Great owners site about R129 SL500

[bpsorrel]

Mercedes SL500

Reading through this US website mostly about the '97 SL500 has really whetted my appetite to try one and maybe...

Anyone agree or disagree with his opinions?

 

[BTB 500]

That site is pretty well known and quite informative, he's a bit of an oddball in some ways but in general I do agree with his comments. No surprise, given that I bought a '97 SL500!

 

[bpsorrel]

From what he says, the '97 is the one to have. From ads I've seen, not too expensive for what you get. His looks great in white doesn't it! Wonder if that would look so nice in dull old UK though!

 

[BTB 500]

The later (98-99 onward) V8 has less bhp but a broader torque range so performance is about the same and fuel economy is a bit better. Some people prefer the slight external restyle from '99 onwards. Anecdotally I've heard a few rust stories on late 90's R129s so I wonder if they might have been affected to a lesser degree by the same issues as the C/E/S classes (i.e. paint process changes).

 

[bpsorrel]

My saga of trying to find a "classic" to play with is nearing it's end at last! In the end I narrowed it down to Corvette, XK8 and SL500. Tried the XK8 today, and beautiful though it is to look at, there are too many reliability issues with pre-2000 models to make it attractive to own. Corvette of the right type (C5, '99) is now too expensive really and after driving one, maybe a bit too aggressive! - so now it looks like the SL500 is the one! And, as you and Ken both chose the '97, for good reason I reckon - I may now start looking for a nice one!

 

[BTB 500]

You are very welcome to have a good crawl round mine if we both end up at a GTG. I should be at the Brooklands one at the end of this month.

 

[bpsorrel]

Thanks!!! I may hold you to that!

 

[stats007]

Ken is obsessed with his US-Spec '97 car. If you take the site with a pinch of salt you'll find some useful information in there somewhere .

 

[LTD]

Ken is obsessed

That's it fixed.

 

[moonloops]

[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Starfest refers to the three-pointed stars on the hoods of our Mercedes. Starfest has nothing to do with Star Trek, a TV show.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]

Oh really!
[/FONT]

 

[Setanta]

You are very welcome to have a good crawl round mine if we both end up at a GTG. I should be at the Brooklands one at the end of this month.

I will try and make it in my 1999 (same colour exterior and interior) so you can see the differences between the updates.

 

[bpsorrel]

Do you have a date for this GTG?

 

[Will]

Last Sunday of the month - which would be the 28th Feb.

We can start a thread soon

Will

 

[500SAT]

I will try and make it in my 1999 (same colour exterior and interior) so you can see the differences between the updates.

I'll also try and make it along in my 96 sl500 , although i am on standby that week . it will be fun to see so many at once .

 

[Setanta]

Now, if yours is silver with black interior, that will be interesting!

Provided that mine is not with a new owner before then of course.

 

[bpsorrel]

I'm going to try and get the CCC 280SL for the GTG!

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/memb...orrel-s-cars-picture1877-my-favourite-sl.html

By the way, what do you guys think of these?

Mercedes 500SL Auto Convertible with Hard Top For Sale (1981) on Car And Classic UK