The Exquisite (and Expensive) Pain of Owning Paris Hilton’s Mercedes SLR McLaren
Turns out that the mid-00s Mercedes supercar once owned by Hilton is a nightmare in maintenance fees.
In the early- to mid-aughts, supercars were having a real moment. And, the same could be said for Paris Hilton. These two worlds meet in the Mercedes SLR McLaren. Mercedes-Benz and F1 partner McLaren collaborated on a car that would embody the era perfectly: innovative, odd, and sometimes just a little too much.
So why are we talking about this often-forgotten Mercedes now? Well, aside from the fact that it is just one fascinating car, the SLR is also extremely rare. Tyler Hoover from Hoovie’s Garage recently spotted a Mercedes SLR McLaren on the auction block. And, it once belonged to the ultimate 2000s persona, Paris Hilton.
Hoover sent a link to the car out to a group of friends. In fact, Hoover himself was considering the purchase. In the end, Hoover’s fellow auto vlogger Ed Bolian purchased the SLR. Hoover got an 2011 Mercedes-AMG SLS.
Initially, the two were going to meet up and compare their Mercedes. One problem, Bolian’s SLR can’t seem to get out of the shop! But Hoover powers through his side-by-side comparison using a Mercedes-Benz 300D, and some photoshop. His 2011 SLS AMG is gorgeous, just a really perfect ride.
Although, to be fair, the Mercedes SLR McLaren isn’t exactly a Pinto. With an all-aluminum supercharged 5.4-liter V8 it cranks out 617 hp and 580 lb-ft of torque. It featured a carbon fiber tub and body panels throughout. Scissor doors and lots of luxe appeal, this was indeed a supercar with a lot of power. It was an excellent deal, he scooped up the car for $180,000. Considerably less than the $463,000 Paris paid in 2005.
However, that was then. Today, it is a different story. Hoover meets up with Bolian and they are off to see the Merc SLR McLaren in its natural habitat these days–the Mercedes dealership.
Speaking about the two cars, Bolian tells Hoover that the SLS was definitely the right choice. It is here that Ed drops–quite possibly–the best line I have ever heard.
“I think this is a car that you could own forever without knowing that it was going to horrify you with some terrible maintenance experience,” he says.
Oh yeah, its been a stressful time. To be fair, the car is really fantastic, it is undeniable. Interior is clean, if a bit underwhelming.
What is so vexing is the insane cost of maintenance. With the Mercedes SLR McLaren being so rare, and needing multiple replacements, it adds up. Bolian breaks down the costs, for example a steering rack costs $6,270. When it all comes together he is looking at a price tag over $30,000.
Or, as Paris Hilton calls it “spare change.”
Considering how costly it is to keep, it is hardly surprising that there were so few clicks on the odometer. Given the regular costs to drive the admittedly cool Mercedes SLR McLaren, we think we’ll pass. As we said, a little too much.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz; Hoovies Garage
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