My cousin has a 2003 SL500 that's startign to cost him a lot. Unfortunately it's only worth about $10k right now, so he's definitely not selling it. He wasnts to keeo it as a weekend car and get something else for daily use. He wants to spend about $500-600 a month on the second car.

I'd love to give him the advice, but unfortunately I don't know what it's like to have a 2 seater. I know some of you have a second car, so if you do, please post it and let me know why you chose that over other cars. Keep in mind an SUV isn't necessary, neither is 4WD of any kind. He's a city boy.

Thanks in advance for your input guys.

 

I have a 2004 SL600. When I picked it up, I was driving a 2003 Range Rover HSE (BMW-powered, naturally-aspirated 5-speed auto). Prior to the SL, I had equipped the RR with some silica-impregnated Wrangler HPs. It was at that time that I found the RR to be the most outstanding foul-weather driving machine I had owned to date, besides being quite comfortable and roomy. A month after I picked up the SL, I traded in the 03 RR for a certified pre-owned 2006 RR SC (Jag-powered, supercharged, 6-speed auto) with 12k. I outfitted it with some Vredestein Wintracs and it superseded the 03's status. Protected myself with a 100k warranty when I bought it and never looked back. It now has 80k on it with no issues and still performs very well. While the Ranges are heavy (due to all the additional equipment), I find that the weight is one of their endearing qualities in terms of traction in rain and snow. I can't imagine replacing it with anything other than a younger Range. Besides having "cheap", plastic interiors, domestic SUVs just seem so oversized and bulky to me. Mileage typically runs from 15-19mpg. The Jag motor likes to spin, so it is easy to suck down the gas tearing around in manual shift mode at higher RPMs. The factory exhaust note is nice both outside and in the cabin, but I plan to install an aftermarket system and explore drivetrain tuning when I get back from this deployment.

Just one person's experience. You can typically step into a certified pre-owned Range just a couple years old for $25-35k still under factory warranty with anywhere from 25-40k on it, but the CPO status also takes the warranty out to 75k with a deductible. Because mine had such low miles, I ended up with significantly more warranty included in the purchase than if I had bought it new. The newer nav system started in 2005, so I wouldn't go older than that if considering a private seller. SC 6-speed models started in 06.

 

If he's looking for a 4 door, RELIABLE daily driver in the 500-600 a month price range, advise him to just get a Hyundai Genesis and call it a day. If I were in the market, that's what I'd do. Since he's bothered by maintenance costs and repairs on the SL, it seems a more reliable Japanese offering would be a good idea. Or, if he can stomach an American car, the new GMs are supposedly very good. The brand new Buick's and Chevy's are particularly enticing as daily beaters.

Currently we have:

2007 Full sized Range Rover Supercharged to haul the kids, and trips to Home Depot
2004 E500 as my daily commuter
2005 SL600 as my toy
2001 C240 that we ended up giving our nanny.

 

Nice stable!

 

The new C class.
4 years in the market and not a single recall.
Bullet proof and a Benz always look good next to kin.

 

Ford Fusion...Genesis is also a very good choice.

 

Exact same R230 for parts ...

 

I currently have an SL500 ae the weekender and the Lexus GX470 as daily driver. But the wife has a Honda CRV as a daily driver and is quite reliably. May not be a bad vehicle to look at.

 

The choices out there are staggering for $500-600 per month. I know because I've been looking for a replacement (at some point in the future) for my beloved SL. I may even go down the same route as your friend and keep it while having another car as my DD.
For that kind of money each month, will he be able to do normal repair work and maintenance on the vehicle or will he be cutting it close? If the former, there are great deals on used MB sedans as a DD. If the latter, then he may want to wander over into the realm of the japanese/korean cars for something a bit more reliable.

As far as choices in that range, you've got (used, of course): '08-09 C300 MB, '07 BMW 3-series, '07 E-Class MB, Infinity G35 or G37, MB ML350, Lexus ES350, just to name a few. He could also possibly squeeze into a 2006 CLS500 (very stylish!). From those choices, you can slide down the scale into the US market with F150's, Fusion, Mazda CUV's, Camry and all sorts of others for much less money. It all depends on whether he wants just a utility runabout for the weekdays or to actually enjoy his drive.

-Rook3300