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2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
No more SL65. Seats? Trim? Wheels?
Now that it appears that the SL65 has gone the way of the Dodo Bird, is that the end of the beautiful, diamond tufted SL65 interior, the extra front fascia chrome trim & those gorgeous staggered wheels? Wouldn’t you think that they should offer those items as optional on the SL63 for the final year of the R231, if there IS a 2020 R231 series? Actually, I’d like to see those items offered across all SL models as options, but fat chance of that happening. I’d also like to see the Ceramic Composite Brake option offered on all SL models. Why not? Sometimes I think the MB folks in Stuttgart feel they have too much of our money already and they don’t want anymore, while the folks at Porsche are the exact opposite. Want Ceramic Composite brakes on a Boxster? No problem, that will be $7410.00 extra, just sign here! WHY won’t MB do things like this? The parts are right there in the bins. They bolt right on. What is their problem??? I would have ordered the brakes on my S560, but, of course, that’s not allowed on a non AMG car. Ridiculous!
Last edited by Streamliner; 11-10-2018 at 12:30 AM.
Stream, You are fighting a losing battle. I have been married to a Wonderful woman of German extraction for 36 years. You do not understand their thought process!
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Utopia Texas
Stream, You are fighting a losing battle. I have been married to a Wonderful woman of German extraction for 36 years. You do not understand their thought process!
Actually, I do.
For decades, I was the exclusive U.S. agent & importer for a line of products produced in Germany. I would vist Germany every year and I absolutely LOVE the German people. A part of my ancestry is German. That said, sometimes, when dealing with these folks, I felt like I was talking to a brick wall! The word “stubborn” doesn’t begin to describe it. Ah, but the bratwurst and the strudel!
Looks like there is going to be a 2020, R231 SL450 and 550 , also a Grand Edition version for each. NO SL65 as you indicate but I am wondering if in the final year of the R231 if there will be an SL63. It could be that 2019 was the final year of the R231 SL63.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Yeah, it appears to be true that an SL Grand Edition will be done, but in typical MB form, the special model will come in only one color combination, which I find quite unappealing. Can you even imagine the fun & excitement it would have been if these special editions were available to order in various color combinations? Oh well.
Yeah, it appears to be true that an SL Grand Edition will be done, but in typical MB form, the special model will come in only one color combination, which I find quite unappealing. Can you even imagine the fun & excitement it would have been if these special editions were available to order in various color combinations? Oh well.
I find this car quite appealing (it even appears to have ABC) and quite special. First time ever! to see a SL65 interior in a lower level model. That said, of course it would be great to have more color choices but MB will be lucky to sell a 100 cars of these. They won't take chances with these tiny volumes.
Not sure what the US will get exactly. I just checked and see that the car will be available soon (can be ordered in Europe starting 2 days). In Europe the cars at least will be available in 5 colors (special diamond white, gray, blacks) No other colors unfortunately. They are not talking about ABC but the ABC buttons seem to be in the center console when looking at pics.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
When I look at those seats, it looks to me as though they are trying way too hard to make them as busy and as ostentatious as they can. All those colors and logos. Where I thought the SL65 interiors were exceptionally rich looking, I just don't get that from this Grand Edition car. Looks like something out of Mad Max to me.
When I look at those seats, it looks to me as though they are trying way too hard to make them as busy and as ostentatious as they can. All those colors and logos. Where I thought the SL65 interiors were exceptionally rich looking, I just don't get that from this Grand Edition car. Looks like something out of Mad Max to me.
Compared to the 231 I currently own, I find the 2020 'Grand Edition' rather disappointing. Of course, YMMV will always apply here.
Black Exteriors are just so common with these cars to begin with, that it seems a rather 'boring color' for a 'Grand Edition'. If indeed there is a Diamond White Color option we haven't seen yet, then perhaps it will look a bit better, although I must say, white is also a very 'common' color on 231's.
I would have loved to see MB introduce a 'new' gold, copper, or 'champagne color' that has never been seen before and specifically created for this 'Grand Edition'. A unique color with more 'pop' would have been the proper tribute to the outgoing 231...And for that matter a different interior design rather than just using the one from the SL65. ..Oh well!
Perhaps there is nobody left at Mercedes Benz with the vision, creativity, the budget, or even the appetite for trying to make the last 231 truly 'special'. That odd colored, 'diamond quilted' leather interior looks particularly atrocious to my eye, and that design was obviously taken directly from the SL65 and then simply re-colored, rather than re-imagined. To me, the diamond quilted interior appears a bit too 'pimped out' and yet it's color scheme lacks the proper 'pop' needed for a 'Grand Edition' interior. . Could have been more striking and more 'classy' as well!. However, to MB's credit, at least they didn't use 'blacked out' wheels on it.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised at all because when MB brings out these 'special edition vehicles', they normally manage to 'miss the mark' in trying to make it unique, classy, and beautiful (This had been true of 'Launch Editions' as well as 'Final Editions'). These 'Special Editions' always leave me thinking the designers could have done so much better considering the premium prices they expect to get for these 'Special Edition Vehicles'. .
Then again, maybe there is some MB psychology at work here....Maybe MB is ensuring the 2020 'Grand Edition' doesn't look 'too good', just so the next generation 2021 'Soft Top SL Class' can look better when it is compared to 'the last of the 231's.
Compared to my own 231, I find the 2020 'Grand Edition' to be rather 'ugly'.
Isn't there somebody left at Mercedes Benz with decent taste in exteiror/interior colors and better at leather seat design? That odd colored, and 'over quilted' leather interior really looks atrocious to my eye! Way too 'pimped out' for my taste;!
Clearly this 2020 'Grand Edition' is not the kind of SL Class I would ever choose, and my general feeling is that when MB brings out these 'special edition vehicles', they always 'miss the mark' if indeed the goal is to pay proper homage to a particular line of MB vehicles. These 'Special Editions' always seems to come with odd colors, funky interiors, etc rather the very best of that model's exterior, interior, and trim options that a 'final edition' so deserves..
Then again, maybe there is a bit of MB psychology at work here....Maybe MB is actually making the 2020 'Grand Edition' look uglier than earlier 231's purposely, just so the next generation 2021 'Soft Top SL Class' will look a bit better if compared to 'the very last 231', the 2020 'Grand Edition'....Yuck!
Well, given your verbiage I hate you see what you actually like
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
I love the quilted interiors of the SL65 (top photo), but truly dislike the Grand Edition interior (lower photo). I’d like a tan dash and darker tan carpets in the top photo, but with the tan arm rests, it looks great as it is. What say you?
Last edited by Streamliner; 02-20-2019 at 09:52 PM.
I love the quilted interiors of the SL65 (top photo), but truly dislike the Grand Edition interior (lower photo). I’d like a tan dash and darker tan carpets in the top photo, but with the tan arm rests, it looks great as it is. What say you?
I like the SL65 better, but not $235k better Always had a thing for saddle interiors and am thinking of a coupe with that right now.
Always liked the diamond stitching; just like in the S-Class. This will be a very nice interior in the flesh. Not my favorite color combo to be sure but then no SL-Edition model ever was.
But I find some of these comments bizarre. First, this is identical to the SL65 AMG seat (which are great seats) and two-tone seats have been a long tradition in SL's (at least in the SL600). I remember a R129 SL600 with a light gray/dark gray interior. So this is nothin new and nobody at MB has lost their mind...
I have confirmed that there will be no SL63 produced for model year 2020. As far as the Grand Edition goes I agree that more color choices should have been offered. Although I completely understand color is a personal choice, this combination is a non starter for me.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
If you go on Mercedes-Benz.de, the German, MB website, the Grand Edition option is shown and seems to be available for order right now. However, I would imagine that all such orders will be processed as MY20 cars.
If you go on Mercedes-Benz.de, the German, MB website, the Grand Edition option is shown and seems to be available for order right now. However, I would imagine that all such orders will be processed as MY20 cars.
A $14,000 premium for the Grand Edition. I wouldn't be interested if it was N/C. Will be interesting to see how many of these sell in the US.
The quality of this thread has quickly deteriorated which is quite unfortunate.
Are you saying that just because not everyone happens to agree with your 'glowing assessment' of the 231 'Grand Edition'?
People are obviously going to have varying opinions as to what a proper 'final edition' of 231 should look like For at the end of the day, this 'Grand Edition' is 'a tribute car' that is also marking 'the end of folding hardtop era', and many of us are quite sad about that.
Clearly MB could have done something far more 'special' than what we are seeing in your Grand Edition pics. At the very least, a unique new exterior color would have been nice to see. However, it appears that MB simply elected to use existing 231 exterior colors with an interior trim package and wheels borrowed from a higher end model to create the 'Grand Edition' . Doesn't appear MB bothered to spend much time or effort to create anything truly 'special' here, so it should be no surprise that such a 'ho-hum effort' is somewhat of a disappointment for many loyal 231 owners.
In my opinion, the 'Grand Edition' isn't that 'grand' despite the name MB has given it...
Long Live the 231..Sadly, The 'Grand Edition' is the way MB says goodbye to the 231 and the folding hardtop that so many of us enjoy so much!....
In my opinion, and apparently that of others here, the 231 deserved a better effort for the 'tribute model' send off!...
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by bob55
Are you saying that just because not everyone happens to agree with your 'glowing assessment' of the 231 'Grand Edition'?
People are obviously going to have varying opinions as to what a proper 'final edition' of 231 should look like For at the end of the day, this 'Grand Edition' is 'a tribute car' that is also marking 'the end of folding hardtop era', and many of us are quite sad about that.
Clearly MB could have done something far more 'special' than what we are seeing in your Grand Edition pics. At the very least, a unique new exterior color would have been nice to see. However, it appears that MB simply elected to use existing 231 exterior colors with an interior trim package and wheels borrowed from a higher end model to create the 'Grand Edition' . Doesn't appear MB really bothered to spend much time or effort to create anything truly 'special' here, so it should be no surprise that such a 'ho-hum effort' is a disappointment for many current 231 owners.
Seems to me the 'Grand Edition' just really isn't all that 'grand' despite the name MB gave it...
Long Live the 231...The 'Grand Edition' is clearly MB's way of saying goodbye to the 231 and the folding hardtop that so many of us enjoy so much!..
In my opinion, and apparently that of a few others here, it deserved a much better 'final model' send off!...
No, I believe Wolfman was referring to my tacky post, which I did not think through carefully and which I have now changed. It inferred that anyone who likes the Grand Edition has poor taste, which was NOT what I wanted to convey. We all have different tastes. Just because I don't care for the Grand Edition, doesn't mean that many others won't love it. Sorry guys.
No, I believe Wolfman was referring to my tacky post, which I did not think through carefully and which I have now changed. It inferred that anyone who likes the Grand Edition has poor taste, which was NOT what I wanted to convey. We all have different tastes. Just because I don't care for the Grand Edition, doesn't mean that many others won't love it. Sorry guys.
The glitter SL was a bit over the top
That said, many of us have been driving SL's for a long time and we all have a very defined opinion of how these cars should look like. There are many color and option combinations I like and many that I didn't. To your point, the diminishing color choices are disappointing and are unfortunately a sign of an ending production line that is getting no more internal resources. No matter how much the retail of the car, MB is taking a bath due to low volume.
I, however, will never call a car ugly just because a leather color combo is not to ones liking. Never understood this love/hate of a car over a tiny detail.
We always custom order our cars so that we get exactly what we want. That rules out special editions which often have tempting details and also miss important options for me (like ABC) and thus eliminate them as an option. The exception was our E63s Edition1 which had over $30k in special edition options and still missed some options that I would have wanted.
Yet it appears that some on this thread are unfamiliar with special edition cars (MB or otherwise) as they complain about the very thing that make these special editions.
As to costs, if this Grand Edition option is only the $14k it is an absolute bargain!
The forged AMG wheels alone are almost $12k if purchased separately (without tires). Love the exterior color as shown (very similar or same?) to our magnetite black S-Class, classy wheels and some SL65 bling.
Interior is equal to the SL65 although I don't know if it features a leather headliner as well. That would be in the $15k range by itself.
People that have not seen the interiors in the flesh or sat in one will not know enough to have a qualified opinion. AMG seats are the best seats to have in an SL...
My suggestion is to wait for the car, see it in real life and then can judge if they hate it These will quickly sell IMO.
The car is so outdated to the point of any new window dressing looks good on it IMO.
M
Not sure if I agree with you but can't tell what part you consider outdated. It is relatively young in SL terms as there have only been six SL models in the last 65 years.
The V8 is a previous engine hanging on for a bit longer where they were just replaced in the coupe/cab a year ago. The V6 is still being phased out so nothing that can't be considered very outdated.
Comparing the car to the AMG GT line, the SL has newer tech than that and even the MY20 AMG will only be on par, unless you consider the digital dash a revolution.
9G-Tronic, Distronic Plus, ABC, CarPlay etc. is equivalent to other MB models.
In many ways, high-volume low-end models get a lot of new features, hence we have MBUX, inline 4's and 6's and 48Volt systems coming from the bottom up.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Germancar1
The car is so outdated to the point of any new window dressing looks good on it IMO.
M
Well, maybe it is a bit outdated, compared to the W222 S Class and some of the other MB models, but the R231 has a lot going for it, when compared to other convertibles currently available. The SL is still “THE SL!” It may not be the fanciest, or the flashiest and it certainly isn’t the fastest or the best handling, but for folks of a certain age, it is still “THE” comfortable, luxurious, safe, secure and FUN convertible to have. The fact that it is a pure 2-seater and has that simply marvelous, retractable hardtop, while offering the fit, finish and opulence of a top line MB, makes the car stand out from all those other drop-tops on the market. I’ve had seven SL’s, with number 8 on the way. I can’t wait!
11-10-2018, 12:00 AM
