Cold call about the new SL....

[nickwilcock]

I was surprised to have received a cold call from someone 'on behalf of Mercedes-Benz' today, concerning the current SL.

I had no qualms in saying what an ugly thing I think it to be, with clumsily fussy styling and an excess of pointless electronic toys and that it lacks classic M-B understated elegance.

However, after hanging up, I 1471'd the phone and found that the call had been from 01844 262734, which is a widely known number, frequently reported as a telepest....although it appears to belong to the 'integrated sales solution' company CPM UK.

Has anyone else had a similar call? I hope that the data being gathered might actually persuade M-B to return to building cars in its classical tradition, rather than rather ugly monstrosities filled with geek gimmickry.

[chris333]

its certainly worth a try!

Saw a couple of early R230s today and reliability and build quality aside, it is at least a lovely elegant design.

[bullitinhead]

I had the same call four days ago (monday) had a chat about the sl, as soon as I said I couldnt afford one and wouldnt mind prices for another slk while hes on the phone(thinking he was from merc direct) got disinterested and told to phone the dealer for that. Okay bye then.

Dont really know what the score was!




Bullit

[RDMcG]

chris333 said:

its certainly worth a try!

Saw a couple of early R230s today and reliability and build quality aside, it is at least a lovely elegant design.

By far the oldest car I have is my 2003 R230 which I bought new..still in perfect nick. To me, it was the last elegant SL design made..they monkeyed around with it as the cycle went on, and the current one if frightful. Of course, the new cars are much better in every respect except for appearance. Miss Congeniality award.

[nickwilcock]

RDMcG said:

To me, it was the last elegant SL design made..they monkeyed around with it as the cycle went on, and the current one if frightful.

Hear hear! The 2008-2012 model was dreadfully ugly; the current SL is even worse.

What were they thinking?

[Chiefly]

My hunch is they were were thinking of the American market and their love of beefy front ends.

But yes the original R230

[RDMcG]

Chiefly said:

My hunch is they were were thinking of the American market and their love of beefy front ends.

But yes the original R230

I thin the major reason is the EC rules on pedestrian safety and the a minimum space above the engine..thus all new front engined cars are blunt.

[nickwilcock]

RDMcG said:

I think the major reason is the EC rules on pedestrian safety and the a minimum space above the engine..thus all new front engined cars are blunt.

Well, other manufacturers seem to be able to produce good looking cars, despite stupid €uro-nannying regulations.

But most new M-Bs are uglier than the ugliest things in ugly-land.

I've had my SLK32 AMG for 8 years now and will probably keep it for a while longer yet. The combination of ugliness and nuLabor envy-tax has ruled out a new M-B for the forseeable future.