Purchasing an SL63
Discussion
I've decided that I want an SL63 as my next work car (I only do 12 miles to and 12 miles from work) I figured it doesn't need to be frugal (petrol is much cheaper than diesel now anyway) but I like a bit of comfort and with 570+ bhp the power is 'adequate'.
Has anyone got any experience of what they are like to live with?
Have a second car to use for days when 570+ bhp and RWD isn't the best idea so I'm guessing it will get used 70% of the time.
Has anyone got any experience of what they are like to live with?
Have a second car to use for days when 570+ bhp and RWD isn't the best idea so I'm guessing it will get used 70% of the time.
Zed 44 said:
Get a Nissan GTR. More power, more space, quicker. cheaper road tax on 2017 models or later.
Yes. Because the obvious thing you’d consider as an alternative to a 2 seater convertible is a 4 seat saloon, and obviously the road tax is a very serious consideration at this price point
Zed 44 said:
Get a Nissan GTR. More power, more space, quicker. cheaper road tax on 2017 models or later.
If I wanted a GTR I'd buy a GTR. However, I don't want a GTR. Never have, probably never will. I want a big V8 engined Mercedes SL 63. Not because of it's performance, (which is more than adequate), not because it is the most comfortable car on the road, (although the seats are like big armchairs), not because it is the best handling car on the road (could buy a 911 if I wanted that) but because I just want one.
Geoffcapes said:
If I wanted a GTR I'd buy a GTR. However, I don't want a GTR. Never have, probably never will.
I want a big V8 engined Mercedes SL 63. Not because of it's performance, (which is more than adequate), not because it is the most comfortable car on the road, (although the seats are like big armchairs), not because it is the best handling car on the road (could buy a 911 if I wanted that) but because I just want one.
Quite.I want a big V8 engined Mercedes SL 63. Not because of it's performance, (which is more than adequate), not because it is the most comfortable car on the road, (although the seats are like big armchairs), not because it is the best handling car on the road (could buy a 911 if I wanted that) but because I just want one.
I'm in the same boat and tested one at the weekend- a phenomenal car. Totally OTT but that's the point.
I may yet settle on a 500 but it won't be the same.
Venisonpie said:
Quite.
I'm in the same boat and tested one at the weekend- a phenomenal car. Totally OTT but that's the point.
I may yet settle on a 500 but it won't be the same.
Which one did you test? I'm in the same boat and tested one at the weekend- a phenomenal car. Totally OTT but that's the point.
I may yet settle on a 500 but it won't be the same.
The spec I'm looking for is a little thin on the ground, but I can wait.
I did think of 'settling' for a 500, but then it would be exactly that. Settling.
I don't want to just 'settle'.
Geoffcapes said:
Which one did you test?
The spec I'm looking for is a little thin on the ground, but I can wait.
I did think of 'settling' for a 500, but then it would be exactly that. Settling.
I don't want to just 'settle'.
This one.The spec I'm looking for is a little thin on the ground, but I can wait.
I did think of 'settling' for a 500, but then it would be exactly that. Settling.
I don't want to just 'settle'.
https://www.masons
tchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
Venisonpie said:
This one.
https://www.masons
tchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...
Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
masons hitchin https://www.masons
tchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
Love how the swear filter has blocked out the s hit part of the address so you can't get to the website.
Edited to say I took too long typing that reply
Venisonpie said:
This one.
https://www.masonstchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...
Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
Very nice. And has the newer seats in it. https://www.masons
tchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
Discs (and pads) shouldn't be mega money I figure 400 quid total, tyres will be about 800 quid plus the service, get them to knock 1500 quid off and you should be ok.
It's a personal thing but I've never been a fan of faux wood trim. Piano black or carbon fibre for me.
Geoffcapes said:
Venisonpie said:
This one.
https://www.masonstchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...
Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
Very nice. And has the newer seats in it. https://www.masons
tchin.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes-b...Really like the colours however it might have missed a service at some point and needs tyres/front discs. Just waiting for them to confirm the former and then may make an offer based on the latter being sorted.
Lol, the over zealous swear filter won't let the home page load thinking there's a swear word. It's at Masons of Hitchin.
Discs (and pads) shouldn't be mega money I figure 400 quid total, tyres will be about 800 quid plus the service, get them to knock 1500 quid off and you should be ok.
It's a personal thing but I've never been a fan of faux wood trim. Piano black or carbon fibre for me.
Venisonpie said:
Yeah, I never used to be a fan but really liked it when I sat in it. Moot point though as there are two significant gaps in the service history which on a car like that is a no go.
Shame. The search for the 'right' car is always frustrating, but hopefully the right car will come along. As my wife says "everything happens for a reason". So hopefully the right car will come along soon for you.
Geoffcapes said:
Shame. The search for the 'right' car is always frustrating, but hopefully the right car will come along.
As my wife says "everything happens for a reason". So hopefully the right car will come along soon for you.
Likewise. I actually like the looking as it's much cheaper!As my wife says "everything happens for a reason". So hopefully the right car will come along soon for you.
I had a 2013 one with 537bhp and 590ft lbs.
Obviously with those kind of numbers and RWD, traction can be an issue when accelerating on damp roads, but it's manageable with a bit of experience of the car and the safety systems will keep everything in check. It certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of mine.
Build and reliability were fine, bar a slight leak from the roof mechanism on the passenger side, but only in really awful weather and at speed - as if the combination of air pressure and weather forced the water through. It never leaked if just standing in the same conditions.
Someone made a comment up thread about discs and pads being about £400. Unless things have changed and some pattern parts have become available in the year since i owned mine, then a full set of discs is going to set you back closer to £2k (pads are cheap). I'd be happy to be proved wrong here but it was just my experience.
I've driven a few GTRs and found them laggy, wooden and a bit nasty inside. They have their plus points over an SL - especially traction - but on a roll against a standard GTR, I would wager that an SL is the faster car. The torque is monumental. They also map to daft levels too, by all accounts.
I tried an M4 before buying mine, and whilst the 0-60 numbers say differently, real world performance in the SL is on another level. Obviously, having over 200ft lbs extra really does make a difference irrespective of a few more kilos.
Downsides? Size...I went from an S2 Elise to mine and whilst the Merc didn't disgrace itself in terms of handling, you are conscious of its dimensions on a back road. They only just squeeze into a normal sized garage too.
The standard fit stereo is okay but a car of the price (mine was £125k but bought for £32k at 45k miles!) it isn't good enough. The HK is supposed to be much better.
I really do think they are an absolute hidden gem of a car. Incredibly underrated, bonkers fast, surprisingly nimble, incredibly comfortable...but personally I would be watching the market for a little while before buying another. They are a a niche and somewhat marmite car, and have been swept up a little in the boom market for performance cars over the last few years. If/when the correction happens, my gut feel is that the latter models like those the OP mentioned might come down in price quite significantly.
If that does happen, I'd love to have another!
Obviously with those kind of numbers and RWD, traction can be an issue when accelerating on damp roads, but it's manageable with a bit of experience of the car and the safety systems will keep everything in check. It certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of mine.
Build and reliability were fine, bar a slight leak from the roof mechanism on the passenger side, but only in really awful weather and at speed - as if the combination of air pressure and weather forced the water through. It never leaked if just standing in the same conditions.
Someone made a comment up thread about discs and pads being about £400. Unless things have changed and some pattern parts have become available in the year since i owned mine, then a full set of discs is going to set you back closer to £2k (pads are cheap). I'd be happy to be proved wrong here but it was just my experience.
I've driven a few GTRs and found them laggy, wooden and a bit nasty inside. They have their plus points over an SL - especially traction - but on a roll against a standard GTR, I would wager that an SL is the faster car. The torque is monumental. They also map to daft levels too, by all accounts.
I tried an M4 before buying mine, and whilst the 0-60 numbers say differently, real world performance in the SL is on another level. Obviously, having over 200ft lbs extra really does make a difference irrespective of a few more kilos.
Downsides? Size...I went from an S2 Elise to mine and whilst the Merc didn't disgrace itself in terms of handling, you are conscious of its dimensions on a back road. They only just squeeze into a normal sized garage too.
The standard fit stereo is okay but a car of the price (mine was £125k but bought for £32k at 45k miles!) it isn't good enough. The HK is supposed to be much better.
I really do think they are an absolute hidden gem of a car. Incredibly underrated, bonkers fast, surprisingly nimble, incredibly comfortable...but personally I would be watching the market for a little while before buying another. They are a a niche and somewhat marmite car, and have been swept up a little in the boom market for performance cars over the last few years. If/when the correction happens, my gut feel is that the latter models like those the OP mentioned might come down in price quite significantly.
If that does happen, I'd love to have another!
Geoffcapes said:
Very nice. And has the newer seats in it.
Discs (and pads) shouldn't be mega money I figure 400 quid total, tyres will be about 800 quid plus the service, get them to knock 1500 quid off and you should be ok.
It's a personal thing but I've never been a fan of faux wood trim. Piano black or carbon fibre for me.
Believe it or not, there’s real wood in that trim. It’s often nicer up close than it looks in pictures. My ‘350 has the black wood finish and it’s really nice; much more pleasant than piano black which marks terribly.Discs (and pads) shouldn't be mega money I figure 400 quid total, tyres will be about 800 quid plus the service, get them to knock 1500 quid off and you should be ok.
It's a personal thing but I've never been a fan of faux wood trim. Piano black or carbon fibre for me.
As the OP is a tad reluctant, I will share the colour and spec that I am looking for...
Low mileage
Late 2017 onwards SL63
Colour, Brilliant Blue
Night Package (black forged wheels, no silver trim etc)
I have been looking for around 6 months, in this time I have only ever seen one blue car for sale (no night pack) It sold in a few days.
With only around 290 R231 SL63s in the UK I expect a long wait for a blue night pack one.
The grey black and white cars for sale seem to be very slow movers.
I would appreciate any input from anyone that has owned one.
I also like the Mercedes AMG GTC, has anyone owned both ?
Low mileage
Late 2017 onwards SL63
Colour, Brilliant Blue
Night Package (black forged wheels, no silver trim etc)
I have been looking for around 6 months, in this time I have only ever seen one blue car for sale (no night pack) It sold in a few days.
With only around 290 R231 SL63s in the UK I expect a long wait for a blue night pack one.
The grey black and white cars for sale seem to be very slow movers.
I would appreciate any input from anyone that has owned one.
I also like the Mercedes AMG GTC, has anyone owned both ?
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