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What’s the furthest trip you would drive in the SL?
Let’s just assume it’s only you, or you +1 on this trip.
I have a 500 mile trip over the summer and I never thought twice about taking the SL. I think the ride and seats are awesome, but I have heard more than one person speak of not wanting to drive far in the SL. Unless you have a big family or are going some place to do some serious shopping I just don’t get it.
So, how far have you driven, or are you willing to drive in the SL. Please explain your answer.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; May 13, 2022 at 06:05 PM.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by ThatsMyDawg
Will that be the first long road trip?
In this car it will be a first, though I drive it easily 150+ miles in a day at least once a week. But, I have made the Cape Cod trip it several times with the 2004 SL500 and once to the Outer Banks. You do learn to wear a hat with the top down if you have no hair, like me. There is just something inspiring about driving an SL on a long trip.
2006 CLS55 AMG Sold 2010 E550 Coupe totaled by mechanic, '13 SL550 I totaled it, 2017 SL63 current
I drove from Boston to Miami a few weeks ago when I bought my SL550. Was about 1500 miles, did it straight in 25.5hrs. Car ran flawlessly, I was about to die from fatigue but I couldn't say a bad word about the comfort and ability of the car.
We find the car comfortable enough to drive anywhere. The only limitation is when we need to take a lot of luggage and "stuff" for extended stay trips.
SoCal has the best scenic roads along the Coast as well as smooth canyon entertaining twisties. If I was lucky enough to score a new AMG V8 SL would crash at my buddy's scenic crib near San Juan Capistrano/Dana Point. He was a TRW Laser Jock who married into a wealthy car multi dealership family. I'm sure if I left him the keys he would keep the SL Garaged and leave his unassuming Crosstrek outside since his wife runs the Sales Leading Irvine Subaru Store. The only road that I dreaded on my business trips was US395 from the 15 to Ridgecrest/China Lake Naval Weapons Center...there were some scary looking people at that Ridgecrest Walmart! So yes I could easily drive the new SL63 or SL55 more than 500 miles in a Day in search of that perfect Baja style Fish Taco joint before Lunch followed by Johnnie's Pastrami on Sepulveda 11pm or Langer's Deli Pastrami on Rye with Cole Slaw and Russian style Dressing for Lunch the next day after returning from playing craps all night in Vegas.
1999 SL500, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1969 Dodge D-200, 1970 Dodge D-100, 1970 Chrysler Newport
Let’s just assume it’s only you, or you +1 on this trip
So, how far have you driven, or are you willing to drive in the SL. Please explain your answer.
The car I now own belonged to a friend that has passed away. While he owned it he and I tag-team drove it from Mesa, Arizona to Minot, North Dakota. We carried luggage for two and an 80lb male pitbull I had adopted and was bringing home. I had just had knee surgery and was on crutches. All things considered, it was an extremely pleasant trip. I would have to say I'd drive this car anywhere, anytime. (R129) Going for a ride? Can we take the SL dad? Please!
We’ve done several long trips in the SL. I purchased it to do road trips.
Europe, Scotland, Ireland.
Luggage is not an issue. Hotels & B&Bs all have some sort of laundry facility. Just before covid I purchased one of those long bags that goes behind the seats on the shelves. Not had a chance to try it. Hopefully later this year.
After having done long trips in Australia in my SLK 350 (R172), the SL is luxury with the ABC and extra room.
There is no reason not to do long trips in a SL. It is meant to be a GT (grand tourer).
Last edited by rorywquin; May 14, 2022 at 01:23 AM.
In this car it will be a first, though I drive it easily 150+ miles in a day at least once a week. But, I have made the Cape Cod trip it several times with the 2004 SL500 and once to the Outer Banks. You do learn to wear a hat with the top down if you have no hair, like me. There is just something inspiring about driving an SL on a long trip.
On hot summer days doing long trips, I keep the roof up during the peak of the day - Inspite of an excellent AC, I find it gets too hot. Short drives are fine but being baked for several hours is no fun.
I also need to wear a hat......
Last edited by rorywquin; May 14, 2022 at 01:20 AM.
One of you road with an 80lb pit on your lap that distance?
Originally Posted by A1H2O4U
Let’s just assume it’s only you, or you +1 on this trip
So, how far have you driven, or are you willing to drive in the SL. Please explain your answer.
The car I now own belonged to a friend that has passed away. While he owned it he and I tag-team drove it from Mesa, Arizona to Minot, North Dakota. We carried luggage for two and an 80lb male pitbull I had adopted and was bringing home. I had just had knee surgery and was on crutches. All things considered, it was an extremely pleasant trip. I would have to say I'd drive this car anywhere, anytime.
Originally Posted by ZCARGUY
675 miles from Nashville to Reston, VA and back each way. The 2019 SL450 rivals the ride and comfort of my Genesis G90, just not quite as quiet..
When you mentioned that the SL was not quite as quiet as the Genesis G90, do you mean engine noise quiet, or interior cabin and road noise quiet ?
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; May 14, 2022 at 06:59 AM.
1999 SL500, 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1969 Dodge D-200, 1970 Dodge D-100, 1970 Chrysler Newport
One of you road with an 80lb pit on your lap that distance?
Actually, he was quite happy to sit on the floor with his head in the passengers lap. I read the poll wrong and answered with my R129 in mind. That has enough room behind the seats for two dogs his size, but he is a people dog and has to be as close as possible.
Was/is the SL branded as a sports car? For some reason I didn’t think it was. I thought luxury branding, but maybe it was both. I gotta look up old commercials and see what was/is the focus of the narrative.
Originally Posted by ZCARGUY
All of the above. Not that I expected a sports car and a big sedan to be comparable.
Compared to my Corvette and Camaro, the SL is quiet.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; May 15, 2022 at 10:33 AM.
Hi All
Dispute all the problems with my SL63 last year it went to mid Spain over 2 days doing 650 miles a day but the problem with the incorrect caster angle etc made it more tiring than usual trips in Europe
Tthe whole trip was 3300 miles and the add oil light came on near home so it had used 1 litre.
In other cars South France is a 730mile trip and once we took a XJ6 Sovereign that was 1100miles overnight from London to near Florence Italy with a couple of hours sleep in the car and I think the SL could do that just as easily
But not sure about sleeping in any car these days
We used to take ours on trips from Tennessee into central Florida a couple of times a year, also drove Tennessee to Road America, as well as Vicksburg Mississippi, and Williamsburg VA. Multiple journeys in the 250 mile range to Barber Motorsports Park, the North Carolina mountains, etc.. Never thought twice about it, and I was on Michelin non-RFT. Sometimes we would ship our luggage ahead, but that was no big deal, actually made the journey easier. We experienced zero issues, and really enjoyed the Grand Touring aspect of the vehicle.
We're headed out on a 500+ mile road trip this week. Non runflat Continental tires and a slime kit with compressor. Will call roadside assistance for a catastrophic failure. This will be our 3rd 500+ mile road trip in our SL.
2020 550SL, 2014 ML350, 2015 AMG 63 G Wagon, 2004 BMW M3Vert
Longest trip
Originally Posted by ThatsMyDawg
Let’s just assume it’s only you, or you +1 on this trip.
I have a 500 mile trip over the summer and I never thought twice about taking the SL. I think the ride and seats are awesome, but I have heard more than one person speak of not wanting to drive far in the SL. Unless you have a big family or are going some place to do some serious shopping I just don’t get it.
So, how far have you driven, or are you willing to drive in the SL. Please explain your answer.
Thanks in advance.
I purchased my new 2020 550 SL in December 2020 and in the fall of 2021, my wife and I drove it to our beach condo in SC. The trip each way was 525 miles. Love the seat massagers! Would never have thought to order on any vehicle, but were standard on the SL. I've already ordered this option on my new 2022 GLE. Anyway, we drove down the West VA Turnpike without any problems. I would NOT drive this vehicle in the Spring during road construction, but we drove in the Fall after most of the road repairs were finished. Did not have any worries about doing this. Again though, I would not drive very far in the Spring, before the potholes, etc have been repaired.
How is the trip going, or if already completed how did the trip go?
Originally Posted by rmorin49
We're headed out on a 500+ mile road trip this week. Non runflat Continental tires and a slime kit with compressor. Will call roadside assistance for a catastrophic failure. This will be our 3rd 500+ mile road trip in our SL.
Ok I got ya.
Was/is the SL branded as a sports car? For some reason I didn’t think it was.
I would like to suggest it classified as a GT and support my position with the following information taken from a MotorTrend article.
GT stands for gran turismo, or "grand touring." Although the Italian who originally thought up the term gran turismo, or GT, has been lost to history along with their reasoning, the definition was clear: A GT car fit between a sports car and a luxury car. It should have a big engine, a comfortable ride, a luxurious interior, and elegant bodywork. Not just fast, it needed to be able to handle like a sports car when the proper situation arose but coddle like a luxury car the rest of the time. Between its introduction in the late 1920s and its heyday in the 1950s and '60s, the definition was honed to mean a reasonably practical luxury sport coupe that could cross a continent at high speed just as easily as it could tackle a mountain pass.
Let's face it the trunk sucks a big one.
Off Topic.... What's the statute of limitations on wearing underwear?
ProTip: briefs take less room than packing boxers and weigh a few grams less.
I'll be doing my yearly pilgrimage to the Concurs d Elegance at Pebble Beach this August.
Corona del Mar, California to Pebble is about 400 miles of the nicest Pacific Coast Highway stretch know to mankind. Its the kind of road our cars were made for.
ProTip: Fed Ex your extra clothes to the hotel your staying at and screw the limited trunk space issue.
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