Comments on: Mercedes SLC Sounds Like Death on a Stick

By: edgett

edgett — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:28:25 +0000

If the “best” that Chrysler could do was a copy of a 1950’s chassis with a 1960’s motor, one cannot hold out much hope for them. The Viper is a nice Cobra replica, but it is still a replica: big pushrod engine in a Cobraesque body. Come to think of it, isn’t Lutz responsible for this one?

Here’s hoping that the new hot Benz is not proportioned like the mule, or the SLR as both are just plain ugly. Even if the ZR1 doesn’t have quite the “tooth” of a GT2, it is a beautifully proportioned car, and sounds way better than this MB mule, pushrods or no.

By: akitadog

akitadog — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:56:07 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised if this car was built on the same chassis as the Viper, the proportions are entirely too similar for it to be JUST using Viper-like body panels. Besides, mules don’t get pushed as hard as this one unless it’s close to finished. So the overall aero may indeed be worked out, and it STILL looks like a Viper.

That’s Daimler for you, they take your best stuff, withhold their best from you, then dump you.

By: Wolven

Wolven — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:57:19 +0000

Hmmm, looks like a Viper… sounds like a Viper… handles like a Viper… looks like there’s something other than just the $6,Billion Daimler stole from Chrylser.

By: Michael Karesh

Michael Karesh — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:42:20 +0000

Nothing looks more phallic than an SLR. After all, it has a five-foot schlong stamped into the hood with a Mercedes emblem at the tip…

This is clearly a mule. It needs a lot more crap tacked to the exterior to be a current AMG product.

Remember when AMG meant an understated monochromatic paint job?

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:01:15 +0000

Climbing out the window is always an option. Just remove your shoes first.

By: B.C.

B.C. — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:41:33 +0000

You do mean “witty riposte,” right?

And that thing looks positively phallic. Granted, so did the SLR …

By: AGR

AGR — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:04:31 +0000

They have been using the “Viper Mule” for some time…

By: Nicholas Weaver

Nicholas Weaver — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:30:41 +0000

It might very well be a “bait the press” mule, as it SO looks like a viper.

By: edgett

edgett — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:26:36 +0000

Not to get all flag-wavy or anything, but compare the song of the Benz to the ZR1 in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLBLWs4agkk

And, is it just me or does an automatic transmission sound just lame when pushing a car around the ‘ring?

By: lth

lth — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:24:05 +0000

Sounds amazing, goes like stink and probably attached to an automatic unfortunately.

By: Spaceweasel

Spaceweasel — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:12:47 +0000

Previous reports had Merc using viper body panels as camo, so I don’t think you have to worry about it looking like this.

The more important question is this: having watched the end of the video, how do you get out of a gullwinged car after it gets loaded in a transport van?

By: dolo54

dolo54 — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:06:51 +0000

Lol it handles like a Viper too. Look at the back end skittering back and forth on the second turn.

By: Orian

Orian — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:01:46 +0000

Wow, that does look like a Viper…I hope they popped a Viper body over the chassis to sort out reliability and handling and that is not the final version.

By: blautens

blautens — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:58:11 +0000

At least from the rear, I couldn’t discern that car from a Viper. Spooky.

By: essen

essen — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:42:11 +0000

Maeloch,

My sentiments exactly, you beat me to it. When Daimler sold Chrysler, the must have kept a few Vipers as collateral.

By: Maeloch

Maeloch — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:39:45 +0000

Is it just me, or does that just look like a slightly reskinned Dodge Viper? All they changed was the headlights and taillights.