodge Charger: sorry, not convertible.
Ferrari 360: sorry, not convertible.
Ferrari 430: Convertible version due in 2005, cloth top only. (AutoWeek, 21 Feb 2005, pg. 4)