Here's Why the Mercedes-Benz SL Is Failing
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Date: 2019-10-25
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Comments and reviews: 10
Owen Csatari
If you follow me down the rabbit hole for just a minute, this is what I suggest is the fundamental problem. If you want a pickup truck or mini van, you have maybe 7 or 8 to choose from at various trim levels. If you want an inexpensive gas miser run about you may have around 20 or 30 to choose from. If however you are looking at 6 figure luxury or super/hyper cars, the choices are in the hundreds. At the price point of the SL, things like proximity to a dealership as well as the staggering competition are formidable factors. In my case, the nearest Merc dealer is 600km away. As much as I love Mercedes, It would be exceptionally foolish for me to get one. Instead, I would look to offerings from GM, Ford and if I still was determined to look to exotics, my leanings would be to Ferrari or Aston Martin or the ever popular Porsche. In this company of rivals we can see that the dear old SL is likely the weakest competitor in the race. Its primary and most threatening advisory is probably its big brother the AMG SLS which stacks up better with the others in its price point. Granted, it too is in the SL series but I suggest that with the above mentioned considerations, the SL has lost its footing to a larger and more competitive market. In my estimation there are but two ways to go if the brand is to succeed. Either Mercedes dramatically improve the value and somehow offer more than the others both in price point and luxury performance and/or they strive to improve dealer availability to a broader market yearning to own one of their products. For example, I live in Northern Canada. There is a substantial amount of people with means to purchase their cars but due to dealer availability, we see a disproportionate amount of Corvettes, Shelby GT350/500 Mustangs and Hellcats. Cars of this caliber can not be brought to just any service centre and mechanics must be specialized and thus, we see very few European offerings on our roads.
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If you follow me down the rabbit hole for just a minute, this is what I suggest is the fundamental problem. If you want a pickup truck or mini van, you have maybe 7 or 8 to choose from at various trim levels. If you want an inexpensive gas miser run about you may have around 20 or 30 to choose from. If however you are looking at 6 figure luxury or super/hyper cars, the choices are in the hundreds. At the price point of the SL, things like proximity to a dealership as well as the staggering competition are formidable factors. In my case, the nearest Merc dealer is 600km away. As much as I love Mercedes, It would be exceptionally foolish for me to get one. Instead, I would look to offerings from GM, Ford and if I still was determined to look to exotics, my leanings would be to Ferrari or Aston Martin or the ever popular Porsche. In this company of rivals we can see that the dear old SL is likely the weakest competitor in the race. Its primary and most threatening advisory is probably its big brother the AMG SLS which stacks up better with the others in its price point. Granted, it too is in the SL series but I suggest that with the above mentioned considerations, the SL has lost its footing to a larger and more competitive market. In my estimation there are but two ways to go if the brand is to succeed. Either Mercedes dramatically improve the value and somehow offer more than the others both in price point and luxury performance and/or they strive to improve dealer availability to a broader market yearning to own one of their products. For example, I live in Northern Canada. There is a substantial amount of people with means to purchase their cars but due to dealer availability, we see a disproportionate amount of Corvettes, Shelby GT350/500 Mustangs and Hellcats. Cars of this caliber can not be brought to just any service centre and mechanics must be specialized and thus, we see very few European offerings on our roads.
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al8603cl
This guy's diction cracks me up. His high pitched ending diction is so soy boy it is hilarious. He really needs to see a physician about testosterone supplementation. Very high doses. That said, the stats he cites are accurate. Sadly, drop top cars are going the way of the dinosaurs. Exception is, pure performance vehicles. The sales ratios of drop tops in that category are stable. I'm not 74. Not even close. I currently have a two seat roadster that is now 6 years old and I'm in the market for a replacement. The SLC-300 is on the list. It has the requisite features for my requirements. I am looking for a luxury sport cruiser that has enough power to be fun when I want to put my foot into it and, the comfort to be an everyday driver. The one thing about this vehicle that made me laugh (what were they thinking) is the storage behind the driver and the equivalent size fake non-storage behind the passenger. Really? LMAO. Aesthetically, I like it. Fake brake cooling vents aside. Quality wise, it's a Mercedes. The plastics in the center stack while a bit disappointing is NOT a deal breaker. The price new is ludicrous The price of low mileage certified used is a damned bargain. Especially, at online dealers like Carvana and Vroom.
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This guy's diction cracks me up. His high pitched ending diction is so soy boy it is hilarious. He really needs to see a physician about testosterone supplementation. Very high doses. That said, the stats he cites are accurate. Sadly, drop top cars are going the way of the dinosaurs. Exception is, pure performance vehicles. The sales ratios of drop tops in that category are stable. I'm not 74. Not even close. I currently have a two seat roadster that is now 6 years old and I'm in the market for a replacement. The SLC-300 is on the list. It has the requisite features for my requirements. I am looking for a luxury sport cruiser that has enough power to be fun when I want to put my foot into it and, the comfort to be an everyday driver. The one thing about this vehicle that made me laugh (what were they thinking) is the storage behind the driver and the equivalent size fake non-storage behind the passenger. Really? LMAO. Aesthetically, I like it. Fake brake cooling vents aside. Quality wise, it's a Mercedes. The plastics in the center stack while a bit disappointing is NOT a deal breaker. The price new is ludicrous The price of low mileage certified used is a damned bargain. Especially, at online dealers like Carvana and Vroom.
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J Fab
You probably wont read this doug, but your review is a bit odd. You say the SL isnt as sporty as a AMG GT and you would rather buy that, but you dont mention the AMG SL63 at all, and then go on to say you would buy the V6 model SL and not the V8. I dont get your comment on this. But if you were doing a review of the SL63, you would be saying how sporty and amazing it is and FAST. Also, yes the SL is for older dudes who are perhaps retired or just like a smooth ride and not something that is going to jar your teeth every time you hit a bump, but a SL63 would be for someone younger who wants it to be a cruiser and sporty and also very sporty when needed. So to say the SL is for older retired dentists is just wrong because you are doing a review of the most basic model there is. I am 51 and I bought a new 2018 SL63, I am not retired nor am I a dentist. Also apparently is pulls away slightly from a 2017 corvette Z06 in the quarter mile I just found out last weekend. and a Ferrari 458, also it loses the first 30 feet to a trackhawk but then manages to beat it soundly by about 5 car lengths and 16 mph by the end of the quarter. Hows that for sporty?
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You probably wont read this doug, but your review is a bit odd. You say the SL isnt as sporty as a AMG GT and you would rather buy that, but you dont mention the AMG SL63 at all, and then go on to say you would buy the V6 model SL and not the V8. I dont get your comment on this. But if you were doing a review of the SL63, you would be saying how sporty and amazing it is and FAST. Also, yes the SL is for older dudes who are perhaps retired or just like a smooth ride and not something that is going to jar your teeth every time you hit a bump, but a SL63 would be for someone younger who wants it to be a cruiser and sporty and also very sporty when needed. So to say the SL is for older retired dentists is just wrong because you are doing a review of the most basic model there is. I am 51 and I bought a new 2018 SL63, I am not retired nor am I a dentist. Also apparently is pulls away slightly from a 2017 corvette Z06 in the quarter mile I just found out last weekend. and a Ferrari 458, also it loses the first 30 feet to a trackhawk but then manages to beat it soundly by about 5 car lengths and 16 mph by the end of the quarter. Hows that for sporty?
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John Desmond
Well, look at it and those awful wheels. It just has no appeal. MB should go back and take the basic body style from the 300 SL and put it on the market. MB had some of the best looking cars on the market bacy in the 50s and 60s. No so today. Just expensive crap with lots of electric motors. But what is wrong with old men buying the car? Does that make the car bad? they are searching for something but won't find it in this car. Your voice is awful too. I'm looking for a Karmen Ghia right now. Convertible. Many of us DO like convertibles but not this over priced junk that is always in the shop and loses its value right away. And no style, no beauty. I may even buy a Checker Marathon that has a new engine in it. Great car. Suckers
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Well, look at it and those awful wheels. It just has no appeal. MB should go back and take the basic body style from the 300 SL and put it on the market. MB had some of the best looking cars on the market bacy in the 50s and 60s. No so today. Just expensive crap with lots of electric motors. But what is wrong with old men buying the car? Does that make the car bad? they are searching for something but won't find it in this car. Your voice is awful too. I'm looking for a Karmen Ghia right now. Convertible. Many of us DO like convertibles but not this over priced junk that is always in the shop and loses its value right away. And no style, no beauty. I may even buy a Checker Marathon that has a new engine in it. Great car. Suckers
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De Ce
Buys these used benefit from the 30-40% depreciation and never look back. Porsche Jag have that racecar look to them- this one does not and many of us like that. Also get the ABC body control 4 wheel hydraulic damped suspension option and this car is as powerful but smooth as butta. With hardtop convertible, low powerful fast perfect for amateur drivers going faster than we should in the hilly twisties or cruising slow along the river- nothing else like it. And you are guaranteed exclusivity if thats your thing. Porsches are a dime (s) a dozen - Jag F not that great of a car and not in the same league as this.
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Buys these used benefit from the 30-40% depreciation and never look back. Porsche Jag have that racecar look to them- this one does not and many of us like that. Also get the ABC body control 4 wheel hydraulic damped suspension option and this car is as powerful but smooth as butta. With hardtop convertible, low powerful fast perfect for amateur drivers going faster than we should in the hilly twisties or cruising slow along the river- nothing else like it. And you are guaranteed exclusivity if thats your thing. Porsches are a dime (s) a dozen - Jag F not that great of a car and not in the same league as this.
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Joel Blagg
Doug can't figure out what this car is. It is a Grand Touring car. It has a far more compliant ride than the AMG GT that is much more enjoyable over long distances. You get the best of both worlds. With the top up you wouldn't ever know it is a convertible. It is just like driving a coupe. But then the magic happens when you put the top down (well, if you are a convertible person like I am. The real value of this car is in the used market. A low mileage, 4 year old car will cost half of what it did new. I own a 2015 SL400 and it is the best car I've ever driven, much less owned.
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Doug can't figure out what this car is. It is a Grand Touring car. It has a far more compliant ride than the AMG GT that is much more enjoyable over long distances. You get the best of both worlds. With the top up you wouldn't ever know it is a convertible. It is just like driving a coupe. But then the magic happens when you put the top down (well, if you are a convertible person like I am. The real value of this car is in the used market. A low mileage, 4 year old car will cost half of what it did new. I own a 2015 SL400 and it is the best car I've ever driven, much less owned.
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Adib Beygi
I hate American consumes' mindset. Americans are getting fooler and fooler and dumber and dumber and all of them are basically shiftng into being a nouveau riche poor-minded 3rd-world citizen. They all ignorantly want the foolish status symbol of an SUV, driving high in the street to make up for their fake self-esteem (or more precisely lack thereof. Future is the age of small cars and this idiot SUV hype will certainly fade off simply because it is against the economy in both energy and urban real estate. Please change, you Americans and buy convertibles and small cars again.
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I hate American consumes' mindset. Americans are getting fooler and fooler and dumber and dumber and all of them are basically shiftng into being a nouveau riche poor-minded 3rd-world citizen. They all ignorantly want the foolish status symbol of an SUV, driving high in the street to make up for their fake self-esteem (or more precisely lack thereof. Future is the age of small cars and this idiot SUV hype will certainly fade off simply because it is against the economy in both energy and urban real estate. Please change, you Americans and buy convertibles and small cars again.
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vixapphire
The reason they use that cheap plastic on the radio and in the door pull enclosures is because unlike glossy fancy plastics, it doesn't show fingerprints. Since the radio/phone buttons are the ones you press all the time, it's an advantage to not have to wipe it down all the time. Doug ought to put a bit of thought into this idea, since he mentions it all the time and it's pretty obvious. The guys who brought us such features as airscarf have of course thought about the type of plastic that's on the radio buttons ffs.
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The reason they use that cheap plastic on the radio and in the door pull enclosures is because unlike glossy fancy plastics, it doesn't show fingerprints. Since the radio/phone buttons are the ones you press all the time, it's an advantage to not have to wipe it down all the time. Doug ought to put a bit of thought into this idea, since he mentions it all the time and it's pretty obvious. The guys who brought us such features as airscarf have of course thought about the type of plastic that's on the radio buttons ffs.
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Andreas T
I hardly see the SL in Switzerland anymore. The reason being the S Class convertible. Larger, more space, more luxurious interior and soft top. Well equipped we are talking around 160'000 for an SL 500 and 175'000 for and S 560 here. The S 63 AMG ends up way over 200'000 and that is the next problem for Mercedes. People that can afford such an S Class can also drive a car even more comfy for old guys, the Bentley.
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I hardly see the SL in Switzerland anymore. The reason being the S Class convertible. Larger, more space, more luxurious interior and soft top. Well equipped we are talking around 160'000 for an SL 500 and 175'000 for and S 560 here. The S 63 AMG ends up way over 200'000 and that is the next problem for Mercedes. People that can afford such an S Class can also drive a car even more comfy for old guys, the Bentley.
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Penzija Mirovinić
ofcourse its failing: they basically just ruined beautiful 5th (2001-2011) generation with updated cosmetics and redisigning car that didn't need any of that. New SL? Sure. This thing? no. i mean just look at them rearview mirrors and just compare them with 5th gen. Every SL from 300SL onward was quantum leap forward in design and things to come in merc's history. It was halo car, now it's just Mercedes.
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ofcourse its failing: they basically just ruined beautiful 5th (2001-2011) generation with updated cosmetics and redisigning car that didn't need any of that. New SL? Sure. This thing? no. i mean just look at them rearview mirrors and just compare them with 5th gen. Every SL from 300SL onward was quantum leap forward in design and things to come in merc's history. It was halo car, now it's just Mercedes.
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