SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: 6,000 sold?
02-04-2003, 01:52 PM
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2005 SL600, 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite
6,000 sold?
http://www.benzworld.org/news/news.asp?id=196
Take a look at this link. I am having a difficult time swallowing the fact that 6,000 SL55s have been sold since the car's introduction. This seems far in excess of the manufacturing capacity as I understood it to be.
Take a look at this link. I am having a difficult time swallowing the fact that 6,000 SL55s have been sold since the car's introduction. This seems far in excess of the manufacturing capacity as I understood it to be.
02-04-2003, 05:16 PM
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I don't think that they are referring to the actuall number of units on the road, but rather the number of orders they have accepted. 6000 cars is a hell of a lot of engines to be put together by hand in such a short amount of time.
Last edited by internet_mafia; 02-04-2003 at 05:19 PM.
02-04-2003, 08:30 PM
#4
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6000 cars on the road sounds very feasible...
* The SL55 has been around in mainland Europe for nearly a year.
* Engine production may well have started long before the car itself was available.
* Previously, it's been reported one in three SLs has been a 55.
* Previous production of the R129 exceeded 20000 units in a year.
* The new SL is much easier to make and volumes can be higher.
* My engine serial number is in the mid 3000s and it was made at least 5 months ago.
I believe the engine takes less than one man day to assemble, so if you wanted 6000 engines across 200 working days, you'd need, say, 20 people. No problem... The S55 AMG, CL55 AMG and E55 AMG use minor variants of the same engine, so there's bound to be plenty of capacity in Affalterbach.
It's important not to overcook the idea that the engines are made by hand. They are *assembled* by hand, but of course all the manufacturing of parts has already been done - the supercharger for example comes straight from IHI in Japan and the machined castings will come just-in-time from sub-contractors. It's not like Ferrari who have a huge on-site foundry for making and then machining their own castings in Maranello.
With the SL350, the model mix is going to change, it's said one in 2 will be SL350s, only a handful will be 600s and with strong demand for the SL55, maybe the SL500 will lose out.
* The SL55 has been around in mainland Europe for nearly a year.
* Engine production may well have started long before the car itself was available.
* Previously, it's been reported one in three SLs has been a 55.
* Previous production of the R129 exceeded 20000 units in a year.
* The new SL is much easier to make and volumes can be higher.
* My engine serial number is in the mid 3000s and it was made at least 5 months ago.
I believe the engine takes less than one man day to assemble, so if you wanted 6000 engines across 200 working days, you'd need, say, 20 people. No problem... The S55 AMG, CL55 AMG and E55 AMG use minor variants of the same engine, so there's bound to be plenty of capacity in Affalterbach.
It's important not to overcook the idea that the engines are made by hand. They are *assembled* by hand, but of course all the manufacturing of parts has already been done - the supercharger for example comes straight from IHI in Japan and the machined castings will come just-in-time from sub-contractors. It's not like Ferrari who have a huge on-site foundry for making and then machining their own castings in Maranello.
With the SL350, the model mix is going to change, it's said one in 2 will be SL350s, only a handful will be 600s and with strong demand for the SL55, maybe the SL500 will lose out.
Last edited by blueSL; 02-04-2003 at 08:34 PM.
02-04-2003, 08:35 PM
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
I seem to recall that the output for worldwide production for 2002 was supposed to be 2000, then doubled to 4000 due to high demand.
6000 is high, but possible...
Wolfman
6000 is high, but possible...
Wolfman
02-04-2003, 09:30 PM
#6
Originally posted by blueSL
With the SL350, the model mix is going to change, it's said one in 2 will be SL350s, only a handful will be 600s and with strong demand for the SL55, maybe the SL500 will lose out.
With the SL350, the model mix is going to change, it's said one in 2 will be SL350s, only a handful will be 600s and with strong demand for the SL55, maybe the SL500 will lose out.
will the SL600 command a premium in USA.. texas especially? Or will one be able to just go in and buy it if its there and/or put their name on the list?
02-05-2003, 03:37 AM
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I don't think there's any car of the price point of the SL600 which will intentionally just be sat on the lot waiting for a buyer. Mercedes can make any mix of cars on the line they choose to and my guess is that production will be restricted so that there is at least some wait, but the level of interest is unlikely to be as high as the SL55. The world-wide market for V12 is just not that big, especailly if oil goes up to $100 a barrel in the coming months.
No one has driven the SL600 yet, no one has reviewed it and we only have some idea of price, say $125k. To any prospective purchaser, I can show them a crystal ball of what will happen to their resale value just by looking at what happened the previous generation. The bigger the engine, the worse the depreciation both in percentage and actual money terms. For some, that will not matter, for most, it will.
You guys will have a better view of the US economy than I do, but where three years ago the purchase of a car like this might have been funded just by selling some Cisco stock, today, you need to have a job or business which generates real wealth, real goods and services and real profits.
No one has driven the SL600 yet, no one has reviewed it and we only have some idea of price, say $125k. To any prospective purchaser, I can show them a crystal ball of what will happen to their resale value just by looking at what happened the previous generation. The bigger the engine, the worse the depreciation both in percentage and actual money terms. For some, that will not matter, for most, it will.
You guys will have a better view of the US economy than I do, but where three years ago the purchase of a car like this might have been funded just by selling some Cisco stock, today, you need to have a job or business which generates real wealth, real goods and services and real profits.
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02-05-2003, 07:15 AM
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Originally posted by blueSL
6000 cars on the road sounds very feasible...
* My engine serial number is in the mid 3000s and it was made at least 5 months ago.
6000 cars on the road sounds very feasible...
* My engine serial number is in the mid 3000s and it was made at least 5 months ago.
02-05-2003, 07:25 AM
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SL500 Ex SL55, ML55, S430
I personally know of 4 within a 10 mile radius of my house!
Lowdham, Notts - the highest SL55 count per head of population - maybe
The figures look good to me - maybe conservative!
Lowdham, Notts - the highest SL55 count per head of population - maybe
The figures look good to me - maybe conservative!
02-05-2003, 07:52 AM
#10
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I was followed through Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire last week by... an SL55 AMG, Brilliant Silver, Berry Red. Two in a row. Common as muck, these cars.
The SL55 doesn't cut much mustard with some people. Just had some drain work done and the guy was telling me how much he was into cars. So, I showed him into the inner sanctum and the SL55 didn't register on his scale at all. The Ferrari on the other hand pressed all available buttons.
The SL55 doesn't cut much mustard with some people. Just had some drain work done and the guy was telling me how much he was into cars. So, I showed him into the inner sanctum and the SL55 didn't register on his scale at all. The Ferrari on the other hand pressed all available buttons.
02-05-2003, 07:56 AM
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1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible
Originally posted by blueSL
Common as muck, these cars.... ....The SL55 doesn't cut much mustard with some people.
Common as muck, these cars.... ....The SL55 doesn't cut much mustard with some people.
For some reason, people in the U.S.A. think they are "special" if they are driving a Benz.
SL55's are not as common in South Florida, however, I have seen dozens of the new SL500's.
Last edited by Mr. Xristo; 02-05-2003 at 08:01 AM.
02-05-2003, 08:49 AM
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SL500 Ex SL55, ML55, S430
Blue SL - Those really in the know will appreciate an SL55. For the rest of the population a bad LHD example of a Testarossa (worth circa 30K) or an old GT308 will impress more than a SL55 - It's the 'F' word.
It is kinda magical - I have the next 360 on order! 2005?
It is kinda magical - I have the next 360 on order! 2005?
02-05-2003, 09:22 AM
#13
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You're correct of course. I've complained elsewhere that a Ferrari attracts too much attention so you cannot easily leave it anywhere. The recognition of it by the guy sorting out my drains just emphasises the point. The Mercedes is more stealth car.
Interested that you have a 360 replacement on order, do you think it will replace your SL55 or be added to it?
I have friends who live just up the road from you in Oxton, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for a flash of blue lightning next time I'm visiting...
Interested that you have a 360 replacement on order, do you think it will replace your SL55 or be added to it?
I have friends who live just up the road from you in Oxton, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for a flash of blue lightning next time I'm visiting...
Last edited by blueSL; 02-05-2003 at 09:28 AM.
02-05-2003, 09:32 AM
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SL500 Ex SL55, ML55, S430
Hi BlueSL. I go mountian biking from the Bridge Inn at Oxton most weekends. Small world and all that! Used to go out with a girl from the village.
I regulary work Oxford way, at Faringdon.
I sold the 360 to finance the SL55 - had got to the point of being 'bored' with it if that doesn't sound appauling and spoilt.
They are a racing car IMHO and theres only so many times I can scream the Lowdham, Southwell, Oxton route before it gets a little tamer! Stunning fun in small doses.
So at the moment I do not miss it - enjoying getting some real use out of the SL55 and counting the weeks to summer - in a years time however the I will be ready for something 'raw' again and hence the SL55 will go, hopefully while the market is still strong, to finance the Ferrari.
Cheers - Paul
I regulary work Oxford way, at Faringdon.
I sold the 360 to finance the SL55 - had got to the point of being 'bored' with it if that doesn't sound appauling and spoilt.
They are a racing car IMHO and theres only so many times I can scream the Lowdham, Southwell, Oxton route before it gets a little tamer! Stunning fun in small doses.
So at the moment I do not miss it - enjoying getting some real use out of the SL55 and counting the weeks to summer - in a years time however the I will be ready for something 'raw' again and hence the SL55 will go, hopefully while the market is still strong, to finance the Ferrari.
Cheers - Paul
02-05-2003, 02:15 PM
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A Mercedes will most likely never be viewed as an exotic (including the SLR) like a Ferrari or more so, a Lamborghini.
That's OK and even preferred by me. Of course this is all relative; just take a Mercedes SL, top down with a beautiful woman driving and a Ferrari with an old guy inside and guess who'll get the attention
Wolfman
That's OK and even preferred by me. Of course this is all relative; just take a Mercedes SL, top down with a beautiful woman driving and a Ferrari with an old guy inside and guess who'll get the attention
Wolfman
02-05-2003, 06:25 PM
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Well mookie, I hope all these ramblings I've served up these past months will not leave you disappointed!! We'll want to hear your impressions of course plus see some pictures. Let's hope for some glorious winter sunshine for you, heater on full, roof down and head on out!
02-05-2003, 10:31 PM
#18
Originally posted by blueSL
You guys will have a better view of the US economy than I do, but where three years ago the purchase of a car like this might have been funded just by selling some Cisco stock, today, you need to have a job or business which generates real wealth, real goods and services and real profits.
You guys will have a better view of the US economy than I do, but where three years ago the purchase of a car like this might have been funded just by selling some Cisco stock, today, you need to have a job or business which generates real wealth, real goods and services and real profits.
ther is subway around you right?
02-06-2003, 01:18 PM
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Germany is more likely to have taken the biggest share, where the SL55 has gone down a storm, the only country where the performance can be frequently and legally exploited.
02-10-2003, 11:45 AM
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Ferrari Spyder, Hummer H-2, Harley V-Rod
...units sold
ok, so let's not believe what the manufacturer sez...what's the difference? you're supposed to dirve the car, not put it in your living room like piece of signed limited edition artwork!
02-10-2003, 04:53 PM
#23
Re: ...units sold
Originally posted by drbeck
ok, so let's not believe what the manufacturer sez...what's the difference? you're supposed to dirve the car, not put it in your living room like piece of signed limited edition artwork!
ok, so let's not believe what the manufacturer sez...what's the difference? you're supposed to dirve the car, not put it in your living room like piece of signed limited edition artwork!
02-11-2003, 07:33 AM
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I saw 3 SL55's yesterday in Boca Raton, FL, a silver one passed me coming back from my accountant (taxes
), another black on my way to the bank and finally a white one on the traffic light, and guess who was driving it........and old lady!
There is no respect for sport cars in Palm Beach!
), another black on my way to the bank and finally a white one on the traffic light, and guess who was driving it........and old lady!There is no respect for sport cars in Palm Beach!
