agentMurdoc

Hey just because we're young doesn't mean we don't know how to appreciate such a beautiful car. I think the R129 is a very 'kool' car I love my car. Sure I have a Honda also, but that is my toy, just for kicks, no way can it compete with the BEAST!

Oh and RS is right, there is NO comparison between the 500 and the 600. The 600 has a better stance and you could even feel a difference sitting inside the two cars.


Jeez, I love my car... I just came back from a short drive too

Black129

The SL creates many different reactions based on who the person that is looking at it. An Adult usually says that the SL is a beautiful car which is only obtainable by a few. It has a reputation that allows you to pull up to the valet window with a $15k 1990 SL and get better response than pulling up in a $45K 2004 Infinity. The average person cannot tell you the difference between the 90-02. You may think that the differences are HUGE but the average person will not. The SL has that reputation with adults.

The younger crowd still knows that an SL is a big dogs car but they tend to pay more attention to the NEWEST versions or the really cool vintage stuff. My younger cousin found out that I have a SL and the first thing he said... "Is it the cool one with the Hard top that goes into the trunk that looks super cool" I said no it is a 00 so it is the older version.... His response was... "oh thats still a cool car" and wants to know when/if he can drive it. I also feel that the R129 can also be seen as the mid-life crisis car and do not view it as a young persons car. It is a luxury convertable and not a sports car. Sports cars have a very emotional following and spark alot of emotion compared to a Luxury ride. Easy example.... if your cruzin down the road with your child and a bently cruzes by and compare the reaction your child has compared to a Ferrari or Lambo cruzin by.... I am sure your child will be alot more crazy about the (Ferrari or Lambo) compared to the bently

ChrisB

If this allows me to paste fron a spread sheet. The current summary is:

ChrisB 47
bzliteyear 38
99SL 34
MRNRL 38
Floobydust 45
vraa's Uncle 49
blueSL 49
bruce hat 58
chinche 27
Delfiki 55
muhri's friend 25
muhri's other friend 25
NonBlondQT 34
smalk 45
MBenzNL 30
Jim's500E 37
KevinJ 27
skymeister 23
morebhp 40
SL320 26
M3DRVR 20
SL500 AMG 30
sleeper 21
Raul's Dad 57
sleeper 22
MB-BMW Lover 18
sts 36
JAM 36
mindmatter 30
Jixes 30
dsilvar 47
atomsrock ??
duron 34
Teal 92 500SL 42
akbro93704' Grandma 67
mckee79 24
KLP 92 22
nickg 31
Koru_Kinshi 23
rkubara 48
st1 22
agentMurdoc 21
RSpreier 40
========
average of 42 respondents 35.1 Years

jsap

If you don't mind me messing up the nice spreadsheet... I'm 30. But since I got mine used, does it count?

ChrisB

jsap

Of course you count. Lots of us bought used R129s.

I'll update the average after collecting a few more responces.

Agge

Agge , 40

locastro21

i am 20 years old and have a 99 sl600 the last year it was a real benz :O) in my eyes. and she has a babbied 26k miles on her

ChrisB

Sadly ... blueSL is now off the R129 ownership list. Hopefully he will still provide the benifit of his vast R129 experience from time to time .

blueSL

Thank you for your kind words Chris, I'll certainly miss the 129 - had one for 11 years! But with the poor maintenance track record this year, the SRS light was the last straw.

So this is what is replacing it...

ChrisB

I'm sure you will have a few engaging driver experiences in that little beauty! Will that be your daily driver now?

blueSL

Yes it will be my new daily driver. It's much harder riding than the SL600 though and my MSO, who actually finds it uncomfortable, thinks I'm mad. The words "mid-life crisis" have been mentioned but after 8 years using the SL600 every day, I'm interested in something more "engaging" - a good word.

JackStraw

Were you referring to your MSO or the car?

nickg

Beautiful car - love the wheels....

This is not a criticism but I think 911s are much more "in your face" than 129s. I was considering a 911 when I bought the sl60 but my wife was totally anti-Porsche (I would like to point out that her opinion was not why I went with the sl60!!).

My old man's got a 2001 Carrera 4 tip which he drives in and out of central london every day to work. He loves it but it is quite a harsh ride compared to the sl.

I have to say I'm not taken by the 911 interior - not as plush as it should be in a car costing that much.....

blueSL

No it's the car I want to engage, not the MSO....

Nick, certainly agree with you that the 911 is a harder-edged car, which is what I'm looking for - the SL60 is also more that way compared to the SL600, maybe I should have bought one in 96, there was one sitting along side it, but I was bewitched by the V12.

Agree too that the 911 interior looks dated but as always for blueSL, it's the driving experience that counts; this 996 has aluminium accents which lift the interior but it's not nearly as special place to be as even my 9 year old F355 which is a model of simplicity.

altquark

I'm 36 and just bought my dream 1997 SL600 (Silver with Tan interior) after having driven a 1981 SL380 for the past 3 years and a 1998 E320 as a daily driver. I still have my SL380 (trying to work out whether to keep it or go for an older pagoda-top) - but the SL600 is a dangerous toy.

My biggest complaints about the SL600 ?

1. Everything comes in 12 (new spark plugs, new resistors)
2. No-one knows its a V12 (Sleeper is also a positive side to this)
3. Its too darn quiet when you really want to punch it. I mean, c'mon - you want SOME sort of growl !
4. Typical merc brain-fart when it comes to certain aspects - like that rear view mirror (wtf) and the amount of space the useless phone system takes up. Sorry - I went digital some time ago...and I really wish they had created the twin exhausts that you now see on the later SL55's

What I love about it so far

1. Build. Its the best built merc I've owned (and I've got 3). The thing is solid.
2. Performance. Wish I'd had a little more of course
3. It does have a LITTLE growl - you just cannot beat the sound of a V12 (when you kneel down and listen at the exhaust!)
4. No wind in your hair at 100mph top down

RSpreier

I have a 95 SL600 and solved some of the complaints you have. For more performance put the Renntech chip and intake kit in. It's expensive but worth it (about $2495). Replace the resonator with a straight pipe and put on a performance muffler. It's definitely louder, but what a great sound! I often turn the stereo down to listen to the exhaust note. It improves the performance as well. If you manually shift from first gear with the traction control off, it will melt the tires. It screams off the line.

I had a stereo shop pull out the phone. It makes the storage area larger. The one on the dash is about 5 inches deep.

Godfather

I'm 26 and I couldn't think of a better car to have at this time.

ChrisB

Adding:

jsap 30
Agge 40
locastro21 20
altquark 36
Godfather 26

There are now 47 respondents ... averaging 34.6 years at the time of posting their ages.

As we know SL ownership stalls the natural aging process . So I won't ajust the eatrlier responces.

hotel_calif

Looks like I'll push the average age up a little. I'm 45 and picked up my SL500 yesterday.

NPI-FUEL

I'm 48 ... just trying to get the average age up a bit ... great to see this model has appeal to all ages ...

ChrisB

In the 21 year age bracket (31 Ea respondents)from the youngest (when initially reported) 18 years old to the owner age of 39 ... I don't have respondents in these ages:

19,28,29,32,33,35,39

Then in the 20 year owners ages in the bracket of 40 to 60 (15 board users + 2 references) ... I don't have respondents in these ages:

41,43,46,50,51,52,53,54,56,59,60

This probably reflects more on who uses computers / follows forums as a hobby vrs who owns R129s.

Any way no one on my list is getting any older . See what SL ownership does.

SilverSL500

I'm 55. Just got my SL this September.

ChrisB

SilverSL500

For owning just 3 months, WOW ! ... you have done a lot of work!

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...1&page=4&pp=10

Do you enjoy the performance & handeling as well? Or just the looks? You have got the looks cornered !

SilverSL500

I enjoy everything about the SL, except the price of premium gas!

I just wish we had a section of freeway dedicated to MBs with no speed limit

sl3204me

My first car is a Honda Accord V6 and I love it! But the Japanese cars have become carbon copies of one another.I wanted something that was special and unique.I was looking at the BMW 330i convertible originally.I decided on the SL because of it's styling and reputation.I love my SL320.It is expensive to own,but I think it is worth the investment.Hopefully when I am 65 I will still be able to afford the parts and laborto keep it going... on Social Security!!!LOL!!