well, I can tell you as an ex racing driver, on a racing track an SL is just no fun...and not fast also...just because of the automatic gears etc....you don't see also see races with SL...

 

Probably because of a shortage of old men drivers

 

...Actually on race tracks, you do see many old men drivers........but more on the classic side.....(or on the GT and Le Mans races, like ex-Formula One drivers etc...)

 

ha ha The older we get, the fewer of us there are!!!!

But, I can still BUY my way in to the top 3. ha ha

PS.. That is a shame, isn't it? I still would not go back (us older guys know what I mean)

 

I hear ya. Some kid in a bar asked me if I missed being young. I said hell no.

 

Time for my favorite George Bernard Shaw quote: "youth is wasted on the young." Okay, maybe I'm starting to get old. I'm quoting crap like my dad used to and I do drive an SL.

 

Hey guys...I enjoy my life beeing 43 yo....but I will be happy to make my life again...even with the mistakes ......to be young AND to be old(er) ist good !! but you can not switch...:-(......let's face it !!.....

 

All my friends said the same thing until they drove my SL600

I really liked my three Porsches, but they were pretty uncomfortable rides for daily drivers.

The SL has such an unlimited amount of power it is a blast to drive. Plus I drive more in a straight line anyway, and I am over shifting.

Get it you will like it.

 

I'm 21 and I will say I have driven Porsche 911s Z06 Corvettes and SRT-8 Challengers (and the normal Camaro's, Firebirds, Mustangs) and I have to say that for luxury refinement and pure joy of driving the SL500 is the best yet, and I'm sure I would have 2x the fun in a SL55/SL600/SL65 they are just great cars and well built, I drove 5 hours Thursday in my SL500 and it was a blast, mixture of highway and back roads and I can't say I have drove anything more fun, Corvettes are pushier and aggressive as with the others but the SL just blew me away for fun, plus I felt like a million bux in it with the top down cruising down the highway, nothing better in my life.

 

I just wish the SL500 came in stick!!

 

I know... This SL is my first automatic... see how much I like the SL

 

did have a feeling of SL being a Jack Nicholson / older gentleman car, but glad to be over it and proud owner of a SL 63 AMG as a sub-40. tks AMG

 

I wouldn't say it's necessarily an old guy's car, but I'm an old guy who likes it. I used to drive fast - lots of Porsches over the years. But I decided two things. First, I'm mortal (that had never occurred to me). Second, I don't react as fast as I used to. So now I drive a little more moderately. But I still like a car that feels balanced and lets me know what's happening on the road. So I'm 67 now, keep three cars, and I drive the SL500 (totally stock) and a BMW 740iL Sport (another great car), probably 4000 miles a year total, and I don't have to drive them very hard to enjoy them. I'm not saying you guys (and ladies) with your super fast cars are dangerous, because I think most of the people on this cite know what they're doing and take their driving seriously - but rather that there is something to be said for cars that provide balance, feedback and enjoyment at speeds that are far from the edge and probably a lot safer, at least for us old guys. That's not to recommend it for you, but just to say that I'm happy to see some people drive less aggressively as they age.

 

I am 24 and paid for my SL but it does look like I'm driving my dad's car when I wear jeans and t-shirt or otherwise it's fine. IMO the SL has a social status that makes people think it belongs to older people, but if you like it, I'd say go for it.

 

I am 25 and got the "your parents have a nice car" but I then straight piped it, got personalized plates and threw on some new wheels, that is about when all those comments ended, now I just get a ton of how the hell do you afford that car after having a 98 eclipse.....I have never had a car that I have heard so many compliments in, it is one of those factors that I never really thought about much prior to purchasing the car.

 

Your girl and "others" say that Bc age 50-70 is only bc they can afford the car by that age.Not many guys our age can afford this car, that is why they think it is a old ppl car, hell i just bought 2005 and forked 40K on it,i am proud that i can afford it and it does not matter to me who drives it.Hope it helps in your decision...

 

I will say that my car was a bit older looking with the stock wheels, but with some tint, new wheels, straight pipe exhaust and upgrades to the stereo, the chances of someone thinking it's an old mans car are slim

 

It has some nice staggered Vellano wheels painted to match (will be pearl yellow Thursday), upgrade stereo, debadged and all the other trim blacked out, it won't look like an old man's car except when I am in it.