shoes

I am about to purchase my fourth new body SL- I had a 2003 Tectite Grey SL500 (which was a very early model with lots of trouble) a 2003 Black SL55 (same issues) and a 2004 red SL500. I liked the red a lot, but eventually found it a little too outgoing.

I cannot bear to drive another silver or black Mercedes and am thinking of (drumroll please) Everest Green/Stone. Am I crazy?

The dealer tells me that I really better like this because he won't want it back if I don't. That alone gives me pause.

vraa

Black on black!

Don't take green, it's a weird color. I wouldn't take it.

Do something bold, get a custom black on black!

tiggerfink

For 300 bucks, fly to Stuggart to see al the colors. Your dealer can arrange it.

StephenK

Is this a factory tour you are referring to or?

LovinMercedes

I have owned alot of silver and black Mercedes.

Everytime I have gone to buy a color other than silver and black they have told me the exact same thing they are telling you. It is true that it is probably going to be easier to sell a silver or black SL but I am not sure that is enough of a reason to buy one.

When I ordered my Aegean Blue everyone thought I was crazy. They told me I would regret that color and nobody has it.

Well, I think that my car is the most gorgeous color I have ever seen in a Mercedes. That is my opinion and quite frankly, that is all that counts because I am the one that drives my car.

When I go to sell it, if it sells for a little less I will still be happy I got that color. If you lease the car then you turn it in at the end and you never have that problem.

Everyone has a different opinion on what color to buy. Some love black, others would never buy black because of the amount of work it takes to keep it clean and looking good. Some love silver, others think it is way too plain and way too conservative.

My opinion is you buy the color car you think is looks the best. I have never seen Everest Green but I know green cars can be very attractive. I ordered the Aegean Blue and only saw that color once for a very short time.

I agree, it might go for less money on a resale and if that really matters then you shouldn't get it. If you lease it, it won't matter.

For me, I'd rather drive a car I love than worry about how much it is going to be worth several years down the road.

Let us know what you decide.

Bottom line, I vote that you are not crazy, at least for a choice in the color of your car. You may be crazy for other reasons but that I don't know.

P.S. All of us are a little crazy.

Good luck.

tiggerfink

No. My dealer was in the process of making arrangements with MBUSA for me to go to Stuggart to look at all the colors on a SL. At that time we were going to a wedding in Paris, France. But my wife decided on Pewter. It could have been a factory tour. My MBCA club is making arrangements to tour the Mercedes plant in Alabama.

I wish Mercedes gave models to all the dealers with colors of all the SLs. Its hard for me to pick a color when you have no idea what it looks like in differant lightings.

blueSL

I dont think the SL warrants buying a second never mind a fourth version of it. What are you getting over and above your first purchase? Goodness knows how much you've spent on your first 3 cars. I'd spend the money instead on buying a car to own in parallel. The SL provides alot but doesnt do it all. In short, yea I think you are crazy.

LovinMercedes

Hey blue, you missed the point. He is getting it. He just wanted to know about the color.

blueSL

Well, I think he's wasting his money. A GREEN car? No thanks. MBs are not green cars (or red cars, as he's discovered), so its black silver or blue. Anything else is on the fringe.

tiggerfink

Just see all the colors and make your own decision.

WIldcat465

Boy, I'm glad that there's a financial advisor here able to tell others how to spend their money.

Green on stone is probably a good color.

He said the red was too outgoing--not that it's a bad color. I never regret my choice of Mars Red over stone for my '05. It's stunning. I heard the same ***** about buying a red car, You'll never be able to sell it or you'll trade-in will be less. I say BS. Get what you love. I say Mars Red or Aegean Blue over stone are the best. I've seen the green over black. It's about as exciting a Blue over black. ho-hum. (I'm falling asleep just thinking about it)

Go look at the green. If it grabs you then buy it.

jasab

if you are superstitious green in cars is unlucky.
Ask a race driver

tiggerfink

Opinions are like A-holes. Everyone has one. Just go to Germany and see all the colors and take your wife. Get what you like. What I like may be but ugly to you.

shoes

You guys are all great, thanks for the many pieces of advice.

Let's separate this discussion into two parts- resale and what the car looks good in. You could make an argument that getting a color like Aegean Blue or Everest Green would be unusual and rare and possibly more valuable on resale. The safe bet is always silver or black.

Now in terms of what the car looks good in- I think the car looks great in most every color (I think I read that posted somewhere else in this forum)- but the color imparts a personality to the car. Since it is the most practical convertible on the market, picking silver only highlights your sensibility. Picking black is more sinister and sexy. Red? I don't know- it sure looks good- but I am not sure what it says about you. I think it may be a girl's color. Aegean blue is cool, borderline trendy.

Now comes Everest Green. Now BlueSL knows that I secretly lust for a BRG Aston Martin DB9, so I am trying to achieve the look without the British car experience (did you catch the winking headlight on the Jaguar Coupe when they introduced it at the Detroit show?). But what would Everest Green say about my SL500- I wish I had a Jaguar?

tiggerfink

I never do think about resale when I purchase a car. I only think about it when I buy land, property, stocks, and businesses. Think of buying a car as a lost and buy what you like.

CASL55

It sounds like you're concerned about what others think about you, based on their reaction to the color of your car. I don't think people form strong opinions about other people based on car color, but even if they did, I can't imagine caring what someone thought of me based upon something so superficial.

Get the color *you* like best.

Jim

WIldcat465

A car is a melting asset. Screw resale. The difference, if any, between, for example, an Aegean car (Tied for favorite color in my book) and a safe silver will be negligible.

Get what you love. When my Mars Red car was brought from the storage lot, I drooled. I still drool. I drool so much that I need a bib. I drive it once or twice a week and enjoy it every minute. This is how the color should make you feel. I pinch myself whenever I look in my garage and then I drool some more.

So Cal Sam

Man! I think I'm going to feel just like Wildcat here if I can pull off my SL500 purshase! I love the look of this car inside and out!

shoes

After weeks of waffling, I made my choice.

First I commited to a red SL500, then thought about it overnight and cancelled.
Second I commited to an Everest Green SL500, but the car was sold before I could buy it. Third, I commited to a Designo Graphite SL500, but then, after driving my wife's CLS500, decided that I don't like that 7 speed transmission.

So, I wound up with a black/black SL600. I guess I am boring after all.

LovinMercedes

I think that car is gorgeous. Please send pictures.

Are you sure it is the black X11 interior which is a $3,750 option or the standard charcoal which many call black?

Congratulations.

blueSL

Black on Black SL600? Sounds good to me!

Ken Silver

The human race is superficial, Jim. Think of all the stupid decisions in war, marriage and investment made by anyone for whatever reason, and you'll be hard pressed to find a logical explanation.

Anyone that buys a car and color for themselves only is an exceptionally well-balanced individual, and a rarity. For the rest of us, we have the normal paranoia's, foibles and fetishes that defines civilized man.

I do think that others define us on our possessions, and that includes choice of color within those confines. For example, I might wear Ralph Lauren for the label and apparent snob value, except that his latest styles are goddam awful to look at. So I don't. Tell me how logical that is, when transferred across to a car? There's no way you're going to get me in a bright yellow car of any brand, and that applies to subtle color differentiation too.

Color is as important as the car (which is what I set out to say at the beginning of this garbled piece. More chocolate now! )

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Lexus LX470, sand/ivory leather.
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5, Jaguar Daimler and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

<img src="http://www.kensilver.com/newSLsig.jpg">

leggs

I live in Fl and can say that the sl's here are a dime a dozen. So color would be an important factor to me just so I could feel as if I didn't conform with the rest of the crowd.

I've never seen the sl in the green you like so it would be pretty rare. Also the pewter, white, and big time the orion blue are very nice and not to common colors.

WIldcat465

There is nothing boring about about an SL600. They're mean lookin' in Black--make sure you get it clayed w/teflon.

VinceB

Curious as to why you didn't like the 7spd, I figured with an extra couple of gears you'd get out of the hole that much quicker. Does it hunt to find the proper gear?

Thanks,