When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
'17 SL450, '17 Volt, '17 Malibu Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Was waiting for this as well. Sadly, it appears from the MB configurator that the SL450 is no longer available in the U.S. for 2019. I was leaning that way over a base 911, but I have no interest in a V8, so MB has made my choice for me. Bummer...
Was waiting for this as well. Sadly, it appears from the MB configurator that the SL450 is no longer available in the U.S. for 2019. I was leaning that way over a base 911, but I have no interest in a V8, so MB has made my choice for me. Bummer...
Not true, just got an SL450 in yesterday. It's great!
My understanding is that there will be NO CHANGES TO THE SL CLASS FOR 2019, but expect huge changes to be made sometime during 2020.
Expecting an all new SL Class design, (total makeover), with AMG assuming full control of the SL's design as well as all of the SL engine and drivetrain optons.
The debut of this all-new SL Class may not happen until mid-year 2020, so it will likely be considered a 2021 model.
Was waiting for this as well. Sadly, it appears from the MB configurator that the SL450 is no longer available in the U.S. for 2019. I was leaning that way over a base 911, but I have no interest in a V8, so MB has made my choice for me. Bummer...
Was able to look at a 2019 SL Dealer Ordering Guide for the U.S. The ONLY change from 2018 is MercedesMeConnect is now standard equipment. The SL450 is there, and in fact there are listings already on CarGurus from dealers for 2019 SL450s - most likely cars they have ordered but not received since 2019 SLs have not been released yet by MBUSA.
'17 SL450, '17 Volt, '17 Malibu Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Originally Posted by gkgeiger
Buy the 911, wish I would have.
I saw where you also made this comment in another thread, and I'm wondering what your experience has been to bring you to this conclusion. I know the 911 depreciates a bit more slowly than the SL, but other than that, comparing the two is like apples and pomegranates. The only reason I'm considering both is that I have yet to make up my mind whether I want a really nice sports car or a really luxurious sporty car. Both cars are excellent at what they do, but I'll have to drive both before deciding which way I want to go. You definitely get more "bang for the buck" with the SL, in terms of content...but if nothing else, the 911 is so much lighter than the SL that it has to perform better. I just don't know if that's all that important to me anymore. I might be happier in the quieter, more luxurious SL...
And yes, it appears that I have to retract my "no 2019 SL450" statement. I was in Germany earlier this week and toured the MB museum, and then the delivery center. There was a beautiful blue/porcelain SL400 there and I don't remember why, but I assumed it was a 2019. When I got back to the hotel, I went to the MB U.S. website to see if anything had changed on the SL450 and...it was no longer showing up in the SL pull-down menu. I panicked and figured that they had dropped the 450 for the U.S. Now, I see that the 450 is back in the menu...but they're still not saying whether it's a 2018 or a 2019. I haven't seen the 2020s yet, but if the inline 6/hybrid drive train is available in the SL, it might be worth waiting for...
I saw where you also made this comment in another thread, and I'm wondering what your experience has been to bring you to this conclusion. I know the 911 depreciates a bit more slowly than the SL, but other than that, comparing the two is like apples and pomegranates. The only reason I'm considering both is that I have yet to make up my mind whether I want a really nice sports car or a really luxurious sporty car. Both cars are excellent at what they do, but I'll have to drive both before deciding which way I want to go. You definitely get more "bang for the buck" with the SL, in terms of content...but if nothing else, the 911 is so much lighter than the SL that it has to perform better. I just don't know if that's all that important to me anymore. I might be happier in the quieter, more luxurious SL...
I'm soon to be 75 and also thought I wanted a quieter more luxurious car (toy). So I decided to trade my '14 C7 Convertible. I considered the 911 Cab and the SL. At that time there was a $20k price difference, which now is $50k in resale value. I understand to most here that isn't of much concern, but to me it is. I can't say I wasn't warned, but didn't believe it. I still enjoy my car but when I see and hear a 991 going by I have to take a look. The PDK is probably the best DC trans out there and the new 3.0L TT H6 is a fabulous engine. I hate to say it but my car is boring. I guess I'll never grow up.
'17 SL450, '17 Volt, '17 Malibu Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Originally Posted by gkgeiger
I'm soon to be 75 and also thought I wanted a quieter more luxurious car (toy). So I decided to trade my '14 C7 Convertible. I considered the 911 Cab and the SL. At that time there was a $20k price difference, which now is $50k in resale value. I understand to most here that isn't of much concern, but to me it is. I can't say I wasn't warned, but didn't believe it. I still enjoy my car but when I see and hear a 991 going by I have to take a look. The PDK is probably the best DC trans out there and the new 3.0L TT H6 is a fabulous engine. I hate to say it but my car is boring. I guess I'll never grow up.
Well, I'm still a whippersnapper in his mid 60s (humor), but I've had Corvettes most of my adult life. My current C4 GS coupe is cramped, noisy, and rides quite rough, and after an afternoon riding around in my buddy's '14 C7 coupe I've decided that, except for the performance level, not much has changed. I'm positive that I no longer require my fun cars to also beat the crap out of me. I expect that a 991.2 C2 will be better in that regard, but how much better I need has yet to be determined. That 991.2 surely speaks of class and refinement, but the SL screams class and refinement. Whether it is too far in that direction for me, I don't know yet. I do know that whenever I drove the 2001 E320 Fourmatic that I owned briefly, it seemed like I was driving "my father's car". Very boring ride, but I have hopes that the newer SLs are much better in that regard.
I am sorry to hear of your disappointment in the car, though. At this point your special car should really put a smile on your face. As far as not growing up, you're doing it exactly the right way! Anyone who is telling you to "grow up" probably already has one foot on the proverbial banana peal...
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; 09-21-2018 at 07:28 PM.
Owned an 83 SC Targa, whale tail, loved the car. Great driver, impractical for daily life. Recently one of my friends and I got together with family for a long weekend at the lake, he in his Turbo 911; me in the SL550. For four days we did a drive a day, swapping cars and stories, while enjoying the middle Tennessee roads. Bottom line, the consensus vote from the weekend was the SL550. When his wife found out our car could be a coupe or a drop top, the decision was made; they are shopping for an SL. I do enjoy the precision of the 911, however we rarely require that aspect in our daily driving; and unless I am tracking it is marginalized. My tracking was SCCA with roll cages, fuel cells and fire suits (Road Atlanta); I don't need a pretender at this point.. The SL delivers a world class level of performance, balanced with a confident level of luxury and entrapment. This is what all cars want to be when they grow up.
Last edited by TennesseeZ4; 09-21-2018 at 09:38 PM.
I saw where you also made this comment in another thread, and I'm wondering what your experience has been to bring you to this conclusion. I know the 911 depreciates a bit more slowly than the SL, but other than that, comparing the two is like apples and pomegranates. The only reason I'm considering both is that I have yet to make up my mind whether I want a really nice sports car or a really luxurious sporty car. Both cars are excellent at what they do, but I'll have to drive both before deciding which way I want to go. You definitely get more "bang for the buck" with the SL, in terms of content...but if nothing else, the 911 is so much lighter than the SL that it has to perform better. I just don't know if that's all that important to me anymore. I might be happier in the quieter, more luxurious SL...
And yes, it appears that I have to retract my "no 2019 SL450" statement. I was in Germany earlier this week and toured the MB museum, and then the delivery center. There was a beautiful blue/porcelain SL400 there and I don't remember why, but I assumed it was a 2019. When I got back to the hotel, I went to the MB U.S. website to see if anything had changed on the SL450 and...it was no longer showing up in the SL pull-down menu. I panicked and figured that they had dropped the 450 for the U.S. Now, I see that the 450 is back in the menu...but they're still not saying whether it's a 2018 or a 2019. I haven't seen the 2020s yet, but if the inline 6/hybrid drive train is available in the SL, it might be worth waiting for...
Not sure sure where the idea of a 2020 new SL is coming from but that will not happen.
'17 SL450, '17 Volt, '17 Malibu Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Originally Posted by gkgeiger
I’m really surprised that you are comparing a C4 to a C7. As far as I’m concerned, night and day.
I realize that I'm probably in the minority on this, but throughout the C7 launch I felt like I was watching an automobile rendition of "the emporer's new clothes". It seemed like everyone but me loved the new car, and Chevy couldn't stop trashing the previous versions. I don't know why they always do that, but they do. No one ever knows what total POSs the current Corvettes are until Chevy points out that fact during the launch of their latest version. Watch and see when the C8 comes out. Only then will we finally find out everything that's wrong with the C7, because Chevy will tell us! I have a mathematical formula: C3 + C4 = C7...wherein the C7 looks like a Hot Wheels C3 on the outside and a leather-wrapped C4 on the inside. My buddy's '14 C7 Z51 coupe isn't much more refined than my like-new '96 C4, it's just a lot faster. Since I'm old enough now that I place zero value on bar room bragging rights, from now on I'll expect my special car to be a genuinely nice car...in all regards, not just lap times. Of course, it'll cost more than a Corvette going in, but if I buy carefully it won't cost any more in depreciation. Sorry, I didn't intend to vent...
I have never understood all the hype over 0-60 times when 99% of us have no where to drive cars to their full potential. Here is the oldest car in my stable. 0-60 in............well AT 22 HP it won’t go 60. At least it has the honor of being 100 years old in 4 months which only teeny amount of vehicles will ever reach.
PS- Love the acceleration of my SL450.....it’s all about the Nine speed transmission.
The SL is under the covers on the far right...
Last edited by Utopia Texas; 10-01-2018 at 10:49 AM.
Thank you. They are a labor of love and take 4-5 years to totally rebuild both mechanically and cosmetically.
I am not a professional and just use hand tools so modern computerized cars such as my SL I do not work on.
My current is this 1957 Nash Metropolitan. I would love to restore a vintage Mercedes some day before I get too ancient!
Very nice. To ride in a 100 year old and significant car, awesome. I'm not familiar with that particular Nash, it appears short/stubby which my wife would love, hence her SLK.
'17 SL450, '17 Volt, '17 Malibu Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Originally Posted by Utopia Texas
Thank you. They are a labor of love and take 4-5 years to totally rebuild both mechanically and cosmetically.
I am not a professional and just use hand tools so modern computerized cars such as my SL I do not work on.
My current is this 1957 Nash Metropolitan. I would love to restore a vintage Mercedes some day before I get too ancient!
I started, and then spent, my career with Nash (well...American Motors/etc.) in 1973. I was born in their home town. They hold a special place in my heart to this day. BTW, you have a very nice collection there.
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; 10-01-2018 at 09:58 PM.
Since you guys are posting pics of old cars, I thought I'd post this one.One of my last old cars that I made into a '50's style hot rod. I tried earlier but didn't like the way it turned out. I miss the old PB
Last edited by gkgeiger; 10-18-2018 at 11:30 AM.
Reason: Wanted to add photo.
absolutely. I just unloaded my problematic 2013 SL550 for a 2017 Carrera Turbo S. Performance is amazing and the ride with the PDCC is very nice. The interior is very luxurious as well.
09-04-2018, 01:38 AM
