[Astraholic]

This is my first post in Team-bhp,so Namasthe fellow Petrolheads, Dieselheads and Voltheads! Please forgive if there is any blunder within this thread and do correct.

Allow me introduce myself.Born as only son to an avid auto buff who has been driving the same car for the past 38 years,I am genetically inclined to 4 wheeled beauties! During my kindergarten days,when friends read Amar Chitra Katha,I was drooling at pictures in Auto India!In high school,cricket never amused me,but WRC did give me the required teenage rush!But as a result of above mentioned actions,I was always left out of group discussions regarding comics or cricket!Enter team bhp! finally i found my nirvana!

So coming to the "Ayyo My God experience.It was Monday evening and I had accompanied my uncle to Volkswagen showroom to book Vento IPL Edition for him.I was checking out New Passat when I suddenly heard a V8 boom!! I rushed to the showroom doors hoping to catch a glimpse of whatsoever it was! I couldn't believe my eyes! A burned red SLS AMG just whizzed past the showroom leaving onlookers drooling! As EVM Volkswagen was close to Rajashree Motors,our beloved Merc dealer in Cochin,i decided to drop by after completing paperworks.

When I sneaked inside Merc showroom,I was greeted by a very friendly sales executive.Without wasting further time i popped the question "Was I dreaming,or did I just see an SLS AMG?" He conformed it was indeed the same!(thank god,I was doubting my "supposedly" healthy diet as a cause of hallucination!) He took me to their parking lot for closer look

My next shock was waiting there for me! Parked next to SLS was the new SL63 AMG, G55 AMG

The 'saintly' sales exec was kind enough to start the SLS and admit an average Joe like me into such exotics!But it was almost 8pm by then and taking photos wont do justice to these German monsters.So I decided to drop by the next day.

Tuesday..Armed with Canon A450 point and shoot camera,Captain Astraholic,hopped atop(or maybe inside) his trusty steed Opel Astra 1.7 TD and headed east towards Rajshree Motors.Rest is history!! Once I was finished with taking snaps I still roamed around the showroom like a cat in a fish market!!! understanding my desperation,the manager there allowed me to accompany him to the fuel station in my dream ride,the G55 AMG! The growl from the V8 was sonorous and the experience from passenger seat itself was addictive,wonder what will it be like to drive it! Someday Astraholic, someday!
After the refueling trip,I almost saw an angelic halo over the manager's head!!frankly never expected Merc guys to be so cooperative!Hats off!

I am hereby attaching the portraits of AMG artwork! Enjoy!
















rear visibility from driver's seat

[A M]

Welcome aboard captain Astraholic. Let me be the first to congratulate you on your first post. And MAN!!!! What an experience to start with. Lucky guy!! eh!! Did you get a ride in gullwing too?

[anekho]

Welcome aboard! And what an entry!

Nice write up - I could feel the excitement! Really kind of the sales man to give you a ride as well as let you start the beast!

Great pics!

[esteem_lover]

Hey, nice experience there, thanks for sharing. We all love to experience these kind of things.

Originally Posted by Astraholic

T During my kindergarten days,when friends read Amar Chitra Katha,I was drooling at pictures in Auto India!

Auto India ? Are you still in school ? Correct me if I am wrong please.

[sudev]

How come two pictures and two different Gear Shifts. Since you did not clarify I am assuming one is from SLS and the other from GWagen??

[arvi86]

Absolutely drool stuff there. You were s damn lucky to experience these beauties up close and personal. And, it was so kind of the sales staff to let you do all that.

[hanmust]

Great experiance & brilliant begning. Have a good time in forum.

PS: if you heared the sound on Monday then mostly it would be me as I was blessed to have it for a day and was enjoying each and every moment I was with it. In my words it is SLS 'AM'azin'G'

[vb-saan]

What a start Astraholic! And now I know what AMG stands for "Ayyo My God" - Good one

Just one question (actually 2):
(1) Driving same car for 38 years, and you mentioned Opel Astra. Something not in sync
(2) Why Vento IPL???

[jeeva]

Thats a passionate intro there.
Rajshree seems to be making some brisk business these days.
The SLS AMG and the G-wagen as if that's not withstanding.
Kerala, for sure has become the land of exotics!! The other day, spotted a Lamborghini (Gallardo) on the mannarkad-palakkad stretch! Man, I almost wet my pants seeing how the Lambo guy made way between those deadly private buses.

[Puneet.S]

Hrm, is it just me or did they (dealership or while in transit) actually manage a few nicks already (paint scrapes) on the front bumper (left corner) of the brand new (and undelivered) G-Wagen?!

Drool stuff nevertheless.

[DRIV3R]

Originally Posted by sudev

How come two pictures and two different Gear Shifts. Since you did not clarify I am assuming one is from SLS and the other from GWagen??

Sudev, there are 2 AMGs + a G Wagen(which is also AMG'ed). The bright red AMG is the SLS, while the maroon one is the SL. Hope that clarifies.

[rajcs]

Welcome aboard Capt Astraholic; A Brillliant first post, capturing the true spirit of T-BHP. Looking forward to some more gems.

Originally Posted by vb-san

(1) Driving same car for 38 years, and you mentioned Opel Astra. Something not in sync

I think the reference is to 1973 Amby Mk II. The Astra is 1999 - a few years younger than Astraholic.

[theslayer]

@Astraholic: Is that a start or a start! Damn! An awesome post to begin my day with. It's nice to know that good things happen when you aren't looking. I'm surprised the sales execs were SO courteous! Awesome

[Scorcher]

What a way to kick-off posting!
I started with a plain-jane Cayenne. Hmph!

Welcome aboard buddy. Awesome clicks, I missed the SLS by just half an hour when I was at Rajasree. Hopefully I can check it out when I go to Cochin this month-end.

Originally Posted by sudev

How come two pictures and two different Gear Shifts. Since you did not clarify I am assuming one is from SLS and the other from GWagen??

Those are two different car's interiors brother, the rectagular'ish gear selector is of the SLS and the round one with the starter button on top is the SL63's. If you look closely, the whole interior (dashboard, steering, AC vents and everything) is different. The G55's interior is the boxy looking one with previous generation E class steering (4-spoke) wheel.

[srishiva]

Great pictures. The SLS headlights look like from Swift