Saltash SL500

[mikal]

I have had a hankering to get an SL lately. i do like the new 2009>>> shape. The nose, the extra power etc but they are around £10k and up. Nice ones say £14k ish. So a rethink maybe... what about a 500 then. Gobs of power, cheaper tax and the insurance is all but the same AND they arent £14k! So I have a quick read and the ABC bit pops up all over the place....quick read on that and oh dear! Sounds like I should avoid...then woh and behold on fleabay an nice looking 500 appears just down the road from me in Saltash. Nice looking 2002, low low miles, says FSH and does look tidy BUT.............the ABC.

Do I.....dare I>>>. Is it worth the price, the possible hassle? 3 months warranty extendable???...........I really would appreciatte someone holding my hand here. ....OR do I hold out for that really nice 2009 on 350?????

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

So, a choice between a 14 year old SL on 60k miles and a 21 year old SL500 on 70k miles, then

How many miles a year are you intending to do, what will you use it for?

How fast will you actually drive? And what's the longest trip you might do? Cornwall ? Or Tuscany?

and when a car plays up - what do you normally do? Investigate it yourself, and maybe fix it, call a main dealer, or call a local garage?

 

[mikal]

Cheers Mike. I know, 1st world problems. I'll do 2k miles a year. Mainly day trips just bombing around on a nice day. Hopefully a car wont have a problem, if it does then i do have a local guy that is a qualified car mech that charges £20 an hr!. I'm just looking for a rag top for the summer. My last few cars were. An MGB..sat too high, I wanted more go, sold that bought a Chimaera...liked everything but decided it wasnt "differant" enough. Was like an MGB on steroids...sold that. Cpught a Boxster S. Went like stink etc but bland...sold that. then took a break and bought a cpl of big bikes...sold one after 2 years and saw a nice clean TR7, after a year decided I missed power...now sold that...so now have the ££££. Dont like anything like MGb's....S2000/mx5 etc. There was a nice alfa spider 24v that went thru car and Classic auctions last week....but the front little lights are marmite. maybe an SLK?????? Or.....?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

"Other opinions are available, but"

If you're doing 2k miles a year, reliability isn't an issue.

If you've got access to a cheap mechanic then an older car is less of a risk.

Do you really want such a big car? An SLK is a third cheaper than an SL, and has plenty of space for someone just buzzing around.

 

[MissyD]

Good luck with your search, I was in Saltash last week

 

[mikal]

TY for the last 2......yes I/we had an old shape 320 SLK. Went like stink but was bland, but it was a usa version so perhaps the exhaust had some sort of mute!.....An MB isnt set in stone but theres not that many alternatives that I really want....

Due to the wind and rain, Saltash is now on the east side of the Tamar!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Fair enough about the SLK, I have "kind of" the same problem with it

Previous SL ? Simpler to maintain for your handyman, but older.

(The big weakness, in my eyes, being that metal roof that takes two men to lift and which then needs to be stored)

 

[mikal]

Look like a tank doesnt it......small and sporty but not ANYTHING like an MX5...I hate them.

 

[mikal]

Whats your thoughts re the pre 2009 nosed slk and the later one