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The wife and I took our normal weekend cruise from our house to our favorite breakfast location in Laguna Beach (Ruby's). We add on some miles and cover Seal Beach to San Juan Capistrano. All in all about 80 miles with the top down and radio blasting.
Its some pretty cool PCH cruising territory that always includes a boatload of exotics from Cullinan, DBX, SF90 or two and a half dozen LamboSomethings. We stopped counting Porsches and Teslas
Anyway we started adding an SL count to our practice. Yesterday we counted 14 SLs. For a car that was manufactured in such low numbers that sure seems to be a lot to see in 2 hours.
When I owned my Corvettes the owners used to have a wave, I waved at about a half dozen SL drivers and got the complete cold shoulder. What are your experiences regarding the SL fraternity.
2006 CLS55 AMG Sold 2010 E550 Coupe totaled by mechanic, '13 SL550 I totaled it, 2017 SL63 current
Glad to see the top was in the trunk for that drive. Although I have only had my SL for about a month, I would have to say that there is no SL fraternity. Those days of friendly waves are long gone and probably most people driving an SL have their heads up their you know what. The fraternity is here on the forum, too bad it isn't more active.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by octony9717
The wife and I took our normal weekend cruise from our house to our favorite breakfast location in Laguna Beach (Ruby's). We add on some miles and cover Seal Beach to San Juan Capistrano. All in all about 80 miles with the top down and radio blasting.
Its some pretty cool PCH cruising territory that always includes a boatload of exotics from Cullinan, DBX, SF90 or two and a half dozen LamboSomethings. We stopped counting Porsches and Teslas
Anyway we started adding an SL count to our practice. Yesterday we counted 14 SLs. For a car that was manufactured in such low numbers that sure seems to be a lot to see in 2 hours.
When I owned my Corvettes the owners used to have a wave, I waved at about a half dozen SL drivers and got the complete cold shoulder. What are your experiences regarding the SL fraternity.
They probably mistook the splint on your middle finger as something other than a wave.
I think most of us like to pretend we are unnoticed when we really want to be noticed. I like fine automobiles, though I never buy them new. Honestly, I have a mental block to paying more for a car than I did my house. Still, others don't know that and I feel a little awkward when I get complements on my car. Since these cars always look good, you could have a 10 year old car and people think they are brand new. I got a lot of surprised looks when I had my 2004 SL500 and I told people it was 18 years old.
Sounds like good driving for sure! I don't know about how SL owners act when waving hello at them, because I have only seen three SLs in the last year. I saw what looked to be a R230 yesterday and that one is included in my 3 total. Whenever I see another SL they are always going a different direction then I am. I do see about 3x as many SLK models on the roads in my area and 75% of them are what looked to be female drivers. I am also a sport bike rider and I am use to waving at and being waved at by other sport bikes riders. Funny that in all the years I had sport bikes, a zillion other sport bike riders would give me the hand up wave as we spotted each other, but I never, ever got a wave from a Harley rider and I also saw and still see a zillion of them. Oh well. lol
Originally Posted by octony9717
The wife and I took our normal weekend cruise from our house to our favorite breakfast location in Laguna Beach (Ruby's). We add on some miles and cover Seal Beach to San Juan Capistrano. All in all about 80 miles with the top down and radio blasting.
Its some pretty cool PCH cruising territory that always includes a boatload of exotics from Cullinan, DBX, SF90 or two and a half dozen LamboSomethings. We stopped counting Porsches and Teslas
Anyway we started adding an SL count to our practice. Yesterday we counted 14 SLs. For a car that was manufactured in such low numbers that sure seems to be a lot to see in 2 hours.
When I owned my Corvettes the owners used to have a wave, I waved at about a half dozen SL drivers and got the complete cold shoulder. What are your experiences regarding the SL fraternity.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by ThatsMyDawg
Sounds like good driving for sure! I don't know about how SL owners act when waving hello at them, because I have only seen three SLs in the last year. I saw what looked to be a R230 yesterday and that one is included in my 3 total. Whenever I see another SL they are always going a different direction then I am. I do see about 3x as many SLK models on the roads in my area and 75% of them are what looked to be female drivers. I am also a sport bike rider and I am use to waving at and being waved at by other sport bikes riders. Funny that in all the years I had sport bikes, a zillion other sport bike riders would give me the hand up wave as we spotted each other, but I never, ever got a wave from a Harley rider and I also saw and still see a zillion of them. Oh well. lol
We don't see a lot of SL's in our area. When we pass one I also wave. My experience has been the same as yours, with the exception of being at an event with the MB Club.
There are plenty in Thousand Oaks CA where I live, but alas, no fraternal order of the SL owners! I usually cannot get SL owners to even make eye contact when I am right along side them.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by RonNSoCal
There are plenty in Thousand Oaks CA where I live, but alas, no fraternal order of the SL owners! I usually cannot get SL owners to even make eye contact when I am right along side them.
Are they all as old as you, Birthday Boy (July)?
I'm in Cape Cod at the moment and I have seen several R129 and R230 models, but no R231s. Also, the drivers all seem pretty snobby. What's up with that? Are we the only friendly SL owners?
I can't wait to be able to say I am out of town on a road trip!
I have yet to see another SL going in the same direction as me where I can actually see the driver. I have only seen 3 SL models over the last year to year and a half or so. I don't know how the reaction will be to my friendly wave hello, or if they will initiate a wave first, but it would be cool to see the mutual respect and friendliness. I won't loose any sleep if I don't though. lol
Originally Posted by JettaRed
Are they all as old as you, Birthday Boy (July)?
I'm in Cape Cod at the moment and I have seen several R129 and R230 models, but no R231s. Also, the drivers all seem pretty snobby. What's up with that? Are we the only friendly SL owners?
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Jun 8, 2022 at 11:13 AM.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by ThatsMyDawg
I can't wait to be able to say I am out of town on a road trip!
I have yet to see another SL going in the same direction as me where I can actually see the driver. I have only seen 3 SL models over the last year to year or so. I don't know how the reaction will be to my friendly wave hello, or if they will initiate a wave first, but it would be cool to see the mutual respect and friendliness. I won't loose any sleep if I don't though. lol
Only do it with the top down and give them the royal wave (i.e., Queen Elizabeth style), not the middle finger style.
Of course, her wave kinda looks like the middle finger...
I'm in Cape Cod at the moment and I have seen several R129 and R230 models, but no R231s. Also, the drivers all seem pretty snobby. What's up with that? Are we the only friendly SL owners?
Alas, most seem to be older folks. I have yet to see a young chick driving an SL. To be honest, when I had my Corvette, the typical driver was an old man too!
So here in Hollywood East, as Nashvegas has come to be known, there are just a plethora of SL's, any model, and they are driven. From the grocery store, to the liquor store, to the nail bar, they are everywhere. We have more Teslas than Leafs, and Nissan is headquartered nearby. They are building a new Ferrari dealership, as so many owners here complained about having to transport to Atlanta for service; Rolls, Bentley, Aston Martin, Maybach, more McLarens than Lambos, but a bunch of both. Porsche 918s, Carrera GT's, and throw in the occasional XJ220 or XJ15, along with a few NSX and gawking becomes a sport.
I pulled into the Publix grocery market the other day, and parked in front of an Aston Martin Vantage, walked by an AMG 63s wagon on the way into the store, and stared at a California Ferrari as I was leaving. Our local C&C has gotten so large on Exotics Day (1st Saturday of each month) that they had to move it to the Nashville Superspeedway.
If the 1% has concentration, it may be here, and you must really be unique to stand out. But I love it, and when we had the SL I would do exaggerated waves at other SL's, and they usually would smile and wave back, but in many cases they would view my advances with apprehension. Damn I miss my SL.
I think I may have the only R231 SL in my home town. I rarely see one on the road and on a recent road trip to PA and Ohio I did not see a single one. For those in southern CA I suspect you live in the SL capital of the US. You know all those Hollywood stars.
Yep, I for sure have the only one in my town. Of the multiple cities and counties between my home and my work I have only seen 3 SL models in the last year+. Of the 3 that I have seen two were older(R230 , or older) and 1 was the R231. I can't wait for my summer road trip to see how many others we see.
Originally Posted by rmorin49
I think I may have the only R231 SL in my home town. I rarely see one on the road and on a recent road trip to PA and Ohio I did not see a single one. For those in southern CA I suspect you live in the SL capital of the US. You know all those Hollywood stars.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by rmorin49
I think I may have the only R231 SL in my home town. I rarely see one on the road and on a recent road trip to PA and Ohio I did not see a single one. For those in southern CA I suspect you live in the SL capital of the US. You know all those Hollywood stars.
Nope. Remember, I told you I saw a white SL400 at the Benz dealer in Hagerstown and asked if it was you? You wrote back and said no. Of course, it could have been some fern'er trespassing our neighborhood.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
We here are the few who are interested in these cars. There are many here in South, Coastal Orange County, but there are many of most everything else as well. Bentley’s and Ferrari’s are literally everywhere, not to mention the Rolls-Royce’s and Lambo’s. Cars have become fashion accessories for so many here along the Left Gold Coast. There are so many G Wagens, that you would think they are $50K vehicles and most come from Fletcher Jones, where they are sold at $100K over MSRP. As for the hot, young women, Porsche has completely stolen that segment from MB. The SL’s, at least through the 2020 model, are looked upon as cars for older folks, which is what they really are. No Newport Beach tootsie would be caught dead in a car with such a crummy audio system.
It remains to be seen how the new SL will be accepted here, but JUST the clumsy, awkward “removable” wind screen (MB really blew it on this) should be enough for the hotties to still go for the 911’s with their marvelous, push-button, “disappearing” unit. Don’t want the hair mussed when having lunch at the yacht club.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
@Streamliner Holy Shinola, Batman! How do you get away with using all those sexist labels (tootsie, chick, hottie, etc.) out there in Commiefornia? You’d be crucified here on the East Coast. It’s been so politically incorrect here that I actually had to Google some of those terms.
Nope. Remember, I told you I saw a white SL400 at the Benz dealer in Hagerstown and asked if it was you? You wrote back and said no. Of course, it could have been some fern'er trespassing our neighborhood.
Yes, I believe I met the couple that own that SL. I think they live in Leesburg. Do you remember what state license plate it had?
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by JettaRed
@Streamliner Holy Shinola, Batman! How do you get away with using all those sexist labels (tootsie, chick, hottie, etc.) out there in Commiefornia? You’d be crucified here on the East Coast. It’s been so politically incorrect here that I actually had to Google some of those terms.
Yes, in most spots, Californian’s—like so many other coastal residents—have lost their collective minds. My wife and I are very fortunate to live in an area where more traditional ways of thinking prevail. When we use terms like I did, we laugh at ourselves and shake our heads when others melt down over hearing them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to retreat to a “safe space,” where nobody will assault me with “trigger” words.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by Streamliner
Yes, in most spots, Californian’s—like so many other coastal residents—have lost their collective minds. My wife and I are very fortunate to live in an area where more traditional ways of thinking prevail. When we use terms like I did, we laugh at ourselves and shake our heads when others melt down over hearing them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to retreat to a “safe space,” where nobody will assault me with “trigger” words.
Life’s a beach!
Well, I don't care what everyone else says, I like you.
Yes, in most spots, Californian’s—like so many other coastal residents—have lost their collective minds. My wife and I are very fortunate to live in an area where more traditional ways of thinking prevail. When we use terms like I did, we laugh at ourselves and shake our heads when others melt down over hearing them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to retreat to a “safe space,” where nobody will assault me with “trigger” words.
Life’s a beach!
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.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
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.
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.
Things are a little out of hand these days I guess. Fortunately for guys like me, we are too old to be considered any kind of a threat.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
