SLS Roadster purchase
Discussion
I have a very sympathetic other half who has allowed me to buy a SLS roadster. As a condition I do have to sell a couple of other convertibles in the household (her SLK and my supercharged S2000) but by doing that I get to keep my V12 Vantage which I have decided would actually compliment the SLS (in roadster form) rather than compete. This is my justification for keeping both and happy to sell the others as not really used!
I did look at buying a new SLS a couple of years since but Mercedes failed to call me back and hence I ended up buying the V12. Roll on a couple of years and again I have received no response from one of the MB dealers currently selling a roadster in the classifieds which I find bewildering!? How do you owners cope using MB for service?
I am probably looking for a late 2011/2012 with some warranty left and the ability to extend which should be fine as I can't imagine any owners not following the recommended service schedule. I would probably also want the more traditional colour combinations (ie black roof/seats) and prefer the carbon interior particularly with certain leather colours. I am not keen on the lighter interiors without the carbon as the silver does not appear to work as well although that could be the photos.
Now I am trying to find what is standard and what are cost options on these models and which are essential so I can compare/contrast the available cars. The MB site just has the current 2014 model so it's difficult to work out the options/prices from a few years back such as:
B+O BeoSound (Nice but not that great or avoid like the Aston?)
Adaptive damping (Standard? Essential for the UK roads?)
AMG Performance Media (Nice to have?)
Carbon brakes (Rare given the cost - nice to have but expensive to replace)
Any others?
Also how can you tell if these or others have been fitted other than by physically looking/testing - is there a VIN checker available or similar?
I know that the GT gearbox ECU/software is preferred but unlikely to have been upgraded on the cars currently available as probably only done by owners who are keeping for a while.
Finally any views on pricing. I was previously tempted by the £50k discounts but they are reflected in the year 1 depreciation and current prices seem relatively stable albeit with some variations on mileage etc. Has anyone any experience of the current dealer margins or what discount on used cars could be achieved.
None of the currently available cars tick all of my boxes although the red one at Tom Hartley probably ticks the most. That said a very similar car was recently sold by Eclipse to someone in the same area as me so may have to choose another colour!
Any help or guidance appreciated. Thanks.
I did look at buying a new SLS a couple of years since but Mercedes failed to call me back and hence I ended up buying the V12. Roll on a couple of years and again I have received no response from one of the MB dealers currently selling a roadster in the classifieds which I find bewildering!? How do you owners cope using MB for service?
I am probably looking for a late 2011/2012 with some warranty left and the ability to extend which should be fine as I can't imagine any owners not following the recommended service schedule. I would probably also want the more traditional colour combinations (ie black roof/seats) and prefer the carbon interior particularly with certain leather colours. I am not keen on the lighter interiors without the carbon as the silver does not appear to work as well although that could be the photos.
Now I am trying to find what is standard and what are cost options on these models and which are essential so I can compare/contrast the available cars. The MB site just has the current 2014 model so it's difficult to work out the options/prices from a few years back such as:
B+O BeoSound (Nice but not that great or avoid like the Aston?)
Adaptive damping (Standard? Essential for the UK roads?)
AMG Performance Media (Nice to have?)
Carbon brakes (Rare given the cost - nice to have but expensive to replace)
Any others?
Also how can you tell if these or others have been fitted other than by physically looking/testing - is there a VIN checker available or similar?
I know that the GT gearbox ECU/software is preferred but unlikely to have been upgraded on the cars currently available as probably only done by owners who are keeping for a while.
Finally any views on pricing. I was previously tempted by the £50k discounts but they are reflected in the year 1 depreciation and current prices seem relatively stable albeit with some variations on mileage etc. Has anyone any experience of the current dealer margins or what discount on used cars could be achieved.
None of the currently available cars tick all of my boxes although the red one at Tom Hartley probably ticks the most. That said a very similar car was recently sold by Eclipse to someone in the same area as me so may have to choose another colour!
Any help or guidance appreciated. Thanks.
I find it amazing that none of the MB main dealers are getting back to you. You would think, that in the current economic climate, that they would pull out all of the stops to get your business.
Having said that my local dealer has extended the offer to drop the car in any time for a free valet.
Red and blue don't seem to be popular colours for the SLS here in the UK. IMO you would be safer, and the lines of the car look best, in silver, grey or black.
I don't think that there are many UK SLS's that have had the GT spec gearbox software upgrade, as the car has to go back to AMG in Germany for this.
B&O can be recognised by the tweeters on the dash.
Carbon brakes have gold calipers.
I got my SLS from Tom Hartley and think I got a very good deal compared to what the MB dealers were asking for similar cars at the time. Have a chat with Carl - they are so well connected that they will soon find you the right car.
I hope this helps.
Having said that my local dealer has extended the offer to drop the car in any time for a free valet.
Red and blue don't seem to be popular colours for the SLS here in the UK. IMO you would be safer, and the lines of the car look best, in silver, grey or black.
I don't think that there are many UK SLS's that have had the GT spec gearbox software upgrade, as the car has to go back to AMG in Germany for this.
B&O can be recognised by the tweeters on the dash.
Carbon brakes have gold calipers.
I got my SLS from Tom Hartley and think I got a very good deal compared to what the MB dealers were asking for similar cars at the time. Have a chat with Carl - they are so well connected that they will soon find you the right car.
I hope this helps.
May have a 2013/13 car to sell, it is (in my opinion) the very nicest colour combination, black with red roof and black/red interior with carbon. Keep thinking about selling it and then change my mind again everytime I drive it. They are a fantastic car, I doubt you would bother driving your Aston if you had an SLS.
With the exception of Ferarri's, I've had all of these types of cars (I average 3-4 months each), including 2 x V12 Vantages and most recently a Mclaren 12C. I recently chopped the 12C and went back into a SLS Roadster as it is simply the most fun, best sounding, and probably best looking (imo) of them all. You will love it!
Spec wise, mine is pretty meagre but you don't really notice it. I honestly think the only essential option is the BlindSpot Assist. My last one had it and it saved the life of a biker in Paris, no question. He'd be dead otherwise. My current car doesn't have it, so I'm being extra careful - the rear view with roof up is like a letterbox and the rear three-quarter is non-existant. Its a 650 pound option that really should have been standard.
Otherwise, the rest is really tinsel. I suppose a B&O system would be nice as the standard one is not that great (pretty poor compared to the premium one in the Astons - but way better than the upgrade Meridian system in the McLaren, so all relative). The amazing soundtrack from the big V8 is always with you - windows or roof up or down- you'll find the music is often in the background. The carbon interior is quite nice, but depends on colour scheme - the silver metal dash on black leather works quite well too. And like someone else said, the silvers and black exteriors are very safe (I do like the red roof though!).
My current version doesn't have the two-way suspension, and again I don't really miss it - the standard set up is good. Standard brakes are great too, so you don't need to search out carbon brakes.
A 61/12/62 with 8k miles or less in silver or black should be had for 115-125 depending on spec. Go for it, you'll love it! Plus... it has to be a keeper. If I had the dough I'd buy one and store it for 15 years. Must be a cert for long term appreciation. I think Clarkson said if you 'get' the SLS Roadster, nothing else will do. Correct on that one.
Spec wise, mine is pretty meagre but you don't really notice it. I honestly think the only essential option is the BlindSpot Assist. My last one had it and it saved the life of a biker in Paris, no question. He'd be dead otherwise. My current car doesn't have it, so I'm being extra careful - the rear view with roof up is like a letterbox and the rear three-quarter is non-existant. Its a 650 pound option that really should have been standard.
Otherwise, the rest is really tinsel. I suppose a B&O system would be nice as the standard one is not that great (pretty poor compared to the premium one in the Astons - but way better than the upgrade Meridian system in the McLaren, so all relative). The amazing soundtrack from the big V8 is always with you - windows or roof up or down- you'll find the music is often in the background. The carbon interior is quite nice, but depends on colour scheme - the silver metal dash on black leather works quite well too. And like someone else said, the silvers and black exteriors are very safe (I do like the red roof though!).
My current version doesn't have the two-way suspension, and again I don't really miss it - the standard set up is good. Standard brakes are great too, so you don't need to search out carbon brakes.
A 61/12/62 with 8k miles or less in silver or black should be had for 115-125 depending on spec. Go for it, you'll love it! Plus... it has to be a keeper. If I had the dough I'd buy one and store it for 15 years. Must be a cert for long term appreciation. I think Clarkson said if you 'get' the SLS Roadster, nothing else will do. Correct on that one.
Edited by polar8 on Friday 21st February 07:17
Edited by polar8 on Friday 21st February 07:18
Thought I should update this thread and bring to a conclusion. I ended up not buying a SLS as the Mrs did not like the cloth top only option but I wanted a convertible to replace another car and compliment the AM V12V.
Therefore I bought an almost new SL63 AMG which ticks a number of boxes for us:
It was loaded with extras and traded in for a new Ferrari so I got what I believed to be a great deal.
So far I have been very impressed with the performance and quality of the interior - there is a significant amount of gadgets just waiting to go wrong!.
Therefore I bought an almost new SL63 AMG which ticks a number of boxes for us:
It was loaded with extras and traded in for a new Ferrari so I got what I believed to be a great deal.
So far I have been very impressed with the performance and quality of the interior - there is a significant amount of gadgets just waiting to go wrong!.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff