What to buy an SL350 or 500?

[stephencd1]

OK help me out here I have to choose between an SL350 and the 500 about 2003/4/5 ish.
Fuel consumption is an issue I will be honest, but have asked that question already and I get the feeling that they are similar. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/68929-r230-sl350-fuel-consumption.html
Insurance is the same price.
I am 47, own a SLK230 r170 (GoldWing GL1800 & RD350LC motorbikes) and not a speed freak. I just think the SL is the most beautiful car out that I can afford.

So what would you buy or advise me on buying?

Thanks Stevie

 

[IanA2]

Save yourself some money and buy the better looking, better built, 129

 

[stats007]

The V8 is pretty much bulletproof. The 350 isn't slow but a bit raspy and the 7-speed gearbox pointless.

 

[BTB 500]

My R129 SL500 isn't an over-powered monster ... I would go for the relaxed power & torque of the V8 every time. Fuel consumption is likely to be pretty close, driven in the same way.

The R230 has the practicality of the folding hard top, but the downside to that is the boot space you lose. The R129's two back seats are a big plus for us, as well.

I had originally planned to 'upgrade' to an R230 but will probably stick with the R129 now (which hasn't hit 50k miles yet). The only R230 I could be tempted by would be an SL55, but I couldn't justify spending that amount of money on a weekend car.

 

[IanA2]

Agree about the roof...It's the only thing that would tempt me, I really liked it on the SLK.

 

[Colin_b]

The V8 is pretty much bulletproof. The 350 isn't slow but a bit raspy and the 7-speed gearbox pointless.

7 speed box is pointless in that it has a manual change facility if you so desire, changes quicker than the manual and is faster overall

Apart from that its rubbish.

 

[pawmaro]

mpg

Hi my 03 500 sl has 36k on clock returns about 12 mpg on computer until done about 12 miles. then gets up to about 20mpg. This is more or less what i used to get from a 320 CLK. On a tank general running averages about 23-25 If I am bored enought to set cruise at 70mph I can get 30mpg. Went Bristol to Warrington and back overall 29.8 speed between 70-80. I am more than happy with this for a V8 especially when my supercharged F150 returns 12.5mpg.

 

[stephencd1]

Thanks pawmaro, just what I am after, mpg galore

 

[stats007]

7 speed box is pointless in that it has a manual change facility if you so desire, changes quicker than the manual and is faster overall

Apart from that its rubbish.

They don't make a manual and all R230s have a tiptronic function. The 500 and 55 has the 5-speed which is all you need given the amount of time the 7-speed spends swapping cogs .

 

[bpsorrel]

I've used an SL350 ('04) from the Classic Car Club a few times and I think it's as near to the perfect, affordable "supercar" it's possible to get. Looks great, beautifully made, plenty of room inside (I'm 6'2), excellent folding roof and enough power to satisfy all but the most frantic drivers. I regularly get 29-33mpg when I use it as an average and for me, it just oozes "feel good factor". Definately want one and it's top of the wish list for when we move house and get more drive space!

This is the car, in my drive..

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/memb...ssic-car-club-04-sl350-car-i-really-want.html

 

[d w124]

When you look to buy such car,mpg should be out of question.

 

[stephencd1]

D W124 I know where you are coming from about fuel consumption, but you have not met my Wife

 

[stephencd1]

bpsorrel you should sell them with that amount of enthusiasm (have you ever been into a MB dealership ha ha ha)

 

[MD5]

Given that the car is also going to be providing a driving experience for you throughout its time with you, have you compared the two? The figures are very similar, so I would say it's down to driving pleasure. V8 wins me over every time, and I agree with some others about the pointless 7speed box - busy, busy, busy!

 

[Mactech]

Am I right in thinking the 350 misses out on Airmatic suspension? For me that would tip the balance to the 500 to get a magic carpet ride in a boulevard cruiser.

 

[bpsorrel]

bpsorrel you should sell them with that amount of enthusiasm (have you ever been into a MB dealership ha ha ha)

Funny you should say that!! I was in the motor trade for nearly 30 years, some actually at an MB dealer! LOL! And yes, I was and still am 1000% more enthusiastic than any MB salesman I've ever come across!! And the worst days work the most recent MB salesman I dealt with did (Watford) was to ignore "she who must be obeyed"!! He actually lost the sale because of it!

 

[Adam230K]

V8 all day long.

 

[chris burrow]

I have an 04 SL350 with 44,000 miles on it ....

I bought it at 13 months old in 05 and had trouble free motoring until the last 12 months . In the last year I have had a new 6 CD player ( around £500 ) a complete new centre glove box because the lower clip didnt work !!( £400 ish ) and have just had to renew all of the rear sills on the roof because the one round the rear window went and blew the others , they quoted me £2,800 for the work and only after writing to the Uk MD at milton keynes twice did they agree to pay 50% of the cost .... I know several people who have had big issues with water leaks on SL's and I would advise you to check very carefully before buying and think it's probably worth purchasing from a franchised dealer or mercedes direct. Believe it or not I love the car and the marque , Im on my 12th Merc , have an O7 S320Cdi and am looking for a 96 to 98 CL600 at the moment . Good luck but tread carefully !! Chris

OK help me out here I have to choose between an SL350 and the 500 about 2003/4/5 ish.
Fuel consumption is an issue I will be honest, but have asked that question already and I get the feeling that they are similar. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/68929-r230-sl350-fuel-consumption.html
Insurance is the same price.
I am 47, own a SLK230 r170 (GoldWing GL1800 & RD350LC motorbikes) and not a speed freak. I just think the SL is the most beautiful car out that I can afford.

So what would you buy or advise me on buying?

Thanks Stevie

 

[stephencd1]

Thanks for that, Chris (B) The first SL500 we have really looked at had a soaking boot area. We walked away from it with the dealer saying he could get a man to look at it...

We are still looking

 

[Smiley]

I would suggest that,unless you are going to be doing more than 20k miles pa, you ignore the mpg. Make yourself a spreadsheet with the main costs of owning a car like this - start with the annual depreciation (about £3-4k pa?) plus cost of capital (esp if you are borrowing the money) then add £1k pa maintenance (plus or minus based on mileage) - you will see that the difference in mpg between a 350 and a 500 does not register. Show your wife the spreadsheet; second thoughts best not to show it to her.....