Ok so I am not new to high end cars. Almost every car I have ever owned has been one. I have had BMWs, Mercedes, Porsches, Ferraris, etc. even other SL's (129). But I seem to be completely obsessed with my R230. For example when I come home from a drive I spend the next 15 minutes with a spray bottle and a micro fiber towel cleaning all the bugs off the front. I find myself going to the garage over and over again just to look at it (not even noticing the Ferrari F355 and DeLorean next to it.) Now two weeks ago I bought a KIA just to drive to work so my SL doesn't have to endure the long hot summer days in a parking lot.

So am I completely insane? Are any of you as nuts as me?

My "new" driver so the SL can stay pretty.


And a unnecessary photo of my SL.

 

lol No, I confess. I drive a Ford Explorer almost everyday to spare my SL6 the miles and wear and tear that come with them. I detail it and let it sit in the garage... I think I've put about 15 miles this entire (previous) month on my SL... all which begs the question why on earth did I buy the darn thing

 

I remember buying a CL500 just when they came out in 2000. Absolute beauty, obsidian black with java interior.

We live in MN with bad winters so I decided to buy a new M-Class just to keep that CL in great shape. My wife drove the SL in the summer.

Story is that I finally got rid of the CL 2 1/2 years later with 12000 miles on it because it always sat in the garage.
Took the depreciation and didn't have the chance to really enjoy the car. What a waste

I got the SL55 delivered in the winter and drove it in the snow from day1 and never looked back.

Point is that cars are there to be driven. You rob yourself of too much fun just driving a minivan (or in my case an SUV).

You have it, drive it and enjoy!

My 2cents

Wolfman

 

cool pics ......

 

Food for thought. Thanks for sharing.

 

Bro...you are preaching to the choir..! Enjoy the car and stock up on some more Quick Detailer and microfiber!

 

we're twins

 

me too...

 

Crazy? Absolutely!

I have never understood driving a POS to avoid the miles or dirt on the good car. I had a neighbor who drove a POS Datsun pick up truck, while he had a Ferrari and a Lamborghini in the garage that he never drove. All the while I was rotating daily driving a Testarossa, 308, 348, Lotus Esprit, Range Rover and an F40. They were so buried in his garage that I never even knew he had them for years!

I have always felt that I could die tomorrow. Why would I want my last drive to be in a POS. Drive 'em...... and take care of 'em. I go through allot of Speed Shine!

 

If you have good weather conditions, just drive your car!
I really think that the best solution to have another car is only for winter season, but during summer I take out my SL - only!

 

That was 1/2 the reason I settled in AZ. 300+ days of sunshine, with great empty roads!

 

Yeah... God decision, thou
In my country we have only 2-3 months of real summer, other period I just call "dry" season... Because it is sunny, dry but too cold to open my top.

 

I find myself going to the garage over and over again just to look at it

And a unnecessary photo of my SL.
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I just emailed my wife a link to this thread. She says I must be the only SL owner in the world that goes to the garage just to look at my car. What she doesn't know is that I often kiss it good night, well sort of, but I would never touch that beautiful finish with my lips. I would have to get out the micro-fiber cloth and quick detailer again .

 

absolutely not crazy imo. It's a good feeling to get into your favorite car for the weekend. This way you have something to look forward too. My 300zx is my weekend car and I drive 15yr old explorer as daily. Going to work and back I prefer the explorer because it's more comfortable. I'm in a hurry to just to go to work and back not caring about how my car looks.

 

Delorean- I dont think you are crazy at all! Hey its $100k car I hope the majority of us treat it that way!

About 10 years ago when I got my first kinda high end car (93 RX7 Twin Turbo) a neighbor told me to cover it in the garage...I said why, its in the garage, and he said clean it, wipe it down, cover it...when youre ready to drive it is like "BAM!!!" super clean ready to go and you have the full effect!! you know what I mean..well it only kinda works for non daily drivers...

Its always stuck with me...some people think im crazy for covering in the garage, I also have to clean the damn brake dust off my rims EVERY time I take the car out cant stand it. I also try and not put the roof up and down for no reason so sometimes it sits covered with the roof down LOL...

 

Agreed 100% I Have an 01 Accord V6 for the snow and rain days

 

I'm respectfully voting for crazy. My former neighbor is the GM of 5 Kia dealerships and even he has an SL500 as a daily driver! Go out and enjoy it! :-)

 

I'll usually take what's up front!

 

I hate driving dirty cars so I take the Bentley out on nice days but take the G for the daily driver. It's indestructible. The Bentley is black and gets dirty by just looking at it. Even if the Bentley is in the garage, I know it's there. LOL

Plus in my profession there is a bit of jealousy so I don't park the Bentley in the doctors' parking lot. You understand don't you Dino?

 

I like your garage park

 

Hey man when can i come over and drive your cars ? maybe the Ducati

 

I'm with Wolfman and Dino: I drive the SL every chance I get. Only summer tires, though, so I have to pick my spots during winter months.

 

Thanks for all the replys!!! I glad there are more people out there like me! Also I do understand the view point that I should just drive it and enjoy it, but I do get lots of enjoyment just admiring it.

Silly as it sounds, the SL is like a fine piece of art. I love to watch the light dance off the paint. And marvel over the craftsmanship and design.

 

As much you take care of it, as much you start to love it and keep it out of dusty roads)

With more mods I'm doing, more different things are coming to my head... Now i just bought a ticket for a parking lot underground, which is 10min longer to go to my job, but I think it is worth it: no sun all day, no scratches, my own parking lot...!

 

For me the SL is just another car.
I don't wash it regularly, park it/drive it in the snow, drive it on gravel road.
One thing it does get is the regular maintenance and that's done by me.
That's when she gets pampered.