hdtv22

I was just wondering

Would any of you guys buy a car w/no options? IE I have an S63 and I made sure it had the P2 options, would you buy an SL with no options? Just bone stock? Or would the car have to be like $10k below any price on eBay before you'd consider it. Alot of these options are completely useless, but its still nice to have - Any opinions?

sprins

No man, the more (options) the merrier!

cal1

I would, but the price would have to be right. I don't really use a lot of the options on my SL, although I love keyless go and would miss it. On the other hand, purchasing a well priced no option SL and spending the savings on performance mods is very appealing to me.

GFEAR

The standard Amg is optioned well enough for me. Keyless go is the only one I'd miss, buy for the right car I'd live without it no problem.

hdtv22

That seems to be the general consensus of what I've heard - I'm planning on upgrading from my 07 SL55 to an 09 SL63, but it has no options - Fantastic car though, great color combination and a very sharp car - Love the rear diffuser and front headlight redesign, not to mention updated new COMAND, and I never used the Pano Roof, Parktronic/Distronic, or anything much else option wise in my SL55 - And besides, its the cheapest price I could find ANYWHERE for a car this optioned - I think its a decent deal, no options but best price for miles in USA seems like a very good trade, you agree?

Marcus Frost

I would not buy any AMG (R230 or otherwise) without options. My SL65 has all available options for the 05MY excluding distronic, and my E55 has everything except Distronic, rear/side sunshades, and drive dynamic seats.

The options are part of what makes the MBs so appealing, IMO. It's a more "complete" package.

Just my $.02

-m

Fantasm

I would also completely pass on a car with no options, it wouldn't be an a possibility...
I actually always wonder who the hell the people are that order a car with zero options.

mf1

I think a purist would. There is also a difference between 'comfort' options and the realy 'useful' ones. But it's nice when you buy 'second hand' and it has all the stuff. Just don't think it's easy to find one with no goodies.

manithemoneyman

If you're buying the car just to drive it and its a good trade for no options/less money than go for it, but remember if you are thinking about resale value then the lack of options can hurt when trying to get rid of the car, maybe even more so then the amount you initially save...

aza12345

I would buy a option less car, the only one on my I would miss is the keyless go, as many have said. The others I won"t miss but I would definitively like to have the 030 performance package.

GFEAR

MY CAR HAS EVERYTHING BUT THE DISTRONIC AND PARK SENSORS AND PANO ROOF.ALL 3 THIGNS I DONT WANT OR NEED. BUT THE OPTIONS I HAVE, I DONT REALLY USE BUT THE KEYLESS GO. THE COOLING SEATS COME IN HANDY SOMETIMES, AND THE MASSAGING SEATS ARE A GIMICK, WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

EDIT:
sorry for caps, work software is caps only and i forget to tun it off

Sunir

I would and have bought a car without options. Options are not conducive to what I'm looking for in the driving experience; and maybe I'm a bit of a purist but I never use the options that I've had on cars in the past (i.e sunroof etc..) the keyless go in the SL is a pretty nice option though, but I still don't need it...had it on the 500 but not on the 55 (which is basicly option-less like I wanted it). Options increase complexity and chances for things to go wrong; bells n' whistles don't make a better car, engineering, chassis, engine, suspension, drivetrain all do!

As far as value, options on a vehicle do almost nothing in the second hand market; for those of you that don't think so go to a dealer auction. After a certain point of depreciation; a well optioned vehicle is worth almost the exact same as it's non-optioned counterpart, same make, model, year and similar mileage being factors that are consistant between the two examples. Condition being the same also.

MJ50

the more options, the better...
i'd literally downgrade the model and get more options...
and u still will find tons of OEM mods to do from steve...

sikhkd

for the right price I wouldn't mind.. the main reason I get a car is for whats under the hood, not for the fancy gadgets along with it

Fantasm

me too exactly, i would heavily consider a lower model that has a ton more options!

Marco_In_DC

My recently purchased 2006 SL55 had a n original window sticker of $151,200. That includes the 030 option which I had never before seen in person. Pano roof etc & etc. But no Cell phone option! Amazing. For about $1,000 that can be cured with a better configuration than what was available in 06 - Bluetooth is needed for iPhone and hands free is becoming the law.

FWIW, the 030 option (originally $14,200) added about $1.98 to my recent purchase price. More amazement to me.

roberthechter

My recently purchased 2006 SL55 AMG has an original window sticker of $138,555.00 and this is without 030, It has the most options I have seen on a SL55, car had 32,000 miles at time of purchase (Feb. 2009) and I know I bought it right ($47,000.00)
SL55 $125,000.00
723 Pewter Metallic
281 AMG Charcoal
It has 7 options:
051 Phone Sys. with Voice Control $1,450.00
219 Distronic (once you use it, you'll never own a car without it) $3,150.00
220 Parktronic $1,100.00
401 Active Ventilated Seats $1,260.00
415 Panorama Roof with Sunshade $1,900.00
614 Bi-Xenon Headlamps $780.00
889 Keyless-Go $1,080.00
Destination & Delivery $775.00
Gas Guzzler $2,200.00
TOTAL $138,555.00
All these options are a MUST HAVE on a SL55 (my opinion) and there is nothing wrong with 030, my car just didn't have it.
So, to answer the question, WOULD YOU BUY A SL55 AMG WITH NO OPTIONS, the answer is NO WAY, I use every option on this car and very much enjoy every option on this car. My wife and I have driven this car 11,000 miles since Feb. 09 and just love it. 1/2 of those miles have been with the top down. Next trip is up to Napa Valley, California

khaz3al

i say the less there is, the less it breaks

GOODENUF

Options are nice to have but they will bring nothing on a trade. Private party may opt to buy your car over someone else but price is what will make the sale. I like my keyless go and electric open/close trunk. Parktronic and distronic are nice to play with but not a deal breaker.

Sunir

exactly! and what goodenuf said is spot on...options get you nothing at auction or trade in...

Buy a car for the engine, drivetrain, chassis/suspension...they are the genuine article, not bells and whistles...

Geo3

+1

hdtv22

Thanks guys for all the input so far - This thread has really pushed me to trade in my SL55 for an SL63. I figure that I can sell it in the private party market when I want without taking too big of a hit b/c of the no options as long as I sell it below everyone else's asking price

I don't even know what half of these options are - An Airscarf? Really? My neck is perfectly fine in the SL55, esp. in South Florida, and the only options I'll really miss is the Keyless Go like everyone else said. However, it's a bit pretentious to not buy a car b/c it doesn't have Keyless Go, what, you can't even be bothered to put the key in the ignition? Even Astons and Ferraris you still have to put the key in the ignition. Not to mention another options was Pano Roof, which was never used because if I want sun ill put the roof down, and Heated Seats, which get about 0 use in South Florida.

m_berman

Why purchase a $100k+ car unless it is fully optioned? Isn't that the purpose of excess and something that is not really needed but desired?

I'm purchasing something that is expensive that I can appreciate with lots of enjoyment and not just a minimum solution to show off to the neighbors as a wantabe status symbol.

Just my $.02 worth.

hdtv22

I think the whole wannabe status symbol is a bit much - A bone stock SL63 is $138.5 @ MSRP, You add in all the goodies its around $5k more, how does a ~4% difference put the car in "wantabe" status?

Case in point - My S63 is not fully optioned, does not have the rear seat package, namely because nobody sits in the rear seat for much more than going out for food - I don't think that makes the car a wannabe S63

Discuss!

sharvay

In South Africa, the only option we have is the panoramic roof (and the performance package for the 63). Thats it.. so basically all SLs here are fully loaded!