Thursday 17th March 2016

Mercedes SLS AMG: You Know You Want To

20,000 miles a year in an SLS? Someone already has, now's your chance to continue it!

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It's easy to get lost in the current Mercedes AMG line up, what with the latest range of '43' models recently added too. So here's an SLS AMG, a model that was and remains far simpler to understand: it was launched with a big V8, then came the Roadster, then there was the really fast one and, finally, the run-out special.

Spotless outside...

The SLS seems to have slipped off the radar with the GT's arrival, and it's easy to forget that this was AMG's first ground-up car. Anticipation was running very high prior to launch and, by and large, it delivered on expectation.

This one looks rather nice, doesn't it? Black is quite a rare colour for the SLS as most are silver or white, and it contrasts nicely with the cream leather. The wheels are unkerbed and the interior looks very clean, albeit a little old compared with the latest Mercedes cabins.

Amazingly though, the car you see here as covered more than 100,000 miles. 108,254 according to the trip computer. Really. Even if this car is six years old already - it was first registered in 2010 - then that's an average of 18,000 miles a year. In an SLS!

But it would be hard to tell, as alluded to above; there's nothing in the images to suggest it has done more miles in six years than most of these cars will do in a lifetime. This implies not just a high level of care from the owner, but hopefully a return to really solid Mercedes build quality too.

... and looking good in here too. Who would know?

Interestingly the price is an almost identical number to the mileage, this SLS for sale at £109,850. The days of the £80K SLS have disappeared, values clearly having strengthened over recent years. Have they become rarer? More desirable perhaps? All insight welcome!

While it may look more than you were expecting, that's £30,000 less than the next SLS in the value ranks, with 50,000 recorded miles. Is that enough of a saving? Now we're into a debate...

The engine is of course used elsewhere in the Mercedes AMG range, but even amongst those it's hard to find one with a six-figure mileage. There aren't many known issues with the engine (check the C63 Buying Guide) or the seven-speed dual-clutch, so the area probably of most concern is the electrics. Check everything works, as there's a lot in there. It's probably worth budgeting for the replacement of some consumable too if they haven't been done recently. Or they could be used as a negotiating tool...

Here's the proof

Surely any potential buyer of this SLS would have to continue using it extensively, set some kind of record and have a lot of fun in the process. You never know, Mercedes might buy it back one day for the museum, like Otto the G-Wagen. At the current rate a quarter of a million miles is only a few years away. Fuel costs? Well, we all have our vices. Next question!

It's a fascinating car, the PH office divided between taking a punt on what must be a one-of-a-kind SLS, or striving to find the additional cash for a car with fewer miles. What would you do? We'd love to know!

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MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG
Price: £109,850
Why you should: Well it's a talking point, isn't it?
Why you shouldn't: Still a six-figure sum for a car with a six-figure mileage

See the original advert here.

[mrclav]

A car that I'm still confused over, having run one for a little while.

The engine/drivetrain - utterly, utterly addictive, never got tired of the engine note. People would ask me to rev it in traffic...

The interior - nice enough but I found the seats extremely uncomfortable (surely one of the most important things in owning such a car is how comfortable the seats are?). Slight claustrophobic too. The engine noise meant that stereo was all but useless.

Visibility - diabolically bad. That thick B-pillar means that certain manoeuvres (say, changing lanes on a large roundabout) were literally done hoping there wasn't anyone in your blind spot! The width is also a pain - it's wider than a full-size Transit van.

Oh, and the boot got super hot as the exhaust manifolds were directly underneath it meaning putting your food shopping in there was a definite no-no.

That being said, it garnered respect on the road like no other car I've ever experienced.

Did enjoy it? Yes. Do I miss it? no.