This Manual-swapped Mercedes-benz Sl55 Amg Will Make You Actually Want An R230

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While consequent versions ne'er really did it for me, I've ever loved the measurement nan pre-facelift R230 Mercedes-Benz SL looked. Maybe it's because it came retired astatine a formative clip successful my improvement arsenic a car enthusiast, aliases possibly it really does look arsenic bully arsenic I deliberation it does, but I loved nan R230's creation erstwhile it was new, and I still emotion it today. If that makes maine old, I don't care. The problem is, Mercedes ne'er offered a manual transmission option, which really wounded their enthusiast appeal. 

Mercedes, of course, would show you nan SL is simply a expansive tourer, not a sports car, truthful nan automatic was due (plus, it allegedly didn't person a manual transmission astatine nan clip that could grip nan SL's torque). Still, I'm consenting to stake I'm not unsocial successful wishing you could get an aged R230 AMG pinch a 3rd pedal, even if SLs are traditionally driven by nan oldest of aged men. 

While we ne'er sewage a manual R230 from nan factory, our friend Matt Farah precocious sewage a chance to thrust a manual-swapped Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG, and it looks for illustration an absolute riot. In fact, Matt enjoyed it truthful much, he titled nan video "Manual-Swapped AMG Cars Are Going to Be nan Next Big Thing." Seriously.

The SL55 you spot present was commissioned by a feline named Oz, who happens to beryllium a doctor. A expert who owns a Mercedes SL? Shocking, I know. After buying nan car, nan Cool Dr. Oz sent it to Bad Rat Garage successful Las Vegas to person nan switch done. The transmission comes retired of a Chrysler Crossfire, which, arsenic we each know, is nan aforesaid manual recovered successful nan aged SLK. Then they added a clutch disc from a European diesel van and a civilization flywheel, while nan remainder of nan build uses off-the-shelf Mercedes OEM parts, including a pedal container from a European C-Class that primitively came pinch a manual.

Getting everything to play together nicely reportedly wasn't easy, but pinch thief from nan folks astatine the Mercedes Swap Shop, they really made it happen. From what Matt says successful nan video, astir nan only point that doesn't activity is nan starter fastener connected nan displacement knob. Beyond that, it beautiful overmuch feels for illustration an OEM car and moreover sewage an Apple CarPlay update for nan infotainment strategy that really looks beautiful good. 

Are location downsides? Sure. The displacement action reportedly feels much for illustration it came retired of a C-Class than a $100,000+ AMG, nan flywheel could usage to beryllium a small heavier, nan clutch sits a small excessively adjacent to nan dormant pedal for Matt's preference, and nan spacing betwixt nan accelerator and brake pedals isn't perfect for heel-toe shifting. Still, he claims it's "much, overmuch much nosy and amended than erstwhile it was stock." 

The craziest portion is that nan switch wasn't that expensive, each things considered. Including nan costs of nan car, you're looking astatine astir $40,000 all-in. We're talking new, loaded Camry money, but you get a 493-horsepower AMG V8, a retractable apical and a manual transmission. That's really not bad. Not bad astatine all.