Is there a realistic alternative to an SL?

[mat8n]

Yea but it's not a two seater supercar..... Boy hood dream car.... I don't want a family man car.
I'm not knocking any of these cars mentioned, they are all great cars.

 

[Darrell]

Yea but it's not a two seater supercar..... Boy hood dream car.... I don't want a family man car. I'm not knocking any of these cars mentioned, they are all great cars.

I wouldn't call it a family man car at all.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Classic Business Analysis....

After going through the detailed design specs and quotes,

we then circle back to the business requirements.

Now, no-one has an SL/R230 on their bedroom wall as a youf , do they?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Definitely a .....

I wouldn't call it a family man car at all.

Definitely a freshly separated / divorced family man car.

With optional 35 year old "companion" from the office in the passenger seat, and "theoretical" places to put the teenagers in the back. (Not a problem because they're never allowed to visit).

But "not a family man car."

 

[Petrol Pete]

2010 (10) MERCEDES-BENZ SL PETROL Convertible 6.2 SL63 AMG 2DR Automatic For Sale in Preston - Amari Super Cars GB

Thinking of this one?

Not feeling the Grancabrio, and these are becoming a nice price!

I see this car has had only 2 services by a main dealer and had the rest (3) by an indi , the first indi service was at 19K miles ! I understand that this kind of 'itch that has to be scratched' type of car but 6 owners in 7 years ?

I would never use a main dealer on my 10 year old C55 but if I owned a car at this level I would be very nervous of losing any type of warranty (good or bad) at just 4 years old and 19K miles.

Someone here will be able to explain, I hope.

 

[grober]

Saba Amari is Britain's top supercar saleswoman and reveals tricks of selling dream motors | Daily Mail Online
I would suggest that the "Mercedes specialist" may be the garage selling the car. Many high end dealers provide service facilities for the cars they sell, many of which have multiple owners. Remember you are talking about folks that change cars like they change clothes.

 

[Red C220]

The only similar car to an SL in reality is a Ferrari California. Two seater (yes I know it's got +2 seats but if you have legs you can't use them) hard top convertible with plenty of badge appeal.

Likely to hold on to far more value than an SL long term so if you've got the capital to get in one the two/three years running costs of a California could actually be less that an SL63 if depreciation is also included in the maths.

These are now creeping down into the £80/£90K range. The only real must have is a Ferrari Power Warranty.

 

[C240Sport97]

6 series BMWs are heavy bloated cars ..

 

[nick mercedes]

Remember you are talking about folks that change cars like they change clothes.

I used to deliver parts to a high end man, he's moved on to classics now as that's where the old money is.

He maintained that with lumpy Mercs/Rolls/Bentleys etc the key to success was a good finance man, as despite what you may think a lot of the people who buy this sort of stuff aren't quite as minted as they appear, and finance for them is far from straight forward.

 

[Red C220]

Don't discount the R231 SL500. It is a fast car pretty much on par with the previous generation SL AMG.

We love our SL400, the performance for an entry level SL is outstanding and it's so far ahead of the SL350 it's like a completely different car. Our original intention was to buy the SL500 but after we drove the 400 we decided we didn't need the V8, the 400 was way fast enough.

This was when our daily was an E220 Diesel. Now we've replaced the E with an S6 I realise I probably should have bought the SL500 originally. Not for speed or performance but the way the power is delivered.

On paper there isn't a great deal between the 400 and 500 but they drive completely differently.

Mercedes-Benz Sl-Class SL 500 AMG Sport 4.7 2dr

Or how about a new one that's in your budget, built to your spec.

 

[gunning]

Don't discount the R231 SL500. It is a fast car pretty much on par with the previous generation SL AMG. We love our SL400, the performance for an entry level SL is outstanding and it's so far ahead of the SL350 it's like a completely different car. Our original intention was to buy the SL500 but after we drove the 400 we decided we didn't need the V8, the 400 was way fast enough. This was when our daily was an E220 Diesel. Now we've replaced the E with an S6 I realise I probably should have bought the SL500 originally. Not for speed or performance but the way the power is delivered. On paper there isn't a great deal between the 400 and 500 but they drive completely differently. Mercedes-Benz Sl-Class SL 500 AMG Sport 4.7 2dr Or how about a new one that's in your budget, built to your spec.

That's an incredible saving. Gone of the days when SL's had a premium on new orders.

A shame because they're every bit as good today as they were in previous shapes.

 

[mat8n]

My 350 is more than powerful enough, it's not about speed and power, it's about having the speed and power available.
When I bought the 350 I could got a 500 or 55,but head over ruled. I don't need it as a daily.
Like someone said... An itch to be scratched, I want the big engine, I don't need it or will use it(much!) but I don't want to spend a load of money on something that is a make do car.

When I say make do, obviously a new sl 500 isn't a make do car!!! Neither are any cars mentioned, but I dont want to have another... what if or wished I'd gone for.... car, like my 350 is.

 

[Darrell]

Going on from what Red C220 said,

My bro in law has a 14 plate SL 350 and it's a real flying machine and can easily hold it's own against my C4s..

 

[Bluegnomes]

I was going to suggest a California too, although out of the OP's price range it should depreciate far less and possibly cost less overall. MrsG really likes them - next time possibly!

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Tried running a filtered search on auto trader to see what comes up?

 

[Grovsie31]

SL63 would be awesome. Not sure id call it samey to a Sl350 of the previous era.

 

[Bluegnomes]

Or maybe wait until the new SL (completely different platform) is out next year and pick up a nearly new one?

 

[C240Sport97]

it's about having the speed and power available.

very true, you can choose not to use power you have but you can't choose to use power you don't have

 

[mat8n]

Now looking at this......

http://www.jccarcentre.co.uk/used-mercedes-benz-sl-newcastle-upon-tyne-northumberland-1268726

 

[flowrider]

Fabulous car but i dont like the colour scheme.