Streamliner

I am giving serious consideration to ordering a new S550 Cabriolet as an additional car, to replace my old SL. I was thinking of a 2017 SL, but a big S convertible sounds like something wonderful.

I went on the German market MB website and I was SOOOOO disappointed in the exterior and interior color choices. What is it with the current MB management that they seem to think that all of their cars have to blend in with the gray, cloudy skies that usually cover the "Vaterland?"

This is a CONVERTIBLE! This is supposed to be a beautiful and an elegant car yes, but isn't it also a FUN car for pleasurable drives when fun and enjoyment are paramount? One would think so, but the color choices range from barely acceptable to damn near depressing, at least through my eyes.

Go to the Bentley site and look at your color choices for a Continental and you will be blown away. Couldn't MB even TRY to compete with the folks from Crewe? Geeze! Would it kill MB to offer a beautiful Maple Yellow, an elegant British Racing Green, a crisp Alpine White or a gorgeous Sepia Brown? And WHERE are the FULL COLOR interiors? Virtually nonexistent. Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and others have them, but with MB, you get a dash of some color and then everything else is black. Survey says: BORING! More choices, please.

I hope that when the U.S. Spec "konfigurator" finally goes up, that there will be some additional color choices, but if history is any indication, our choices here will not be greater, but fewer than in Germany. Hell, this is going to be a car knocking on the $200K door. MB should make it available in pretty much ANY color the customer wants. Isn't that what luxury is all about?

Oh well. I know I'm just spitting into the wind on this, but I had to vent. Thanks guys.

WSH

Have also been a big critic of MB colors in yrs past

But having bought dozens of new MB/P/F over past 10+yrs, not sure I can stay that critical...(as long as they have mag blk/graphite as classics)

Colors are near-imposs to judge from computer screens or paint chips or even in-real-world except under various lights vs various wheels/brake caliper colors/interior leather colors/cf, etc etc

And these are all 2yr leased cheap, disposable, obsoleting tech devices anyway....so lots of wasted time on a disposable car that takes ~6mos from order to deliv but is traded in ~18mos later for another new, disposable, leased car (kinda like iPhones)

And anyone who understands how lame is quality of new F/P paint/leather of any color (even the fancy $10+K optioned stuff) gets the joke of illusory dozens of "choices"....

jenz

Stream I'm not sure why you just continue to vent on this

I've written many times, mostly in response to your posts, pay the extra spray charge, and you can have any MB color you want - there's a lot of them especially the new G colors, very bright and vibrant

I believe the most recent was a few weeks ago when Lovin provided the costs involved

Benzman33

MB and Bentley are different levels. Even if the price is similar, I think everyone in the room perks up when you say you drive a Bentley instead of a Benz LOL.

Wolfman

I am giving Stream credit for considering the updated SL or S-Class Coupe. But I am sure that he will complain that the SL will come with a Panorama roof standard

Streamliner

For the life of me, I can't understand them putting the Pano Roof on the SL. You want the sky, lower the top. Otherwise, I would appreciate some additional insulation in the roof when the top is up. Would anyone here argue that point with me?

All that said, I can live with the Pano Roof on the SL, as the black glass does not extend all the way to the windshield header, thus it does not, IMO, dramatically change the look of the car.

Wolfman

Not everybody lives in sunny, warm states. We have snow on the ground for 4 months a year, yet I like to see the brightness and feeling of sky when I drive the car.
Magic sky is a nice option.

LovinMercedes

I thought I had read somewhere that the new 2017 SL was getting a soft top. Did that not happen?

Streamliner

I read that as well, but I believe it is for the next, full redesign, not this upcoming refresh. This photo looks like a new E Class Cabriolet, or maybe a C?

Streamliner

Well then, both Pano & Magic Sky should both be optional. Come on, Wolf, agree with me just once??

Funny story: the GM at a local MB dealer told me that he had to have two layers of reflective tint put on his wife's SL with Magic Sky, as even turned to its most opaque setting, it STILL let in too much sun and heat. Oh well, when the SL goes retro with the next new model, and goes back to a soft top, these will all be mute points.

Streamliner

Yes but.......
It shouldn't have to be that hard and that expensive. Most dealers won't even talk to you about it--mostly because they don't know anything about it and are too lazy. Trying to get any sort of a deal on such a car would probably be just about impossible and what does it take, like about two or three times the normal lead time? In the end, most of us just settle for what they offer and then crane our necks when a Bentley convertible goes by in a some magnificent color. MB could just do so much better, especially at their top end, that's all I'm saying.

Wolfman

Stream, we agree on many things. We both enjoy driving Mercedes!
Different people, different priorities; makes life interesting

While we both pick different options, I also agree that the options available in other countries should be available here.

Wolfman

The 2017 model is strictly a facelift. The next model (R232) will be a soft top one unless something in MB's strategy changes. Still a few years until 2021...

jenz

Now I see the issue - you want bespoke at off the rack pricing - never going to happen

Go visit RR, Bentley stores - the vast majority of in-inventory cars are black, silver, white and a blue here and there - those colors are safe to order and easy to sell

Those magnificent colors you see were custom ordered, which means no "deal" plus a build delay

If you want a custom build, the dealer has the leverage to get MSRP or higher, no surprise here, as businesses have been doing this for 100s of years

hyperion667

I understand completely: more color choices and solid interiors......doesn't seem like much to ask of a company that makes billions does it? kind of getting fed up with Mercedes Benz myself

jenz

I showed Dr Z your message, to which he replied

"aukyew"

hyperion667

not surprised........he's laughing all the way to the Iron Bank

cyberay

In my opinion, the only colors for a car are red, white, or black.

Streamliner

And you can't get an S550 Cabriolet in a REAL red or white. Go figure.

hyperion667

the best or nothing right?
in this case nothing