Is there a realistic alternative to an SL?

[mat8n]

I can help here......

I always vowed that my ML63 was an awesome car... quick, all the creature comforts as most option boxes ticked and then I sold it to Olly (PCS) and missed "that" V8
I went onto a 911 C4s..... then onto a C4s Cab.....a break for a bit... then onto a Gallardo Spyder.... to a Huracan.... back to a seriously modified 911 Turbo.... after 3 911's and 2 mad cars in a different league in the space of 7 odd years and a few back surgerys I went on the look for my next toy.... I tried Bentley GTC, R8 V10, Jag F Type R and looked at Maserati but nothing could come anywhere near what I have now....

My 2013 R231 SL63 Bi Turbo has 20k miles on it now and again nearly every option ticked, it has the typical AMG V8 Bi Turbo sound, I can have my heated seats on whilst also being cooled and massaged not to forget my neck keeps warm too.... The interior is a lovely place to be and for me its everything I need, goes well... looks good and does everything I need.... You simply cant beat an AMG!!

This is how I'm thinking, all the other cars are excellent at what they do but compromise on other things. I think the SL does everything very good with no real compromise.
I want a good all round car, not a race car, not a cruiser, not a nippy point to point car... A usable supercar! Or as near to.

To me jags are for the pipe and slipper brigade especially the xk-r, when ever you see one it's driven by an old bloke with a flat cap and tweeds, with his Mrs wearing a silk head scarf!

 

[rockits]

The Maserati's are not a perfect car but not common and sound great. They have oodles of character and are something a little different. That n/a 4.2 V8 Ferrari V8 engine is a cracker and very free revving. It is a different car to an SL though. I know of a very nice 4200 Spyder an SM forum member is selling at the moment.

I have an R129 SL500 and have had an SL55. Also have a 4200 & Quattroporte and the Masers are very different to the SL's but very nice nonetheless. All are cracking cars. Depends on your budget and use I guess.

 

[RickyBurrows]

Oh the problems when you have to much money I have dilemmas about affording my next pair of trainers your problems are dreams mate, buy the sl63 and stop worrying so much.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

The SL63 will be the best "all-rounder" so it comes down whether you really want a touch of exotica (Maserati) or simply want a Teutonic cruiser.

 

[BaldGuy]

You've agreed and answered your own question now... For speed you have your bikes although the SL63 is no slouch...

This is how I'm thinking, all the other cars are excellent at what they do but compromise on other things. I think the SL does everything very good with no real compromise.
I want a good all round car, not a race car, not a cruiser, not a nippy point to point car... A usable supercar! Or as near to.

To me jags are for the pipe and slipper brigade especially the xk-r, when ever you see one it's driven by an old bloke with a flat cap and tweeds, with his Mrs wearing a silk head scarf!

 

[tron]

A Merc is just a Merc (unless it is a fifties Gullwing.)
A Bentley, even an old one has style and there are plenty of one owner ones around for almost sensible money.
The myriad experts whose opinions are those of Clonker Parkson that have owned or even driven the Bentley are very small in number. Try it for yourself and if it doesn't feel special,then I have no idea what to suggest.

 

[mat8n]

My bikes aren't fast

I'm not after speed, just the potential.

The porsche was noisey with the roof up, I'm guessing the Maserati will be similar and also have higher service costs and be more worry some... And more expensive.

And I'm also not loaded! my pennies are hard earned and precious, hence the difficult decision making

 

[rockits]

I'm not loaded and have to watch my pennies but have two Masers. They can be reasonable enough to run and not ruinous. Just having the annual service done on the 4200 for 400 + vat by a very good & well respected Maserati & Ferrari specialist.

The Quattorporte & 2007 on cars are 2 year intervals now so not much different to other marques in the service dept.

 

[Piff]

I've been looking at e class cabriolets as a tow car as my s class can't have a towbar fitted!

When looking, I found that not all of them are type approved for towing.

 

[Rayny]

That would be my daily car not my special car

I've been looking at e class cabriolets as a tow car as my s class can't have a towbar fitted!

We live in different worlds

I hope that you enjoy the search for the right car, and then enjoy the car.
If it's not going to be your daily car and you want something special, why not a classic Rolls/Bentley/Vanden Plas ?

 

[BIRMA]

Just to add a little more in favour of the SL63, apart from it being the best car in the price range I tried it was also one of the most comfortable cars I'd ever driven.

In the 6.2 N/A you had that wonderful engine that was a pleasure to wind up the rev range. I booked a 4 hour session at MB World thrashing the living daylights out of the twin turbo model SL63.
I was really surprised at the levels of grip as it was a very wet day and I was glad of that because it enabled me to take the car to near its limits and believe me you would never drive a car on the road that fast, yet the car behaved in a predictable stable way even turning down the traction control.
Driving my N/A SL63 home after I had time to think and compare the two cars, in that hour drive home I decided that I preferred the N/A engine as I like the fact you have to rev it more, whereas the twin turbo seemed a lot quicker on initial uptake.
I think I preferred the later cars interior, if I were in the position now to choose between the N/A and the turbo I would probably opt for the later SL63.
What I liked most about the car was on a motorway with the roof up and in comfort mode you felt you could drive hundreds of miles in complete comfort and even my wife could drive it.
Then at the press of a few buttons it was a lunatic and as good an A road blaster as you could ever need.
I enjoyed my year with the SL63.

 

[Londonscottish]

We live in different worlds

Reminds of a mate who had an SL55 then a 911 turbo. When the first baby was due he was muttering about the "compromise" of having had to get a "family" car.

I looked out int the office car park and it turned out the "compromise" was a 493 BHP Cayenne Turbo.

LOL.

 

[leef44]

This is how I'm thinking, all the other cars are excellent at what they do but compromise on other things. I think the SL does everything very good with no real compromise.
I want a good all round car, not a race car, not a cruiser, not a nippy point to point car... A usable supercar! Or as near to.

To me jags are for the pipe and slipper brigade especially the xk-r, when ever you see one it's driven by an old bloke with a flat cap and tweeds, with his Mrs wearing a silk head scarf!

You are the perfect clientele for the SL. It was made for this specific market niche. It is getting narrower with the AMG GT and other convertibles in this price market however it still exist because there is a very specific set of criteria which this car meets. So I think you have answered your only question - you should replace your car with a newer model SL.

 

[BaldGuy]

Hows the CL65 Birma? always loved those....

 

[BIRMA]

Hows the CL65 Birma? always loved those....

Ludicrously fast, can't find a single fault. I really like this car.

 

[lxi]

I would not recommend a Vantage having had one. Build quality crap, manufacturer attitude even worse and "sportshift" (robotic manual 'box) indescribable. Worst car I've had in 20 years (including a TVR)

But - the prettiest by far !!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

(Reaching for the tin hat) BMW M6 ?

 

[Darrell]

nice looking cars.

 

[mat8n]

I've always liked the 6 series, but they are a full four seater, not really what I'm after.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Rear seats that you can't sit in

I've always liked the 6 series, but they are a full four seater, not really what I'm after.

It's just ten inches longer than an SL.

It may have rear "dickie" seats but they're nothing anyone could sit in for any length of time. (the coupe is a bit different).

The M6 is a £100,000 car, it doesn't have four real seats.