1997 R SL 500 For Sale

[Denis O]

I'm selling my SL so someone will have a very pleasant summer. Spec is as follows:-

1997 R Reg SL 500 Auto in Dark Metallic Green (not turquoise) Black Soft top, with Mushroom Leather
Electric Mem Front Seats
Rear Seats
Electric Windows
Traction Control
Wind Deflector
Sony 10 Disc Auto Changer
New Front Tyres
1 Years MOT
Tax to Nov 04
58,000 miles
Full Service History
Included in the sale are a hard top stand and padded cover.
Purchased from Mercedes of Harrogate in Nov 2002
This car is in super condition and has been garaged and well looked after in my time of ownership.
Price is £20,495 so be quick to own this car at the start of the summer.
Please note the picture is the original 1 sent to me from Mercedes of Harrogate when I bought the car as my camera is playing up at present.
Contact me via my e.mail address [email protected]

 

[Denis O]

Not a huge interest in the SL's at present it would seem. One guy came, loved the car but wanted a Panoramic roof.
For a quick sale I'll take £1,000 off the price making a price of £19,495. You won't find a better, more genuine car at that price.
Come on guys and girls. Tell your freinds about this bargain.

 

[mapleleaf]

I traded a 96 P SL 320 2 years ago and only got £18.5k for it at Mb dealership. only had 34k miles & was imaculate. It was winter though. How does your asking price compare with auto trader?

 

[Denis O]

I had it in Auto Trader for a couple of weeks and with the price at £19.5k it was the cheapest 500 available for year and mileage. 280's and 320's of similar detail were cheaper but then if you drive a 500 you would probably not want either of the smaller engined cars. I drove all 3 when I bought mine and there is no comparison in power and smoothness.
Perhaps people are put off by supposed high petrol consumption and expensive servicing costs for the 500. Well mine averages about 26mpg (the engines hardly above tickover at 70mph) and in almost 2 years my total costs have been £167 for a 2 spanner service at an independent and 2 new front tyres, Dunlops at £125 each. That's 20k miles and it's probably cost less then most Escorts to run.
I had considered an M3 to replace the SL but in comparison they are like a skateboard with horrible gearboxes, driven by the Burberry Baseball cap brigade and only marginally quicker than mine. With this current nice weather I think I'll stick with the SL.
I suspect the dealer that gave you £18.5k for your old one would have put a cloth over it and retailed it at around £26k at that time. Also your current wheels are the best (save the engine) in my opinion. I looked at a couple and thought they were stunning but couldn't afford the £2k premium people were asking at the time.