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Well, I can attest to the fact that MB does do focus groups, as I have participated in a few, based on the S Class & E Class cars I have owned. That said, I’m quite sure that they would not spend the money to listen to the relatively very few SL owners out there.
Good to hear. I have not, based on the 200, 230E, 260E, 280E4M, CLK320, E430, SL500, SL550, SL63 (2), GTS, CLS, and S63 Cab. that I have owned/driven over the last 39 years.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Utopia Texas
When I was growing up getting to drive for the first time, getting your drivers license and going out on your own to explore was a huge taste of freedom. As Dinah Shore used to sing, “See the USA in your Chevrolet”. It’s all about the drive not the destination!
You got that right, it’s all about the drive! This is the back cover of the 1965 Corvette brochure and to me, it tells the story. I know, there were horrible wars, terrible diseases and many other problems, but for a young man who loved cars, the 60’s was a great time to be alive.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
I agree, the current car is much better looking than the pre-FL, Sports Pkg. model. BUT, I still feel that the original, standard model, as shown below, was the best looking of all R231 versions. I believe that this was the original, final design and that the Sports Pkg. design came afterwards, was rushed and not well thought out. This car, to me is just lovely, the design WORKS and US customers should have been given the option of selecting it. And damn! What a great color, that nobody ever got. Sometimes, you just have to wonder about the pigheaded decisions made by some MB & MBUSA executives.
I guess we will have to differ on that one
While I can see the attraction for you, the headlight have always been some of MB's worst headlight designs.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Wolfman
I guess we will have to differ on that one
While I can see the attraction for you, the headlight have always been some of MB's worst headlight designs.
Well, we can’t agree on everything.
Actually, I really like those lights. Very distinctive and I felt very well suited to the SL.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by BillyD
Good to hear. I have not, based on the 200, 230E, 260E, 280E4M, CLK320, E430, SL500, SL550, SL63 (2), GTS, CLS, and S63 Cab. that I have owned/driven over the last 39 years.
Well, I don’t know why. Did you obtain most of your cars new or used? It might also have something to do with the city you are in, as I think they only hold these things in large metro areas.
Does anyone know when the the R232/233 will be announced for sale, will it be in CY 2021 or CY 2022.
If CY 2022 will there be a final R231 sold in CY 2021?
Well it looks like Mercedes factory participation is very subdued this year at Car Week in Pebble Beach/Monterey compared to previous years.
Hardly a build up to a reveal of the R232 so I don’t think this rumor will materialize: https://mbpassion.de/2021/04/sl-road...-pebble-beach/
Considering recent constraints in production, It will be interesting to see if they even make the big reveal at the Munich show in September. Has the potential be a big letdown if they have some sort of COVID issues and cancel the show.
I was hopeful for a Pebble Beach reveal 😕
Last edited by crconsulting; 07-28-2021 at 04:12 PM.
Well it looks like Mercedes factory participation is very subdued this year at Car Week in Pebble Beach/Monterey compared to previous years.
Hardly a build up to a reveal of the R232 so I don’t think this rumor will materialize: https://mbpassion.de/2021/04/sl-road...-pebble-beach/
Considering recent constraints in production, It will be interesting to see if they even make the big reveal at the Munich show in September. Has the potential be a big letdown if they have some sort of COVID issues and cancel the show.
I was hopeful for a Pebble Beach reveal 😕
We will have to see. For the moment supply shortages are so great that MB appears to kill off whole model years for certain cars.
I would still expect Mercedes to show off the new SL along with the new EQS and S-Class/Maybach. Cars people want to see...
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Wolfman
We will have to see. For the moment supply shortages are so great that MB appears to kill off whole model years for certain cars.
I would still expect Mercedes to show off the new SL along with the new EQS and S-Class/Maybach. Cars people want to see...
And with all of the latest government posturing over the virus, it would appear that we may be in for another round of supplier slow/shut downs. It’s a great time to forget about getting a new car and an even better time to love the idea of keeping the vehicle(s) you already have. Missing options, obscene dealer markups over MSRP. Who needs it? To me, “old” has never looked better!
And with all of the latest government posturing over the virus, it would appear that we may be in for another round of supplier slow/shut downs. It’s a great time to forget about getting a new car and an even better time to love the idea of keeping the vehicle(s) you already have. Missing options, obscene dealer markups over MSRP. Who needs it? To me, “old” has never looked better!
Absolutely!
We also have no sense of urgency The value of the GTC went up by $30K (for the time being at least) but the SL has to beat this car to be worthy of a change. So far, the wind buffeting is my only concern on the new SL and I doubt the car will be as agile as this one...
Well it looks like Mercedes factory participation is very subdued this year at Car Week in Pebble Beach/Monterey compared to previous years.
Hardly a build up to a reveal of the R232 so I don’t think this rumor will materialize: https://mbpassion.de/2021/04/sl-road...-pebble-beach/
Considering recent constraints in production, It will be interesting to see if they even make the big reveal at the Munich show in September. Has the potential be a big letdown if they have some sort of COVID issues and cancel the show.
I was hopeful for a Pebble Beach reveal 😕
It has been confirmed that there will be no SL reveal at Pebble Beach and it is also unlikely to be at the IAA in September. One can tell that it was a last minute pull as they are focusing on the history of the SL at the event and had a couple SL press releases in the last days
The chip shortage continues to cause production cuts and it seems that some AMG 63 models are particularly hurt. The production of the E63 sedan/wagon and the AMG GT63's are cancelled for at least this year but perhaps until MY23.
It has been confirmed that there will be no SL reveal at Pebble Beach and it is also unlikely to be at the IAA in September. One can tell that it was a last minute pull as they are focusing on the history of the SL at the event and had a couple SL press releases in the last days
The chip shortage continues to cause production cuts and it seems that some AMG 63 models are particularly hurt. The production of the E63 sedan/wagon and the AMG GT63's are cancelled for at least this year but perhaps until MY23.
Yeah unfortunately you're right. I knew once the Mercedes presence at PB was scaled back, there was no way they would launch anything new.
I think it's not just chips, it seems as though other supplies are generally constrained too. So as a company, their only choice is to focus resources on hot selling SUV market.
Docks all over the world are backed up. Last time I drove over the Oakland SF bay area bridge I saw MANY ships waiting to dock. It was something I had never seen before.
I'm thinking 2023 might be a possibility....
Yeah unfortunately you're right. I knew once the Mercedes presence at PB was scaled back, there was no way they would launch anything new.
I think it's not just chips, it seems as though other supplies are generally constrained too. So as a company, their only choice is to focus resources on hot selling SUV market.
Docks all over the world are backed up. Last time I drove over the Oakland SF bay area bridge I saw MANY ships waiting to dock. It was something I had never seen before.
I'm thinking 2023 might be a possibility....
In the end, I'm really happy with what I have
Another member on the R231 forum just posted that they are still showing the new SL in private at PB. Probably worth stopping by!
Why would they do that? If the car was ready and they are at the event, why not show the car to everyone?
Wish I could answer that. We know they originally planned to launch the car.
The only reason I can see is that they may have tabled the production for the time being, so a preview event would be possible backup as the expenses already occurred and the excitement could still be created without any firm commitment.
Wish I could answer that. We know they originally planned to launch the car.
The only reason I can see is that they may have tabled the production for the time being, so a preview event would be possible backup as the expenses already occurred and the excitement could still be created without any firm commitment.
Between v8 shortages, suspended production on several 2022's, a potentially "temporarily shelved" 232 these are some strange times for MB. Any other makers experiencing similar issues and suspending production of v8 models?
Why would they do that? If the car was ready and they are at the event, why not show the car to everyone?
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Wish I could answer that. We know they originally planned to launch the car.
Even the sales guys were confused on the marketing strategy for the r232
I can only describe this as a “soft” release…
And yes, availability Oct/Nov. (I have to see it to believe it)
Haha the screen haters will hate this thing…
Last edited by crconsulting; 08-16-2021 at 02:58 PM.
If those pictures were from taken at Pebble Beach they must have had multiple cars there, because the one I saw was a different color.
I can only describe this as a “soft” release…
Last edited by crconsulting; 08-16-2021 at 12:18 PM.