SL/R232: Some new SL info
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 11
From: Las Vegas
2017 SL450; 2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo; 2005 Lexus SC430
So, I adore my 2017 SL450. I like not having an utterly useless rear seat and vastly prefer its retractable hardtop over a soft top that would deteriorate under the harsh Las Vegas summer sun. As a non-track driver, I am delighted with its acceleration and handling. All I really wanted in my next SL was the same front seats only and convertible hardtop, a heads-up display, a digital dashboard, front/360 cameras, and MB’s state-of-the-art safety technologies. Oh, and a choice of actual paint and leather colors, too. For me, that would have been a real winner — even nicer than a Bentley Continental at half the price.
Last edited by jmeyersnv; Aug 21, 2020 at 02:07 PM. Reason: Clarifying my “wants”.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 349
Likes: 56
From: Massachusetts
1986 560SL, 2017 E300, 2018 Sl550, 2020 E350
All I really wanted in my next SL was a heads-up display, a digital dashboard, front/360 cameras, and MB’s state-of-the-art safety technologies. Oh, and a choice of actual paint and leather colors, too. For me, that would have been a real winner — easily as nice as a Bentley Continental at half the price.
All the above but, no rear seats and no soft top.
THEN would have been "perfect" !
All the above but, no rear seats and no soft top.
THEN would have been "perfect" !
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 256
Likes: 85
From: Newbury Park, CA
2016 SL400 & 2021 C300
All I really wanted in my next SL was a heads-up display, a digital dashboard, front/360 cameras, and MB’s state-of-the-art safety technologies. Oh, and a choice of actual paint and leather colors, too. For me, that would have been a real winner — easily as nice as a Bentley Continental at half the price.
All the above but, no rear seats and no soft top.
THEN would have been "perfect" !
All the above but, no rear seats and no soft top.
THEN would have been "perfect" !
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 4,353
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 256
Likes: 85
From: Newbury Park, CA
2016 SL400 & 2021 C300
Looks like a nice looking car, but does not look like what I would expect an SL to look like. Not that it matters much to me since I just acquired our SL400 in June and we are not likely to looking to replace it for many years.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 260
From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
Agreed. The rear photos show a rounded trunk lid that is not attractive. And is it possible to keep a rag top that contoured and rounded? Are those roof rails hiding under the covers? Maybe the retractable hardtop still lives!
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 660
Likes: 300
From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
Is is just my old eyes, or does the car appear to be smaller; more on the scale of the current Z4 BMW? Just looks smaller to me, but it could be the disguised look that does that.
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,537
Likes: 3,670
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,537
Likes: 3,670
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
The rear appears similar to a GT model which is not a bad thing...
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,537
Likes: 3,670
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Drive dynamically the car definitely sounds less interesting than the current GT models. Engine further upfront, engine higher position, transmission attached to the engine instead of transaxle. No dual clutch, traditional 9G-tronic (either the MB on AMG MCT). Airmatic, 4-matic Plus. More or less like the E63s we had.
Last edited by Wolfman; Aug 27, 2020 at 02:12 PM.
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
Actually, I was looking at the rear photos and thinking that they remind me a bit of the Z4.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 4,353
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,537
Likes: 3,670
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 291
From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
Here is something for you diehard R231 SL guys:
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/m...-drive-review/
The R231 has never looked better than the one in this article IMO.
M
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/m...-drive-review/
The R231 has never looked better than the one in this article IMO.
M
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 521
From: Hagerstown MD
2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
Yes, it's sad that Daimler is abandoning the hardtop convertible market but sales don't justify keeping this model in production. The buyers determine what is built and very few are buying them. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 4,353
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Here is something for you diehard R231 SL guys:
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/m...-drive-review/
The R231 has never looked better than the one in this article IMO.
M
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/m...-drive-review/
The R231 has never looked better than the one in this article IMO.
M
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 4,353
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 260
From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
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
Oh no...
Yet another car beaten with the Bangle stick!
"On sale for over a decade"? How do they figure that? Is eight years now more than ten years?
Yet another car beaten with the Bangle stick!Here is something for you diehard R231 SL guys:
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/m...-drive-review/
The R231 has never looked better than the one in this article IMO.
M
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/m...-drive-review/
The R231 has never looked better than the one in this article IMO.
M
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; Sep 23, 2020 at 01:28 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 936
From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
