armic777

people like you need Subari WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer

mikeinsf

There's obviously a language/culture thing going on here that's preventing the humor in this from translating.

mlandis

No, but driving it like you're driving Miss Daisy will very likely make you unhappy that you're unwilling to enjoy it for the sports car that it is.

I think the point was that this isn't really a car that can be bought on the cheap. The first payment (the purchase price) depends on what price you pay the dealer, but whatever that first payment is, you will continue to pay down the line the same costs that the very first owner would've paid. If you're unwilling to pay the repair costs at this point, wait until you are comfortable doing so.

It's like any other car -- take care of the maintenance and it will largely take care of you, but after a couple hundred thousand miles any car will probably need a new transmission, for example, no matter how gentle you are on it over those miles. If you accept that it is possible you'll have to pay for the struts, or the COMAND module, or roof components, then you'll be able to prepare for it, rather than hoping that babying it will somehow keep this from happening.

I don't think anyone here wants to keep you from the car -- I think we're just worried that we've heard a lot of hoping that reality won't end up on your doorstep, and we don't like seeing people's high expectations get dashed. You're asking us for advice on how to cut corners on a car whose corners can't really be cut.

mlandis

BTW, don't think I don't know where you're coming from. I fell in love with the SL with the prior generation. I started saving around 2002. When the R230 came out in 2003, I practically swooned. In 2004 I told a salesman at an auto dealer that I wanted a test drive because I was planning on buying the car in 2010. He laughed at me and compared me buying the car to him wanting to date Christie Brinkley. He was basically telling me that I was incapable of buying the car. Well, in 2009 I bought a 2007, because I didn't like the 2009 design changes. If the changes hadn't been made, I still was on track to buy it new in 2010.

The main difference I see between our stories is that I was willing to wait until I was able to buy the car on the car's terms (in terms of cost of ownership). It sounds like you are trying the buy the car on your terms. What if the car refuses to meet you halfway? Are you ready to deal with that?

jl88

As the internet-famous Roy Cats would say, "if you want to look at at car, just buy a picture!!"

I think that fits you perfectly.

You will be paying "repair" cost on the car, in some form or fashion. Flat tires, oil changes, occasional scrapes and bumps on bumpers, door dings, broken suspension, cigarette burns on the interior, drink spills, running your car into rodents, meteorites slamming into your car, etc.

Again, what the last six months have told us. Cars are just toys. Enjoy it and don't worry about the value.

mlandis

Anyone know a good extended warranty that covers meteorite damage?

Rook3300

Oh man am I ever the evangelist for this mentality! Mine has 54K miles on it and just this past weekend I gunned it and passed some older guy in a C5 corvette that was apparently taking his wife for a spin -- at 35mph in a 45mph zone! WTF??!?! Why have a Corvette when you're doing Corolla speeds?
I exercise my cars regularly and they typically reward me with years of great running -- as long as I do the proper maintenance. That said, I do have funds stashed for repairs on the SL, just in case!

Rook

m4xm1l10n

BAM BAM im still driving mine fuuuuucking hard

biophase

Seriously BAM BAM,

Go get your SL500 and get an extended warranty. Pick one up with 50k miles and get a 5/60 warranty. You'll be good till 110k miles and 2014. You probably won't have the car that long.

You cannot get the car and then not use it, that is a total waste of money. If the top broker while it was closed would you seriously not get it fixed? You'd be happy with a SL500 coupe?

Bam Bam

I will use it, but not abuse it.

No I would fix it, but seeing how the look of the R230 with the top up is pretty damn nice, I could probally delay the repairs on the rooftop assembly. It rains a lot in the northwest so summer is probally the only time I would really want to drop the top. I guess depending on what is broken with your roof, you could always manually close/open the roof, which is the same if you had a removeable hardtop like on miatas.

Rook3300

Not really. The roof will only work if the entire roof pump and electronic systems are working. As it is, when techs need to work on the roof, they don't "crank" it back, they have to let it open normally, then close it and then stop it with a brace before it closes.
Granted, if the roof broke in the up position, you could delay getting it fixed. Well, some people could -- I would not be able to stand it. Convertible hard-top FTW!

Rook

djamer

Just FYI, the roof pump w/ labor is $1200.00, pretty pricey item. covered under warranty..

m4xm1l10n

biophase

Using it means driving on the highway and going 55 or 65 mph. From your posts it sounds like you are trying not to use many of the features that come with the car. I don't know what your definition of abuse it for a car. But driving in on the highway and city streets and using the features that it comes with is not abusing it.

Bam Bam

hey max, is the pump really $1200 to fix or is that bs?

I probally go 70 mph, 85 on the left lane, but constant 70 mph should be good.

mikeinsf

Wow. Just to paint a picture in my head... you're really going to be driving down the highway watching your speedo, keeping in mind that anything that deviates from 70mph may be harmful to your ABC?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessi...lsive_disorder

djamer

Bam, yes that is cost, i have the service invoice and quotes from dealers in the DC area. But, I had an excellent extended warranty which covered the expenses. Just a note, i spoke to the GM at my local MB dealership and asked about quirky ABC issues w/ CL, and SLs. He told me it's honestly an odd thing. He has seen some SLs with over 100k with no ABC issues and some at 10K with complete pump replacements. Before my SL, i owned a CL with 30K and it was a constant nightmare w/ ABC.. check the treads..

I guess like anyone on the topic has already said. You buy such cars to enjoy them. If repairs and cost of ownership is causing you to lose sleep,then, honestly this may not be the car for you. Be wise and get a comprehensive warranty. If you cant afford a warranty, you will likely need deep pockets for expenses down the line.

Bam Bam

all drivers have to watch their speed when driving. I spoke to MB tech and they said driving at speeds above 70 mph wont hurt your ABC, its the aggressive fast driving then hard breaking or rough bumby roads( pot holes) that ruins your ABC suspension. If you break hard from a really fast speed, your suspension will try to compensate and make the breaking as smooth as possible, this will usually put a lof of wear and tear on your ABC suspension.

Its not so much as I cant afford warranty, Iam more concerned when the mileage gets too high and I can no longer qualify for extended warranty. So then I would probally have to drive the car more carefullly.

biophase

How high in mileage do you expect to drive your car? Get a 6yr 72k warranty and you can drive a 50k SL500 to 122k and 2015! When you get up to that mileage, sell the 12 year old SL500 for $10k and get another one.

mlandis

I've got to say -- I'm going to have a hard time parting with my SL unless MB does a really good update in their next design.

Good thing I'm not planning to have kids or retire...

Bam Bam

I feel the same. 10 years from now the 2003-2009 R230s will still look nice. And if by 2019, a 2005 R230 is only worth 10K, I would probally just keep the thing. Unless of course the engine dies.

Chrysler has a hardtop convertible called the sebring. If by 2019 that thing looks a lot better and starts to have the look of the R230 then I wouldnt mine getting one of those. Buts its a big if.

http://www.chrysler.com/en/2009/sebring_convertible/

I thought a 6yr 72k warranty means they cover you for 6 years or until your car reaches 72K miles, which ever comes first. Isnt that how it works?

Rook3300

Waitaminute? Back up. You can plan to have kids? Damn, living here in South Louisiana they just pop them out after a Friday night bender. Or, if you're like my sister and her husband, you get pregnant while only one of you are gainfully employed at the magnificent salary of $10 per hour. Bah.

Rook

Rook3300

Oh dear god no. I shopped around the convertible market for about 8 months before having the SL I'm in now fall into my lap.

I literally drove all these cars and only found one that even dared to compete with the SL:

• 2008 Mazda Miata MX-5, nice but small. No real storage space.
• 2009 Crysler Sebring hardtop convertible, utter crap, no power, bad build quality, soul-sucking horribleness.
• 2008 Mustang, both the V6 and the GT (V8), nice power but bad build quality. The ride quality also strangely sucked quite badly. The GT was especially skittish in turns even with no power on. Top operation required manual intervention (unlock roof latches) and the interior design leaves something to be desired. For 300hp, there's a lot of theatre (noise and rumble) but no real go.
• 2009 Saturn Sky Red Line, really really fun and the ride quality is nice and sporty. Absolutely no storage space and the top operation is completely manual -- and a complete pain in the a$$. This would be a really nice fun sunny-day garage car if you can pick one up on the cheap.
• 2007 Jaguar XK, a really really nice car. Unfortunately for me, they are holding their value quite well and I was going to have to wait until I could afford one sometime much later in 2009. My first choice was the Jag until I test drove the SL this past October (2008). I do find that the hard top is much better than any soft top out there. Obviously, this one is a definite competitor to the SL. At 300hp though, they are behind compared to the SL550 it competes with.

I'll just say now that if any domestic auto maker comes close to the SL, they'll have a winner on their hands. The Jag and 650Ci are close but are just as expensive. The real trick is to make it less expensive to buy, then there will be sales!

Rook

Keng1

[/LIST]I'll just say now that if any domestic auto maker comes close to the SL, they'll have a winner on their hands. The Jag and 650Ci are close but are just as expensive. The real trick is to make it less expensive to buy, then there will be sales!

Rook[/QUOTE]

But if its less expensive to buy, they will have to sell volume to make up for the R&D costs. Also remember that the SL is the top of the line roadster that MB carries. If it didnt look that great, people would just buy the SLK which is 1/2 the price.

mlandis

I think this goes back to the old adage -- you get what you pay for.