RE: Mercedes SL400: Review

RE: Mercedes SL400: Review

Author
Discussion

E65Ross

34,941 posts

211 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Alfa159Ti said:
E65Ross said:
Overpriced compared to what?

Underpowered? Seriously? It's got well over 300bhp ffs.
£70k (or in this case £90k with a few toys) for a heavy and ugly roadster with barely more power than the current crop of hot hatches?

Looks obscenely expensive to me when you consider at this price point you would likely be also talking to Jag about the V8 F Type, Aston about the V8 Vantage and Porsche about a 911 Carerra, all of which are packing 400bhp and above.

Even the (admittedly compromised) BMW Z4 35is packs 340 bhp and is considerably cheaper.

I suppose you could argue that the SL operates in a different market as it is more of a wafter, but a fricking expensive wafter no doubt.
Since when was power output the key factor in price? You realise some of the tech in this car (eg magic ride) is a lot more advanced than some other cars. It's also much more refined than those cars.

Would a mclaren 650S be Overpriced if it was 50k less but had 300bhp? No, because everything else on the car is bloody expensive!

The SL occupies a market for a relaxed cruiser.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Sensible would buy a standard sl400 for around 60k with discount as they come with most stuff, you might want to add the airscarf and stereo.


DJRC

23,563 posts

235 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
It's not 70k and it's not 90k with options. More like 55k or 65k with options and then 0% finance.

Try getting a discount on an F Type !

More problematic than that though is the F is aimed at the GT not the SL. The XK is/was aimed at the SL.

The Z4 is going up against the SLK55 not the SL400 and the 35isis thing is mullared by the 55.

The 400's biggest problem is the 500 as it's just better in every way.

Daniel1

2,931 posts

197 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
I really like this generation of SL and would have an SL500 or 63 in a heart beat.

But i agree with the linked review - id rather have an SL500 with less options than a specced up SL400.

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Is there a diesel available in the SL yet?

dukebox9reg

1,570 posts

147 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
No one else pick up on that the cheeky gits charge you more for a slightly bigger fuel tank. Surely a 'GT' should have a nice big fuel tank on the first place. Especially on a £70k plus car.

Once again the German manufacturers showing how they can price absolutely everything as an option.

Daniel1

2,931 posts

197 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
kambites said:
Is there a diesel available in the SL yet?
nope

Dr Interceptor

Original Poster:

7,743 posts

195 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
dukebox9reg said:
No one else pick up on that the cheeky gits charge you more for a slightly bigger fuel tank. Surely a 'GT' should have a nice big fuel tank on the first place. Especially on a £70k plus car.

Once again the German manufacturers showing how they can price absolutely everything as an option.
Quite a few doing this now... gets the weight of the basic car down, improves efficiency figures.

250GTE

120 posts

118 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
If only they could have put all that tech and weight saving into an EXACT copy of the pre face lift R230..
Guess I will keep the 55 AMG, it may be 2 ton but its not slow.

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
the black wheels are a cost option


Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
kambites said:
Is there a diesel available in the SL yet?
And with the diesel rot hopefully starting to die back, we'll never have to suffer the embarrassment of seeing such a great car sullied with diesel.

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Baryonyx said:
kambites said:
Is there a diesel available in the SL yet?
And with the diesel rot hopefully starting to die back, we'll never have to suffer the embarrassment of seeing such a great car sullied with diesel.
I'd like one getmecoat

E65Ross

34,941 posts

211 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Baryonyx said:
kambites said:
Is there a diesel available in the SL yet?
And with the diesel rot hopefully starting to die back, we'll never have to suffer the embarrassment of seeing such a great car sullied with diesel.
I'd like one getmecoat
But why would you have in over a petrol unless it's to save money?

Not as smooth and more vibrations, don't sound as nice, don't offer more low down power than a turbo charged petrol (gearing taken into account).... I can't see why you'd actually WANT one over a nice petrol.

In a flagship car like this and the S class coupe it's lovely they've stuck to petrol.... They know the buyers don't want to sacrifice certain luxuries. Could you imagine a diesel Rolls Royce?!

KissMyRs

87 posts

175 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Looks great from the back, not so from the front.

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
But why would you have in over a petrol unless it's to save money?
I certainly wouldn't want one, but I guess if there is an answer it's "touring range".

ETA: Of cours BIK rate is the other possible answer, although I doubt many people get SLs as company cars?

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 16th September 17:54

MissChief

7,095 posts

167 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
There's a charge for a bigger fuel tank? Why not just fit it as standard? The mind boggles!

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
They know the buyers don't want to sacrifice certain luxuries.
It is also usefully keeps the hoi polloi away.

Lagerlout

1,810 posts

235 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all

iloveboost

1,531 posts

161 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
Well done, congratulations on missing the entire point of the SL
Well done, congratulations on missing the entire point of an opinion.

OleVix

1,438 posts

147 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
I loved them all but the Merc brand is dead to me now... the R230 was really nice, but the current SL looks like something that doesnt know what it is or what its supposed to look like. Ive allways lusted after the previous SLs but the new one just doesnt have a "want" factor. The whole brand has just turned tacky and garish imo. The new GT looks ok I guess...