Got a friend who just bought an SL500 2 days ago and is bragging about it. Saying it's got +300 HP and will kill my Z4 3.0 SMG, laughing at the Z4's 225 HP. He wants to race me for $100.

His SL500 is stock. I checked his engine bay.

My Z4's got intake, exhaust. Good for about extra 10~12HP I think.

I don't know much about SL's. How's my chances of winning? Thanks!

 

He'll probably beat you.

 

The SL has 300hp, period. Not over 300 like he's stating. It's a very heavy car and does the 0-60 in about 6 seconds. If you shift just right, you could maybe take him on.

Now if it was an AMG on the other hand, you should steer well clear...

 

If the distance you will race is 1/4 mile then you should win.

 

M-B SL500 Roadster

5.0L 24-valve V-8 engine
302 hp @ 5,600 rpm
339 lb-ft @ 2,700 - 4,250 rpm
0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds
Coefficient of drag 0.29 (top up)
Curb weight 4,065 lb/1,844 kg
MSRP: $92,020.00

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/...spec=0&menu=3_0

BMW Z4 3.0 SMG

Weight
Unladen 3020 lbs

Engine
Liter/type/valves 3.0/DOHC inline 6/24
Nominal output/rpm 225/5900 hp

Max. torque/rpm 214/3500 lb-ft

Performance
Drag coefficient 0.35 Cd

Acceleration 5.9 sec

MSRP $41,300

http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/Z4/30i/techdata.htm

 

A quick look shows that they have actually pumped up HP since it's outing. The SL 500 used to be 300hp (european ponies), now it's 306 (so that's about 302ponies as calculated by the americans).

It was the same with the SL55. It used to be only 470hp or something like that, but a few months after it's release, AMG bumped it up to 500.

 

Wow. SL500 takes 6 seconds to go from 0-60mph? That's a lot slower than I thought it'd be.

I'd assume that MB under-rates the 0-60 time, just like BMW does. I know Z4 consistently runs 5.4~5.5 during magazine test-drives, about the same as S2000. I'm going to race my friend tonight and I'll see what happens.

BTW, is MB still selling the SL500? I'm guessing not since the new SLK 350 is even faster than the SL500. I test-drove SLK350 and actually like it quite much. SL500's resale value must be going down the drain after the SLK350 came out.

 

I raced one twice with my stock 97 Z/28. My car should be a good measuring stick since it does relatively the same times as a stock S2K should.

I launched a lot harder off the line since the driver did not know how to brake torque it. At 100 mph, I was about 3.5-4.5 car lengths ahead, which sounds about right to me.

Seeings how Z4's are a tick or two behind S2k's, I think you will do fine....it will come down to the launch. The SL is a heavy ass mofo!

 

SL500 is NICE! He surely beats you in that department. But as for racing, I guess it'd be somewhat even, you may even pull just a teenie, weenie bit. Oh what the hell do I know? He may pull as well.

 

But the z4 is auto so it's gonna be more into the 6 second range or higher, the 6 speeds best time is 5.4

it'll be a real close race