2003 SL-55. VIN WDBSK74FX3F044436.  This is a rare Black Opal car boasting every available option less Pano.  Parktroinc, Distronic, Keyless Go, Heated, Cooled and massaging seats, Nav, Changer, Xenon, Bose all of it.  This SL55 even has the rare wood delete.  12,900 miles!  This is a 2 owner car and my personal car.   If you have a moment, check my home page.  You will see I am not your typical Benz guy.  I am a real car guy and know cars well.  Being so, this SL55 is not a your typical bump n grind lease damage, dealership damaged, Starbucks drinking, country club curb popping, valet abused, night club street parking, hey look at what I drive Benz.  I bought this car because of its engineering and the fact I can really appreciate what goes into one of these cars.  They are incredible machines once you get past the stigma and pretentiousness these cars carry.  I can assure you that an SL550 is not even on the same planet as an SL55 and the newer SL63 is certainly a lesser car for more money.  If I sound a little harsh, that is my intention.  I am a car guy and I have seen how most of the SL buying crowd has treated SLs over the years. Not to say a few are not great people and really good with cars but as a whole it really makes me sick as how such nice and expensive cars end up the way they do.  I am not one of those people and really hope Mercedes can gain some enthusiast buyers vs. the pretentious image conscience crowd one day. That very reason is why the cars have such bad resale... It is by no means the cars fault, it starts with the dealers but the crowd is 100% to blame as they allow the dealers to get away with what they do. My intentions are to find someone that will treat and appreciate this car as I have.  I know you will be as rare of bird as me, but you will know exactly what I am talking about and have and appreciation for a car that is just a cut above the other options available to you.

You will not see any other SL55 of 2003 as nice as this car even if the Odometer says 1000 miles.    I guarantee 100% that every surface of this car is original paint.  As anyone selling a car on eBay to do that for you. That includes the flawless front bumper!  The car has NEVER been wet.  Not an impression on the car.  I stand behind this car being as good as going and buying a new SL63 at $140K+ 2009 off your dreaded local Benz dealer in condition.  Now in looks, power and the fact you will not lose $60,000.00 in depreciation over 5-6 years, this car will eat the new SL63 in every manner possible while still keeping a darn near brand new and better looking body style.  If you have seen the reviews or viewed the restyled SL in person, you will know exactly what I am talking about.  Possibly 1 in 100 people actually like it over the 2003+ style.  I am selling this car as I am going to use the money to put into a vehicle that has a stable value.  Aka, a much lesser car unfortunately.  These SLs are volatile in their values, but the good thing is I have lost 40K for you on the car so you do not have to.  I would love to keep this car forever as its simply the best car I have ever owned but it carries the worst stigma and the worst resale.  Very frustrating to see.  I'm afraid if I do not take the massive loss now, it will just be worse later.  You are in a good position though as these cars are great buys for what they are.  My price is very fair but its not free just yet.  Before I get to that, I will keep the car forever but I would like to move on.  I wish I was as smart as you and just waited to buy one when they were great deals. I am an individual, not a dealer.  You are buying from someone that knows this car as if it were my child.

Here is some info and details on this car and the SL55;

From 2003-2007 Mercedes Built their Supercharged AMG 5.5 Liter Engine and offered in in select SL, CL and S class cars.  The motor produced a conservative 496HP and 516 ft lbs of torque starting at 2700 RPMS.  Remember, Torque wins races!!!! Horsepower sells cars and impresses friends on dyno days.  This was labeled as the fastest ever Mercedes built, and it still is that for the most part.  The power produced by these engines is ironically way above the abilities of the typical Mercedes buying crowd and more in tune with the power hungry race and exotic car type people. For 2008 Mercedes dropped the supercharger engine and replaced it with a 6.3 normally aspirated engine that seemed to appease many of typical "mercedes" types without supercharger noises and of course are by no means as strong.  Talk about working backwards.  Because of that, I think the few low mile and well kept SL-55s are going to be very sought after in the future.  The motor is just the icing on the cake in these cars.  The suspension system is incredible with its in car adjustable sport mode with ride height adjustment and the brakes work as tough as they look.  Massive and impressive.  Package this type of real world performance together with Mercedes refinement and you have probably one of the top single production car of all times.

The other neat thing about the AMG 5.5 Supercharged engine is that with a 20 min pulley swap and a little ECU tuning you get about 560HP and near 600FT Lbs out of these cars with no adverse effects on anything.  They are pretty darn bullet proof.  With the ECM change removing the top speed limiter of 155MPH, the SL-55 has been known to break the 200MPH mark too, not to mention run in the 12s at near 120MPH in total stock form.  Pretty darn impressive for what many consider just a "Mercedes convertible".  Of course with the level of instant torque and high power these cars make, they have been known to get many non driving types in serious trouble and cause bad wrecks.  These cars have advanced traction and stability controls in them, put the power these cars make, those are just there for a false piece of mind.  These are simply supercars that really should be treated very carefully......

The example here is an 03 with what Mercedes labels as Black Opal for the color. Not sure where their marketing department got that name for the color as its really a dark blue and really a very nice color. Its Rare too.  The car has 10K miles on it, and is nothing but a collector toy.  The really neat and intricate hard top system us quite a marvel to watch go up and down.  That took some engineering and its great. This SL55 has all the options you can get.  The Parktronic sensors front and rear, the Distronic cruise control, Pulse massaging seats, heated AND cooled seats, upgraded AMG wheels and Keyless go.  The only option that was available that this car does not have is the Pano Roof.  In hot climates like here, that is a No No even for a car that is never outside except the very little it is driven.

This car also boasts the Renntech AMG pulley and ECU upgrade, thus it has about 560HP near 600Ft Lbs on torque and is capable of going 200MPH if one should attempt.  it is also capable of out drag racing just about any super car or modified car that is actually capable of not having to be trailered around.  Its is one heck of a powerful and refined car that has all bases covered in handling, acceleration, top speed and braking.  Not many $500K exotics can do what this car is capable of and what the exotics cannot do is have this type of performance and power with the reliability these cars offer.  These SL55s were done right and are just not fluff and hype as so many exotics been known to be.

All in all, this is this single best well rounded performance car I have driven to date.  The Corvette ZR1 was that for me, now I have to say this car tops that a bit but you have to consider what it costs compared.  This is very expensive new, but as with all Mercedes, they take a massive hit the first few years!   The Corvette will still out handle it, but given the convertible aspect,  500HP stock and all the other neat things, I can accept the fact this car is more of a real world GT car than some short track parking lot hero.  I have not had the opportunity to really push an SL65, those should be incredible... With this cars upgrades, the SL65 might not be as good as this.... But you can always upgrade the SL65 too!  Just do not think the reliability of the SL65 will ever be what the SL55 offers.