Tuesday 10th February 2015

Mercedes SL55 AMG: Spotted

Pretty damn fast, pretty cheap and just quite pretty too

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When it comes to AMG, there are a few facets of its character guaranteed. Well there were until the 45 AMG range of cars. It will have a gratuitously large V8, an unhealthy appetite for speed and a frightening propensity to depreciate. Excellent fodder for the classifieds trawler, naturally. Actual buyers are always advised to enter with a substantial contingency fund thanks to a significant bork factor.

Panoramic roof on a long list of extras

But gosh is the temptation there. All manner of saloons, coupes and cabrios could feature here but there's something about the pre-facelift R230 SL55. It's still a very pretty car, even more so in light of the heavy handed facelift and rather gopping R231 replacement. Mercedes isn't known for producing the most beautiful cars but occasionally it pulls out a belter. This SL, especially in SL55 spec, could be one of the few.

Then we're onto the other big part of the 55's appeal: the noise. All the metaphors about its 5.4-litre supercharged V8 have already been made as we all know it's utterly glorious. Supercharger whine and V8 rumble are quite a heady mix and one seldom encountered, especially with the roof down.

Sure, an SL won't be as sharp to drive as newer Affalterbach products but I would argue that's missing the point. Sport Leicht had been deserted a long time before this generation. The SL is for going exceptionally fast while looking great and sounding even better.

No need for stereo with V8 etc etc

Now it can be done for comfortably under £20K. Admittedly that threshold has been breached for a little while but when cars like this '05 SL are available at £17,950 you have to take notice. It's had two owners, the mileage is reasonable and all the services have been at MB. It's had four recent Pirelli P Zeros too; always encouraging to see matching decent tyres. Obviously it will still have the running costs of a £100K GT and it also has the dubious honour of being a mid-2000s Mercedes but, to use that most hackneyed of used car expressions, it does look like a lot of car but for not much money. Scratch that, it looks like a damn lovely car for not much money.

Particularly when the alternatives are considered. You can't buy one of the outgoing Jaguar XKRs for this money, a car that's less powerful and (one could argue) less attractive too. A 6 Series? £18K buys a lot of 650i if you're that way inclined. Lexus SC4... actually no. Lord no. Sorry.

Everything is stacked very much in the SL's favour. Go in with that healthy contingency fund, wary that the roof and ECU are known to cause problems, and it could be fantastic. And at least it's nice to look at if it's not moving.

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MERCEDES SL55 AMG
Engine: 5,439cc supercharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 476@6,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@2,650rpm
MPG: 20
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2005
Recorded mileage: 72,000
Price new: £89,040
Yours for: £17,950

See the original advert here.

[Mark-C]

Lovely ... grab that for less than 20k and then let everyone with a similarly priced Mondeo tell you what a flash git you are for having such an expensive car.

I've never owned a Merc but that looks a very tempting way to scratch that particular itch. A friend had one from new (04 I think) and it was a lovely thing to tool around in - very relaxed but howled when prodded. Mind you we turned up at a half marathon in it and the girl in the car next door assumed we were gay! She is now Mrs-C ....

[Motorrad]

You forgot to mention the suspension which is what really put me off buying a R230 with a V8.

[Limpet]

Looks good, goes like stink, sounds fantastic. Sticks a grin on my face every time I see one on the road.

How can anyone not love these?

[Schermerhorn]

Active Body Control suspension problems need to have been addressed before buying though. Mega expensive to put right.

[Amirhussain]

One of my all time favourite Mercs.

[slk 32]

More sloppy, lazy journalism..

'When it comes to AMG, there are a few facets of its character guaranteed. Well there were until the 45 AMG range of cars. It will have a gratuitously large V8'

Erm... so what about the C32/ SLK 32 with a supercharged V6 then?

Regarding the Bork factor contingency fund.. yet more rubbish. I have owned two AMG cars over the last 8 years and have done over 70k in them both ( and still own both of them). Save for consumables these cars have required no additional work and have been bullet proof. Granted - parts do cost more but what do you expect?

Next time please do some research and speak to owners before repeating internet nonsense and also get your facts straight regarding AMG V6/V8 models - if you can't even get this basic stuff right it doesnt give much credibility to the rest of your statements

[whoami]

Limpet said:

Looks good, goes like stink, sounds fantastic. Sticks a grin on my face every time I see one on the road.

How can anyone not love these?

Because they break a lot and cost a shedload to fix.

[Limpet]

whoami said:

Limpet said:

Looks good, goes like stink, sounds fantastic. Sticks a grin on my face every time I see one on the road.

How can anyone not love these?

Because they break a lot and cost a shedload to fix.

Same applies to a lot of the more interesting cars out there.

[djdestiny]

I wish I could consider 18-20k as "pretty cheap"

[shalmaneser]

slk 32 said:

More sloppy, lazy journalism..

'When it comes to AMG, there are a few facets of its character guaranteed. Well there were until the 45 AMG range of cars. It will have a gratuitously large V8'

Erm... so what about the C32/ SLK 32 with a supercharged V6 then?

Regarding the Bork factor contingency fund.. yet more rubbish. I have owned two AMG cars over the last 8 years and have done over 70k in them both ( and still own both of them). Save for consumables these cars have required no additional work and have been bullet proof. Granted - parts do cost more but what do you expect?

Next time please do some research and speak to owners before repeating internet nonsense and also get your facts straight regarding AMG V6/V8 models - if you can't even get this basic stuff right it doesnt give much credibility to the rest of your statements

Think this is just showing yourself up as a pedantic MB fan.

Most people when thinking of AMG think of V8s. Obviously a couple of I6's, V6's and V12's along the way too but by-and-large big V8s have been the default choice.

[Krikkit]

slk 32 said:

Regarding the Bork factor contingency fund.. yet more rubbish. I have owned two AMG cars over the last 8 years and have done over 70k in them both ( and still own both of them). Save for consumables these cars have required no additional work and have been bullet proof. Granted - parts do cost more but what do you expect?

Ouch.

Owners encounter some very big bills with these cars, it's well known and not just folk-lore. Just because yours (and a lot more of them no doubt) have been flawless doesn't mean that it shouldn't be mentioned.

[nickboazracing]

Krikkit said:

Ouch.

Owners encounter some very big bills with these cars, it's well known and not just folk-lore.

Of course they do. It's not a Kia Rio afterall, is it?!

And how often do you see a story on a forum or in the news starting with "I did 20,000 miles in my car this year, and nothing went wrong." You don't because it's dull. FYI, I've done 30k in my Golf 2.0 TDi in a year and nothing has gone wrong despite so many horror stories of oil pumps and DPFs.

And if someone is idiotic enough to buy one without thinking about running costs then more fool them. They are epic cars, and go in with your eyes open and you can really enjoy it.

(and i'd also add: C32, SLK32, CL65, S65...)

[BRMMA]

Love these and from what i've read previously a lot of the common problems associated with these (suspension, fuel tank baffles, roof, ecu etc) were much better on the 05MY cars so i'd much rather go for this one at £17.5 than an early one at 13-14ish

[dafeller]

I remember the first time I saw an R230: it was a late summer evening along the shore in Honolulu, the sun a little above the yard arm, and this silver SL rolled to the light coming at me. I thought 'the man driving that must be a total hero'. It was such an olympian-looking thing. With an AMG motor fitted, I'm having trouble resisting reliving that moment from behind the wheel.

[Motorrad]

Good write up on the ABC system here.

http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully.blogspot.nl/20...

It isn't internet BS, it's a well documented issue affecting the many Mercedes models fitted with the system.

I started looking for a SL55, then decided against one as my budget was bottom of the market. Then thought about a SL350 which doesn't have the troublesome ABC. But really, who wants an SL without a V8?

So I ended up with an R129 (sans fancy suspension) which has foibles all of it's own but none so arcane as the R230.

[daytona365]

Surely this is an age old conundrum. To old for the seriously well to do, to expensive for the penniless enthusiast and not even yet a 'classic' in the true sense of the word..........A no-mans land car, however nice it may be, and it certainly looks very nice indeed.

[slk 32]

shalmaneser said:

slk 32 said:

More sloppy, lazy journalism..

'When it comes to AMG, there are a few facets of its character guaranteed. Well there were until the 45 AMG range of cars. It will have a gratuitously large V8'

Erm... so what about the C32/ SLK 32 with a supercharged V6 then?

Regarding the Bork factor contingency fund.. yet more rubbish. I have owned two AMG cars over the last 8 years and have done over 70k in them both ( and still own both of them). Save for consumables these cars have required no additional work and have been bullet proof. Granted - parts do cost more but what do you expect?

Next time please do some research and speak to owners before repeating internet nonsense and also get your facts straight regarding AMG V6/V8 models - if you can't even get this basic stuff right it doesnt give much credibility to the rest of your statements

Think this is just showing yourself up as a pedantic MB fan.

Most people when thinking of AMG think of V8s. Obviously a couple of I6's, V6's and V12's along the way too but by-and-large big V8s have been the default choice.

It's not about being pedantic, its just wanting someone to take enough care to be accurate. I often read up about cars that I have no or limited knowledge on and would like to believe what I read is correct- this is just a basic error

[Mac355]

These are fabulous cars, and I am now on my second one.
Having re-scratched an itch 6 months ago.
I bought the most recent example I could find, and did all the history checks etc.
Mine is a 2007 with v low miles, and I paid significantly more than this example.
The car has been absolutely fantastic since day one.
Yes the ABC suspension is regarded with fear and trepidation, but remember this was a £120K car when new,and stuff will cost to put right.
However the ABC suspension gives the car a fabulous ride quality,and the build standard of the later cars is massively improved.
I too should really have been in the market for the newer R231 with all the toys, but at the end of the day what is the point of. A 2 seater coupe / convertible if it is pig ugly?
PS the sound is epic!

[slk 32]

nickboazracing said:

Krikkit said:

Ouch.

Owners encounter some very big bills with these cars, it's well known and not just folk-lore.

Of course they do. It's not a Kia Rio afterall, is it?!

And how often do you see a story on a forum or in the news starting with "I did 20,000 miles in my car this year, and nothing went wrong." You don't because it's dull. FYI, I've done 30k in my Golf 2.0 TDi in a year and nothing has gone wrong despite so many horror stories of oil pumps and DPFs.

And if someone is idiotic enough to buy one without thinking about running costs then more fool them. They are epic cars, and go in with your eyes open and you can really enjoy it.

(and i'd also add: C32, SLK32, CL65, S65...)

This was my exact point- I agree there are well documented air suspension issues with the SL55 but no-one writes i have done 50k trouble free miles... what percentage of these people mentioning this have actually had that problem? As a none SL55 owner that is something I am aware of because of forums like this- what I am not aware of is how many of those people are just repeating the fact that somebody else has mentioned it- ultimately what % are effected?

The reason I mention it is that the large majority of the time these cars are pretty reliable and apart from the fuel costs and higher cost of consumables don't really cost significantly more to run than lesser models- i just think these catch all scare stories can put of potential owners

[soad]

Did, (in 2006?) the introduction of a higher-speed supercharger, saw a slight increase in power?