SL65 .... how much?!

[StephenP]

Sat in my local MB dealership waiting for some work to be done on my car and they have a new SL65 in the showroom.

Price? £180k! Is that right?! Why would you buy that new, over an SLS or something like an Aston?

[r129sl]

Because I want to?

It's all about choice, is it not? Merely because you would choose one alternative, it does not follow that I should be confined to the same choice.

[StephenP]

Well yes, but I was somewhat stunned by the price. I don't remember them being that much ... CL65s use to be around the £150k mark and I always thought they were the most expensive in the range (excluding the SLS)

[r129sl]

You'd have to be either (1) very well off or (2) mad. Also, I'm not sure how great a car it is with all that power, weight and size. I can't help think a plain jane normally aspirated V12 with maybe 400bhp should be top of the SL tree. A proper boulevardier.

I saw an '06 SL65 AMG the other day at Merc Lincoln on offer for £30k. Quite a lot of depreciation and that was with the full Merc warranty. The latest model will only be worse.

[StephenP]

Funny you mention Lincoln ... that's where I saw the SL65!

[orbtar]

There will be a massive discount to come off the car. It will probably be more rare than an SLS though.

[Lagerlout]

The SL65 is a simply incredible car. It is a different type of car but not a lesser type of car compared to an SLS/458/Gallardo/Vanquish etc. The biturbo V12 is an utter masterpiece of an engine and has the thrust of a jet liner - not a car! It's entirely made of alloy and carbon fibre for example. You really have to try one to understand the ballistic nature of "that" engine, it has over 1000 nm of torque. Combine this with an imperious ride, superb build quality and bespoke interior laden with every gadget imaginable and you have your £180k. You should be able to negotiate at least 25% off the asking price, so take that into account. It's a completely different type or car to an SLS, but it doesn't make it any less relevant, just appeals to a different type of buyer.

[angels95]

To justify paying almost double the price of the SL63AMG for an SL65AMG is never going to be easy, but for those that do go out and buy a brand new SL65AMG, £180k is usually nothing more than pocket change!

Not that I'm envious.

[JustNeil]

As angels said, some people will always want 'the best' and don't mind how much it costs. For those lucky few, to have something less than the top of the tree is more than their ego would allow. I doubt that Merc expect to sell thousands of the SL65, but you can guarantee that the profit margin is healthy...

[kazste]

On paper it makes no sense, but take a ride or drive in one and tell me you didn't find it deeply satisfying. Yes if its your one nice car its not really the one for you, but if you fancy a nice comfy cosseting convertible which will be incredibly rare and not feel slow compared to your other cars then it begins to make sense.
the other fun fact about them is that Mercedes do not seem too keen on selling them, either they didn't see me as a good prospect or they really thought that sending me a YouTube clip of the car was a good idea to get my attention. In actual fact all it did was make me cease all communication with the dealer and go else where.

[SimNugget]

I drove one of the old style ones and it was stupendous, but still didn't sound as good as the SL63....

[kazste]

From memory of the 63 it is quieter but a bit deeper. Again I think it suits the car as shows intent without needing to shout like a school boys nova, unlike most other makers similar cars.