SL500 upgrade to SL55 or not?

[alabbasi]

Don't do it. Once you switch, you'll never be able to go back to a non AMG merc

 

[BaldGuy]

I've had my 2003 SL55 for 18 months and its eaten my wallet many times but it just ticks so many boxes for me, buy on condition and history, many enthusiast cars out there that have had the needed (at times) money spent on them. As others have said.. the ABC suspension can be problematic as can the roof but some owners have no issues at all in their ownership...

 

[BRN9121]

I have a zero mileage, never registered or titled 2004 for sale if you're interested?
It has less than 7 miles on the oddo.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Thanks to everyone who has kindly replied. In answer to the clarifications asked for; I have the 5.0 SL500. I want the 55 for the kudos, as an appreciating asset and since I’ve sold my 2012 911 Carrera 2S this will be our throaty head turner car!

Then it's definitely the SL55 or SL63 for you. You have the budget, you're coming from something equally sporty, and want the street cred.

Just test drive it and be aware that AMG's, by definition have "sports suspension," and may, by specification have & larger wheels and therefore less cushioning. But as you're coming out of a 2012 911C2S noise and vibration can't be any kind of issue for you.

Be aware that AMG's tend to change hands every two years, while a non-AMG V8's tend to stay with their owners 4-6 years and even longer. That six owner vs three owner divide can be reflected in the service and maintenance history.

And, like 911's, there's a difference between the price that cars are sold for and the hopeful price that their owners can dream of getting.

 

[SL63Mark]

Thanks for your reply and opinion. The car I’m looking at is a 2006 with the proper flappy paddles behind the steering wheel 517 bhp and 40,000 miles. You say they are quite rare, so I suppose the question is whether they are more collectible than the earlier models? Also, although it looks fab and I plan to view it shortly it doesn’t have a sunroof (not a deal breaker) nor the rear luggage straps.
My current SL500 - 5.0l was a sublime ride across France in June. Some members state the 55 is a harder ride - is that so? Since that would be an issue if f significantly harder.

In my view they became better and more sorted near the end of the production run, with more power. But it will be much harder to find a later car, there are far fewer of them about. In the final year of production (2007) there were only 66 sold in the UK, according to howmanyleft.co.uk, so good luck finding one of those.

I never found the ride harsh in my 2004 SL55, on standard 18 inch alloys, it was always supremely supple, smooth and comfortable. Remember this is not a sports car.

My SL63 rides on 19" alloys, and that is also smooth and wafty, even on our terrible UK roads. Sometimes I engage AMG sport suspension mode to firm things up a bit.

Do not be concerned about the '55 ride - it is smooth, but controlled. The ABC sees to that. Try driving one to see.

When you say "sunroof", do you mean Panoramic Roof ? It is not a sunroof as such, just a glass panel to let more light into the cabin. My '55 did not have one. I did not miss it, nor did the person I sold it to. It can be important to some people though. I have one in the SL63 and am not that fussed about it one way or the other.

I am surprised it does not have the rear luggage straps, I thought these were standard ?

 

[ToeKnee]

For some reason, I thought the rear luggage straps were not an option on the post facelift '06 models? Although I have, and often am, been wrong before.

 

[sgregory124]

Thanks to everyone who has kindly replied. In answer to the clarifications asked for; I have the 5.0 SL500. I want the 55 for the kudos, as an appreciating asset and since I’ve sold my 2012 911 Carrera 2S this will be our throaty head turner car!

I would buy a 55 tomorrow if I had the disposable cash, I always wanted one but the time was never right. Also, as a point of note, I would put any idea of it being an appreciating asset out of your mind. Stating the obvious somewhat but, aside from the obvious exceptions, very few cars appreciate and even then, only those which practically never see a bit of road in their entire existence.

Buy it and drive it!

 

[SL63Mark]

I would buy a 55 tomorrow if I had the disposable cash, I always wanted one but the time was never right. Also, as a point of note, I would put any idea of it being an appreciating asset out of your mind. Stating the obvious somewhat but, aside from the obvious exceptions, very few cars appreciate and even then, only those which practically never see a bit of road in their entire existence.

Buy it and drive it!

Sorry to disagree, but SL55 prices have been appreciating quite rapidly over the past couple of years, that is why I sold mine. No idea if that will continue, but why not ?

 

[SL63Mark]

For some reason, I thought the rear luggage straps were not an option on the post facelift '06 models? Although I have, and often am, been wrong before.

I did not know that, I always found them very useful, to stop coats etc sliding onto the floor. Seems daft to delete them.

 

[Skd884]

No brainer purchase a sl55, Y O L O

 

[sgregory124]

Sorry to disagree, but SL55 prices have been appreciating quite rapidly over the past couple of years, that is why I sold mine. No idea if that will continue, but why not ?

I was talking about 'appreciating asset' in the context of it appreciating in some meaningful way - i.e not just a couple of thousand here or there, but a significant increase in value.

My personal opinion is, you buy a car to drive it and not to worry too much about what its worth when you sell it - takes all the fun out of it surely? Unless you're a collector, in which case its a different matter entirely.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I was talking about 'appreciating asset' in the context of it appreciating in some meaningful way - i.e not just a couple of thousand here or there, but a significant increase in value.
My personal opinion is, you buy a car to drive it and not to worry too much about what its worth when you sell it - takes all the fun out of it surely? Unless you're a collector, in which case its a different matter entirely.

All petrol engined cars have risen gently since Covid19 and the EV fiasco.

As for whether a 16 year old SL will increase in value as it ages, a quick glance at 26 year old SL prices will answer that question.

They don't appreciate, and they need a few grand to keep them running.

But they look great, are cheap compared to new, have personal meaning, and don't depreciate anything like a car that's less than a decade old.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

SL 55 values will certainly go up over time. Not so sure that they will go up fast enough to offset the maintenance costs though, especially without the helping hand which all cars have received in the last year or so.

You could choose not to use the car - and therefore not spend any money on maintenance - but IMHO that’s asking for trouble (and big bills) at a later date. Modern complex cars don’t like standing still for long.

Steadily going up in value reduces the cost of ownership, however the SL 55 is an expensive car to run, so the best appreciation will do is take the sting out of it. I wouldn’t view it as an investment.

 

[segalm01]

I have a zero mileage, never registered or titled 2004 for sale if you're interested?
It has less than 7 miles on the oddo.

OK, ££ how much? Is it yours?

 

[segalm01]

One further question re the 55 vs the 500 (5.0). I get 30 ish mpg and n a long run when warmed up, what can I expect from the 55?

 

[segalm01]

my SL55 AMG has lovely supple suspension.. it could in no way be described as hard.. it makes me smile every time I drive it.. and feels like the £110,000 car it was new! any car can suffer problems . ask the poor chap with a 3 year old C43 with a broken engine...
I don't regret buying an SL55 I.looked at the 500 and the 350.. they were lovely but lacked the presence and kudos of a 55K AMG

it's a bucket list car.. for me at least.. a summer fun car.. owned a year so far..

So it’s still a GT with a lovely ride on a run? What mpg do you get? It’s a France touring car for me…..so I’m hoping good mpg.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

So it’s still a GT with a lovely ride on a run? What mpg do you get? It’s a France touring car for me…..so I’m hoping good mpg.

"Hoping" is good.

Just don't expect "fuel economy" from a 510bhp AMG compared to a 300bhp V8. (BTW how many miles will you do in a year in it?)

What's 50% extra in annual fuel cost to a bloke who is coughing up an extra £13k in cold cash to buy a car that looks basically the same as his current one?

SL55 owners will be along in a minute to give you a more accurate number.

 

[G7Wagen]

So it’s still a GT with a lovely ride on a run? What mpg do you get? It’s a France touring car for me…..so I’m hoping good mpg.

I get about 16mpg around town and saw 24.9mpg on a run.. from 496BHP... ferocious acceleration.. lovely ride... wafts when you want.. I drove an SL500.. it was lovely , quick, but when I drove the SL55AMG.. it blew my socks off.... instant grunt from tickover... power everywhere... GT comfort.. supercharged performance.

Depends on how you drive it of course.

 

[100%Bitch]

Do it, do it, do it!!!

My 55 was awesome.

 

[flowrider]

For some reason, I thought the rear luggage straps were not an option on the post facelift '06 models? Although I have, and often am, been wrong before.

You are correct if you mean they were an option but standard pre facelift.