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Gents:
Two years ago I suspected the R232 would end the series. The comical introduction, questionable design features, and aloof treatment of clients and potential clients. The initial lack mof reliability didn't help. The arrogance is appalling.......maybe ask previous clients about features, colors and design. AM uses the 4.0L V8 but the AM version is 650+HP vs 577HP. The promise of customized interior colors is just that, a promise. I spoke to 2 large dealers about a blue interior........massive confusion.
Note that I'm a long term SL buyer but I never palced an order for the R232.
MB was and is run by clowns! They destroyed their flagship and made it look easy.
The 2023 SL43.......one owner that will likely NEVER buy another MB. The car has been listed for 73 days.............maybe I'll offer $30K Lemon buy back R232 cars are not rare. I'm amazed the R232 was introduced with rapidly depleting batteries..........how could MB not know??
I recall some of our fellow forum members getting upset with a few of our negative attitudes ( mine included). The path of the R232 was quite evident over 2 years ago..........where are those R232 defenders today???
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
All right, I guess I’ll jump in here.
To those who love their R232’s, that’s wonderful and I sincerely mean that. Nothing better in the automotive world than loving what you drive. That said, I was turned off by the 232 without ever taking one for a drive. Then, when the horror stories of battery & other issues broke like the crest of a tsunami, it sealed the car’s fate, at least in my mind. Not only did I not like the way the cars were trimmed out and the deletion of features prized by owners of previous SL models, but thinking of the “carnival act” the dealers were playing—an act I am way too familiar with—the turn off was complete, at least for me.
I believe that the first mistake was handing off development of the 232 to AMG. They know how to build rocket sleds, but that’s not what the SL is supposed to be. So much of the traditional luxuriousness was disposed of, in favor of speed & handling. They wanted to take on the 911 and, in my opinion, failed miserably. The new car turned off all the traditional SL buyers and failed to entice nearly any Porsche customers. Then, to try and complete their “shell game,” they cranked the SL price to the moon, thinking that the well heeled would somehow deem the car a must have “luxury accessory.” Many rich people may be frivolous, but most are not stupid.
Lastly, during the time of the R232 launch, MB in general was a mess. There were SO many issues with most all of the new models that were released post 2020, that MB dealers found themselves in triage mode, doing virtually ANYTHING, just to get customers out of their service departments and back on the road. In the process, they truly & completely pissed off a significant number of their customers, many of whom ran to their local Porsche, BMW, Aston-Martin, Range Rover, etc. dealers where they found shelter from the pompous, torrential B.S. being spewed by MB dealers. I’m one of them. After 17 brand new MB’s, I’ve moved on. I’m not happy about it, but I am so relieved to see MB dealers in my rear view mirror.
The last great MB’s rolled off the assembly line in 2019.
All of the above is just the opinion of this very long time MB customer. My first new one was a 1979 450SL.
The 2023 SL43.......one owner that will likely NEVER buy another MB. The car has been listed for 73 days.............maybe I'll offer $30K Lemon buy back R232 cars are not rare. I'm amazed the R232 was introduced with rapidly depleting batteries..........how could MB not know??
I recall some of our fellow forum members getting upset with a few of our negative attitudes ( mine included). The path of the R232 was quite evident over 2 years ago..........where are those R232 defenders today???
I want to comment on the battery issue, apparently that was caused by a bug in the door module that keeps it awake, draining the battery.
The launch of the R232 in the US market was also delayed and delayed that might had contributed as well, for instance 2023 model year R232 was only a few months before the R232 2022 SL actual launch/release to the dealership. https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...d-release.html
On top of that, the vehicles sitting on the lot and over discharged the 12V batteries might had damaged it.
To those who love their R232’s, that’s wonderful and I sincerely mean that. Nothing better in the automotive world than loving what you drive. That said, I was turned off by the 232 without ever taking one for a drive. Then, when the horror stories of battery & other issues broke like the crest of a tsunami, it sealed the car’s fate, at least in my mind. Not only did I not like the way the cars were trimmed out and the deletion of features prized by owners of previous SL models, but thinking of the “carnival act” the dealers were playing—an act I am way too familiar with—the turn off was complete, at least for me.
I believe that the first mistake was handing off development of the 232 to AMG. They know how to build rocket sleds, but that’s not what the SL is supposed to be. So much of the traditional luxuriousness was disposed of, in favor of speed & handling. They wanted to take on the 911 and, in my opinion, failed miserably. The new car turned off all the traditional SL buyers and failed to entice nearly any Porsche customers. Then, to try and complete their “shell game,” they cranked the SL price to the moon, thinking that the well heeled would somehow deem the car a must have “luxury accessory.” Many rich people may be frivolous, but most are not stupid.
Lastly, during the time of the R232 launch, MB in general was a mess. There were SO many issues with most all of the new models that were released post 2020, that MB dealers found themselves in triage mode, doing virtually ANYTHING, just to get customers out of their service departments and back on the road. In the process, they truly & completely pissed off a significant number of their customers, many of whom ran to their local Porsche, BMW, Aston-Martin, Range Rover, etc. dealers where they found shelter from the pompous, torrential B.S. being spewed by MB dealers. I’m one of them. After 17 brand new MB’s, I’ve moved on. I’m not happy about it, but I am so relieved to see MB dealers in my rear view mirror.
The last great MB’s rolled off the assembly line in 2019.
All of the above is just the opinion of this very long time MB customer. My first new one was a 1979 450SL.
Completely agree with this post. If I want a sports car and am willing to spend 911 money, I’ll buy a 911.
Here’s hoping they bring back a “normal” non-AMG SL with an updated interior and retractable hard top.
'23 SL63 AMG, '22 Ram Limited 4x4, '24 Range Rover SE P400, ‘26 Corvette Z06
Maybe I’m jumping in as another defender but to just play the devils advocate here it seems they had the perfect storm of questionable design elements, lack of clarity in terms of what they were trying to build, which I personally would attribute to poor leadership, and finally the Covid chip shortage and economy did not do them any service.
I did not take the initial plunge and the steep steep depreciation made it an enticing prospect that I cross shopped with a few options: 911 turbo, Aston’s DB11 and Vantage and McLaren GT before finally settling on the SL. The car the was a close second to my SL was a 4 year old 992 tt that was selling at $10k above its original MSRP. Very nice example but I just couldn’t justify the additional $90k over the SL. I did go in knowing about the battery situation so I don’t get to complain about that. I have to remind the dealers to double lock it when leaving it stationary else the battery is flat.
The car itself drives absolutely spectacular. And now as a recently minted 40 year old I guess I’m understanding the appeal of a convertible more and more everyday!! I do strongly dislike the capacitive controls on the steering wheel but am getting used to the pain I guess. The rear seats are used almost 50% of the time when my 7 and/or 4 year olds wanna hop in the “silver race car”. Other than an unfortunate parking lot crash I endured after 10 days of ownership and the trials and tribulations of sorting out my damages and repairs I am very happy with my choice. Or maybe it’s the Stockholm syndrome kicking in? I don’t know.
All I’m trying to say is that it’s still an SL. Those of us with a non problematic one do enjoy the crap out of it the little annoyances. And at current market price makes for a relative bargain compared to the 911.
Mine's been perfectly awesome also. 5500 miles in 3 months. We were gone last week, forgot to put it on the tender, sat for 10 days no issues. Lots of fun to daily.
Maybe I’m jumping in as another defender but to just play the devils advocate here it seems they had the perfect storm of questionable design elements, lack of clarity in terms of what they were trying to build, which I personally would attribute to poor leadership, and finally the Covid chip shortage and economy did not do them any service.
I did not take the initial plunge and the steep steep depreciation made it an enticing prospect that I cross shopped with a few options: 911 turbo, Aston’s DB11 and Vantage and McLaren GT before finally settling on the SL. The car the was a close second to my SL was a 4 year old 992 tt that was selling at $10k above its original MSRP. Very nice example but I just couldn’t justify the additional $90k over the SL. I did go in knowing about the battery situation so I don’t get to complain about that. I have to remind the dealers to double lock it when leaving it stationary else the battery is flat.
The car itself drives absolutely spectacular. And now as a recently minted 40 year old I guess I’m understanding the appeal of a convertible more and more everyday!! I do strongly dislike the capacitive controls on the steering wheel but am getting used to the pain I guess. The rear seats are used almost 50% of the time when my 7 and/or 4 year olds wanna hop in the “silver race car”. Other than an unfortunate parking lot crash I endured after 10 days of ownership and the trials and tribulations of sorting out my damages and repairs I am very happy with my choice. Or maybe it’s the Stockholm syndrome kicking in? I don’t know.
All I’m trying to say is that it’s still an SL. Those of us with a non problematic one do enjoy the crap out of it the little annoyances. And at current market price makes for a relative bargain compared to the 911.
beautiful looking car. The lines are exceptional! After the start up problems died out and the initial problems resolved, the SL has become a very attractive and unique auto. It is very elegant just looking at your photo. I would buy any used SL after careful research. However, I believe the mistake that Mercedes made with the R232 was that only an AMG version was developed , no base model. Many people were used to a more sedate sports car for the typical SL. A buyer is forced to purchase an AMG OR NOTHING AT ALL. Even the 4cyl is all AMG. Drive one. It is rather raw and seems to have been developed for the track. No 4 wheel drive. It's designed to drift and slide which is fine if that’s what you’re looking for. Mercedes has changed the SL mission. Either you accept it or go else where. It sounds that some have gone to other brands. I’ve accepted the new philosophy. Your car is a beautiful example of this.
beautiful looking car. The lines are exceptional! After the start up problems died out and the initial problems resolved, the SL has become a very attractive and unique auto. It is very elegant just looking at your photo. I would buy any used SL after careful research. However, I believe the mistake that Mercedes made with the R232 was that only an AMG version was developed , no base model. Many people were used to a more sedate sports car for the typical SL. A buyer is forced to purchase an AMG OR NOTHING AT ALL. Even the 4cyl is all AMG. Drive one. It is rather raw and seems to have been developed for the track. No 4 wheel drive. It's designed to drift and slide which is fine if that’s what you’re looking for. Mercedes has changed the SL mission. Either you accept it or go else where. It sounds that some have gone to other brands. I’ve accepted the new philosophy. Your car is a beautiful example of this.
They thought that will generate more sales, will love to have a SL 450 for example with a V6 or the inline-6, that would be nice, the R232 SL 43 is RWD though is it? I mean the lighter front end with the 4-cylinder might be more fun to toss around corners
Given the poor sales how long will the R232 be built?
I placed an order for an SL 55 in 2023 & 2024. Both were cancelled by Mercedes & my deposit was returned. The fact that MBZ refused to build the cars is reflective of the quality. Now I see all the Buy Backs, returns, & salvage titles on the used models dealers or owners are trying to sell. One dealer in Tampa specializes in Buy Back resales. With clouded titles they are worthless.
I placed an order for an SL 55 in 2023 & 2024. Both were cancelled by Mercedes & my deposit was returned. The fact that MBZ refused to build the cars is reflective of the quality. Now I see all the Buy Backs, returns, & salvage titles on the used models dealers or owners are trying to sell. One dealer in Tampa specializes in Buy Back resales. With clouded titles they are worthless.
I guess just buy in stock models. Save the headache of ordering and then having the order cancelled.
Lemon buy back R232 cars are not rare. I'm amazed the R232 was introduced with rapidly depleting batteries..........how could MB not know??
Great car
