RE: Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) | PH Used Buying Guide

[kambites]

GTRene said:

Pusikurac said:

UK prices... I do not get it. How can those be at least half price comparing to EU? You have it good...

indeed, always so yealous-ish about those low prices a lot of lovely cars go in the UK, most are indeed about double that (sma-ish cars) in euro's on this side in Europa like say here in the Netherlands.

Finance on new vehicles is very cheap and we don't have a punitive purchase tax on new cars, so more people buy (or rather lease) new cars. This obviously has a knock-on effect on used prices and because we drive on the wrong side of the road, there's not really a viable export market to help diminish the supply.

Unfortunately, the current lack of supply of new vehicles has rather turned that around, so residuals on used cars built in the last three years or so are more akin to everywhere else at the moment.

[sidesauce]

kambites said:

because we drive on the wrong side of the road

This always makes me chuckle - in my view, historically the UK drives on the correct side of the road.

[kambites]

sidesauce said:

kambites said:

because we drive on the wrong side of the road

This always makes me chuckle - in my view, historically the UK drives on the correct side of the road.

Historically I agree, and in fact you can make a strong argument that we do ergonomically as well because it keeps most people's stronger hand on the wheel when changing gear (or it did when most cars had manual gearboxes). However given how much of the world's (especially the nearby bits) car-buying population drive on the other side, we drive on the "wrong" side from a socioeconomic standpoint.

[Mysstree]

Dog Star said:

shambolic said:

Mysstree said:

Hard to find one in something that is not fifty shades of boring, blue being maybe the most available. Maybe that defines the stereotypical buyer, ageing beige types with a beard (including the women), partial to smoking a pipe (including the women) and the slight whiff of pee from the early signs of incontinence.

You are a ray of sunshine aren’t you. With your stereotype of people.

And as usual there’s no garage on the profile.

Reminds me of when I bought a new Alfa Spider - bloke at work was giving it all the hairdressers car crap. I asked him what he drove: a Nova.

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txt5dlXGVVs[/youtu...

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NKvN7U5RXQ[/youtu...

[Sulphur Man]

this blue SL500 is tempting https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13784672

[shambolic]

McRors said:

Now, I’m very tempted by these or an SLK 350. While I’ve the money to buy either (up to 20k) I’m scared witless of the running costs and possible borkage bills of the more complex SL. Question is, am I deluding myself and they’ll be about the same? Thoughts appreciated.

The SLC is now a 300 or a 430 but they aren’t made anymore.
My missus has a Final Edition 300 and it’s a cracking wee thing.
Plenty fast enough and a wee bit of fun. |https://thumbsnap.com/2Y6jcrWv[/url]
[url]

[Bencolem]

As the owner of a previous generation R230 SL, there are 2 things that have always put me off the R231; it just isn’t very attractive looking and the offset centre console with the same buttons as a C class just makes my teeth itch.

[TR4man]

Bencolem said:

offset centre console ….. just makes my teeth itch.

I have to agree with this, the infotainment screen looks really odd and my eyes are always drawn to it’s wonky position.

[_Bozzy]

TR4man said:

Bencolem said:

offset centre console ….. just makes my teeth itch.

I have to agree with this, the infotainment screen looks really odd and my eyes are always drawn to it’s wonky position.

I'd not noticed that, but now I've seen it...

[Sulphur Man]

Bencolem said:

As the owner of a previous generation R230 SL, there are 2 things that have always put me off the R231; it just isn’t very attractive looking and the offset centre console with the same buttons as a C class just makes my teeth itch.

Never noticed the offset, and yet there it is and it's woeful. Unforgiveable in a car of that perceived quality. Great post.

[rossub]

Bencolem said:

As the owner of a previous generation R230 SL, there are 2 things that have always put me off the R231; it just isn’t very attractive looking and the offset centre console with the same buttons as a C class just makes my teeth itch.

Yeah I just can’t get over the huge rear third of it… ‘shakin that ass’

It looks really long overall as well, so not even sure it would fit in my garage.

[Dog Star]

rossub said:

Yeah I just can’t get over the huge rear third of it… ‘shakin that ass’

It looks really long overall as well, so not even sure it would fit in my garage.

They are long - I've one of the last R230s with the facelift and it's almost as long as my old E class estate - and that was a really big bus. I've just been on holiday and had our mountain bikes on a rack on the back, it must have been almost six metres long I grounded the tow hitch out a couple of times. They're also quite fat - or feel it.

Great looking cars though. I can't decided which looks best between the R230 and R231.

[keith jecks]

I have one of these since 2017, when I bought it new to replace various Ferraris. It has been brilliant - it is the perfect Grand Tourer. I prefer it to the Ferraris, I am embarrassed to admit. I thought of getting the 500, but the car is identical apart from the engine, and was £9k more expensive. As the 400 is already VERY fast, it would only be worth it if the 500 made nice V8 noises. It doesn't, sadly. In fact, with its sports exhaust, the V6 probably sounds nicer.

As others say, the luggage capacity is fine (though if - as I do - you want to have the roof down you need to use squashy bags), it is really quiet roof up or down and amazingly economical. It also has a superb standard HiFi system. On a run, cruising at 75mph I get 35-40 mpg and a range of well over 500 miles on a tank (I specced the optional larger tank on mine). I am never quite sure why these cars are so under the radar.

[Penguinracer]

I think all large Merc two doors are under the radar.

At the top-end the Bentley Continental GT & various Astons due to badge appeal put the V12 Bi-turbo Mercs in the shade & the AMG versions have been tarred with the same brush as the C63 AMG, many of which have fallen into the hands of some quite impolite people!

These high-end Merc are more about quality engineering & usability than badge snob appeal - so they lose out in that respect.

[Venisonpie]

Sulphur Man said:

Bencolem said:

As the owner of a previous generation R230 SL, there are 2 things that have always put me off the R231; it just isn’t very attractive looking and the offset centre console with the same buttons as a C class just makes my teeth itch.

Never noticed the offset, and yet there it is and it's woeful. Unforgiveable in a car of that perceived quality. Great post.

I hadn't noticed either but it wouldn't bother me. What I do like about the interior is it hasn't got the later dash from the S class or a multi screen arrangement. It still feels quite simple.

[NGK210]

Shame about the ungainly front / rear overhangs – consequence of a shared platform?

[fozzymandeus]

I’ve been running a 2013 SL350 since Feb.
Frankly they are brilliant. The only thing wrong with them is the image - but that’s been planted in our minds by journalists for some reason so probably best ignored. I’ve done 3x the mileage in the SL than I’ve done in my Boxster this year. Says a lot.

[keith jecks]

NGK210 said:

Shame about the ungainly front / rear overhangs – consequence of a shared platform?

Is it a shared platform? I thought it was bespoke for this car.

[trevalvole]

NGK210 said:

Shame about the ungainly front / rear overhangs – consequence of a shared platform?

The rear overhang will be a consequence of having to fit the folding metal roof in the boot.

[fozzymandeus]

trevalvole said:

The rear overhang will be a consequence of having to fit the folding metal roof in the boot.

Every SL has a large rear overhang.