Is Mercedes discontinuing production of the SL line?
Discussion
In the Car section of The Daily Telegraph over the weekend it ran an item on the forthcoming S Class Cabriolet which, it reported, was due to replace the SL once the final versions of the R231 rolled of the production line.
It then when on to reprise the history of the SL models stating that the S Class Cab had some pretty big shoes to fill.
As a long-term Mercedes fan and driver this was complete news to me and I find it almost impossible to believe that Mercedes would abandon after an uninterrupted run of 60+ years one of its most iconic model lines.
I searched high and low to see if I had temporarily been living on another planet when Mercedes had made this announcement in public but all I could find was item that from 2017 onwards SLK and SLs would share a basic chassis structure which would mean production savings.
This in itself does mean a fundamental change to SL production as we have know it but not the end of the SL line as indicated by the DT.
Have I missed something?
It then when on to reprise the history of the SL models stating that the S Class Cab had some pretty big shoes to fill.
As a long-term Mercedes fan and driver this was complete news to me and I find it almost impossible to believe that Mercedes would abandon after an uninterrupted run of 60+ years one of its most iconic model lines.
I searched high and low to see if I had temporarily been living on another planet when Mercedes had made this announcement in public but all I could find was item that from 2017 onwards SLK and SLs would share a basic chassis structure which would mean production savings.
This in itself does mean a fundamental change to SL production as we have know it but not the end of the SL line as indicated by the DT.
Have I missed something?
I don't believe they sell very many SLs these days as in past years. I haven't seen a single current or previous facelift square headlamp model SL on the roads in S Ireland. They sold quite a few of the quad headlamp model. I think the main problem is much more competition. 10-15 years ago at that level you had the SL, the 911 and maybe the 840csi . Nowadays you have the SL, 911, S coupe, Baby Bentleys, Aston V8 vantages, 6 series coupes. The SL is a fantastic car to sit in though. I sat in one in Merc in Berlin and after sitting in 20 other Merc inc Slks , CLS, ML,C, E , GLK, and found them gnarly and cheap in comparison. I'm waiting to trade up to a used one in a few years as prices fall away.
I can't see them doing away with the SL when the strategy seems to be to build a car for every possible niche.
I'd say the current SL's problems are threefold. First, it's a mess. Second, increased competition as above. Third, the market wants headbanger nutjob super-aggressive dogging mobiles, not refined, elegant boulevardiers.
I'd say the current SL's problems are threefold. First, it's a mess. Second, increased competition as above. Third, the market wants headbanger nutjob super-aggressive dogging mobiles, not refined, elegant boulevardiers.
Fast Bug said:
seems like they've found a good way to improve the looks:
I must admit that I prefer the look of the 2008 facelift model plus it has that lovely 6.2 N/A engine noise too, but I guess I would say that.
I read on an American Mercedes forum someone describing the later model as having a 'Karl Malden' nose transplant stuck on it.
I read on an American Mercedes forum someone describing the later model as having a 'Karl Malden' nose transplant stuck on it.
Edited by BIRMA on Monday 28th September 17:51
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