V12TTenthusiast

How you guys liking the new R231s? I'm not too big of a fan for the exterior but my god that interior is by far amazing. I was browsing through and I saw 1st-2nd year deprecation on a R231 SL65 is really bad lol. I have a 2012 S550 4 Matic with that 3 years Unlimited Mile warranty that's offered with any of the CPO cars now and I'm thinking with unlimited mile coverage I could drive the car worry free as a daily. Downside is I wont be able to mod it until warranty was gone. I was thinking at first buying a 997 turbo and have like 40-50k aside for mods, but that SL being worry free is something to consider?

Does anyone know how far the warranty will cover? and will MB themselves cover ABC parts or no? I also heard they have wheel/rim protection which is nice if you ever mess up one of those forged wheels that MB is putting on there stock cars.

Only thing that would hold me back is I heard rumors next year theres gonna be a slight facelift to the R231s, if thats the case I would wait until that does happen and I'm sure I can pick up the car for even less.

Wolfman

Not sure about CPO warranty but assume that ABC is covered. So far I haven't heard of anyone having ABC issues on the R231 though.
I am thinking that the current gen. ABC/MBC are better than the old ones in the R230.
The SL65 may take another hit if the facelift model comes out in 2016 but doubt that it will be significant that year, given the enormous hit those cars already took.
I was offered a 2013 SL65 last year with under 10k miles for nearly $100k off. That car was just 1 year old at that time. Crazy...

WSH

Have/had four '13-'14 new SL65s since launch; used as daily commuters and as wkend mtn twisties cars: IMO, best cars on planet until latest S65 Coupe arrived (which has superior precision/stability in twisties despite extra 600lbs: perhaps elegance of superior latest/greatest hardware/software vs real-world stresses); am moving on from SL65 to S65 Coupe but latest-gen SL65 was certainly outstanding in its era

Biggest downsides of SL65: jerky gearbox in routine urban decels (problem not solved in S65 Coupe but vastly superior box vs any DCT/MCT/PDK; and downshift blips in mtn twisties driving are epic vs old 65 5-sp box which was smoother in city but boring in mtn twisties braking entertainment); and interior of SL65 seems downright archaic vs S65 Coupe interior

Need to get 65s w/CCB: best brakes on planet: vastly better pedal feel/response vs PCCB/F CCM in dry/wet/smooth/bumpy; steel SL65 brakes have crappy pedal feel (inferior to steels of last-gen CL65)

Will get GTS upon launch to do some back-to-backs in twisties vs 65 but given my expce w/various new SLS and various F12/991TTS, suspect, perhaps counterintuitively to some, allegedly light perf cars that may do well in a flat, smooth, clinical/controlled-setting track struggle in mtn twisties or on a fast, moderately busy CA fwy esp in generating driving pleasure/enabling driving precision&confidence not theoretic times....

red308

Would love to hear your thoughts on the new GTS when you get one!

BillyD

There will be no face lift to any R231 models for '16.

Wolfman

Not sure if you are quoting me here, but there will be a facelift in 2016. It will just be the '17 model.
Am expecting an early release in spring rather than summer since nobody will buy a car about to be updated (unless living in warm states).

BillyD

Actually the source of my comment comes from the DOG for the 2016 model year. Everyone knows that any given model year is launched 6 months or so prior to the actual beginning of the named model year. Most of us refer to model years, rather than the calendar year in which it will be available.

There is no guarantee that a facelift will generate a shift in that model's historical timing. For example, the launch of the R231, much more than a simple facelift, was roughly mid-year 2012 (May as I recall) just as the timing of the last R230 (2012 Model year) one year earlier.

A more common tactic to try to prevent sales loses prior to major model changes is for the "outgoing" model to have some kind of a "special edition".

As an additional comment, two of the largest SL markets in the country (Florida and Southern California) are, in fact, in "warmer" markets.

BillyD

I believe that the Standard (no charge) CPO is for one year. There is the option to purchase an additional two years.

V12TTenthusiast

That I am aware of, but there was some debate back when the R230s were out that, MB wouldn't even cover the struts on the hydraulic ABC, idk how true this was or not.

On a side note, looked again on prices for R231 SL65, talk about depreciation, 2013 SL65 with less than 10k on the clock with CPO from the dealer going for as low as 130k range. 90k in just 3 years talk about p1ssing your money away lol

Wolfman

Agreed!
But if memory serves me well, this was the same on the R230 (and definitely on the C216). In the end, over time all 65's seem to look the same in terms of depreciation.

jpohl402

Yes, I agree it is! And they drive amazing! But I guess what else is to be expected, right?