Can order SL500 for delivery in March, BUT had some concerns after test ride. (Loved the car and want to see if I can address concerns.) Can you help?

1. Hard to get into and out of. Does wheel pull away and/or seat go back when key is pulled out?

2. Hard ride. I commute into NY City. Will the 18" wheels give me too hard a ride? How do the 17" wheels handle?

3. Heating/Air Conditioning controls. Can you direct air to different vents (foot vs. dash) and control fan speed? Is it hard to do when driving?

4. Seat width. I have a broad back and standard seat seemed narrow. I was hitting the bolsters on each side. Are the ventilated seats wider?

5. Controls for radio, navigation and heating seem hard to use. I commute and need a driver friendly car. Will I be too frustrated?

Thanks. I love the car and have only a few weeks to decide whether to order.

 

1. Hard to get into and out of. Does wheel pull away and/or seat go back when key is pulled out?

Yes, this is a user setable option.

2. Hard ride. I commute into NY City. Will the 18" wheels give me too hard a ride? How do the 17" wheels handle?

The 18" wheels will ride rougher, however, I am not sure how much so over a 17".

3. Heating/Air Conditioning controls. Can you direct air to different vents (foot vs. dash) and control fan speed? Is it hard to do when driving?

Yes, fully adjustable if you take it out of AUTO mode. Once you learn the system it's a no brainer.

4. Seat width. I have a broad back and standard seat seemed narrow. I was hitting the bolsters on each side. Are the ventilated seats wider?

Seats are about the same width.

5. Controls for radio, navigation and heating seem hard to use. I commute and need a driver friendly car. Will I be too frustrated?

Again, easy to use once you learn the layout and controls.

 

 

Relax and get the car, everything else will be just fine,and enjoy it

 

I agree, the car is just superb, don't hesitate. If you do, what else is going to come close... an SC430?

 

I just got rid of mine afer 5,000 miles in two months , they main reason is geting in and out alot. It really started to wear on me, also the abc does take up alot of little bumps but the ones in new york your going to feel alot more. I also could not stand all the noises the top made even after the dealer had it for a week. There is no way there going to get all those noises out of the interior, wait till you drive that car in NY........ it will get loaser over time. If you do not do alot of driving the car will be fine, especially highway, I did alot of city boston erea, I sell mb 's for living so i have driven them all.

 

Why does getting in and out of a car wear you out unless you are so unfit you ought not to be driving? If you sell MB's for a living, maybe you just wanted to sell at a premium while there's still one to be had....

 

6 feet 183 lbs is hardly unfit, if you get in and out of your car 7 to tens per day you would know what i am talking about, Thanks for the kind remarks............:

 

I agree it's not unfit, but the seat height is only a couple of inches below that of, say, an S-Class. I calculate you'll be expending less than half a calorie a day extra getting out of the lower car and it's nothing that a quick fix at Dunkin Donuts cannot solve. Forgive me, but that does seem a bizarre main reason to sell the car which offers so much more than any other on sale.

My SL55 roof makes no noises, there are no shakes or rattles and some of our roads are no better than those in NYC. If your MB dealer cannot fix the roof, the solution is to change dealer, not the car.

john1960, if you are concerned with ride quality, the SL has a more sporting character than the S class and that does mean a harder ride. If you want a completely isolating ride, the S class will be better. Either that, or vote in a politician who will have the courage to raise more in taxes to tackle the crumbling infra-structure.

As for the seats, the purpose of the bolsters is to provide lateral support as the car goes round corners. I find them very comfortable indeed, more so than any of my other cars and they are not as extreme as the sport seats you'll find in a 911.

 

We've had our '03 SL500 since March. Here are my thoughts on your questions:

1. Hard to get into and out of. Does wheel pull away and/or seat go back when key is pulled out?

A: No question, the getting in and out is a bit more difficult than for a sedan. We also have the '03 E500 and it, as a sedan, is a bit easier. But, if you want more of a sports car than a sedan, they will ride lower and you will have that with any make. But, there is a setting to make the seat go back and steering wheel raise upon entry and exit.

2. Hard ride. I commute into NY City. Will the 18" wheels give me too hard a ride? How do the 17" wheels handle?

A: We have the launch edition wheels that are 19". The ride is adjustable and it is very smooth. I doubt you will have a problem. The wheelbase is shorter than a sedan of course and for that reason, you will notice certain road conditions a little more. Again, it is a function of the sports car rather than sedan.

3. Heating/Air Conditioning controls. Can you direct air to different vents (foot vs. dash) and control fan speed? Is it hard to do when driving?

A: This is absolutely no problem. The rings on the outside of the controls manage that.

4. Seat width. I have a broad back and standard seat seemed narrow. I was hitting the bolsters on each side. Are the ventilated seats wider?

A: On our SL with the Drive Dynamic seats, the bolster width is adjustable. Perhaps the one you sat in was set narrow. Having said that, again, this is a sports car with solid support intended to keep you in place. The seats are more "narrow" than on our E500 without the Drive Dynamic Seats

5. Controls for radio, navigation and heating seem hard to use. I commute and need a driver friendly car. Will I be too frustrated?

A: While not "easy" to learn, they are very functional and after a few times of use, I find them great. I especially like the function of our voice activated V60 phone system. Very safe to use with little more than pulling back the phone activation stalk on the right side of the steering column and speaking whatever command you want the phone to do, i.e., "dial number" and then speak the number, etc.

On balance, I see your decision as being whether you want a sports car or a sedan. For us, the decision was "both". So, we got the new SL and the new E. For commuting, I would probably choose the new E as it is a little more comfortable.