John Mclane

https://www.autoblog.com/amp/2021/10...L-E4gIzubCbg9R

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2...v8-172862.html


https://www.mercedes-benz.de/passeng...ts.module.html

I see that on the profile, diminutive rear seats and top. Consider the 2+2 sporty intend. Similar interior space. Soft top. The electronics actually made me feel less worse in comparison to the 992. I detest haptic controls, the SL has a lot of it. That Tesla screen in the middle is just sad. Lots of distractions.

The 63 may actually drive well, maybe not the typical GT model. Let's see the comparisons to come, perhaps some good surprises.

It's good to have competition. Not that the Porsche crowd will care.

Carlo_Carrera

What?

Freddie Two Bs

Apart from the fact that it's front engined and it looks nothing like the 992, I think it's fairly similar.

CodyBigdog

LOL. Exactly!

ipse dixit

Yes, both are cars.

nyca

What does it weigh, 4500 pounds?

John Mclane

A bit less but not by much - 1970 kg. The C4S cab is about 1635kg, the TTS cab 1750 kg
More likely to compete with the M8 than the 911.

HPTX

Not clear who is the market for SL's in upscale suburbs across even less jaded/affluent US urban regions anymore....

For years, wealthy guys from SF/LA/NYC/Dall/Chic, etc would lease 911Cabs/Macans for their similarly "leased" girls kept on LA's Westside/Miami

And more useful girls/wives (w/prenups of course) would get an Urus

SL lost its relevance ages ago....

992uk

It is always fascinating when posts like this appear as most forum users take a deep interest in cars - why waste your time here otherwise? - so the answer is usually negative. However, a large number of car buyers cross buy for reasons we don't understand so the SL is relevant despite it being very fat in comparison with a 911 Cab. I bet you at least half the buyers of the new SL don't know it weighs 20% more than the Porsche competition even if they have been in both showrooms.

I like the SL in its space but am looking forward to Porsche giving the UK it's 2022 allocations so I can spec lock my 992 (coupe).

3rdpedal

Let's not be so harsh. The MB is certainly an alternative (I'll stop short of using the word competitor) for those looking to drop $$ on an expensive, exclusive, upscale cab to show off their $$. But the P v MB debate for such a buyer isn't based on performance, or the sorts of thing we would consider, and I can totally get how some men and women of affluence would choose the MB grill and overall design over the 911.

ipse dixit

Actually the MB SL is an alternative to the Ferrari Portofino for those who don’t want to drop 200k+ on a convertible but still want the cache of a luxury marque.

rk-d

Yeah, but it's not really relevant in terms of car culture or impact. Not like the old days when Bobby Ewing was driving one.

It used to be that the SL meant something - it and the SEC were halo cars for Mercedes. Now, an afterthought.

992uk

Agree with that but there were far fewer interesting cars to choose from then. My first SL was was a 97 and it felt like it was built from something everlasting, heavy and impressive. Only a cruiser though!

John Mclane

Interesting that a Portofino M weights less than a TTS cab at 1664 kg (at least from manufacturer info, although car weight is always subject to debate).
I drove the Roma, which should be similar to the M, and it's more of a sports car than GT. The steering feel is far superior from the Porsche, which is already superb for an electric system. With the current ADM and limited allocations, It's probably cheaper and easier to buy the Porto. I was offered either F8, Roma or Porto at MSRP (standard Ferrari practice), lead time 8-10 months. Odd times.
The 911 weight, size and equipment is moving towards the non-track drivers or vice-versa. The upcoming hybrid TTS is unlikely to be lighter. The NA engines will soon be gone or tamed. The 718 platform is also going electric. It's not unthinkable that Porsche may have a couple of Sports cars (eg GT3) as flagships in the future but the rest far too close to gran tourers. Modern suspensions can make the likes of Taycans feel nimble but can't hide the weight on the track.
My point in this thread is that car magazines announced this SL as an option to the 911. I think up to the 991, mostly the 997, it would make no sense to make such comparison. Thinking ahead, I'm not so sure.

rk-d

I don't think so - the SLs have been cruisers forever. The older 911s, if anything, were more of a hard core sports car than the modern era.

I don't really recall anyone describing 911s and SLs as direct competitors. They target the same market demographic, but they have very different appeals.