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HA-HA! Yes, I read the previous thread that kinda addressed the POWER differential.
I'm just wondering why the V8 engine, which I understand is actually an "older" design, can cost so much more than the newer V6.
And, again, my hangup is the WHEELS. I GOTTA have the SL550 AMG 19" 5-spoke wheels. According to my first meeting with the salesguy, that's a very difficult and expensive thing to do.
Well, I couldn't justify the difference in '16 when I bought my SL400. At that time I think it was over $20k more for the V8. I traded a '14 C7 Vette on my SL and I do miss that V8 sound but love the smooth power the TT V6 makes. I think I have the wheels you like and I don't care for any of the MY17/18 wheels that are offered. If I could find a set of the AMG 10 spoke wheels for mine I might put mine up for sale. So far no luck though.
The 6 cylinder is zippy enough for me and I think the key is the nine speed transmission.
I could easily afford the v8 so price was not a consideration.
Cardinal Red.....
Cardinal Red
Yes it does have a slight orange tinge in bright sunlight but all my other vehicles are red and I can't stand the other boring colors Mercedes offers that look like every other car on the road.
Last edited by Utopia Texas; Dec 1, 2017 at 09:11 PM.
Utopia: Cardinal Red is probably what I will get. Saw it at the dealership on Wed.; an SL450 in the shade and on a sedan in the bright sunlight. Colors are obviously very subjective, but I like it. And, yours are the optional (on the SL450) MULTI-SPOKE wheels. They're very classy, but I'm NOT a particularly classy guy. Plus, that's a lot of spokes to clean in between. I've always leaned toward 5-spoke wheels and that SL550 standard wheel is REALLY nice. In fact, I'm amazed that it's standard. Your car is GORGEOUS!
gkgeiger: I'll be selling or trading in my '09 Z51 3LT Crimson Red Metallic on an SL. I've had 3 Vettes and this will be the first time I'll be "Vette-less" in a LONG time. Just getting too old to try and squeeze into the LOW cockpit, plus the passenger side on the C7 is a tad tighter than the driver's side. It is one helluva car, though. And, you could load it up with everything and it'd still be less $ than an SL550.
If I recall, there is nice long thread about the subject.
Go back a bit; I think it provides all the pros/cons/opinions on the subject one cares to know.
I too, can not justify the extra cost of a 550 -! I had a SL 400 -in Cardinal Red and loved it - traded it in for a 2018 SL 450 - same color - and even better with the 9 speed and extra Horses !
No need to have a 550 - as the 450 is almost just as quick - and 18 grand is still in my pocket
My reason for trading the 2015 for the 2018, were the 2015 was bought off the dealer floor - the new one looks the same but has Drivers assist, Soft close doors, and the wheel and tire insurance program, which I did not buy on the 2015 - I could not add it after the purchase was done, so when I ordered the 2018, I had it included.
Make offer - My Mercedes Dealership tells me they retail for 2,926 for the set - (fronts are 538 each, rears are 925 each) They only have 28 miles on them as they were taken off
my 2018 Mercedes (pictured on the web site with the wheels of my choice) they just want to find a home - selling all 4, will not sell individually - MAKE OFFER - Pick up
Spring Lake New Jersey
There is a place in Chino Calif that sells original Mercedes wheels the ones you are looking for (AMG 5 Spoke) for $500 per wheel. Just google OEM wheels Chino Ca for the web site.
This "wheel deal" is really hanging me up. I still have a couple of months to go before making a final decision, but the position you're in trying to sell the OEM "take-offs" is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. Regardless of how you look at it, even if you paid full price for the AMG 19" 5-spoke wheels it would be cheaper than getting the SL550.
I like the ones you chose, BTW. Your car looks FABULOUS!
I think the price differences between the four trim levels are greater than they should be, and I think the SL is overly priced. That said, I want the SL, and I want the 550, so that is what I chose for me.
This "wheel deal" is really hanging me up. I still have a couple of months to go before making a final decision, but the position you're in trying to sell the OEM "take-offs" is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. Regardless of how you look at it, even if you paid full price for the AMG 19" 5-spoke wheels it would be cheaper than getting the SL550.
I like the ones you chose, BTW. Your car looks FABULOUS!
I suppose it's a question of taste. I always disliked the SL550 wheels and took them off in a matter of days and used them for snows.
They are not available for the SL550 for a reason; it is to differentiate the models. This shouldn't be a surprise though as each model is catered to a slightly different market.
As to the price difference; I wouldn't call it ridiculous at all. We had hydro-locked a few months old SL550 and the replacement engine with labor clocked in at over $70k. That was in 2013 though...
You are correct; the differences have been discussed previously. I had scanned the posts before, but I was looking to zero in on the PRICE difference which just seems like GOUGING to me. I still don't see how there can be $18K worth of difference between these two engines.
Mercedes pricing in the near future will have to reflect competition or the SL will go the way of the dinosaur. There are multiple competitors on the market that have all the electronic bells and whistles found in the S class and in better color options starting at almost half the price. Mercedes itself is even competing with its own S class by offering innovations previously only found in the S class in their less expensive series. At some point one wonders how many will be willing to shell out Tens of thousands of extra dollars just for the letter "S" on the trunk.
Mercedes pricing in the near future will have to reflect competition or the SL will go the way of the dinosaur. There are multiple competitors on the market that have all the electronic bells and whistles found in the S class and in better color options starting at almost half the price. Mercedes itself is even competing with its own S class by offering innovations previously only found in the S class in their less expensive series. At some point one wonders how many will be willing to shell out Tens of thousands of extra dollars just for the letter "S" on the trunk.
Pricing will have little influence over the success of the SL. SL sales and convertible sales (insert any brand/model here) as a whole have been dropping due to people switching to SUV's and other cross overs. You can see that even on sedans. With more EV's coming into the play in the coming years, this may change again but pricing has virtually nothing to do with this.
I was looking at a AMG GTC convertible last week which electronically is at the same level of the SL. That car was $185k...
The grand tourers will get squeezed between the more technical, less roadster-like cabs (like the E or S-Class cab) or the high-performance roadsters. I don't think money makes a big difference. At any time n the history of the SL it was a more expensive car than other MB sedans or competitors and sold just fine. But manufacturers now cater to micro-niches and literally have 50-100 different models/configs. MB itself has 6 different convertible models, not counting engine variations...
You are correct; the differences have been discussed previously. I had scanned the posts before, but I was looking to zero in on the PRICE difference which just seems like GOUGING to me. I still don't see how there can be $18K worth of difference between these two engines?
Hmm. The price difference in engines is significant. Wether you feel if it worth the difference is up to you. A SL65 is another $120k more. I think your point would be more relevant here...
Pricing will have little influence over the success of the SL. SL sales and convertible sales (insert any brand/model here) as a whole have been dropping due to people switching to SUV's and other cross overs. You can see that even on sedans. With more EV's coming into the play in the coming years, this may change again but pricing has virtually nothing to do with this.
I was looking at a AMG GTC convertible last week which electronically is at the same level of the SL. That car was $185k...
The grand tourers will get squeezed between the more technical, less roadster-like cabs (like the E or S-Class cab) or the high-performance roadsters. I don't think money makes a big difference. At any time n the history of the SL it was a more expensive car than other MB sedans or competitors and sold just fine. But manufacturers now cater to micro-niches and literally have 50-100 different models/configs. MB itself has 6 different convertible models, not counting engine variations...
So what micro-niche does the SL fit into since Mercedes has 6 different convertables? One of my points was that in some ways the only difference
Between the SL and other Mercedes is just its ranking in the Mercedes hierarchy due to price.
The price difference in engines is significant. Wether you feel if it worth the difference is up to you. A SL65 is another $120k more. I think your point would be more relevant here...
The thing is, for ME, coming from a "Corvette Economic Group," just considering a move up to an SL450 is a HUGE price jump. Forking out another $18K for the V8 engine just adds insult to injury.
One of my points was that in some ways the only difference
Between the SL and other Mercedes is just its ranking in the Mercedes hierarchy due to price.
It isn't. First off, the SL is a straight up roadster, second, it's a GT. Mercedes only has two; the budget one (SLC, used to be SLK) and the SL.
The C, E, S Class cabrios are not roadsters; they are topless 4 seat derivatives of their coupe brethren's .
The AMG roadsters are more sports cars than GT's (even though its in the name; they definitely misses the creature comforts of the SL)
The thing is, for ME, coming from a "Corvette Economic Group," just considering a move up to an SL450 is a HUGE price jump. Forking out another $18K for the V8 engine just adds insult to injury.
Not sure where the injury part comes in but understand where you are coming from. To me it was worth the extra money and I have driven both thousands of miles to know the pros/cons. You have a choice and neither is a bad one
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Plus, that's a lot of spokes to clean in between. I've always leaned toward 5-spoke wheels and that SL550 standard wheel is REALLY nice. In fact, I'm amazed that it's standard. Your car is GORGEOUS!
