Which SL?

[Venisonpie]

I've finally got some time to look at replacing my Alpine which was written off last year by a "distracted" yoof in a transit. I haven't ruled out another but am veering towards a Merc SL - different vehicle but perhaps more suited to my position.

Car will be high days and holidays only, annual mileage no more than 5000 and it will sit about in a secure (outdoor) parking space for weeks without use. Budget is up to £60k but this is a ceiling and not a target. I live and work in London so any practical car requirements can be met with Zippy or other short term hire.

My dilemma is finding the right value for my position - not the cheapest or fastest but most appropriate balance.

Do I spend £20k on this R230 SL500?
https://newcarukltd.co.uk/listing/mercedes-sl500-a...

Or £26k on this R231 SL500?
https://www.westheath.co.uk/used-mercedes-benz-sl-...

Or £35k on this facelift R231 SL400
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212112...

Or £41k on this R231 SL63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211171...

And finally an approved used SL63
https://www.agnewcars.com/mercedes-benz/used-car-d...

It would be very easy to go for a 63 but would I really get that much more pleasure from cruising about roof down than with a cheaper option? Living in the SE means roads are chocker and opportunities for spirited driving extremely limited.

The R230 is pretty but less likely to tolerate being unattended for long periods, the R231's more robust/better dynamically but not as attractive. Plus the more I spend the higher the outlay for something that for the most part sits about doing nothing.

The only other thing I've considered is an F Type but I really don't know much about them or how useful they might be for longer trips and luggage capacity.

What do you reckon?

Edited by Venisonpie on Sunday 8th January 09:16

[Harry Flashman]

As someone who owns a very rarely used 1990s Merc, unless you have a covered space or garage, I'd go for the more modern car. Lovely, but they need attention and the myth that they do not trust is just that, a myth. Last owner of mine spend a lot of money restoring it, and it still needs little bits attending to every year (I have a small patch of chassis rust to deal with this summer).

[MDL111]

Can you get a Pagode and a good cover for that money? One of the prettiest scars ever imo and if you just cruise around on weekends, the dynamic abilities will be secondary given the congested roads…

[Harry Flashman]

I think even a left hand drive Pagoda 250 would be more, but I agree.

[samoht]

SLs are such big, heavy, complex cars to propel two people and not that much luggage. To justify such extravagance, in my view they need to be (a) beautiful (b) sound like thunder and (c) go like the wind. To me that means just one model, an R230 SL55, probably a 2006-08 car when the quality was slightly less bad.

The F-Type roadster famously has very very little boot space, the coupe is a bit better.

[georgeyboy12345]

Pretty sure those are all R321s?

It it were me, I'd be going for the best R320 SL55 AMG I could find as they are just awesome

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...

[Canon_Fodder]

My vote goes to the £26k one, nice in that muted colour.

[AndrewO]

Top of budget gets you into a Merc AMG GT. I have a 2004 SL55 which I think is the best looking SL

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...

[nick1871]

This looks lovely..

[Venisonpie]

Thanks for the suggestions.

An older pagoda is a lovely thing but even under a cover I think living outdoors would be very risky, if I had a garage then an older car would be an option.

The SL55 is a much loved car and the support the SL65 is getting on another thread backs this up. However, I'm not actually keen on the original R230 looks and an older car with the ABC suspension sitting about unused could be asking for trouble. A facelift SL63 might be an option but prices start crashing into R231's.

The AMG GT is an interesting thought but I'd want a convertible which unfortunately are out of budget (at the moment).

I think the higher mileage R231 SL500 looks good value as some have suggested, nice colour combo and only 2 owners with a sound MOT history.

Got a weekend set aside to try them in a couple of weeks, looking forward to it.

[Harry Flashman]

If no garage, go as new as you can. My 1993 E320 needs a refresh every spring from a winter outside. My 2006 Maser Transport copes just fine, but I think early 2000s mercs were still a bit rust prone?

The R231(?) 55 AMG would be my choice, if they don't rust. Modern classic, great looks (unlike the later ones).

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for the more modern R231 as it'll be more suited to life outside, the one I'd pick is the SL500 the 4.7TT drivetrain is a peach & if you ever feel it's not quick enough a remap will see it to nigh on 63 levels of output.

Facelift:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...

SL500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110158...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212292...

[maz8062]

Of the choices above I’d go with the facelift SL400. The same engine was chipped to 390 PS in the SLC 43 from the factory in 2019 so you have options to extract more power. It’s economical as well and is in a low tax band.

What’s not to like.

[SIMON67]

maz8062 said:

Of the choices above I’d go with the facelift SL400. The same engine was chipped to 390 PS in the SLC 43 from the factory in 2019 so you have options to extract more power. It’s economical as well and is in a low tax band.

What’s not to like.

Agree - my old man has run a 400 for the last 4 years and it's a much underestimated thing. Engine sounds incredible and it goes like stink. I think it looks great too! No problems at all and he obviously loves it as he was previously a serial car changer - every 6 -12 months. He's did a 500 mile round trip to see us over Christmas and it averaged 31 mpg. Try one...

[ZX10R NIN]

SIMON67 said:

maz8062 said:

Of the choices above I’d go with the facelift SL400. The same engine was chipped to 390 PS in the SLC 43 from the factory in 2019 so you have options to extract more power. It’s economical as well and is in a low tax band.

What’s not to like.

Agree - my old man has run a 400 for the last 4 years and it's a much underestimated thing. Engine sounds incredible and it goes like stink. I think it looks great too! No problems at all and he obviously loves it as he was previously a serial car changer - every 6 -12 months. He's did a 500 mile round trip to see us over Christmas and it averaged 31 mpg. Try one...

Disagree it has to be the 4.7TT 500 it's only 3mpg real world worse off than the 400 around town & within 2mpg on a run, in fairness both are good but the 500 is that bit better.

[______]

Venisonpie said:

I've finally got some time to look at replacing my Alpine which was written off last year by a "distracted" yoof in a transit. I haven't ruled out another but am veering towards a Merc SL - different vehicle but perhaps more suited to my position.

Car will be high days and holidays only, annual mileage no more than 5000 and it will sit about in a secure (outdoor) parking space for weeks without use. Budget is up to £60k but this is a ceiling and not a target. I live and work in London so any practical car requirements can be met with Zippy or other short term hire.

My dilemma is finding the right value for my position - not the cheapest or fastest but most appropriate balance.

Do I spend £20k on this R230 SL500?
https://newcarukltd.co.uk/listing/mercedes-sl500-a...

Or £26k on this R231 SL500?
https://www.westheath.co.uk/used-mercedes-benz-sl-...

Or £35k on this facelift R231 SL400
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212112...

Or £41k on this R231 SL63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211171...

And finally an approved used SL63
https://www.agnewcars.com/mercedes-benz/used-car-d...

It would be very easy to go for a 63 but would I really get that much more pleasure from cruising about roof down than with a cheaper option? Living in the SE means roads are chocker and opportunities for spirited driving extremely limited.

The R230 is pretty but less likely to tolerate being unattended for long periods, the R231's more robust/better dynamically but not as attractive. Plus the more I spend the higher the outlay for something that for the most part sits about doing nothing.

The only other thing I've considered is an F Type but I really don't know much about them or how useful they might be for longer trips and luggage capacity.

What do you reckon?

Edited by Venisonpie on Sunday 8th January 09:16

R231 is much less troublesome from a leaking hardtop perspective and the 400 doesn’t have the ££££ problematic air suspension.

However, having owned one, I’d suggest an F Type or 981 / 718 Boxster are both a much better drive.

[Venisonpie]

ZX10R NIN said:

Disagree it has to be the 4.7TT 500 it's only 3mpg real world worse off than the 400 around town & within 2mpg on a run, in fairness both are good but the 500 is that bit better.

I'll try both hopefully but suspect if I went 400 I'd always wish I had the V8. Less 500's about so may have better residual spread. Fuel consumption is a non issue given the low miles I'll be doing.

[Venisonpie]

[quote=__]

R231 is much less troublesome from a leaking hardtop perspective and the 400 doesn’t have the ££££ problematic air suspension.

However, having owned one, I’d suggest an F Type or 981 / 718 Boxster are both a much better drive.

[/quote]

I suspect you're right, the 231 will be less bother. Jag is a possibility but maybe next time round. Owned a 981 previously and driven just about every iteration including my neighbour's GTS. I just can't get on with the gearing or road noise. 718 is a no for obvious reasons.

[______]

Venisonpie said:

I suspect you're right, the 231 will be less bother. Jag is a possibility but maybe next time round. Owned a 981 previously and driven just about every iteration including my neighbour's GTS. I just can't get on with the gearing or road noise. 718 is a no for obvious reasons.

Drive a f type before you discount it.

[Venisonpie]

Update, I've driven the 400 and 63 today and the 63 is something else. Well specced and priced out bizarrely doesn't have airscarf despite just about everything else.

Is this a huge deal or a minor nuisance?