Sp!ke
Administrator
I wonder if one of our resident traders bought that.
Should I walk away from this SL - and a warning
- Thread starter oscarisapc
- Start date
Reading through the posts on this and many forums there are two things I see. 1. That anyone contemplating buying a SL 320 is more often than not discouraged in favour of the sl500 when the 320 is amazing. Personally , I just don't like v8 engines and think that in real life my car has more than enough power for everything I could ever want from it . I have never wished for more power or torque, so if you see the color and spec you want but it has a 320 engine I would advise getting it as it's the way it looks and feels that is at least as important as if it's a v8 or not . I love my car and never wish that I had the 500. The 320 isn't playing second fiddle to the 500. It's a great car in its own right.
2. Why do we all assume that buying a car we love has to appreciate in value or that it has to be sellable before we have even done a mile in it, excepting the real hybrids like perhaps 300-24 etc. If I bought a car that was all I wanted but a little tatty, I would happily spend the money doing it up , within reason and I I end up having spent 10k but have the car I always wanted then that's what it costs. I have all that for 10k. Sure I might have waited for the "right" car at the right price, but I waited over a year searching everywhere for mine and instead preferred to do a slightly tatty one up. I'll worry about its value when i sell it and when I do, if I sell it for 4k less then that what motoring costs. The person who buys mine will buy a truly great car.
2. Why do we all assume that buying a car we love has to appreciate in value or that it has to be sellable before we have even done a mile in it, excepting the real hybrids like perhaps 300-24 etc. If I bought a car that was all I wanted but a little tatty, I would happily spend the money doing it up , within reason and I I end up having spent 10k but have the car I always wanted then that's what it costs. I have all that for 10k. Sure I might have waited for the "right" car at the right price, but I waited over a year searching everywhere for mine and instead preferred to do a slightly tatty one up. I'll worry about its value when i sell it and when I do, if I sell it for 4k less then that what motoring costs. The person who buys mine will buy a truly great car.
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reading through the posts on this and many forums there are two things i see. 1. That anyone contemplating buying a sl 320 is discouraged in favour of the sl500 when the 320 is amazing.
I can't comment on above, don't know enough about either vehicle.
personally , i just don't like v8 engines and think that in real life my car has more than enough power for everything i could ever want from it . I have never wished for more power or torque,
V8's are not for everybody and if you are happy with what you have then all well and good.
so if you see the color and spec you want but it has a 320 engine i would advise getting it as it's the way it looks and feels that is at least as important as if it's a v8 or not
Personal choice, depends what you want out of a car. I wouldn't buy a car just because i liked the colour and spec. My grandmother (rip) loved the red seats in her Avenger because they were comfy. Crap car but she loved her seats.
I love my car ! 2. Why do we all assume that buying a car we love has to appreciate in value or that it has to be sellable before we have even done a mile in it, excepting the real hybrids like perhaps 300-24 etc.
You have to put a little thought into resale. At some point you will want to sell it. There's no point buying a car with good spec and nice colour if nobody is going to want it when you come to advertise it.
If i bought a car that was all i wanted but a little tatty, i would happily spend the money doing it up , within reason and i i end up having spent 10k but have the car i always wanted then that's what it costs. I have all that for 10k.
Doing cars up is great if you have the know how.
Sure i might have waited for the "right" car at the right price, but i waited over a year searching everywhere for mine and instead preferred to do a slightly tatty one up. I'll worry about its value when i sell it and when i do, if i sell it for 4k less then that what motoring costs. The person who buys mine will buy a truly great car.
I would worry about it's value before I spent the money on it but I agree with your first point.
Happy Motoring and welcome.
I can't comment on above, don't know enough about either vehicle.
personally , i just don't like v8 engines and think that in real life my car has more than enough power for everything i could ever want from it . I have never wished for more power or torque,
V8's are not for everybody and if you are happy with what you have then all well and good.
so if you see the color and spec you want but it has a 320 engine i would advise getting it as it's the way it looks and feels that is at least as important as if it's a v8 or not
Personal choice, depends what you want out of a car. I wouldn't buy a car just because i liked the colour and spec. My grandmother (rip) loved the red seats in her Avenger because they were comfy. Crap car but she loved her seats.
I love my car ! 2. Why do we all assume that buying a car we love has to appreciate in value or that it has to be sellable before we have even done a mile in it, excepting the real hybrids like perhaps 300-24 etc.
You have to put a little thought into resale. At some point you will want to sell it. There's no point buying a car with good spec and nice colour if nobody is going to want it when you come to advertise it.
If i bought a car that was all i wanted but a little tatty, i would happily spend the money doing it up , within reason and i i end up having spent 10k but have the car i always wanted then that's what it costs. I have all that for 10k.
Doing cars up is great if you have the know how.
Sure i might have waited for the "right" car at the right price, but i waited over a year searching everywhere for mine and instead preferred to do a slightly tatty one up. I'll worry about its value when i sell it and when i do, if i sell it for 4k less then that what motoring costs. The person who buys mine will buy a truly great car.
I would worry about it's value before I spent the money on it but I agree with your first point.
Happy Motoring and welcome.
Sp!ke
Administrator
I wouldn't necessarily discourage a 320 but I would say that it's price reflects it's popularity.
Price wise I think it's the one to go for because you get an awful lot for your money and they are exceedingly good cars.
That said, I suspect that if I had bought a 320 I would have this constant niggle that I should have held out for a v8.
Price wise I think it's the one to go for because you get an awful lot for your money and they are exceedingly good cars.
That said, I suspect that if I had bought a 320 I would have this constant niggle that I should have held out for a v8.
V12
MB Enthusiast
Paulr, I like your attitude.
In the real world my 320cdi is more than capable of keeping up with all traffic and even if I give the s class away I've had a couple of years of driving one of the world's finest cars and it's been totally reliable so far.
The 320 is a great engine in the SL.
In the real world my 320cdi is more than capable of keeping up with all traffic and even if I give the s class away I've had a couple of years of driving one of the world's finest cars and it's been totally reliable so far.
The 320 is a great engine in the SL.
SP!ke.
There it is....the 320 is NOT a second best 500. It's a great car all on it's own. The 500 is a different engine altogether and not everyone thinks they are what they need. Please lets stop making people feel that they are inadequate just because they have a 320 and not a 500.
There it is....the 320 is NOT a second best 500. It's a great car all on it's own. The 500 is a different engine altogether and not everyone thinks they are what they need. Please lets stop making people feel that they are inadequate just because they have a 320 and not a 500.
tonyc280
Active Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2010
- Messages
- 945
- Location
- Leicestershire
- Car
- 1997 C280 V6 Elegance Auto Facelift. 1992 Kawasaki ZZR1100 C3
I would go for a car that has a FSH. Cheers, T.
I don't think he is making anyone feel inadequate from what I read into his post.
He simply states the price reflects its popularity which is a fact and then goes on to say if he personally had got a 320 he would have always felt he should have got a V8.... as in "in his personal opinion".
I think you are taking the 500/320 thing to heart a bit too much... it's just a case of horses for courses as far as I can see.
mbnerd
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2014
- Messages
- 25
- Location
- West Sussex
- Car
- 2005 R230 SL500, Obsidian Black, AMG Bodykit and Wheels
As an owner of an SL500 I can certainly understand why folks prefer an 320/350.
In spite of a FSH and low mileage have had lots of problems with water in the boot and more recently under passenger seat due to a blocked drain hole. I have described these in some detail in my post on SL500 Water Woes.
The comments on cost of running on these cars are spot on. The last service which included replacing the spark plugs and transmission fluid was incredibly expensive due in part to 9 hours worth of labour
In spite of everything I still love driving her and have had no mechanical problems so far.
In spite of a FSH and low mileage have had lots of problems with water in the boot and more recently under passenger seat due to a blocked drain hole. I have described these in some detail in my post on SL500 Water Woes.
The comments on cost of running on these cars are spot on. The last service which included replacing the spark plugs and transmission fluid was incredibly expensive due in part to 9 hours worth of labour
In spite of everything I still love driving her and have had no mechanical problems so far.
Sp!ke
Administrator
Mbnerd is your SL500 a R129 or R230?
Only I've not heard of boot leaks on R129.
9 hours work? OK the plugs take 45 minutes, gearbox oil about the same... maybe a little more, what else did they do?
Only I've not heard of boot leaks on R129.
9 hours work? OK the plugs take 45 minutes, gearbox oil about the same... maybe a little more, what else did they do?
