SL/R129: SL500 for Me!
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Member
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
SL500 for Me!
The deed is done. I picked up my Silver/Ash 2002 SL500 today. What a beautiful car. I'll post some pics soon. Thanks to all the members of this forum who helped me choose the right car.
Will
Will
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Congratulations!
You were working on that for a while.
I hope you and your wife enjoy the car. What is the weater like down there right now? Top down driving most days?
The R129 is really a great car.
You were working on that for a while.
I hope you and your wife enjoy the car. What is the weater like down there right now? Top down driving most days?
The R129 is really a great car.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Yes, it did take a while to find the right car and convince myself it was worth the cost. Weather here was beautiful on Friday, sunny and just right during the day (70 deg F). Saturday was cool and sprinkled a bit in the evening. Today should be cool and sunny, so we'll probably keep the top on. I really like the panorama hard top. It's almost like driving with the top down and makes the car feel much more open.
While waiting for paperwork, I browsed the showroom and looked at a 2005 SL65. Quite a car, but at $225K US (including a $25K US "market adjustment"!), I will have to wait to win the Lotto.
Thanks again to you, Chris, and all the helpful people on this forum. I appreciate all the hints and advice.
While waiting for paperwork, I browsed the showroom and looked at a 2005 SL65. Quite a car, but at $225K US (including a $25K US "market adjustment"!), I will have to wait to win the Lotto.
Thanks again to you, Chris, and all the helpful people on this forum. I appreciate all the hints and advice.
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Your reference to "Today should be cool and sunny, so we'll probably keep the top on."
Don't be reluctant to wear a light jacket, put the wind screen on the rool bar and put the wind screen leaf up (stored in the trunk), set the heater to blow at your feet at 75 (that will seem hot to your feet), set the dash blower auxitiary A/C selector to heat, adjust the dash A/C louvers to blow on your hands on the steering wheel, turn on the seat warmers (you might not have that option on a California car). You will be top down driving till the snow starts falling!
My wife (who is sencitive to the cold) is OK driving top down at 45 degrees F. City and highway speeds. We did it yesterday ... and will be doing it again today
.
Don't be reluctant to wear a light jacket, put the wind screen on the rool bar and put the wind screen leaf up (stored in the trunk), set the heater to blow at your feet at 75 (that will seem hot to your feet), set the dash blower auxitiary A/C selector to heat, adjust the dash A/C louvers to blow on your hands on the steering wheel, turn on the seat warmers (you might not have that option on a California car). You will be top down driving till the snow starts falling!
My wife (who is sencitive to the cold) is OK driving top down at 45 degrees F. City and highway speeds. We did it yesterday ... and will be doing it again today
.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
I guess we have really gone soft relative to cold weather - lol. We'll give the heater and wind screen a try next time, but the panorama hard top with windows down was perfect for us today. My car does have heated seats, and they do heat up quickly. No excuse next time!
Last edited by hotel_calif; Nov 28, 2004 at 09:13 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Wow the car looks great.
They did a nice job shining it up for delivery.
Does your wife like the acceleration and handeling? Or is she nervious about such things.
They did a nice job shining it up for delivery.
Does your wife like the acceleration and handeling? Or is she nervious about such things.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Thank you for the compliments on the car. My wife really likes the acceleration and handling. In her younger days, she owned a 1969 Camaro and did her own maintenance and performance mods. Not quite the same anymore of course. To improve performance, one has to buy new software instead of a four barrel carburetor.
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From: Washington State
2001 SL 500
Hey!! Thats my car!
Originally Posted by hotel_calif
I guess we have really gone soft relative to cold weather - lol. We'll give the heater and wind screen a try next time, but the panorama hard top with windows down was perfect for us today. My car does have heated seats, and they do heat up quickly. No excuse next time!
Is identical to mine, including the top! Too cold (23F this morning) for softtops here for awhile.S
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
hotel_calif
"My wife really likes the acceleration and handling. In her younger days, she owned a 1969 Camaro and did her own maintenance and performance mods."
I can see you guys fighting over the keys. Once the adaptive transmission "learns" that you might drive more aggressively than the previous owner.
You guys are going to have a hoot!
"My wife really likes the acceleration and handling. In her younger days, she owned a 1969 Camaro and did her own maintenance and performance mods."
I can see you guys fighting over the keys. Once the adaptive transmission "learns" that you might drive more aggressively than the previous owner.
You guys are going to have a hoot!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Thanks, SilverSL500. You and Chris are really making me feel guilty for driving with the hardtop on. I'll fix that this weekend!
ChrisB, I won't be surprised if my wife drives more aggressively than I. She was quite the street racer in her '69 Camaro. Here's a pic of her old car.
Will
ChrisB, I won't be surprised if my wife drives more aggressively than I. She was quite the street racer in her '69 Camaro. Here's a pic of her old car.
Will
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
I've never had a real HOT car. The sporty cars I have driven never really were that exciting.
Once I started getting comfortable with the way the R129 deliveres it's power and tourque ... my wife claims i have turned into "lead footed monster". I'm comfortable with that.
She did get into the twisty 1 hr drive accross Vancouver Island. A heavy car but well balanced.
Enjoy.
Keep me posted of your driving impressions as you both put some miles on.
Once I started getting comfortable with the way the R129 deliveres it's power and tourque ... my wife claims i have turned into "lead footed monster". I'm comfortable with that.
She did get into the twisty 1 hr drive accross Vancouver Island. A heavy car but well balanced.
Enjoy.
Keep me posted of your driving impressions as you both put some miles on.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Originally Posted by SilverSL500
You have excellent taste in vehicles Is identical to mine, including the top! Too cold (23F this morning) for softtops here for awhile.
S
Is identical to mine, including the top! Too cold (23F this morning) for softtops here for awhile.S
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 88
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From: Washington State
2001 SL 500
Originally Posted by hotel_calif
Thank you, SilverSL500. Have you posted some pics of your car? I would like to take a look.
From what I see in your photo, mine is identical with possible exception of headlights. Not sure if you have xenon.
Brilliant silver, ash, black soft and silver hard tops. I also have the AMG package. 28K miles. I much prefer how the car looks with the softtop.
These are very fun cars, especially when there's a Corvette around
S
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
I still have my Minolta SRT 101 but seldom use it any more. The digital cameras are really very nice. I still worry about losing all my photos in a disk crash. I need to do a better job at backing up regularly.
My car does have the SL2 package with xenon headlamps - very bright and easy to see things at night. Also the SL1 package, and wood steering wheel/shift knob.
My car does have the SL2 package with xenon headlamps - very bright and easy to see things at night. Also the SL1 package, and wood steering wheel/shift knob.
