2008 Best Car Series: Chevrolet Corvette vs Mercedes SL65 Black Series

[YSSMAN]

You guys wanted more of the threads... Here they come!

Vote for one, feel free to banter a bit. Three days seems appropriate for voting...

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The Chevrolet Corvette (includes all versions)

VS


The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

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VOTE Away!

I can tell you right now that I'll be voting for the Corvette. Being the "everyman's sports car," that is affordable, otherwise shockingly fuel-efficent, easy to use as a daily driver, and available in a wide range of colors and styles that will suit anyone... Its a far better car than the Mercedes, no matter how much I may like it otherwise. The flexibility of the Corvette is key, and when I can have four of them for the price of the Mercedes, that's an important factor as well.

 

[exigeracer]

I refuse to vote for the Mercedes because it's just a daft idea for a car. It's applying American throw-as-much-horsepower-at-a-car-until-it-is-fast ethos to an unsorted car to begin with. I just don't see why people are getting so excited over it, especially as nobody has even driven one yet. AMG has been doing this to cars for years, very rarely making any truly remarkable cars. The new facelift is also horrifyingly ugly.

Then the opponent is the Corvette, which I just don't like whatsoever either. I respect the capabilities of the top-level Z06, but I hardly desire any of them at all, of any trim and any generation. I live in a car market where the everyday sportscar driver has little interest in the Corvette, making me think that these are so popular in America because of their name and not their actual capability. Further proof lies in the foreign press not caring too much for the Corvette while the magazines in the States would have sex with it if it weren't looked upon as schizophrenic.

Bottom line is I've got completely different tastes in sportscars than these two. They're pretty much as far from what I like as you can be. Can I vote twice for something else?

 

[McLaren]

I refuse to vote for the Mercedes because it's just a daft idea for a car. It's applying American throw-as-much-horsepower-at-a-car-until-it-is-fast ethos to an unsorted car to begin with. I just don't see why people are getting so excited over it, especially as nobody has even driven one yet. AMG has been doing this to cars for years, very rarely making any truly remarkable cars. The new facelift is also horrifyingly ugly.

That would be true except for the fact Mercedes did more than just that. They added a completely new set of aerodynamics to the car to finally make use of that power. That's 1 step beyond what the Americans typically do.

Anyways, voted for the big Merc. It's grown on me.

 

[Speedster502]

I'll have to vote for the Corvette by default. The SL65 AMG Black isn't even out yet so could I possibly compare it to a car which is being produced now, it hasn't even been road tested. So I'll go with the car I actually know something about.

 

[V1P3R]

Merc because it's that much faster, it's that much more reliable, it's that much better looking, it's that much less American. It has a little bit of Viper in it too right... ? xD

 

[Tommi]

...Being the "everyman's sports car," that is affordable, otherwise shockingly fuel-efficent, easy to use as a daily driver, and available in a wide range of colors and styles that will suit anyone...The flexibility of the Corvette is key, and when I can have four of them for the price of the Mercedes, that's an important factor as well.

That's exactly what made me vote for the Corvette, good description:tup:

I still think the Merc is awesome though

 

[homeforsummer]

I voted the Corvette. I'm a European car fan at heart but I'm getting very, very bored of Mercedes releasing ridiculous cars every other week, especially when they should probably be ploughing their money into making damn sure the cars are more reliable than they have been for the last decade. Apart from anything, the AMG/BRABUS/McLaren in-fighting is getting ridiculous.

The Corvette on the other hand is a brilliant American sports car, a credit to its history, and the ZR1 is undoubtably a pretty handy track car (even if that glazed bit of the bonnet looks naff).

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Merc because it's that much faster, it's that much more reliable, it's that much better looking, it's that much less American. It has a little bit of Viper in it too right... ? xD

O.o

More reliable than the 'Vette you say... Mmmkay.

 

[gator of kana]

I voted for the SL65, when something looks this beautiful and is a race-preped machine that is not also fast but comfortable too it becomes a masterpeice Mercedes. The Corvette is American and I don't like many American cars to tell you the truth. The SL65 has a cyborg look, a car that belongs in the future, and that's why I picked my vote. When a looks like it came from 2015 or later, I would really fall in love with it.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Imma abstain from voting coz I find both to be crap...

 

[Philly]

The Mercedes fanboy in me has to go with the SL. There certainly isn't wrong with a racy verson of a sporty verson of a German engineered car with a huge engine shoved under the hood. And you can count on good build quality too.

 

[Belisario93]

Okay, why does everybody have to bash the american cars? This car is much different than most other cars produced by american companies in that this one is actually made in America. Yeah thats right, just go to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and you'll find a Corvette Plant somewhere.

Another thing I like about the 'Vette is its heritage. Being the first American Sports car (and in my opinion the only one worth buying), you need to give it at least a little respect.

I don't know anything about the Mercedes, and really I don't care, so I'll throw my vote to the 'Vette.

 

[///M-Spec]

As TheCracker reminded us in another thread, the SL has yet to even be reviewed by a major publication. Meanwhile, the Corvette is a well known quantity.

If we're voting on prettiness, I might go for the SL. But the way it's priced, it may as well be a Veyron. At least the Corvette is easily accessible in it's home market. There's a strong case to be made that while the SL may indeed be faster, better looking and far more dramatic to drive, how many C6s can you buy for the price of a one of these cars? Four? Maybe five?

Let me put it this way, for the 225k+ price of the Black, you could have a Z06, a GT3 and a GT-R. No way it's going to be that good.

Corvette.


M

 

[wrcsti]

Should have been ZR1 vs the Black series SL. Zr1 takes my vote. Not just is it the cheapest supercar by like 50G, it doesnt have the mark of the devil on its grill.

 

[Jim Prower]

Should have been ZR1 vs the Black series SL. Zr1 takes my vote. Not just is it the cheapest supercar by like 50G, it doesnt have the mark of the devil on its grill.

It is. The Entire Chevrolet Corvette line is going up against this one Mercedes model. That includes ZR1.

and, honestly, It's just a more realistic car than the Benz is. I don't even know how something that expensive and obscure (who's gonna know other than super-enthusiasts.) got into this competition.

 

[Tornado]

Let me put it this way, for the 225k+ price of the Black, you could have a Z06, a GT3 and a GT-R. No way it's going to be that good.

I don't think that is fair.

 

[///M-Spec]

I don't think that is fair.

How so?


M

 

[Shant J.]

Okay, why does everybody have to bash the american cars? This car is much different than most other cars produced by american companies in that this one is actually made in America. Yeah thats right, just go to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and you'll find a Corvette Plant somewhere.

Another thing I like about the 'Vette is its heritage. Being the first American Sports car (and in my opinion the only one worth buying), you need to give it at least a little respect.

I don't know anything about the Mercedes, and really I don't care, so I'll throw my vote to the 'Vette.

Second, actually. First is the Crosley Hotshot of 1949.
Oh, and I vote Corvette.

 

[Tornado]

How so?

Because such an argument could be leveled at all of the cars the SL65 competes with, or indeed all cars that cost such large amounts of money. I can't honestly say a Bentley Arnage is a better value than 10 Honda Accords. Look at the Corvette, for that matter. For Z06 money, I could probably buy a Mazdaspeed 3, a Honda S2000 and a Mini Cooper S. Compared to some of its competitors, (Aston Martin DBS for example), the SL65 Black isn't particularly expensive anyways.
Besides, the Black Edition all but replaces a car in Mercedes' lineup that cost nearly 3 times as much.

 

[Jim Prower]

Second, actually. First is the Crosley Hotshot of 1949.

Eh...It's questionable calling that a sports car, what with all of 30HP. Going back earlier, though, you could say the Auburn Boattail Speedsters and Cord 810s could be sports cars.

 

[Prosthetic]

Most people grew up with Countach's on their walls, or Ferraris... I grew up with the love of the C4 and later C5 Vette. Corvette just has that definitional sports car look that kids grow up to love. It has that great American grunt, it has huge rear tyres just begging to be spun, and it has always used the same good ol' recipe. The Corvette is just to much of a symbol for us Americans... Well so is the Pick Up and Mustang but they aren't in this poll...

Their is no reason for me to not vote for it, the SL65 just seems like every other Mercedes to me... The Corvette just seems to be a little bit more special. Comfort or rareness can go F them selves. Their is a big shouty V8, gets good mileage for a high horse power car, and my god does it love to show off And the fact that you can get them slightly used or even new dirt cheap for what it can do. I don't mean the car is dirt cheap, but that for what it is capable of, it is just too good of a price.

 

[Tornado]

Second, actually. First is the Crosley Hotshot of 1949.

The Nash Metropolitan was more of a sports car than that was.

I'd say the Auburn 8-90.

 

[Slicks]

I think I'd wait a few years and take the Duesenberg SSJ (or SJ, at least) over the Auburn.

After all, who can argue with 400 supercharged horsepower in 1936?


Oh, and voted Corvette.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Naturally I voted the Corvette, I can't help but like muscle in a car, and the LS7 is a sweet engine, as is the Corvette's styling, and it's so fast, plus all of YSSMAN's reasoning.

I can tell you right now that I'll be voting for the Corvette. Being the "everyman's sports car," that is affordable, otherwise shockingly fuel-efficent, easy to use as a daily driver, and available in a wide range of colors and styles that will suit anyone... Its a far better car than the Mercedes, no matter how much I may like it otherwise. The flexibility of the Corvette is key, and when I can have four of them for the price of the Mercedes, that's an important factor as well.

Good description, part of my reasoning as well.

That would be true except for the fact Mercedes did more than just that. They added a completely new set of aerodynamics to the car to finally make use of that power. That's 1 step beyond what the Americans typically do.

Anyways, voted for the big Merc. It's grown on me.

And Chevy didn't do that with the ZR1? I see new aero, better tyres, bigger brakes, better weight positioning (carbon fibre roof means lower COG), and last I checked, USA hasn't simply thrown more power at a car and leaved everything else un-touched for a decade or 2 now.

Second, actually. First is the Crosley Hotshot of 1949.
Oh, and I vote Corvette.

Never heard of it, will check it out.

Because such an argument could be leveled at all of the cars the SL65 competes with, or indeed all cars that cost such large amounts of money. I can't honestly say a Bentley Arnage is a better value than 10 Honda Accords. Look at the Corvette, for that matter. For Z06 money, I could probably buy a Mazdaspeed 3, a Honda S2000 and a Mini Cooper S. Compared to some of its competitors, (Aston Martin DBS for example), the SL65 Black isn't particularly expensive anyways.
Besides, the Black Edition all but replaces a car in Mercedes' lineup that cost nearly 3 times as much.

But the Honda S2000, Mazda and Mini are no where near as fast as the Corvette, where the Corvette will probably be just as fast (if not faster, we'll see when the Merc has some reviews etc done) for so much less.

Eh...It's questionable calling that a sports car, what with all of 30HP. Going back earlier, though, you could say the Auburn Boattail Speedsters and Cord 810s could be sports cars.

30hp?! No thanks, unless it can have a bigger engine shoe-horned in.

Edit: Looked up the Crosley Hotshot, and it doesn't even come close to what the Corvette was a few years later (I maintain that had the original 6cyl Corvette had 5 gears or more it would have been more respected, as it was so light and still had 110kw and ~300Nm right?). That's not including looks, so Corvette remains America's 1st true sports car.

 

[Heldenzeit]

As awesome as I think the SL is, I wouldnt be able to justify voting for it over a Vette. I own a Vette because it is such a good daily driver, and chicks dig it.

Corvette FTW!

 

[Joey D]

The Vette isn't a bad car but it's not the sports car I would choose to drive around in, it's what dentist and mid-level GM executives drive around here which really spoils the car. However, out of the choice between the Vette and the SL I feel the Vette wins my vote based on not being absurdly expensive and still giving you adequate performance. The Vette has awful build quality in it and everyone I've been in has rattled, squeaked, and had stuff that fit poorly, but I really don't expect something better from GM and from a performance car that is relatively inexpensive.

Also, I still feel both look like rather meh, and if you put the ZR1 and the SL next to one another I would swear they were god awful Hot Wheels cars.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

The Vette isn't a bad car but it's not the sports car I would choose to drive around in, it's what dentist and mid-level GM executives drive around here which really spoils the car. However, out of the choice between the Vette and the SL I feel the Vette wins my vote based on not being absurdly expensive and still giving you adequate performance. The Vette has awful build quality in it and everyone I've been in has rattled, squeaked, and had stuff that fit poorly, but I really don't expect something better from GM and from a performance car that is relatively inexpensive.

Also, I still feel both look like rather meh, and if you put the ZR1 and the SL next to one another I would swear they were god awful Hot Wheels cars.

So basically the Corvette feels like a race car (rattles, squeaks, wild to handle, not posh)?

 

[Tornado]

But the Honda S2000, Mazda and Mini are no where near as fast as the Corvette, where the Corvette will probably be just as fast (if not faster, we'll see when the Merc has some reviews etc done) for so much less.

The ZR-1, maybe. But the Z06 can't compete with the cars the SL65 Black is supposed to target (599 GTB). Because it wasn't designed to. If the SL65 is able to match the 599 GTB, the GT-R or GT3 won't be able to either. And I don't think that was ///M-Spec's point anyways.

And Chevy didn't do that with the ZR1? I see new aero, better tyres, bigger brakes, better weight positioning (carbon fibre roof means lower COG), and last I checked, USA hasn't simply thrown more power at a car and leaved everything else un-touched for a decade or 2 now.

Or nearly anything else on that platform, for that matter.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

The ZR-1, maybe. But the Z06 can't compete with the cars the SL65 Black is supposed to target (599 GTB). Because it wasn't designed to. If the SL65 is able to match the 599 GTB, the GT-R or GT3 won't be able to either. And I don't think that was ///M-Spec's point anyways.

Or nearly anything else on that platform, for that matter.

So the Impala SS had the same brakes and tyres as the base model? I never thought the Impala was meant to be a sports car anyway, just a cruiser, correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

[Tornado]

So the Impala SS had the same brakes and tyres as the base model?

They made the wheels an inch bigger. That was the extent of the changes made to a car they added 100hp to.

I never thought the Impala was meant to be a sports car anyway, just a cruiser, correct me if I'm wrong though.

Irrelevant to this discussion. Besides, the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP was thoroughly reworked for more neutral handling and to eliminate torque steer, so that doesn't wash regardless. Every single other car ever put on that platform, dating back to 1988, has had power levels being the only change put into the performance model.