Yesterday was the first time I have seen an SL in the metal,and it's looks to me to be a lot smaller than the old SL and not that much larger than the SLK from the outside.

The dimensions my prove me wrong,but does anyone else thing this mega dollar car looks a tad too small.

 

Optical illusion. In fact it's bigger than the old car but disguises its bulk better. It's not a big car though, and is dwarfed by the SUVs that make up 50% of new car sales in the US.

 

I've traded my 5 year old SLK in for the new 2003 Launch Edition SL500 five months ago. I can assure you it is BIG --compared to the SLk-----makes the SLK seem lika a toy! my opinion--Giff Albright of State College The SL 500 is THE CAR!

 

It's true the SL R230 is bigger than the SLK. I see at least one or two of these newer SL's around where i live and seeing it side by side with the SLK is not even close in size.

 

I owned the previous SL and now I have the new 03 SL. I can tell you tat this car is larger than my previous SL. The only areas where I think it feels smaller are the trunck space and the space directly behind the passenger seats. The literature and dealer state that the trunk is larger but I can tell you that I used to be able to carry two full size golf bags in the trunk and now I can only get one of them in.

 

I can see the trunk of the one was good for golf bags, well squared off. I seem to remember reading that "two golf bags" was a mandatory requirement for an upscale car in the US, maybe they had to miss out on this. Will a golf bag fit behind the seats?

 

A golf bag with clubs, not even a walking bag will not fit behind the seats.

 

I have tested the 03 SL500 at my friendly local
MB dealership - love the car, but there is definitely not enough leg room for a 6'6 driver -
my right knee kept getting banged between the steering wheel and center console. I can only
wish MB designed SL500 the way they did new
E series - up to 95th percentile male - I
drove one last month while in Europe and the
leg room is really generous - the only car ever
I did not have to push the seat all the way
back...

 

Sorry to hear of the problem if 6'6"
I am only 5'6" and very few Mercedes seem comfortable in "close up" position- so I can reach the pedals comfortably. -

-my 2003 SL 500 does feel just right!, and my 6'6 passengers don't complain---but do say--THIS CAR IS LOW! (meaning the step down feature into the lowered seats--adjusted for tall persons with top up!) GIFF Albright of State College, PA

 

so, the SL has enough space for a golf bag or 2? 1 in the trunk and 1 in the rear seats?