RJC

Becker Automotive in Oxnard needs to take a look at the seat of a new SL; they are working on a true cooled seat for the SL using thermoelectric cooling unit ala Jaguar and some others brands. If anyone in CA is interested please reply or PM me. For your time and assistance I will offer to pay for the cost of the cooling units themselves if you deceided to have them installed. True cooled seats are an amazing option that MB should be using rather than the plain venting fans.

Here's a link to Becker http://beckerautodes********/index.htm as you will see the level of their work and client list is increadible ie Tiger Woods, The Royal Family, Mark Walhberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Lopez, and countless others http://beckerautodes********/clients.html

I have no interest in Becker at all; I'm in FL and would like them to create a kit for all of us. Becker is interested per my suggestion of these devices and will use them for their hot climate customers. Here's a link to the company that makes them for OEM ie Jaguar Infiniti, Lexus 460 etc http://amerigon.com/

Thanks

absent

Not a delivery but picking up my rental tomorrow for my weekend in LA.
Black/Black loaded.

newyorktoLA

I've already seen a couple around Beverly hills

RJC

If you will be doing this again in about 2-3 weeks or so they would be interested as the cooling units will have been received by then.

Thanks

absent

Picked it up yesterday morning and as the day was warmer then expected I had to try the cooling seats.
Like in my S63,completely worthless,wife's Range Rover works much,much better.
Otherwise,the car is absolutely fabulous,would put SL63 to shame,both in acceleration (brutal) and handling.

RJC

The RR seats have the thermoelectric coolers like the Jags and are awesome. Let's see if Becker can pull this off.

MBUSA are you listening????

Glad to hear you like the car. I read in this mos Automobile mag the new S class due out soon base V8 will be 510hp!?!

absent

Pics taken yesterday with an iphone:

RJC

Car looks good in black but like most MB's it would benefit greatly from AMG wheels IMHO.

I can only imagine this car with another 30 HP or so. I think we are in a unique time of ultra high power cars like the late 60's...if history is any indication it won't last

Thanks for sharing.

absent

Easy upgrade from Renntech to over 500hp.
Excellent performance from a "basic" SL and a lot of car for the money.

platinumsc

RJC, you causing trouble over here on mbworld! lol
Did you get your SL yet?

This is Ice350, better yet Reggie from jaguarforums. When I registered at mbworld years ago I was driving a platinum colored Lexus SC300 (that I miss every day of my life)....hence the handle platinumsc.

Your signature has TBD after the SL listing. Does that mean the cooled seats are to be determined or the whole car?

RJC

Hey Reggie,

The car is on hold until we can successfully retrofit the thermoelectric cooling units since I need them for my spinal injury. As you've probably read here I've found a company in CA (Becker Automotive) that is very interested in using them in their MB Sprinter applications and as a return of favor for me suggesting the idea to them they are willing to try and retrofit a set into an SL seat. Thanks to the good people of this forum I was able to find several people in CA with SL/R230's or E55/63/W211-212’s that offered their cars for testing and I offered to buy the unit itself for one lucky individual as my way of saying thanks. There’s even a guy here Richard B with a new 231 who offered to help out in the retrofit; there’s some really good people here.

In the interim I rented a 2012 XF Portfolio on a monthly basis after returning my loaner XF Port to the dealership I bought the XKR from. Both Portfolio XF's have been solid cars with no issues at all; I truly wish my XKR was that problem free.

If the seat retro fit works I may order a 2014 SL vs the 13 as it’s been reported by several credible major sources, MB is going to a single turbo V8 with even more power across the MB range for 14.

What did you think of the wite/red SL pics posted here; stunning car/combo isn't it?

Regards....

platinumsc

It most definitely is. White on red is a stunning combo. I'm thinking of going black on red myself.
Well, good luck with your project. I hope it works out well.

Staff@WORLD

Where did you rent one from, ho much did they charge?

RJC

Thanks. What car did you finally decide on?

platinumsc

Everything depends on the new job I'm getting but I have made some decisions. Stay tuned....not telling yet.

nsxguy

I was picking up mine until I woke up

platinumsc

I finally test drove the XKR today. I thought of you because the engine felt like it was missing. It is a really sexy car but doesn't have as much legroom as I thought for a car that's 188 inches long.
Next up for testing is the 991, followed by the SL550.

Soly20

Kindly let us know your thoughts of the 991.

platinumsc

Will do.

RJC

Not surprising, I wonder if they'll ever correct the defect?
Best of luck whatever you decide on.

platinumsc

You asked for my thoughts on the 991.

I wanted to drive the 911 Carrera S with 400 hp but it had just been sold and they only had the base model with 350 hp available. This was the very first time I drove a sport car with the engine behind your head and I was loving it to no end. The sales guy let me take corners and curves like I was on a roller coaster. I had plenty of leg room and head room. Tight with shoulder room but definitely liveable. My sales guy didn't really take me through the tech features. I kept trying to ask him if the car could this or that. He seemed preoccupied. Maybe it was because I told him I wouldn't be ready to buy for a few months. Still no excuse for poor salesmanship though.
Biggest disappoint was the lack of power. I floored the car on the interstate and was surprised at the lack of pull. My GS pulls stronger than that. The sales guy tried to tell me to come back next week to try the S model. He feels sure I will be happy with its power but it's only 50 more hp. I've read Porsche has a model that produces 430 hp. Maybe that's the one to get.
I did like the car though and could definitely see myself in one.

I also drove the SL550 and liked it more than I thought I would. It looks and feels very high quality. It is luxurious and sporty. Decent power and decent handling. Not like a 991 but decent. Very comfy as well. Tough decisions.

Soly20

Many thanks for you review of the 911. I always thought the interior of the 911 was a bit cheap compared to the Mercs/SL. Did you notice that as well on the new 911?

platinumsc

Without a doubt. The interior is better in the new 991 911 than the 997 911 but still not up to the luxury standards I am accustomed to. The SL was a very nice place to be in.
The 911 was alright but felt a lot like the old VW Beetle imo. Please don't tell the guys at 6speed.com I said this. Those guys over there think the 911 is luxurious inside. I didn't argue with them but I was amazed at their belief.
I have been driving Lexus the last 11 years and had a Benz before that. I love high quality interiors. However, I am willing to let that go if I choose to buy a 911. It can easily be improved inside. I'd carbon fiber everything in there.

clembo

Guys - I have a 2012 991S and a 2007 SL550 that I am considering trading for a new one. First to the 991, I have an S so the power is great, the car pulls in all gears and the power can be used because the new suspension is so compliant. The car is great, but I think that the 911 and SL do not really compete, other than price. The 911 is really a sports car, great peformance, wants to be driven fast all of the time, but even with the new nicer interior, it is not as comfortable or usable as an SL on a daily basis. I don't view the SL as a true sports car, I think it is a car with tremendous performance potential, but more abt to be used in spurts, as it really is the finest tourer available.

Many may disagree, but that is how I see it.

I love my current SL, and I want the new one but my wife is unsure of the design - it is really her car. I have not gotten her to a dealership yet that has one so I'll need to do that soon.

GSX-R_Squared

Clembo.. try the SL63.. we have one and there is nothing from your statement regarding performance that applies to that car