PilotMike

I’ve been a lurker on various Mercedes Benz forums over the years, including this one. I occasionally search for information about the various MB cars I’ve owned over the years; and I have found these forums chock-full of helpful information.
I’m compelled to write because of some of the negative stuff I’ve been seeing about the R231 styling.
In mid-August, I purchased a black-on-black (black/black interior/black ash) 2013 SL550 with Premium 1 package, Sport Wheel package, soft-close doors, dashtop clock and illuminated door sills. Funny thing is that I was not actively seeking a new car (well, at least not consciously). I had stopped by my local MB dealer in Bellevue WA on a sunny Friday afternoon to have them fix a minor thing on my 2006 CLS 500. I went into the showroom to wait and 5 hours later I had traded-in my CLS and drove home in the SL550.
The car was sitting in the showroom. At first, I found the new styling a bit perplexing and jarring, but the more time I spent with the car the more I liked it. I’ve been stalking the SL for almost 30 years now, and this 6th generation, in a way, brought me back to the first SL (R107) that I drove (as a parking attendant at a country club back in 1983). While not as legendary (in appearance) as the R107, the R231 is a significant change from the R230, and is a pretty bold statement from Mercedes. And isn’t boldness one of the reasons why we love this model, second only to the Corvette in terms of longevity?
And then I drove this car. As fast as last-year’s SL63, handles well and has a very cool retro interior (again, reminding me of the W107). In sixteen seconds it goes from a quiet coupe to a great roadster. I’ve been working my way up the MB food-chain for a while now (started with a 1999 CLK320 before my CLS500), and this car just blew me away.
Anyway, that’s my story. Some love the new styling – including me. Some don’t. If you don’t, buy something else – it’s a big World out there. That’s what diversity is all about.
If anyone is interested, I will post my observations after having now put about 1200 miles on this car.

clembo

Mike - congratulations on your car. I have a 2007 SL, actually it is really my wife's car. I want to buy her the 2013 but she read the reviews in the car magazines and now she is convinced that the front end styling is not as nice as her current car. She knows it will perform much better, but...

I will eventually get her to move on, but it is great to see stories such as yours and how much you love your car.

PilotMike

Hope your wife does not read Vanity Fair. VF just did a drive-by attack on the R231 in a recent article on SLs (rated it 5th out of 6 in terms of SL styling). But Vanity Fair knows as much about cars as Car & Driver knows about fashion. They rated the R129 HIGHER than both the R230 (6th place) and the R231 (5th place). Sheesh. These magazines really ought to stick to their areas of expertise......

Daytona-flyer

I get positive remarks from other drivers almost daily.

BenzV12

I like R231s a lot and would seriously love to own one as a 2nd MB . Only one negative I can say about it . It's the damn basic A/C controller knobs . I see no point of using same things as you can find in W204
MB should use all the way digital A/C control unit as you can find in W212s , these should be as common not those ones in W204s

Believe in me these look nicer and look uniform with the Comand unit

PilotMike

Hmmmm. Lemme give you my thoughts on that. My 06' CLS500 had a fully digital climate control unit. Sure I could dial in the temperature very precisely, but I found it quite tedious to have to hit the up and down arrow buttons all the time to make significant temperature changes. In the SL (with the rotary dials) it is very easy to spin the temparature up or down. Quick. The lack of granularity (2 degree changes with the dial v. 1 degree changes with the digital unit) really doesn't matter all that much (at least to me).

Daytona-flyer

The round knobs add to the retro aviation theme of the interior and Grill.

I wonder.... exactly what is the difference between old and retro?

PilotMike

I guess "old" is boring and "retro" is cool.

PilotMike

Well, here's my car, just back from the detailer. I had the car treated iwth 22ple (paint sealant) since I am just paranoid about dirt and scratches on a black car. Looks good I think.

BenzV12

That's a super cool car and I like that color a lot too

SLS

I'm the same way. I love my 2003 SL, and SL's in general. I was hoping to trade for the new SL but I just can't get past the front end. I didn't feel like I was making any compromises when I purchased the SL in 2003 (although being a tech geek, I was disappointed that there was no Bluetooth, hard drive storage, and wireless back then.) however, I loved the look of the car so much that I didn't care. After 10 years, it still puts a hugh grin on my face, much more so than my wifes new 2013 640i Gran Coupe.

Now, I would like to have the tech options but not so much as to overcome my dislike of the new front end. It's frustrating as I don't want any other car. Same goes for the SLS, beautiful design except for the front end.

Maybe I'll come around, who knows. Maybe I'll trade for a 2007/2008 SL65. (The last year the older body style was available.) The electronics would be a little better.

jmrscuderia

I had order a new CLS AMG 63 back in January and a month later after a saw the new SL on a magazine I change my mind and place the order. I been driving it for about 3 months now and put 2000 miles and all I can said its WOW!!!

jmrscuderia

This Forum is about Mercedes Benz owners charing there experience and there joy driving this incredible automobiles and everywhere I see your comments it's mostly negative, you should change forum or actually drive one to really put some joy into your life. (No disrespect)

Daytona-flyer

I have reported you to the moderator.

Here is the link to my post. It's towards the end. I posted this just this morning. What are the odds I'd post the exact words twice? Why would I post that in this thread? Why does he think I don't like or even own what's in my photos?

Guy's here is the link to my post. It's towards the end. You decide what's going on. https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...gusting-2.html

jmrscuderia

Wow!!!!! you reported me to the mederator I WON'T sleep tonight cry baby.

Daytona-flyer

I have deleted the bogus post.