ThatsMyDawg

Hello all,

Not much going on, but wanted to share anyway.

Saw a red AMG 63 yesterday on the highway. You know how you can spot another R231 way back there when you look in your rearview? Easy to spot the headlights. I was in the slow lane cruisin and chillin. They were in the fast lane cruisin and chillin. I was like, well well well, big brother. lol. It is so rare that I see another R231 that I am always shocked when I do. I always have liked red cars too..

Anyway, I am soooooooo happy that the R231 is something that I rarely see. Probably been 4 months or so since I last saw one. I see an SLK probably every 2 weeks. Its strange (to me) that, that many people have the SLK in my part of Maryland over the SL. Just as surprising is the fact that I almost always see a male driving the SLK. Right, or wrong I always felt the SLK was a females car. It's likely not, but thats what I think of when I see an SLK, because it's so tiny. I have never driven one, but I always think to myself "why didn't they just get an SL"?

Best wishes.....

Utopia Texas

In any given year what was the difference in price between a SL and SLK? I assume a lot of people drive a C class just so they can say they have a Mercedes.

ThatsMyDawg

I know nothing about the SLK other than it looks like a shrunken down SL. No stats, no price points, no introduction info, or how long they have been around. I assume they are less than an SL, but I have no idea what they cost, or how far they are from the SL.

I had a few C class loaners. One old model and one newer style. I thought they were nice. Not SL. nice but nice.

fun33

I first took an SLK for a test drive. Totally loved it until I tested an SL a few days later. Once you drive an SL it would be very difficult to go back to the SLK - there is zero comparison between the two cars other than at a very great distance they share some similar lines.

Streamliner

The last SLK’s in 2020 had an MSRP of around $50K, compared to about $90K for a 2020 SL450, which I believe is why so many folks went for the SLK. And, the most important thing the two cars shared was the absolutely wonderful and recently retired, retractable hardtop. Long live the R231’s!

griza

Even here in Miami Beach where I see numerous versions of every make and model under the sun, I rarely see another R231. Maybe once a week or less which is very strange. I see every Lambo, Ferrari, Bentley, Mclaren etc etc every day. Makes me that much more happy I chose this car and have it modded the way I do. When I do see one, it is just a plain Jane compared to mine.

ThatsMyDawg

Its like you feel exactly like I do..

Love it...

griza

100%

Bitbytr

I live in a small town of about 36,000 outside Orlando and there are, rather surprisingly, at least four of us driving 231s around – red, white, grey and black. And yep: I know the owners (now)! And, equally surprising to me, are the Astons, Bentleys, Rollers and Lambos trolling the streets. No McLarens and only very rarely a Ferrari, mind you.

ThatsMyDawg

Have you told them about MB World???

Bitbytr

I have: one, Manfred (yup, from Germany) is on; Patricia is not interested (she, like her car, is beautiful and she relies on hubby to keep them that way); and the last guy also showed little interest. I was a bit saddened at the overall lack of enthusiasm but there you go.

E55Greasemonkey

The R231 was a slow seller, not many around, partly because so many previous SL owners were alienated due to the R230's reliability problems and that the R231 was easily mistaken for a facelifted R230 when in fact it was a groundbreaking all aluminum chassis designed new from the ground up. It's a shame because the R231 was the best SL ever. MB put the final nail in the coffin of the SL series with the 232 which looks like just another rehash of the blob-like, tired, and confusing AMG GT/C/R line with 2 very pointless rear "seats." It's turned out to be a slow seller also and plagued with new delivery quality problems as well. Long live the R231! Pick up an SL65 version if you can find or afford one!

Bitbytr

My German mate, Manfred, points out that Porsche have stuffed padded parcel shelves in the back and called them "seats" for years and, the purpose is to have the 911 fit into a particular tax category, reducing the impact on new car purchase prices. We wondered if this is a move by MB for the same reasons?

Montreal300

I was shopping for an SLK last year but wanted a V8 hence was limited to the SLK55. I looked at a few but they were really a bit tight inside, had a plain interior and were a little pricey for what they are. Power was OK at 350 something HP.
I moved up to looking at the R230 which was roomier and a bigger car overall but like other have said, reliability issues really put me off. Power of the R230 V8 was about the same as the SLK55.
The R231 is wider, longer and lighter than the R230 and quite a bit faster with a much nicer interior. The SLK 55 by comparison is much, much smaller. The thing that really caught my attention was the mountain of torque available from the M278 motor (516 ft/lbs) at very low RPM (1800). A lot of issues with the R230 also seem to have been solved on the R231.

crconsulting

I see at least a dozen or so R231's running around my Nor-Cal area. I think the majority of these cars were probably sold in the traditional convertible markets. Florida, California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada...
SLK probably would have been a better competitor to the Porsche 911 had Mercedes continued development on that chassis. Lighter, and more nimble than R231. More weight is what makes a great highway/autobahn GT car, but becomes a disadvantage as a road racer. Especially under acceleration and heavy braking.
Unfortunately, Mercedes was cannibalizing their sales with too many convertible offerings in that space, SL, SLK, S class, E class, C class etc...
Consumers typically seem to get overwhelmed when you start offering too many models. Mercedes chose to consolidate around the AMG GT body style, but kept the "SL" historical name.

I personally think the SLK55, which was normally aspirated @415hp and a 12.5 sec. 1/4 mile car was pretty capable.
Had they given that chassis the same Aluminum monocoque redesign as the R231, offered it with a 6 speed manual box, and updated the power plant. It probably would have made a great competitor to the 911. (better than the R232)

Streamliner

I’m sorry, but whenever I hear talk about SL’s as “performance” cars, I just have to laugh. Between 1963 & 2020, the SL’s were comfy, boulevard cruisers. Oh, they slapped some hot motors in some models here & there, but these cars were never in their element as anything other than comfortable cruisers or maybe grand touring cars, but that’s it. The cars were way too heavy, way too loaded up with luxury amenities and were just not designed to do battle with even the most basic 911’s. Two, completely different animals, in my opinion. I mean, I certainly don’t care what anyone does to their car to make it more powerful, but if it were me and I wanted a rocket ship, as opposed to an elegant convertible, I would be at my local Porsche dealer, where they provide cars that are designed, from day one, to be true high performance cars. Or, if it had to be an MB, it’s AMG GT all the way. Just my opinion, of course.

Bitbytr

Completely agree: which is why I drive an SL and no longer am interested in the 911: great fun cars but a lot of effort when I enjoy the comfort more than the challenge. On top of which, as proved yesterday, I can still easily manage to score a bloody ticket in the SL when I over-exhuberently overtake some slow poke on an on-ramp ... *cough* Damn it. And it took no noticeable time to get to 90+ from 30 so I'll be satisfied with the performance of my SL. (No tickets in five years or so and I had to pass a "smokey in a brown paper bag" doing 91.)

crconsulting

Agree completely with both replies, I’ve owned plenty of Porsches myself and the R231 is a different animal. Which is what I like about it.
Maybe unclear from my post, but that’s exactly what they (Mercedes) are trying to achieve with the R232. Competition to the 911. It’s the excuse they gave for the addition of the rear seats. And why it’s only available as an AMG. The R231 (and its lineage) is a classic Grand Tourer.
My point, in a round about’s way being, If they (Mercedes) were actually going to succeed to compete with the 911 they would have been more successful with the SLK/SLC chassis.