Actually, for what it's worth, a '98 SL600 is no faster than a '98 C43 AMG -- both officially 0-60MPH in 5.9 seconds despite the SL's 389HP and 420 ft/lb of torque -- the SL is also 1,000 pounds heavier.

By comparison, the 5,000 pound '98 S600 sedan is well behind at 6.3 seconds and the 4,700 pound S500 way back at 7.2 seconds -- it takes a lot of HP to move bulk.

BTW, the SL500 is 6.4 seconds, so I wouldn't call the 0.1 second margin of the S600 as "rape".

See:
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/overview_engine.jsp&yearModelCode=98_SL600&class=98_SL&menu=5_6&spec=3

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/overview_engine.jsp&yearModelCode=98_C43&class=98_C&rnav=01234568&subNav=overview&menu=3_0&spec=3

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/overview_engine.jsp&yearModelCode=98_S600LS&class=98_S&rnav=012345678&subNav=overview&menu=5_2&spec=3

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/overview_engine.jsp&yearModelCode=98_S500LS&class=98_S&rnav=012345678&subNav=overview&menu=5_2&spec=3

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/overview_engine.jsp&yearModelCode=98_SL500&class=98_SL&menu=5_6&spec=3

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'98 C43 AMG
'88 420SEL
'93 190E Limited Edition (including factory Sportline package)