Dont know a damn thing about them German cars but the 500 stands for 5 liter.
Was at the quarter car wash and I pulled out on to the street and was sitting at a red light. I was going to the track the next day so I had the drag radials on and the cut out open. Than this silver SL-500 pulls up next to me and the guy is staring at me inching ahead like he wants to race. Me, not being a big fan of street racing decided I wasent going to let a Mercedes get the best of me. So the light turned green and I waited to see if he was gonna go and he did. So I punch it and for a split second he was ahead of me by about a quarter panel than I pulled hard on him and by the time I was at the end of 1st he was at my back bumper. When I shifted in to second he was wayyy back there. It was kinda funny, when I hit it I looked over and the guy jumped a little bit because my car is extremely loud with an open cut out. I hit the next turn around and the guy gave me a thumbs up which I thought was pretty cool.

 

The standard SL500 is a 302hp 5 liter v8 with a 7 speed automatic. The SL55 AMG model changes that to a supercharged 5.4 liter with 493 hp and uses a standard 5spd automatic.

The SL600 starts with a 5.5 liter twin turbo v12, also with 493 hp. It's the SL65 AMG that you have to really worry about - its twin turbo is punched out to 6.0 liters and it makes 604 hp.

 

I have driven the 500 and they are ok. Race a SL 600, that will give you a race and its a 4 door LOL.

sl65 amg