c230pete

Anyone know if the SL350 will make it to the US? What are the engine specs for the SL350 and price if it does make it? I havn't heard that it will make it over, but it might be a little more affordable than the rest of the line up

Silver_Lana

This has been discussed previously.

The consensus is that it will not be crossing the pond since MB makes too much money on the SL500, 55 /AMG, 600 and the new 65 /AMG to justify the introduction of a lower cost and smaller profit margin vehicle.

Hope that helps

Scotsman

In the UK, a spec'd up 350 to match the 500 is about £9000 cheaper. Only difference is the 350 can't get the 7-speed box.

Think Silver_Lana's correct as the US doesn't normally go in for smaller engines like they do elsewhere.

mattnaz

I hope not. Rumor is that MB may stop building the 350 and lower the price of the SL500.

Silver_Lana

I think that would be in their best interest since the introduction of that many more higher models since the model debut.
The SL500 must be looked at as a bargain now compared to the SL55, 600 and 65.

There is another side to this.
The current 5.0 litre (4.96 i think if you want to get specific :p ) is due to be replaced with a more efficient, slightly smaller and way more powerfull V8 in a short while.
The SL might get that engine after the facelift in 2005.

internet_mafia

Yeah right, Americans are looking for bargains too. I remember going to the dealerships looking at a sworm of pre-owned SL320's. The same can be said about the S classes before MY 2000. I believe that the 320's were "stealing" sales from the 500.

Mustard

I firmly belive the SL350 is equally as good as the SL500, and a much better buy. Its some £11,000 ($19,000) cheaper in the UK - thats a lot of moolah....

Felix

in germany the SL350 is sold good. it has enought power, and reaches the same 250km/h as the 500 and 600. but not to get the 7G-Tronic is bad.

Silver_Lana

It isn't that we in the US aren't interested in bargains, its just that we'd rather have the bragging rights of the V8 or higher. Machismo is an integral part of the american psyche and MB caters to that with bigger and more powerfull engines. Consider the ordering patterns of the SL 600 and SL65 AMG. Quite a few of the persons who ordered the 65 are former 600 or 500 owners. Most interestingly though, most of them are turning out to be SL 55 AMG previous owners.

As a direct result of these reasons, MBUSA will probably not bring the SL350 here.