SL/R231: SL450 vs. SL550: I knew it wasn’t just me..............
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Shanks’s Pony
There will be another SL but expected to be significantly different from today’s - you can search this forum for a lot of info and speculation. Generally expected to have soft top and 2+2 seating - maybe a more luxury oriented AMG-GT? It may have some features superior to the r231 (chance to correct audio deficiencies for one), but lack of a folding hardtop giving true coupe/convertible in one form means I will be holding on to my 231 until I’m too old to drive it.
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From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
When the 231 is done, I'll be referring to its replacement as "SL"...purposely in quotes. To me, an SL is a two-seater, period. If the rumored spec on its replacement is correct, it'll be more of a sporty S class. Of course, MB is free to call it anything they wish, but to me, the current car will be the end of the line for the SL. Also, I've owned a couple of soft top cars that I purchased new. Never again.
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2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
If the replacement is a 4 seater with a soft top, I'll be buying another used R231 in a few years. MB already has a couple 4 place convertibles, why do they need another one? BMW's Z4 has also dropped the retractable hardtop in favor of a soft top but it is a smaller car. I had a 2010, it was a fun car but too small for long road trips. Rumor has it Lexus might offer a drop top LC500 next year. Too bad it has a front end that looks like a cow catcher on the front of a locomotive.
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2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
When the 231 is done, I'll be referring to its replacement as "SL"...purposely in quotes. To me, an SL is a two-seater, period. If the rumored spec on its replacement is correct, it'll be more of a sporty S class. Of course, MB is free to call it anything they wish, but to me, the current car will be the end of the line for the SL. Also, I've owned a couple of soft top cars that I purchased new. Never again.
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From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Yeah, I feel much the same. However, IF the new SL is MAGNIFICENT, I just may go for one, with the idea being that I’ll lease it for three years, give it back and get a new one. I love the retractable hard top, but the fact of the matter is that I drive my SL with the top down 99% of the time, so as much as I dislike soft tops, I could live with one, IF everything else was truly AMAZING. If it isn’t, I’ll just keep my 2019 for the duration.
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It may well be "magnificent", but I don't care if it can spout wings and fly...to me, the whole point of an SL is that it's a two-seater. That's what makes it so exclusively, indulgently, luxurious. There are any number of four-seat rag tops out there already; some of them are really nice, too. MB was always offering something special with the SL, but now they're letting go of that diminishing market. It may be inevitable, but that doesn't make it any less sad.
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2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
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2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
You are correct. I am sad to hear that the traditional 2 seater SL is going away. This is sad but I understand that from a marketing standpoint it might not make sense to try to sell a production car is such low numbers. Many dealers don't have a single SL on their lot for sale.
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2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
From Car & Driver today, see the linked article. Pretty much what has been provided on this forum before related to the new SL. Link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...adster-future/
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2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
From Car & Driver today, see the linked article. Pretty much what has been provided on this forum before related to the new SL. Link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...adster-future/
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
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From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
The automotive press eats Porsche McNuggets for the most part. If it is not associated with that marque, they tend to dismiss other cars as not up to that standard. I dare say if any of them would live with an SL for an extended period of time, they would form a much different opinion. But to call a car 'homely' when it is clearly a world class GT is quite, shall I say, lacking in knowledge. So a 'dis' on an SL is 'easy' for them to throw out, and as there are not many SL owners who care to read that drivel, they can pretty much go unscathed for the comment. Not that I really care what their opinion might be. I just drive, with a smile on my face, looking forward to the next curve.
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From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
As to replacing the SL with a 2+2 ragtop...remember the Thunderbird? Yeah, they sold more big "Thunderbirds" than the original 2-seaters, but it just wasn't anything like the same car anymore. That's the SL in a nutshell.
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; Jul 12, 2019 at 05:56 PM.
