SLC 43. Anyone got one?

[Seventy]

Having sold the wife’s Mini convertible last year she’s badgered me weekly for a new car, even though she only did 4k in 4 years in the Mini.
As I sold my C63 and only have a Transporter now it’d be nice to have something that pushes me in the back sometimes - can’t run to an SL63 and I think it’d be too big for her anyway.

So, SLC - any good?

[matt3001]

I ran a SLC300 for a year and that was a really nice car; so a 43 should in theory be even better. And a pre 2018 MY should sound great too.

[paulwirral]

I bought one brand new in 2016 and I still have it , I think it’s a great little thing . Its no boxster to drive but handles far better than most will have believe and it’s quicker than you’d think .
Lsd as standard, gearbox doesn’t auto shift in manual mode and traction can be fully turned off . I’ve kept many supposedly faster cars honest around the ring but driven there and then onto the south of France in comfort .
If you try one make sure you drive it in sport and sport plus modes , it really does make it a different car , just be prepared that it’s quite old fashioned , in a good way though .
Everyone who has driven mine has enjoyed it .

[Seventy]

Cheers.
Going to have a drive of one on Saturday.

[Ari]

How did you get on? I got very close to buying one of these once, didn't quite get together on the deal and later bought a SL400 (same engine, but bigger car so less 'sporty' which suited me). I was tempted though, it was a great little car!

[Seventy]

To be honest I wasn’t that impressed, although I may have set the bar a bit high by driving an SL63 before!!

Drove a new GLA45 which was spritely!

[dinkel]

I had one for a review back in 2017 and I thought it was a great car. The 3 litre V6 367 ps is a peach and I prefer it to the straight 6... The SL43 though...

https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/slc/17590/mercedes-...

[8bit]

Seventy said:

To be honest I wasn’t that impressed, although I may have set the bar a bit high by driving an SL63 before!!

Drove a new GLA45 which was spritely!

What did you feel let the SLC down? I have a 5.0 Jag XKR just now, considering a change for something a bit more modern and less ferociously thirsty, SLC43 AMG is one of the things on my radar. If it's "just" straight-line performance then I guess being turbocharged, the SLC could be remapped.

Actually on that note - anyone here had a SLC43 remapped? I presume it makes quite a difference in performance? Any drawbacks/things to watch for?

[Seventy]

The quality just didn’t feel very good to me.
Seemed a bit skittish, and too many rattles.
Performance was adequate - but as I said driving an SL63 before may not have helped!!

[paulwirral]

8bit said:

What did you feel let the SLC down? I have a 5.0 Jag XKR just now, considering a change for something a bit more modern and less ferociously thirsty, SLC43 AMG is one of the things on my radar. If it's "just" straight-line performance then I guess being turbocharged, the SLC could be remapped.

Actually on that note - anyone here had a SLC43 remapped? I presume it makes quite a difference in performance? Any drawbacks/things to watch for?

I put a racechip tuning box on mine 2 years ago and it definitely woke it up . Unfortunately due to the pandemic and buying a new house the car has been mainly stood still since I put it on , 2000 miles tops , so I can’t really comment on any would be problems . If you go to slkworld I seem to remember someone got a dms re map done and he was impressed .
I can return 37mpg on a run quite easily and 30 ish around the doors to save you asking .

[8bit]

Seventy said:

The quality just didn’t feel very good to me.
Seemed a bit skittish, and too many rattles.
Performance was adequate - but as I said driving an SL63 before may not have helped!!

Hmm ok thanks. Interior quality you mean?

paulwirral said:

I put a racechip tuning box on mine 2 years ago and it definitely woke it up . Unfortunately due to the pandemic and buying a new house the car has been mainly stood still since I put it on , 2000 miles tops , so I can’t really comment on any would be problems . If you go to slkworld I seem to remember someone got a dms re map done and he was impressed .
I can return 37mpg on a run quite easily and 30 ish around the doors to save you asking .

Thanks for that, very useful. I'll have a look on slkworld too, cheers.

[8bit]

Still half looking at these, noticed that some seem to be £290/year for tax and some are listed as £155/year. Noticed also that later cars seem to be listed as 390PS engine output but others are 367PS I think. These don't seem to correspond with the tax differences. Anyone know what the score is there?

[paulwirral]

Mercedes definitely raised the output on the run out cars , though I’ve no idea about the tax brackets , mine in the lower bracket but it’s a 2016 model .
And I’ve still not moved it since the last post , I keep looking at alpines but the fact I’ve not used this car for ages makes me wonder the logic in buying something for over twice the price and just looking at it as I push my wheelbarrow past it in the garage, I should hand my membership back seeing as my wheelbarrow does more miles a year than my car !
Slkworld will have the answer to your question

[Hutchy74]

Hi all
I'm new here but considering an slc43
I've driven a 2017 model and a 2019 model.
Now not sure if I imagined it butthe later one seemed very muted compared to the earlier one!?

[cerb4.5lee]

Hutchy74 said:

Hi all
I'm new here but considering an slc43
I've driven a 2017 model and a 2019 model.
Now not sure if I imagined it butthe later one seemed very muted compared to the earlier one!?

You're correct and the 2019 model will sound more muted, because it will have the mandatory fuel filters on it(OPF's). Whereas the 2017 wouldn't have those on it, because they were introduced at the later end of 2018 I believe.

I have a December 2018 F82 M4, and that has the OPF's on it as well. So it isn't as vocal as the earlier cars, although it still sounds quite loud on the cold start in fairness to it.

[paulwirral]

I had one for 8 years , its a great little car , just make sure you drive it in sport plus mode and turn the traction control down , it does make a difference.
They also respond well to a re map or tuning box .