Mercedes SLC

Author
Discussion

Fairynuff

Original Poster:

17 posts

60 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
1. Is this car still in production?
2. Will this car be in production in 2020?

My local dealers say NO. Customer services say NO one day then YES the next day. I have emailed the question to the press office in Germany and the UK and neither reply. Seems like a simple question but I don't seem to be able to get an unequivocal answer!

swisstoni

17,803 posts

284 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
Why do you need to know whether it is or isn’t still in production?
Seems to be on the way out whatever the precise production details are.

Fairynuff

Original Poster:

17 posts

60 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
Why do I want to know?

1. My wife wants one and she wants her choice of colour of some other bits.
2. I have been told by 3 local dealers that they cannot order a new one as it not in production.
3. Customer services on day told me "I don't think so" - next day told me 'there's a new 2020 model with minor cosmetic changes e.g. colour choice.
4. Emails sent to Germany and UK press office get no reply
5. Another MB dealer (the other side of the country) tells me they can order my spec with a build date in December.

Mystery - I do (not| like a mystery

swisstoni

17,803 posts

284 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
Fairynuff said:
Why do I want to know?

1. My wife wants one and she wants her choice of colour of some other bits.
2. I have been told by 3 local dealers that they cannot order a new one as it not in production.
3. Customer services on day told me "I don't think so" - next day told me 'there's a new 2020 model with minor cosmetic changes e.g. colour choice.
4. Emails sent to Germany and UK press office get no reply
5. Another MB dealer (the other side of the country) tells me they can order my spec with a build date in December.

Mystery - I do (not| like a mystery
Option 5 sounds like the one then. You will find out the truth one way or another.

playalistic

2,270 posts

169 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
Try carwow, they have the SLC listed as available and will farm your spec out to various dealers for a discount and prove availability at the same time.

Fairynuff

Original Poster:

17 posts

60 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
Answering my own question . ..

I have just found another dealer (Shrewsbury) who sounded like he knew what he was talking about and he said . . . they are still being made until the end of the year but if I want to buy one I can only buy one of those on the line with its current spec which cannot be changed BUT there is a (limited) choice of colours and spec.

Amazing how different dealers have different information

swisstoni

17,803 posts

284 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
None of my business but is Mrs aware that a 'new and improved' one is going to ruin the party in a few months time?

swisstoni

17,803 posts

284 months

Monday 7th October 2019
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Ah - we’ll a run out SLC might be a good move then.

sparkyhx

4,185 posts

209 months

Tuesday 8th October 2019
quotequote all
It will be due to the new EU rules on 'fleet' emissions that come into force in 2020. Its happening across many brands, where you cannot buy or order certain models. Some will probably either disappear completely or will face a sharp hike in price (£100 per g over 100g/km). something like that.

fistofsteel

61 posts

149 months

Thursday 10th October 2019
quotequote all
Fairynuff said:
Answering my own question . ..

I have just found another dealer (Shrewsbury) who sounded like he knew what he was talking about and he said . . . they are still being made until the end of the year but if I want to buy one I can only buy one of those on the line with its current spec which cannot be changed BUT there is a (limited) choice of colours and spec.

Amazing how different dealers have different information
Try Nottingham MB, I dealt with the head of sales who was great. They seem to get a good allocation for builds for the less common stuff. I use Shrewsbury (albeit for services) and they don’t inspire a lot of confidence.

WJNB

2,637 posts

166 months

Thursday 10th October 2019
quotequote all
[quote=Fairynuff]
1. My wife wants one and she wants her choice of colour of some other bits.

What is it about the SLK/SLC that so appeals to women as I note males are very quick to say the car is for the wife/missus whether true or not?
I was once in conversation with a group of very snobby Aston Martin owners & upon learning that (at that time) I owned a SLK one superior git couldn't wait to sneeringly remark that he'd bought one for, yes you've guessed, his missus. His attempt at a put-down back-fired because I replied with a broad smile complimenting him on the wisdom of his purchase & saying how his 'missus' was as lucky as I was.

As for SLC's they seem to be cluttering up a lot of forecourts, the diesels & lowly 180's almost taking root. Many have only the most basic of specifications so beware those without Airscarf / Command / auto box. which will compound their already dreadful depreciation. BUT if depreciation is of no consequence & an up-market MX-5 type accessory with the more superior socially acceptable right badge is essential by all means help the dealers out & buy one.
And for heavens sake avoid solid reds - the UK & USA SLK/SLC Owners Club Forums are awash with horror stories of the paint bubbling & deteriorating within months of manufacture.
As for the dreadful harsh bright yellow of the run-out model Mercedes should be ashamed.
No more are being made & as already established knowledge as to the successor is in short supply.


Big Brin

529 posts

246 months

Friday 11th October 2019
quotequote all
I thought I read in a recent Mercedes Enthusiast magazine that very low sales of the SLC range had caused Mercedes to stop production of the SLC. I can’t recall whether this was linked to a specific date....

ruhall

510 posts

151 months

Saturday 12th October 2019
quotequote all
WJNB]airynuff said:
1. My wife wants one and she wants her choice of colour of some other bits.

What is it about the SLK/SLC that so appeals to women as I note males are very quick to say the car is for the wife/missus whether true or not?
I was once in conversation with a group of very snobby Aston Martin owners & upon learning that (at that time) I owned a SLK one superior git couldn't wait to sneeringly remark that he'd bought one for, yes you've guessed, his missus. His attempt at a put-down back-fired because I replied with a broad smile complimenting him on the wisdom of his purchase & saying how his 'missus' was as lucky as I was.

As for SLC's they seem to be cluttering up a lot of forecourts, the diesels & lowly 180's almost taking root. Many have only the most basic of specifications so beware those without Airscarf / Command / auto box. which will compound their already dreadful depreciation. BUT if depreciation is of no consequence & an up-market MX-5 type accessory with the more superior socially acceptable right badge is essential by all means help the dealers out & buy one.
And for heavens sake avoid solid reds - the UK & USA SLK/SLC Owners Club Forums are awash with horror stories of the paint bubbling & deteriorating within months of manufacture.
As for the dreadful harsh bright yellow of the run-out model Mercedes should be ashamed.
No more are being made & as already established knowledge as to the successor is in short supply.
Aston owners - it does seem that some can be like that; my experience is those who really have a few bob and run, say, a DB5, a 90's Vantage 600 and a few others are the salt of the earth and are quite happy to chat. Some, but not all of course, who've eventually graduated to an 'Aston' and think they've made it, can be quite obnoxious. No doubt all car clubs / groups are probably the same ("oh, you've only got the 1100 Allegro, I have a VandenPlas" -pronounced as plaaaaaah) biggrin

Re the SLC, there was an article on PH 20/21/19 about production ending 'end of the year', which I found via the MB club forum. For some reason, I can't post a link.

Re the red paint issues, wasn't it just Fire Opal Red that was affected?