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I consider myself a diehard SL guy, I have a complete set. I question several decisions on the R232.
1. The vestigial rear seats that serve no function outside of a parcel shelf. Did this shrink the trunk??
2. The over engineered center console screen......couldn't it be made to look more integrated???
3. The lack of interior and soft top colors.........see Porsche or Aston. I want a white exterior with a blue top and interior ......is that too radical??
4. The SL63 weighs way too much......all the talk about weight reduction was incorrect.
5. The promised styling is a disappointment.......it's an AMG GT convertible. Did the design department really get paid to recycle a preexisting design?
6. No clamshell cover for the soft top.......that must have saved at least 5lbs. The clamshells on every SL give it an integrated finished look.
Does MB ever conduct clinics with previous buyers to assess tastes and desires??? Hubris
Even though I sound negative, I plan to order the hybrid SL63e or SL73. I predict this will be the last SL due to changing markets and a less than stellar result.
I consider myself a diehard SL guy, I have a complete set. I question several decisions on the R232.
1. The vestigial rear seats that serve no function outside of a parcel shelf. Did this shrink the trunk??
2. The over engineered center console screen......couldn't it be made to look more integrated???
3. The lack of interior and soft top colors.........see Porsche or Aston. I want a white exterior with a blue top and interior ......is that too radical??
4. The SL63 weighs way too much......all the talk about weight reduction was incorrect.
5. The promised styling is a disappointment.......it's an AMG GT convertible. Did the design department really get paid to recycle a preexisting design?
6. No clamshell cover for the soft top.......that must have saved at least 5lbs. The clamshells on every SL give it an integrated finished look.
Does MB ever conduct clinics with previous buyers to assess tastes and desires??? Hubris
Even though I sound negative, I plan to order the hybrid SL63e or SL73. I predict this will be the last SL due to changing markets and a less than stellar result.
You still own all those? Very cool either way.
I agree, this is nothing more than a GT convertible. SL was always a stand alone in the market.
3. The lack of interior and soft top colors.........see Porsche or Aston. I want a white exterior with a blue top and interior ......is that too radical??
I think 8 options for the interior pretty good for a product launch. This is only the beginning, and this car will likely be supported by Designo Manufaktur as well, as they have relaunched it for the new S-Class, and may receive further updates as time goes on.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Mike P
……………Does MB ever conduct clinics with previous buyers to assess tastes and desires??? Hubris…………...
Yes, they do and I have participated in several over the years. That said, it seems that they just do what they want and pay little attention to true enthusiasts, who REALLY have constructive criticism to offer on MB products. I did two for the W223 that were coupled with the EQS. It was almost as if they didn’t want to hear what I had to say and that they wanted to argue with me. I also did one on the current Porsche Targa. They sat me down and did an extensive, one on one interview with me. It seemed as though they were intensely interested in everything I had to say about the proposed new 911 Targa.
Places: "You still own all those? Very cool either way."
Yes, but I just updated the list. I bought 2 cars from Bechtel------190SL and a 300SL. Bechtel does VERY nice work, look them up.
I agree that the R232 is a warmed over AMG GT........I expected way more in styling. I hope it has great handling dynamics, engines are seldom disappointing.
I find it amusing that a few of our esteemed forum members seem concerned about fuel mileage, that's why I want that 800+hp hybrid. Smile
FYI: my daily driver is a 2005 Honda Accord with a stick
I don't care for the design either. The missing retractable hard top is a shame. I'd never buy one. It starts to look like every other inverted bathtub on wheels. No character. Too bad. I bet it will wash your dishes though. Just what we need. More electrical junk.
What a shame to see the final product. I am adamantly opposed to soft tops in general (for safety, upkeep and visibility reasons) so I'm clearly not their target market. I also hate the spoiler look - one reason I didn't buy a Jaguar F-Type. But while I do long for some of the tech features - namely the surround view camera and head up display that I lost when I moved from my BMW to my current SL, I just can't get past the soft top and the fact that once someone pointed out the dash on some of the new MBs looks like Jar Jar Binks, I've never been able to unsee that. :p https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-ne...-ar192269.html
Unlike a lot of folks here though, I don't entirely hate the +2 seating, as I had that in my Lexus SC convertible and it was a convenient place to store my purse (even if my then five-year-old niece could never ride comfortably back there). Still, the main thing the reveal accomplished was make me love my 2017 SL550 even more.
Last edited by wickedwahine11; Oct 30, 2021 at 09:17 AM.
I like the styling look but I feel it could be better. The SL always an aspirational vehicle and I feel the 231 and this one have moved away from that. I do not see the point of the toy back seats, has any person ever actually asked for that? Ever? One big issue I have is the non retractable wind screen. I put mine up on the highway and take it down once I get to regular roads. I'll also have it up on cold nights. If you are telling me I have to plan ahead for that and leave it up for a whole trip that involves highway use then forget it...
I like the styling look but I feel it could be better. The SL always an aspirational vehicle and I feel the 231 and this one have moved away from that. I do not see the point of the toy back seats, has any person ever actually asked for that? Ever? One big issue I have is the non retractable wind screen. I put mine up on the highway and take it down once I get to regular roads. I'll also have it up on cold nights. If you are telling me I have to plan ahead for that and leave it up for a whole trip that involves highway use then forget it...
Right, or get out on the side of the road and take the screen down. Pretty silly design IMO.
The car will sell well and maybe even over sticker with the way the world is today. MB will push it on social media and people will eat it up. Just make it hard to get and suddenly there will be a line for one.
The car will sell well and maybe even over sticker with the way the world is today. MB will push it on social media and people will eat it up. Just make it hard to get and suddenly there will be a line for one.
That is if we are still in the same position next year. This economy doesn't feel like the housing market in 2005 or the US stock market in 1999, this feels like the tulip craze of the early 1600's...
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by places
Right, or get out on the side of the road and take the screen down. Pretty silly design IMO.
The car will sell well and maybe even over sticker with the way the world is today. MB will push it on social media and people will eat it up. Just make it hard to get and suddenly there will be a line for one.
As I understand it, Porsche patented this design. That said, wouldn’t we think that the wizards at MB could have come up with something similar? Or, if not, have licensed the design from the folks in Zuffenhausen?
That is if we are still in the same position next year. This economy doesn't feel like the housing market in 2005 or the US stock market in 1999, this feels like the tulip craze of the early 1600's...
Like one very smart man said: "they will keep on drinking as long as drinks are still free (on a house), and even though they are told (or know) free drinks period will end (soon?)...they will care (stop drinking) only when free drinks will actually end..."
As I understand it, Porsche patented this design. That said, wouldn’t we think that the wizards at MB could have come up with something similar? Or, if not, have licensed the design from the folks in Zuffenhausen?
100%, furthermore look at what they did with the Targa, clearly the most sophisticated roof design in the automotive world. MB couldn't figure out a windscreen on a 150K+ vehicle. Maybe there are no more wizards?
That is if we are still in the same position next year. This economy doesn't feel like the housing market in 2005 or the US stock market in 1999, this feels like the tulip craze of the early 1600's...
Who knows. Yeah, it definitely feels surreal. Starting to wonder where it's going to come from.
I like the styling look but I feel it could be better. The SL always an aspirational vehicle and I feel the 231 and this one have moved away from that. I do not see the point of the toy back seats, has any person ever actually asked for that? Ever? One big issue I have is the non retractable wind screen. I put mine up on the highway and take it down once I get to regular roads. I'll also have it up on cold nights. If you are telling me I have to plan ahead for that and leave it up for a whole trip that involves highway use then forget it...
Well said. To me it just looks like a warmed over AMG GT roadster. Not something I would aspire to own. I prefer coupes which made the R230 and R231 attractive. At least Porsche offers the 911 in coupe form. I would like the AMG GT coupe if it rode worth a ****.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by MBNUT1
…………I prefer coupes which made the R230 and R231 attractive……………
I drive my R231 SL 99% of the time with the top down. I never cared for driving my previous, 2004 SL500 with the top up, as it just didn’t seem comfortable to me. However, my 2019 with the top up drives so much more solid and it really does “become” a coupe. It truly is the best of both worlds. The new SL will be the very first, open SL to not have at least a removable hardtop available. The loss of the retractable hardtop in the new SL is a crying shame, in my opinion and there is no good reason for it.
I drive my R231 SL 99% of the time with the top down. I never cared for driving my previous, 2004 SL500 with the top up, as it just didn’t seem comfortable to me. However, my 2019 with the top up drives so much more solid and it really does “become” a coupe. It truly is the best of both worlds. The new SL will be the very first, open SL to not have at least a removable hardtop available. The loss of the retractable hardtop in the new SL is a crying shame, in my opinion and there is no good reason for it.
Exactly why the R230's and 231's are attractive. I can remember driving a R107 over a set of railroad tracks. The cowl shake was quite perceivable. One of the reasons I don't like convertibles.
As I understand it, Porsche patented this design. That said, wouldn’t we think that the wizards at MB could have come up with something similar? Or, if not, have licensed the design from the folks in Zuffenhausen?
Mentioned the issue of the manual screen for a while and this is so the only thing that really bothers me on the car.
Btw. Nobody will stop the car to take out the screen. It will be permanently on or off the car 99% of the time.
if there was any usability left for the rear seats, they just got covered
As I understand it, Porsche patented this design. That said, wouldn’t we think that the wizards at MB could have come up with something similar? Or, if not, have licensed the design from the folks in Zuffenhausen?
Great windscreen option.
But I’ll take the SL over the 911 cab any day of the week. That is not a good looking car top down.
The only 911 I like would be the new GT3 touring or maybe the Turbo S coupe.
But when spec’ing the car out I ended up at around $240k and while it drives fantastic it doesn’t look the money or anywhere close to it.
Great windscreen option.
But I’ll take the SL over the 911 cab any day of the week. That is not a good looking car top down.
The only 911 I like would be the new GT3 touring or maybe the Turbo S coupe.
But when spec’ing the car out I ended up at around $240k and while it drives fantastic it doesn’t look the money or anywhere close to it.
I wouldn't necessarily agree. I was ready to pull the trigger on a C4S cab and the market went like pets.com's stock in 1999. The 911's are beautiful cars through and through. I would say more so than an SL but they really have drifted far apart in comparison.
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