It's nice to see so many 500SL owners on one thread. I thought there for awhile I was going to learn the actual horsepower of the 500SL. ha!

While I don't have any qualitative answers to the discussion of the 500SL vs the 560SL, I never cease to be impressed with the power of the 500SL. In fact, while passing a car on a drive over to Panama City, FL., today I was somewhat surprised to look down and see I was approaching 95MPH...so effortlessly. I suppose it's especially noticeable after just driving the 300TD to Houston and back over the weekend.

I noticed somebody earlier mentioned a top speed of 140MPH. One of my previous mechanics told me he took a new 500SL out on one of the back roads here shortly after it was imported and let up on it at 155MPH because "the road was getting kinda narrow". He was much more of an adventurer that I am.

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Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000