2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren?
The new flagship of Mercedes-Benz, the 2005 SLR McLaren, is an all-new super sports car that pushes the limits of design and technology farther than any other mass manufacturer has done to date. With a full carbon fiber monocoque chassis, crash structure and body panels, the SLR McLaren is powered by a 617-horsepower, 5.5-liter supercharged V8 that makes a spine-bending 575 lb.-ft. of torque. Power flows to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission with TouchShift manual controls, and Benz engineers claim zero-to-60 acceleration times of under 3.8 seconds with a top speed exceeding 200 mph. High performance ceramic brakes decelerate the car at a rate of 1.3g, and an innovative air brake spoiler improves braking, enabling the SLR McLaren to stop from 60 mph in less than 115 feet. Like a racecar, its aluminum suspension geometry provides the wheels with a slight negative camber to ensure proper tread contact through the corners, and a Formula One-style anti-sway bar uses rocker arm linkages to ensure flat cornering, without breaking up the car's smooth underbody. Fully fitted from the factory, the SLR McLaren comes with a tantalizing interior and a myriad of safety features.

Advantages of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren:

• Sexy exterior design
• Hair-raising performance from the 617-horsepower engine
• Ceramic brakes
• A technology hound's dream car
• Opulent interior

Objections to the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren:

• Carbon body panels will be difficult to repair
• If you gotta ask, you can't afford it

Editor's Advice:
The 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren aims to be one of the fastest, most sophisticated cars on the road today. Massaged by McLaren engineers, the SLR McLaren is truly a wolf…in wolf's clothing. From the supercharged 5.5-liter V8 stirring up 617 horses and its super-stopping ceramic brakes, the SLR McLaren is a racecar for the streets. Besides its hot performance and phenomenal power to weight ratio, the SLR McLaren is a rolling showcase for almost every safety and luxury technology to be turned loose in a Mercedes-Benz. Carrying a price tag that rivals an upscale home, the $452,500 SLR McLaren is only for a rarified few. For those who are lucky enough to own one, rest assured that this is one purchase that will appreciate in value.