Most important is that everyone is happy with what they drive. These cars are a joy to ride

The issue with certain options is that there is too much hearsay, opinions or urban legends.

If if one doesn’t have a chance to test an option first just see if the functionality it offers would be worth the money. If not, don’t add it.

Couldn’t care less if an option is $4k; if I like it I just have to negotiate the price down a bit more

Most important is that everyone is happy with what they drive. These cars are a joy to ride
If if one doesn’t have a chance to test an option first just see if the functionality it offers would be worth the money. If not, don’t add it.

You summed it up perfectly, Wolfman!

Currently have a 07 SL550 with less than 50K miles. Have only had one issue with ABC replacement and I think it was caused when I let my neighbor test drive it. We were going down a side street with no other traffic when he inexplicably swerved over a recessed storm drain. Two days later I noticed a new noise sounding like a roar which resulted in an ABC issue which at first was not covered by my extended warranty. Seems the independent mechanic was describing the replacement wrong. To this day I still do not know the exact nature of the problem. Point being I felt like I was at the mercy of the warranty company. After owning the 07 for 8 years, putting about 2-3k miles per year, I am replacing it with a 2015 SL400 without ABC because during the test drive I could not tell a difference in the way it rode to that of my 2007. The 2015 has all the bells and whistles, premium 1, driver assist pkg, magic sky, designo leather and 35k miles. Looking forward to traveling to some nice golf outings as the 2015 trunk seems to be bigger than the 2007 to accommodate the clubs. Bottom line is that ever since the ABC issue and after the extended warranty expired I always felt like it was a ticking time bomb cost wise. Don’t think I will be missing the ABC. At this stage of my life (70 yrs) and unlike others, I value my SL driving experience as more luxury and comfort than adrenaline pumping excitement. LOL BTW owned 28 cars in my lifetime including 2 Vettes in my younger days (84 & 96) and feel the SL is the best driving experience I have ever had in an automobile. Just test drove a 2017 Corvette Gran Sport the other day and it cinched my 2015 SL400 buy.

Saw all the rave reviews and thought maybe a C7 was in my future but my dear wife helped change my mind after driving the 2015 SL400. Don’t think I’ll miss the 07’s 382hp but we will see. All the latest creature comforts and the safety features (especially blind spot) convinced me to upgrade to a newer model. Also have the Distronic on the 17 GLC300 and love it in traffic. IMHO once you own a SL it is hard to go back. LOL

Don’t worry about power, the SL400 is faster to 60mph than the 07 SL550...

I made my way through college buying, restoring & selling Corvettes in the late 60’s & early 70’s. Oh, if I could have some of those cars back now! Here’s a very old photo of me with my last ‘67. In more recent times, my last one was a new ‘03 50th Anniversary convertible, which was a very nice car, but I owned it only a year before ordering a new ‘04 SL500, which I sold in 2016, with only 22,000 miles on it. I wanted a new 2017, but before I could order one, MB dropped the Mars Red color, so I bought a CPO 2013 in Mars Red instead. I can truthfully say that as an older fellow, I will not own another car without a Collision Avoidance System. I know, a Corvette is a “driver’s car,” and that “real drivers” don’t need such “gimmicks,” blah, blah, blah! Chevrolet has a whole slew of active safety systems in their parts bins, but they refuse to put them on the Corvette, even as options. So, there will be no new Corvette for me. I love the look of the current car and would love to order a new one, but I’ll stick with my SL, be more comfortable and infinitely safer.

Funny how my wife absolutely would not drive the Vette but immediately jumped at the chance to drive the SL.

Many women—if not most, don’t like Corvettes. They consider them “show off” cars, driven by younger men who are trying to impress people. They consider them to be “mid life crisis” toys driven by older guys wearing gold chains and “on the prowl.” The SL, on the other hand, projects a much more refined and upscale image. Even though some new Corvettes are more expensive than some new SL’s, the SL’s are seen as classy, “uptown” rides, while Corvettes belong on the “other side of the tracks.” Most women would love to drive or be driven in an SL and don’t wish to be seen anywhere near a Corvette. Even though the new Corvettes are wonderful, comfortable, expensive cars, they have an image that is steeped in over 60 years of “grease monkey” history and many women—especially these days, just don’t want that. Obviously, this is just my opinion. Here I am in my ‘69 at Irwindale Raceway way back when. The other car is behind me, out of the picture.

I traded a perfect '14 C7 Vert w/2LT pkg. for my '16 SL400. I paid about $42k difference plus tax and service pkg. Today there is Only a $13k difference in trade in value. As the owner of 3 MB's I find this disturbing. By the way, I loved my C7 convertible but at 72 it was just too hard to get in and out of. I'd have to think long and hard about buying another MB.

Just read Streamliner’s msg to my wife and her response was that those were her “exact” feelings toward Corvettes. Well done!

FWIW the sticker on the C7 was $84k but it was a 2017 so they were discounting it to $68k. Just for fun I put it in one of those “what is my car worth” calculators and got a trade in value of $52-$54k.

I keep saying things like that and then I keep buying more. When I got my current S560 Sedan, I tried—REALLY TRIED— to go with another brand, but when push came to shove, I just couldn’t do it. There are so many reasons not to spend the money on these cars, but damn—they are just so frigging wonderful!

Luxury goods and anything tech has become disposable and resale values will show that.
So what.
Safety is priceless and the ride enjoyable. A hotel night or a nice dinner will cost as much as the SL in a month and either will be less memorable

Nice things cost money to own or enjoy...

... and you can’t take it (money) with you so why not enjoy. A couple of pics of the new ride.

Agree that buying a new MB is a great experience having ordered our GLC300 just the way we wanted it. We ordered a 2016 but ended up with a 2017 because it took so long to locate one. It seems you just can’t order one from the factory but instead wait for the one you want to enter the pipeline. Also agree that the “hit” you take on a new SL is not for the faint of heart. When I purchased my CPO 2007 SL550 in 2010 I thought it would be my last one. However, after 8 years and the advances in safety, I decided to upgrade and luckily found one like the one I would have ordered. I find that buying an off lease 3 year old SL is the “sweet spot” in the SL depreciation game although, when visiting the dealer, am tempted to try wrangling a deal on a new one. Who knows maybe that day will come.

I think you guys are right on the money with Corvettes versus MBs. At 73 I have had my share of Corvettes but am now on my third new MB in four years. Still, I like the Vettes and am waiting for the mid motor C8 to roll out. Hope I don't like it too much.

Regarding future SL model - Just found an article dated 2014 about the SL and SLK sharing architecture and another dated 2016 about AMG taking over and sharing with the GT. Both refer to “dwindling sales” as reason for 8th gen model.

A car equipped with ABC is ALWAYS using ABC. The button is to change from regular mode to Sport mode. Having owned a 2004 SL500 that came standard with ABC and then getting a 2013 SL550 without ABC, IMO, the difference in ride quality and handling is dramatic, with the ABC car driving much nicer.