Merc sl300

Slig

anybody got one? had a look on carzone and they cost a bomb here, can pick one up in UK for about 4K sterling and eligable for classic tax next year or the year after. I love the look of them and the idea of a 3L Rwd isnt too bad either but what are they like to drive?
Do they come with a manual box because all I've seen are autos
With the auto there appears to be a sport or economy option, whats the difference, is there a tiptronic option?
how are they on fuel, service costs etc?

Redjeep!

I've got a 500sl. Almost eligible for classic insurance. Mine was the very first of the model that was introduced in 1989/90 (it was the car show car).

Some plusses and negatives :

Great to drive, really really fast and handles well. Will pull away at any speed (well above the 'loosing you licence' stage) due to the 5 litre V8.
CAR mag always used to say that they were a far better drive than the Hollywood Wives image would suggest and they were a seriously well handling car. Can't disagree with that. I think that it feels more of a car than for instance an SLK.

Drinks like Colin Farrell and Shane MacGowan out on a pubcrawl with Pete Doherty.

Still quite distinctive, but acts like a magnet to every chav in a 'modified' Nissan Micra/ Honda Civic/ anything really who a) wants to race you at the lights and b) shout abuse at you when, funnily enough, you beat them.

Had raw eggs thrown at it once !

Also been told it's the most beautiful car they'd ever seen (more than one occasion !).

The folding hood is still quite cool, but the pop up anti roll bar is even better.

Don't know if I'd recommend it as an only car, unless you only do a low mileage per year.

Don't know if there was ever a Tip version - probably not unless you get a newer one. There is a difference in sporting gearbox setting as it keeps you in a lower gear for longer. The economy setting just changes a bit faster to get you into more of a cruising gear. (It's just a button on the auto box).

Fuel = brutal, but the 3litre would be better (mine does about 18 or 19 on run and probably less than 15mpg around town). About the same as most big SUV's.

Servicing = brutal (but find a good specialist and you won't be too far out of pocket).

Bottom line is that it'll cost you more to run and service than a Ford Focus say, but it's a completely different car, only you can decide if you want to pay the difference.

RobAMerc

Slig wrote: »

anybody got one? had a look on carzone and they cost a bomb here, can pick one up in UK for about 4K sterling and eligable for classic tax next year or the year after. I love the look of them and the idea of a 3L Rwd isnt too bad either but what are they like to drive?
Do they come with a manual box because all I've seen are autos
With the auto there appears to be a sport or economy option, whats the difference, is there a tiptronic option?
how are they on fuel, service costs etc?

Anything you get in the uk for 4k is most likely trouble with a capital T - rust is not the friend of the SL and UK salted roads, plus the SL's popularity means there is an awful lot of dogs out there

try the classics forum for best advice - but I reckon you'l be sorry you didn't spend a lot more.

RedJeeps (R129) car is a very different animal to the one your talking about if your hoping for classic tax - its got to be 30 years old. The >30 yo is a R107.

smash

Get this 500SL - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/600448.htm

2 owners from new, hard top included, low mileage!

Slig

I thought classic tax was after 20 years?
If its 30 years then road tax alone will rule it out. Definately set on an SL300 around 1990 if I can get the classic tax. It would be a second car, something to be kept polished for sunny days.:D

smash

is classic tax not 30 years?

Sabre Man

steve06 wrote: »

is classic tax not 30 years?

Classic insurance: 20 years
Tax: 30 years

whippet

the father in law got an 88 a few years back (300SL), while it is a beautiful motor and in mint condition he isn't all that happy with it. It is not the quickest in the world and as a driver's car he feels it is pretty average. Personally I havn't driven it ... so I am going by his opinion.

For 4K in the UK you will get a crock, 2 years ago he paid nearly 18k for this example !!!

Ferris

From what I have heard the W129 300 and 500sl have similar fuel economy due to the weight of the car (2000kg+). The 24-valve 300 was discontinued in the early 90's and replaced by the 280 and 320sl.

I gave serious thought to getting a late 90's SL 500 but in the end decided it wasn't for me. I've been driven in one and they're a great car, feels like you're smoothing out bumps in the road - its fantastic:D.

smash

and Classic VRT is 30 years isn't it

alpina

Correct..