SLR/C199/R199/Z199: What's wrong with the SLR?
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various
What's wrong with the SLR?
When they first became available people were lineing up to buy SLR's for, what, $750,000? Now they are selling at a $100,000 discount to MSRP after Mercedes kicked back a big rebate to dealers in January of this year.
If you look at eBay, Dupont, and Cars.com there are lots of SLR's available with 1,000 or so miles on them offered in the low to middle $300's and prices are continuing to drop.
I notice that a sophisticated owner of several exotics who has posted here regarding SLR's bought one a few months ago and just sold it a couple of weeks ago with very low mileage and replaced it with a Ferrari 430 that he said was more usable.
Normally one would expect that an exotic made in limited numbers like the SLR would gain in value but the opposite has occured with the SLR and the prices are still sliding; based on pricing and owner retention time, the SLR would appear to be one of the most interesting automotive failures of recent times!
If you look at eBay, Dupont, and Cars.com there are lots of SLR's available with 1,000 or so miles on them offered in the low to middle $300's and prices are continuing to drop.
I notice that a sophisticated owner of several exotics who has posted here regarding SLR's bought one a few months ago and just sold it a couple of weeks ago with very low mileage and replaced it with a Ferrari 430 that he said was more usable.
Normally one would expect that an exotic made in limited numbers like the SLR would gain in value but the opposite has occured with the SLR and the prices are still sliding; based on pricing and owner retention time, the SLR would appear to be one of the most interesting automotive failures of recent times!
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From: toronto
C63 507
interesting thoughts. though i'm not sure where you received your infomation.
i have never heard of any SLR line-ups and certainly have never heard of anyone paying $750,000 for one. although that may be true for the first few that rolled off the line. for the most they never sold well and were always readily available from the dealer.
the prices seem relatively stable for an 06 in the mid-300k's. since there are still quite a few the price will probably drop further as the summer ends and the new model year comes out.
however, the SLR certainly is not a limited production car, in fact just the opposite. they made too many. an enzo is a limited production car with only 399 ever made. there have been thousands of SLR's produced. the fact is there are simply not enough buyers who can or are willing to pay that kind of money for a car- any car.
what is the name of the 'sophisticated owner of several exotics' who says the 430 is more usable? it definitely isnt. i find it hard to believe anybody would think it is. the 430 is more fun and more involving but not more usable.
very very few cars appreciate in value and the SLR doesnt depreciate any more than other cars in its price range. take a look at the resale of the carerra gt, the 575, muric's, or the vanquish. while the 599 is very hot right now it too will cool down and depreciate as nearly all of the 12 cylinder ferrari do
i have never heard of any SLR line-ups and certainly have never heard of anyone paying $750,000 for one. although that may be true for the first few that rolled off the line. for the most they never sold well and were always readily available from the dealer.
the prices seem relatively stable for an 06 in the mid-300k's. since there are still quite a few the price will probably drop further as the summer ends and the new model year comes out.
however, the SLR certainly is not a limited production car, in fact just the opposite. they made too many. an enzo is a limited production car with only 399 ever made. there have been thousands of SLR's produced. the fact is there are simply not enough buyers who can or are willing to pay that kind of money for a car- any car.
what is the name of the 'sophisticated owner of several exotics' who says the 430 is more usable? it definitely isnt. i find it hard to believe anybody would think it is. the 430 is more fun and more involving but not more usable.
very very few cars appreciate in value and the SLR doesnt depreciate any more than other cars in its price range. take a look at the resale of the carerra gt, the 575, muric's, or the vanquish. while the 599 is very hot right now it too will cool down and depreciate as nearly all of the 12 cylinder ferrari do
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Joined: Oct 2004
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1997 E320 (silver/black)
Can you document your statement....
that thousands of SLR's have been made? I thought the plan was to make 500 a year for five years and I understand that those numbers have not been achieved.
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From: london
996 C4, previously owned 996 c2, c32 amg, 350z, R33 GTR, R34 GTR
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
The prodution plan for the SLR was/is 3500 units over 7 years just like a normal Mercedes. As of recently (can't remember where I read it, maybe Autoweek), only about 1500 SLRs had been built. This is why we have the 722 version and now the roadster. I'm willing to bet that the SLR is going to get a facelift and even more variations to keep it going until 2011. Hell its going to have to! A 722 Roadster should be a given and of course some type of hp increase for both models in the future along with yet more chassis tweaks.
What is wrong with the SLR? It isn't the prettiest thing to behold, automatic transmission only, ride and handling compromise (per the mags) has never been right, and lastly it is largely overpriced IMO. The SLR should have been a 250K-300K car tops, not 450K! The roadster is going to be 500K. I know Mercedes-Benz is Mercedes-Benz the world's original car company but gee whiz these are Ferrari/Bentley/Rolls/Porsche CGT prices.
M
What is wrong with the SLR? It isn't the prettiest thing to behold, automatic transmission only, ride and handling compromise (per the mags) has never been right, and lastly it is largely overpriced IMO. The SLR should have been a 250K-300K car tops, not 450K! The roadster is going to be 500K. I know Mercedes-Benz is Mercedes-Benz the world's original car company but gee whiz these are Ferrari/Bentley/Rolls/Porsche CGT prices.
M
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2001 VW Jetta GLX VR6
I do not recall ever seeing the SLR McLaren ever approaching the 750k price range. This does not mean; however, that people did not pay a premium to have one of the first SLRs. From what I have heard, people are love/hate with the styling, there were brake problems, it is difficult to get into and out of, and, the big whammy, some people want a more exotic car for 450k than a MB. Think Ferrari, Lambo, Koenisegg (sp?), and some rarer Paganis and Saleens.
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
I think the problem with the car is on several fronts.
The style is not appealing to everyone. The proportions of the nose are a bit awkward, and the SL is arguably a cleaner design.
The engine is a derivative of the SL55, which is a much cheaper car. Maybe if they used a variation of the AMG unit that Pagani uses it may be more palatable.
It has a fixed roof. But........you gotta love those doors!
The style is not appealing to everyone. The proportions of the nose are a bit awkward, and the SL is arguably a cleaner design.
The engine is a derivative of the SL55, which is a much cheaper car. Maybe if they used a variation of the AMG unit that Pagani uses it may be more palatable.
It has a fixed roof. But........you gotta love those doors!
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
The biggest thing wrong with the SLR is weight. It's 700 pounds heavier than a Carrera GT. A huge part of its cost comes from the light carbon fiber monocoque, which is made by a labor intensive process. Paying for that in a car that has the full complement of MB luxo-equipment and heavy automatic transmission, bringing you back to close to two tons, strikes many buyers as loony.
The second problem is the brakes. They're grabby and noisy and have terrible feedback.
I'd take the CGT experience in a flash.
The second problem is the brakes. They're grabby and noisy and have terrible feedback.
I'd take the CGT experience in a flash.
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The biggest thing wrong with the SLR is weight. It's 700 pounds heavier than a Carrera GT. A huge part of its cost comes from the light carbon fiber monocoque, which is made by a labor intensive process. Paying for that in a car that has the full complement of MB luxo-equipment and heavy automatic transmission, bringing you back to close to two tons, strikes many buyers as loony.
The second problem is the brakes. They're grabby and noisy and have terrible feedback.
I'd take the CGT experience in a flash.
The second problem is the brakes. They're grabby and noisy and have terrible feedback.
I'd take the CGT experience in a flash.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 234
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From: london
996 C4, previously owned 996 c2, c32 amg, 350z, R33 GTR, R34 GTR
Nearlly all the comments on here are based on suposition and gleened from articles. Drive the thing and then comment.
The Convertible is the best convertible car out there, body rigidity trounces anything made by MB or ferrari and you can feel this as soon as you pull away.
The SLR is not a direct competitor to the CGT (other than price).
The car was developed to compete head on with the 550 Maranello, but the cost and performance escalated through the programme. This is the main reason the SLR has received negative press.
The Convertible is the best convertible car out there, body rigidity trounces anything made by MB or ferrari and you can feel this as soon as you pull away.
The SLR is not a direct competitor to the CGT (other than price).
The car was developed to compete head on with the 550 Maranello, but the cost and performance escalated through the programme. This is the main reason the SLR has received negative press.
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 234
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From: london
996 C4, previously owned 996 c2, c32 amg, 350z, R33 GTR, R34 GTR
The biggest thing wrong with the SLR is weight. It's 700 pounds heavier than a Carrera GT. A huge part of its cost comes from the light carbon fiber monocoque, which is made by a labor intensive process. Paying for that in a car that has the full complement of MB luxo-equipment and heavy automatic transmission, bringing you back to close to two tons, strikes many buyers as loony.
The second problem is the brakes. They're grabby and noisy and have terrible feedback.
I'd take the CGT experience in a flash.
The second problem is the brakes. They're grabby and noisy and have terrible feedback.
I'd take the CGT experience in a flash.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 303
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From: BEVERLY HILLS
S550
Don't think anything is wrong with the car.
I think it's a beauty in everyway. Just they made to many of them. If they were limited to right about 1000 units that car would hold it's value.
I think it's a beauty in everyway. Just they made to many of them. If they were limited to right about 1000 units that car would hold it's value.
