SL/R231: Counting SLs
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 48
Likes: 20
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2020 E350L - 2018 SL450
I live 50 yards from the ocean in Southern California and from my personal experience the ladies around here LOVE being called babes and hotties. 
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 257
Likes: 85
From: Newbury Park, CA
2016 SL400 & 2021 C300
That is because they are! There is a reason the Beach Boys once wrote a song, "I wish they all could be California Girls" Go to any CA beach and you are likely to find more gorgeous ladies than your eyes can handle.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,830
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From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
When I had my 96 600SL I was the only one in town with a V12 let alone a SL or anything with that price tag. Small town of Ballston Spa, Ny. While in Florida where kept my other SL (1987 560SL) it was as common as a normal everyday car. Typical of Sarasota FL. At any given stoplight you see at least 3 Mercedes cars. Now my V12 CL while still not a common car is less common since there are some exotics in our small town of 5,000. My neighbor has 3 V12 cars. Times change!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,163
Likes: 4,383
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
When I had my 96 600SL I was the only one in town with a V12 let alone a SL or anything with that price tag. Small town of Ballston Spa, Ny. While in Florida where kept my other SL (1987 560SL) it was as common as a normal everyday car. Typical of Sarasota FL. At any given stoplight you see at least 3 Mercedes cars. Now my V12 CL while still not a common car is less common since there are some exotics in our small town of 5,000. My neighbor has 3 V12 cars. Times change!
Junior Member
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 68
Likes: 32
From: Pachuta, MS
2015 SL400
Out here in NE Illinois I’ve seen three SLs in the last few days…2 black 230s and a red 107…all of us waved to each other. These are the only ones I’ve noticed in three years out here, but I’ve only been looking recently for obvious reasons…. They are a pretty rare sight…much more so than 911s, etc. And looking for 231s to buy was much harder than 230s and older SLs.
For what it’s worth, my wife has informed me it is fine to call her a hottie. 🤪
For what it’s worth, my wife has informed me it is fine to call her a hottie. 🤪
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 563
Likes: 171
From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Here in the north Atlanta area, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a M-B of some sort or another. Having said that, SL sightings are few and far between...and 231s are rarer still. So much so, that cars like mine (which looks exactly like the OP's) are actually quite rare, even here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 231
From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
I have been at Myrtle Beach since last weekend and have seen a total of 2 SLs including the 8 hour road trip here. I saw a red R231, but since it was behind me and turned I didn’t see the call letters.
30 minutes ago I was behind a black SL 55 AMG R230 on a highway for a few minutes before I took an exit. I have seen 3, or 4 SLK models that were either parked, or in route someplace.
I have seen an uncountable amount of GLA, C300, GLC, E series, etc., so this just reinforces how very much I love driving an uncommon MB that I happen to love.
Not every time, but at lease 1 out of 3 times I have been parked, or sitting and waiting on my wife in a shopping center, etc. I will get the “nice car, sweet car, or looking good” from men walking past. At least 10 people yesterday while parked at the beach have given a compliment when walking past us. By the way, not once has a female ever given a compliment, however I have seen them looking. I don’t care either way, but just making an observation.
The SL is truly a beautiful model.
30 minutes ago I was behind a black SL 55 AMG R230 on a highway for a few minutes before I took an exit. I have seen 3, or 4 SLK models that were either parked, or in route someplace.
I have seen an uncountable amount of GLA, C300, GLC, E series, etc., so this just reinforces how very much I love driving an uncommon MB that I happen to love.
Not every time, but at lease 1 out of 3 times I have been parked, or sitting and waiting on my wife in a shopping center, etc. I will get the “nice car, sweet car, or looking good” from men walking past. At least 10 people yesterday while parked at the beach have given a compliment when walking past us. By the way, not once has a female ever given a compliment, however I have seen them looking. I don’t care either way, but just making an observation.
The SL is truly a beautiful model.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Aug 13, 2022 at 09:01 AM.
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 503
Likes: 95
From: Miami Beach
2006 CLS55 AMG Sold 2010 E550 Coupe totaled by mechanic, '13 SL550 I totaled it, 2017 SL63 current
Even here in South Beach where you see every make and model, I have only seen less than a handful of SL's. I see a bunch of S coupe's and verts but SL's are a rare bird. Makes me that much happier I chose my SL as I love this freaking car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 231
From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
I am shocked that I have seen two SL models in the last 24 hours. There was silver one traveling top down on the highway last night. ( SL 55 AMG )I also saw one at 6am this morning on a different highway. Not sure which version it was, but I did see that it had paper tags. I almost never see another SL here in Maryland..
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 743
Likes: 175
From: NorCal
2015 ML350+2025 E350
Most of us on the left coast are not that woke and whether liberal or conservative are more concerned about treating one another well rather than using politically correct labels. This is not to say we go out of our way to use disrespectful labels, but for our generation referring to someone as a hottie or a sweetheart or whatever is not seen as pejorative, but rather as a complement.
I retired from the federal government a little more than a year ago. You were afraid to tell someone they their haircut looked nice or that they had a nice tan after returning to work from their vacation. I guess asking to see their tan lines was taking it a little too far.
