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I myself considered buying a Pagani Huayra. However, since they won’t paint it in the specific shade of orange I wanted, I saved my money and take public transport instead.
My dad got the 2004 SL55 AMG when it came out, he still has it and drives it all the time. I borrow it all the time too. Great car. Depreciated like crazy though after 10 years, so he decided to never sell it, worth more to keep and enjoy.
I also had a 2003 SL 55 AMG; too many issues at the end of warranty so sold it. Love/hate relationship. Now I'm driving a 2015 SL 400 and totally reliable. Love it. No brake squealing.
I few years ago we bought our loaded '03 SL55 with 65k miles for the price of a used' 08 Camry & we love it. The M113K is an awesome engine & easy to upgrade well over 600hp. It's been a very, very fun & reliable car.
The old SL's might be a distant memory to most but I will never forget the 2008 SL 65 AMG Black Series with the 661hp V12. That thing was just insanity and I loved it.
Yeah, Doug is really selling this thing...less power, cheaper top, not as distinctive, no V12...but awd and unusable backseats make up for all of that...oh and it's not as fast
I HATE the new trend of glueing iPads to car interiors and calling it a day. they all look hideous, never do what you want and take 16 steps to perform simple tasks.
The new SL is indeed gorgeous. Visited a local Mercedes-Benz dealer last weekend and checked out two SLs (one red, one black) they had on the lot. Very interesting decision to put backseats in the new SL.
Most companies that compete in this segment (including Lexus) put back seats in their convertible. So while it's not strange for this segment, it makes more sense in an S class coupe than in the SL.
Doug presses the accelerator and says "ohhhhh that's just GREAT"! Still love Doug's videos and the expressions on his face are priceless. They are by far the best on TH-cam etc.
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....and cost more. And you need to have them fixed because a whole bunch of other things may not be working since all the computers are talking to each other. Of course, nobody can fix them except Mercedes dealerships or high end specialized shops that charge just as much. I gave up on high end cars with lots of features back in 2008. Two reasons for that. I live in liberal toilet bowl NYC where traffic is ridiculous and tired of working overtime to buy, maintain and drive cars. By the way, 2008 was the year I quit working for Mercedes as a technician.
@@danielmiller9012 Mercedes are junk. He worked on them, and I work on them in my shop. Seen so many Mercedes, bmw, land rovers etc. Mechanically totalled and in junk yards that look brand new because of the expensive and unnecessary tech in them going bad and costing too much in repairs to fix.
@@bigizzysworld4253 They aren't junk. My dad had a 300D with 500k miles, but new ones are. So much good, solid stuff, that is ruined by: Electronics. Good interior, power, chassis, engine, but just the auxiliary functions give out and it sucks. So much quality ruined by gimmicks. That's just the thing. It's just gimmicky.
@@applejuice9468 old Benz's are good cars. I'm not denying that. I'm talking the last 15 years or so when everyone started getting electronic happy and making engine parts out of plastic. Mercedes and BMW have been the worse about that. I hate it when I gota tell a customer that it isn't worth fixing and that it's mechanically totalled
I’m a big SL fan, I even own a 14 SL65, but I’m not really a big fan of the new SL. Tested one last week at Fletcher Jones, quite disappointed. The direction to lean more into performance and significant price increase puts this car in direct competition with the 911 convertibles with high end spec even reaching Ferrari portofino territory, both of which has better performance/handling and arguably better comfort somehow. This might come as a surprise, recent Mercedes AMG models, have not been that great with comfort whereas 911s and Portofino, to me at least, has better ride quality. This combined with mercedes’s over engineering of onboard electronics and drop in interior quality control, this SL would be rattling everywhere and nigh unrepairable for owners themselves in a few years. With the discontinuation of the s class convertible, Mercedes should’ve use the SL to fill the luxury cruiser market left by the S class and make a new generation of pure performance AMG GTs. Instead, we get this awkward new SL. It’s performance focused yes, but the performance not on par with similarly priced competitions, not comfortable enough to be used as a luxury cruiser despite looking like one on paper. They basically didn’t learn from the previous gen SL. That SL’s issue is the lack of focus, it didn’t fully commit to performance or luxury comfort. Right now, again, we have an SL that’s trying to fill both the S convertible and AMG GT’s shoes. In layman’s term, I think they went from a comfort 6/10 performance 6/10 last gen to a comfort 5/10 performance 8/10 current gen but it’s competitors are all like comfort 6/10 performance 9/10.
doug said the old SL was a lazy slow car... I dont know what model he was talking about but my 2018 SL63 was a fast car.. not mclaren fast, but ran 11.43 in quarter mile at 126 mph.. I dont like the new one, looked at one, its heavier.. His comments at the end are dumb.
@@twfinc6855 Straight line fast and corner fast are two different things, I'm pretty sure Doug meant the old SL was more of a cruiser which meant sure you could floor it and go 0-60 in a flash but you can't drive fast in practice hence lazy, unlike you can a true sports/supercar.
@@shroomyesc ya... but they call a mustang a sports car and yet my SL63 is wider and lower and handles far better than my neighbors 2019 GT.. ya the SL is a nice drive, but in sport plus its a bit of a harsh ride and takes on and off ramps great. its really got a split personality.. It is still a sports car at that trim level in my opinion, not super car sports level, but it will corner 90% as well as a AMG GTR which I have driven 2 or 3 of those... The SL gets a lot of disrespect for no reason. Its an awesome car.
You might as well buy one before you get old, they're not going to get any cheaper. The R129 was the last great Mercedes-Benz where the engineers had the final say in how it was built.
I have a R129 - and sorry to say this SL "jumps the shark" , but that's my opinion...can there be a case of 'too much tech and features' .I could appreciate the performance and everything up to the tv screen in the console, maybe there can be a 'deleted' option....maybe the amg gt convertible is the sweet spot
I didn't realize how much I disliked temperature controls integrated into a main infotainment screen until hearing Doug rant about them so many times... I'm soundly with Team Doug on this now
Great Timing Doug! I just saw one of these earlier today on the Autobahn outside of Frankfurt am Main (probably from the huge Mercedes Benz & AMG Dealer) and i have to admit i had no idea there were so many Changes and especially not so many Quirks. It definitely is also one of those Cars that has much more Presence in Person than it does on Pictures or on Videos. The Sound is amazing when accelerating on the Autobahn, sounded just as AMG as ever Prost & Cheers from Germany
So when the sun's out and I can't see anything on the touch screen, mercedes solution is for me to navigate the touch screen to adjust it so I can see what I'm doing? This is why I like to stick with the older cars.
My son had a friend who he played baseball with for years. After high school, my son went into a university and his buddy went into a automotive/diesel apprenticeship program. He was tops in his class and spent an extra 6 months getting extended training. From that vocational school he was hired by a Mercedes’ dealership and has now been to Germany multiple times for extensive training. He makes over six figures annually. And drives what he works on. He is a prime example of what a great vocational training program can do for a motivated individual.
I still haven’t warmed-up to the look of this newly remodeled SL - the front end reminds me of a Halloween Jack O Lantern. I like my white on beige 2019 SL hardtop convertible w/sunroof, and w/449 HP, it’s fast enough and sporty enough for me, and still turns heads.
Was looking forward to Doug getting into the back seat, per his usual testing.. Plenty of headroom, no idea why he didn't include that in the final edit 😉
I’m surprised he got into the front seat let alone the back lol. I don’t even know why they would try to make this four seater at all. They make it a more performance car with only making it AMG but then they include four seats to take some performance out of the car? 🤔
Love the Video & the spec! The new AMG SL will probably be one of the last real AMGs of our time with an amazing V8 sound. There is a third option for the new SL which is currently under consideration for the US market: The SL43 & it features the 4 cylinder AMG engine so you would have the SL43, 55 & 63! 💪🏼
Beautiful SL. RIP B.T. V12. Good to see the SL55 AMG came back after 20 years, but with a BiTurbo V8 (M177 with the same amount of power as an E55, but with 2 less lb-ft), I'd rather take the SL63 with a whopping 577 HP (like the AMG G63). Like I said, I'm sad the V12 is history. Can't wait to test one of these soon.
I was born into a dealership owned by my grandfather.He would only drive Mercedes.He brought a Rolls Royce home one day and grandma was not impressed.Being a V12 she said it smoked the tires taking off from red lights...😆 He brought a 735 BMW home one day and she said that was "just a box a Mercedes comes in".Grandma knew some things.
I owned the SL 550 2013 and the problem with the new model to me is that is no longer two seats roadster,the missing analog and high quality buttons and knobs,the cheap digital speedometer and tachometer and no more hard top
@@tedmarakas2626 Better leather, tech, sound system, ambient lighting (which can be turned off) Fit/finish could be better but the infotainment is the best of all the GT roadsters. The overall materials quality is still good but the tech of the old SLs was severely lacking even for it's time. Also, this design is WAY better and the handling is eons ahead... I've driven both numerous times (neighbor collects MBs).
The digital gauge cluster is actually phenomenal and lots of cars in its class have gone that route, Mbs is one of if not the best digital gauge clusters.
Not gonna lie, I like the old model better. I absolutely disagree with Doug's assertion that people think a soft top looks better. It doesn't, and it never has. Sure, a hard top takes up more space, but it can have the space that is instead being wasted on those useless back seats. Sure, it's heavier, but 50 pounds is not a significant difference on a car this large and powerful. Plus, RWD is just more fun than AWD. I'd rather get last year's SL63, or even go a few years further back to when the SL65 was still in production.
Personally I don't think this car lacks name recognition at all - the SL (in the context of the Gullwing) is one of the most desirable nameplates ever, not to mention AMG, and Mercedes itself can carry extremely high levels of prestige on the right models. Cool car - impressive that Mercedes made some of the decisions that they did - like saying golfclubs be damned. With the loss of the S-class convertible, though, it does seem a little odd that Mercedes doesn't large luxury convertible for the old SL country club crowd - and perhaps an overcrowding of AMG models (the new SL, the AMG GT variants). It'll be interesting to see the lineup continue to evolve.
Can't understand why some people like the soft top better. My SL's top is much quieter and you don't have to replace it every few years, as fabric, no matter how good, will not stand up to repeated use like my retractable hard-top will. Oh well.....
My takeaway from Doug's newer videos , if he borrowed it from the dealer, it's a puff piece. It's from Turro, it's a hit piece. If it's from an owner, hard telling.
I like how when opening/closing the top, back seat passengers would be smacked in the head by the "wing" covers that move out of the way for the top to move.
It always baffled me why they even exist. It would me more practical to have this space utilized for storing stuff, which is the only thing these rear seats are good for. Some elegant bag-matching storage compartment purposefully designed for said bags. Something similar to the dedicated trunk for Pagani Huayra's bags.
Especially in a convertible where no screens really work when it’s open you are enjoying sunshine when you enjoy the sunshine you can’t see devices that’s why I am all for buttons plus you don’t have to look down to see what you’re doing
So they made it look more aggressive, made it heavier, presumably gave it a worse ride (given the increased weight and the pretend-sportiness), and added an interior which cannot be used while looking at the road. In summary, they made the car worse.
I Actually Like The Hard Drop Top Mercedes SL. People Would Get A Big Surprise At The Red Light Not Knowing The Top Would Drop! None The Less! This The Best Looking SL That Has Come To The World As We Know It!
I don’t love the design but it looks good, I think the best designs as of late from Mercedes have been the s class coupe, the amg gt, and the new Mercedes s class, especially the rear lights, I love them!
@@iosgaming2824 I can agree. Personally though I’m not a fan of super long bonnets but the GT still looks striking. Mercedes are doing well at the moment for sure
@@BigManTivO I like them a lot when it comes to cars because I think it makes the cars presence more special for some reasoning but I probably think that because I associate long bonnets with the expensive cars like Aston martins, Bentleys and Mercedeses, P.S. I understand not all things expensive are special in comparison to the alternatives that are cheaper lol. I thought the amg gt was pretty nice looking as well Mercedes really hasn’t fumbled a 300SL generation yet fortunately, hopefully the amg gt’s successor isn’t a fumble. I think the cars their producing right now are nice as well but when it comes to the GLS the thing I don’t like about the rear is that makes the car look too chunky. I hope with them making cars under the maybach name plate I.e. the maybach project one (I don’t know how many there are though, I’ve only seen drake post one and Mercedes post pictures of it) that they do it in a way that doesn’t negatively affect the success they’ve garnered with maybach since 2016 because their Mercedes maybach vehicles are already a very big competitor to any model rolls Royce has and it be cool if it became an even bigger one. I wanted to add to that I wish Mercedes had left the rear seats out of the new SL to save weight. people that can afford 100k cars can afford to buy different cars for different purposes so they don’t need a SL especially the new one that’s predominately performance based to have back seats and if they want back seats they can get an amg gt 4 door or a e class but maybe they added the seats because they felt it was needed for a better driving experience because I know their cars being heavier more often then their competitors is a very traditional mentality of their…. Designers I guess I’d say
I love how the top cover will swing in trying to chop anyone's head seating in the back seat but thank god nobody will try the backseat cause you would actually have to chop your legs to get on it.
What if they're two children in the back seat? Children count as people even if they're infants. You might even see a couple of adult dwarves or midgets riding in the backseat as well.
@@genewaddlerandomstuff2122 I completely agree with you. unusable back seats are pointless. I have to wonder though if maybe a 2+2 classification in some way changes the vehicle designation in terms of EPA or emissions ratings as well.
Major difference. GT has super stiff suspension, pretty much a track-focused car whereas the SL is more practical and has a much softer, live-able ride.
Meh, I prefer the AMG GT. Better lines, RWD, more storage. The iPad infotainment will be divisive -- most enthusiasts don't want to do everything through the infotainment. I think the '18-19 GT is the sweet spot.
Officer: do you know how fast you were going? Doug: no I was in track mode, and let me show you some of the other quirks and features of this gauge cluster
I was kind of suspecting the SL was going to be axed after the old one was taken out of production - seemed like it had become a redundant model next to the AMG GT and it clearly was the least desirable of all SLs. Good that Mercedes realised something needed to be done. One thing that comes to mind, watching the interior: the SL is and has always been a model destined to be a future classic. Will all those screens work as good as they do now in 15 - 20 - 30 years? I have had laptops were the screen died after 6-7 years - will that be a common thing in used cars in the future too? And will it be possible to find a spare screen to replace the dead with? Only time will tell...
Just watching this. Spot on review. I think the pricing is way too high considering the alternatives in that price range. No one is going to buy a SL if they can buy a mid-engine R8 for the same price. SL55AMG should start around 100k and SL63 should be around 130k, and I think they would sell much more.
As a long time Mercedes owner, the brand has really lost their way with the current generation of vehicles all looking like an A-Class and focusing on screens. They used to be champions of safety now they don’t care if you have to take your eyes off the road to use a screen rather than a button
No the soft tops doesnt look better. It looks cheaper. If its due to the weight they should make a carbon fiber foldable hardtop... That would be special. Softtops are garbage.
Wait... wouldn't the tilting function be voided for the soul fact that you can't see the screen, if we're going with that logic? It be like: "Oh, there is a ton of glare on the screen to where you can't see it? No problem let's integrate the screen controls on the screen!" Me: "Yeah... but I can't see the screen."
Sweet ride Doug...BUT Questions: Do you think this machine has too much screen integration for some of those basic functions like the convertible roof action?
Not sure if I like some of the changes. Cons: - convertible soft top - I think they should have kept a hardtop. - addition of a back seat - nope - Pricing - seems a little expensive for what it is. The Jaguar F-type is a decent competitor for a cheaper price. Pros: - AWD 👍👍 - Styling (Inside & Outside )👍👍 This might be my next car!
Ikr, tactile quality switch gear is so underrated. They dont age, unlike tacky PC graphics on a touch screen that will eventually fail to work properly, then nothing in the car will work.
I was surprised that Doug didn't cover the comfort part of the ride - curious if Mercedes tried to include that aspect of the SL, as a comfortable sports car, and if its comfort mode suspension achieves something special. A bit like an M5 or E63, which have two personalities. Also curious if Doug thinks the car will sell well, given how different it is, and aimed perhaps at the 911 market.
He said he doesn't think it will sell well. Mostly due to high price. It is also not an 911 he said that 4 times. He also mentioned during the doug score review that it has a smoother ride than a Porsche
i remember like it was yesterday. when i was a car mechanic in The Netherlands (Dordrecht) Beamer dealer now 15 years ago. There was 1 lady always who was maintaing her car at our dealership. She had a Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG, when she always came, we always fighted to get the work-order first. So we can do some test drivings. She had a pink SL65AMG. The lady was about 60 years old at that moment.
Beautiful car. I remember I had a 2007 SL500 like 8 years ago, what I really liked was the hard top… It was like having 2 cars in one. Not a fan of soft tops, but other than that, this car might be one of the most beautiful cars MB has made in the last 10 years. I hope im the next years the hard top returns to the SL.
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My favorite quirk when it has a v8
the fact that it's totally new
The back seats
bingus
The history of the SL
I really loved this SL, and went to buy it But unfortunately, it wasn't available in black color. So i had to settle with a used 1996 Corolla instead
I myself considered buying a Pagani Huayra. However, since they won’t paint it in the specific shade of orange I wanted, I saved my money and take public transport instead.
I looked at the Chiron, but it was a bit too cheap so I had to settle for a private jet instead. First world problems.
😂😂😂
Wtf bro?
I love food, but when I tasted it I recoiled and decided to just starve instead.
My dad got the 2004 SL55 AMG when it came out, he still has it and drives it all the time. I borrow it all the time too. Great car. Depreciated like crazy though after 10 years, so he decided to never sell it, worth more to keep and enjoy.
The 2002 - 2008 are the best sl‘s in my opinion.
I also had a 2003 SL 55 AMG; too many issues at the end of warranty so sold it. Love/hate relationship. Now I'm driving a 2015 SL 400 and totally reliable. Love it. No brake squealing.
I few years ago we bought our loaded '03 SL55 with 65k miles for the price of a used' 08 Camry & we love it. The M113K is an awesome engine & easy to upgrade well over 600hp. It's been a very, very fun & reliable car.
@@justarandomguy1794they are literally known as the worst SLs
@@BenzoDopaminelol according to who
The old SL's might be a distant memory to most but I will never forget the 2008 SL 65 AMG Black Series with the 661hp V12. That thing was just insanity and I loved it.
661HP was mind blowing in 2008, still impressive today. And the SL65 AMG looked good while making that much power.
I loved the Black Series cars
my favorite sl other than the entire r129 generation
Yeah, Doug is really selling this thing...less power, cheaper top, not as distinctive, no V12...but awd and unusable backseats make up for all of that...oh and it's not as fast
Yup, SL550 even better, affordable insanity.
It is beyond me how anyone could think a soft top looks better than a hard top
and you cant leave anything in it...ever.
@@noName-kn1lx why
@@k.matthews1158 cuz thiefs can just rip the rag top
It looks so cheap mann ffs
No idea it looks disgusting
I HATE the new trend of glueing iPads to car interiors and calling it a day. they all look hideous, never do what you want and take 16 steps to perform simple tasks.
That's what I don't like about teslas, there's close to no buttons but just one huge screen in the middle
If this car was supposed to get away from the "old man feel" that interior does not work at all.
The new SL is indeed gorgeous. Visited a local Mercedes-Benz dealer last weekend and checked out two SLs (one red, one black) they had on the lot. Very interesting decision to put backseats in the new SL.
Most companies that compete in this segment (including Lexus) put back seats in their convertible. So while it's not strange for this segment, it makes more sense in an S class coupe than in the SL.
@@damilolaakanni unfortunately s-class coupe was discontinued
Marketing research. MB asked a bunch of previous SL owners what they wanted in the new one. Back seats was one of them, no matter how useless. LOL
Looks like a 370Z.
@@georgesimon4469 All the old guys who buy these wanted back seats lol.
"People can't see the screen when the roof is down, what should we do?"
"Let's stick a slider in that screen that they can't see to adjust the angle"
Notice how Doug never used the screen with the roof down. Even drove both SL's roof up. Very suspicious. We all know the truth.
Yup, put it facing slightly more down, straight to the white leather seats - that'll help with the glare xD
Doug always makes the day a little more entertaining
Doug presses the accelerator and says "ohhhhh that's just GREAT"! Still love Doug's videos and the expressions on his face are priceless. They are by far the best on TH-cam etc.
@@sdsurfers1 He’s been in the game for almost a decade now.
What I love about him is that he's a very simple man. He doesn't use a big crew to film his videos. Only him and his camera.
Doug is the type of guy to make videos more enjoyable.😊
@@TFSIChristmas Doug the type of guy to create a million-dollar-a-year youtube channel.
just what we needed - more screens that take 2 seconds to respond to any input at all
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22:05 Conclusion
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I don't know, I preferred the "luxury, comfortable, floaty, kind of uninspirable car" approach of the SL.
More screens! More functions! What could possibly go wrong!!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
....and cost more. And you need to have them fixed because a whole bunch of other things may not be working since all the computers are talking to each other. Of course, nobody can fix them except Mercedes dealerships or high end specialized shops that charge just as much. I gave up on high end cars with lots of features back in 2008. Two reasons for that. I live in liberal toilet bowl NYC where traffic is ridiculous and tired of working overtime to buy, maintain and drive cars. By the way, 2008 was the year I quit working for Mercedes as a technician.
Salty you've been priced out of buying one???
@@danielmiller9012 Mercedes are junk. He worked on them, and I work on them in my shop. Seen so many Mercedes, bmw, land rovers etc. Mechanically totalled and in junk yards that look brand new because of the expensive and unnecessary tech in them going bad and costing too much in repairs to fix.
@@bigizzysworld4253 They aren't junk. My dad had a 300D with 500k miles, but new ones are. So much good, solid stuff, that is ruined by: Electronics. Good interior, power, chassis, engine, but just the auxiliary functions give out and it sucks. So much quality ruined by gimmicks. That's just the thing. It's just gimmicky.
@@applejuice9468 old Benz's are good cars. I'm not denying that. I'm talking the last 15 years or so when everyone started getting electronic happy and making engine parts out of plastic. Mercedes and BMW have been the worse about that. I hate it when I gota tell a customer that it isn't worth fixing and that it's mechanically totalled
I’m a big SL fan, I even own a 14 SL65, but I’m not really a big fan of the new SL. Tested one last week at Fletcher Jones, quite disappointed. The direction to lean more into performance and significant price increase puts this car in direct competition with the 911 convertibles with high end spec even reaching Ferrari portofino territory, both of which has better performance/handling and arguably better comfort somehow. This might come as a surprise, recent Mercedes AMG models, have not been that great with comfort whereas 911s and Portofino, to me at least, has better ride quality. This combined with mercedes’s over engineering of onboard electronics and drop in interior quality control, this SL would be rattling everywhere and nigh unrepairable for owners themselves in a few years.
With the discontinuation of the s class convertible, Mercedes should’ve use the SL to fill the luxury cruiser market left by the S class and make a new generation of pure performance AMG GTs. Instead, we get this awkward new SL. It’s performance focused yes, but the performance not on par with similarly priced competitions, not comfortable enough to be used as a luxury cruiser despite looking like one on paper. They basically didn’t learn from the previous gen SL. That SL’s issue is the lack of focus, it didn’t fully commit to performance or luxury comfort. Right now, again, we have an SL that’s trying to fill both the S convertible and AMG GT’s shoes.
In layman’s term, I think they went from a comfort 6/10 performance 6/10 last gen to a comfort 5/10 performance 8/10 current gen but it’s competitors are all like comfort 6/10 performance 9/10.
doug said the old SL was a lazy slow car... I dont know what model he was talking about but my 2018 SL63 was a fast car.. not mclaren fast, but ran 11.43 in quarter mile at 126 mph.. I dont like the new one, looked at one, its heavier.. His comments at the end are dumb.
@@twfinc6855 Straight line fast and corner fast are two different things, I'm pretty sure Doug meant the old SL was more of a cruiser which meant sure you could floor it and go 0-60 in a flash but you can't drive fast in practice hence lazy, unlike you can a true sports/supercar.
Couldn’t have said it any better
@@shroomyesc ya... but they call a mustang a sports car and yet my SL63 is wider and lower and handles far better than my neighbors 2019 GT.. ya the SL is a nice drive, but in sport plus its a bit of a harsh ride and takes on and off ramps great. its really got a split personality.. It is still a sports car at that trim level in my opinion, not super car sports level, but it will corner 90% as well as a AMG GTR which I have driven 2 or 3 of those... The SL gets a lot of disrespect for no reason. Its an awesome car.
They were doing fine with the amg gt (the 2 door version) and the s class convertible. Idk why they made this.
Who the actual f*** thinks a soft top looks better than a hard top 😂
Agree, makes it look like a mustang if u squint
Everything about this car just feels like it’s the replacement for the AMG GT models. It looks like it’s developed from that car more than the old SL.
The 90's SL (R129) is one of my favorite Mercedes Cars ever, hope to own one as an oldtimer once
You might as well buy one before you get old, they're not going to get any cheaper. The R129 was the last great Mercedes-Benz where the engineers had the final say in how it was built.
Hey how are you doing
WHO says a soft top looks better than a hardtop?!
Mercedes
It's an eyesore an abomination
"...long answer is a little longer." Yeah, that's how that works! 😂😂😂
that comment that doug made to this is a scam and not actually doug do not do what it says!
I have a R129 - and sorry to say this SL "jumps the shark" , but that's my opinion...can there be a case of 'too much tech and features' .I could appreciate the performance and everything up to the tv screen in the console, maybe there can be a 'deleted' option....maybe the amg gt convertible is the sweet spot
The deja vu I felt watching this video was insane... before realizing Doug reviewed the older model just last week, in the same color 😅
Me too bro😅, but no one's talking about it
But I liked the older model far more then this one, because of the V12 and folding hardtop
@six6 That's a nice way to release toxic gases
I didn't realize how much I disliked temperature controls integrated into a main infotainment screen until hearing Doug rant about them so many times... I'm soundly with Team Doug on this now
I'm on my first car with temp controls on the screen. Also first car with no normal volume knob. Both "features" are horrible. Absolutely hate it.
The history behind the SL, and finally a redesign is here! I really like the look of the new SL.
Great! I'll be looking forward to buying one in 15 years for $20k.
I miss the retractable hardtop. Looked nicer too when the top was up. Made it feel more premium overall.
Issue is it rattled a lot, was much slower and always broke down.
soft tops are ugly and I truthfully think that Mercedes-Benz is just lazy and didn't want to design a new hardtop
Agree. They are trying to save weight by using the soft top but at the same time adding unusable backseats 🤷♂
Corvette had the right ideas in reintroducing hardtops; it’s a shame that most car makers are cheaping out and switching to soft tops.
I also prefer hard tops. I feel that soft tops just make the car looker cheaper.
The pinnical of the SL was the 2007-08 SL550. Great looking with the pointy nose, fast and with the hydraulic suspension it handled great.
No. Pinnacle is r129
Great Timing Doug! I just saw one of these earlier today on the Autobahn outside of Frankfurt am Main (probably from the huge Mercedes Benz & AMG Dealer) and i have to admit i had no idea there were so many Changes and especially not so many Quirks.
It definitely is also one of those Cars that has much more Presence in Person than it does on Pictures or on Videos.
The Sound is amazing when accelerating on the Autobahn, sounded just as AMG as ever
Prost & Cheers from Germany
No hard top = deal breaker. RIP SL
I miss Doug saying “I’ve borrowed this ………”
So when the sun's out and I can't see anything on the touch screen, mercedes solution is for me to navigate the touch screen to adjust it so I can see what I'm doing? This is why I like to stick with the older cars.
0:25 Intro
2:41 exterior
3:51 sunroof
5:56 interior
7:54 info system
12:50 trunk
16:55 engine / exhaust
17:09 engine bay
17:29 test drive
18:21 Doug face
22:31 Doug score
Thanks for Doug face
Nice time stamp
W
My son had a friend who he played baseball with for years. After high school, my son went into a university and his buddy went into a automotive/diesel apprenticeship program. He was tops in his class and spent an extra 6 months getting extended training. From that vocational school he was hired by a Mercedes’ dealership and has now been to Germany multiple times for extensive training. He makes over six figures annually. And drives what he works on. He is a prime example of what a great vocational training program can do for a motivated individual.
The world will always need mechanics and hands-on engineers. He sounds like a smart kid who knows how to apply himself fully.
Let's go!! More henchmen for stealerships and shitty corps. Love it.
It's good to see Marcedes Benz making iconic cars like SL again!
I still haven’t warmed-up to the look of this newly remodeled SL - the front end reminds me of a Halloween Jack O Lantern. I like my white on beige 2019 SL hardtop convertible w/sunroof, and w/449 HP, it’s fast enough and sporty enough for me, and still turns heads.
Was looking forward to Doug getting into the back seat, per his usual testing.. Plenty of headroom, no idea why he didn't include that in the final edit 😉
Probably impossible? And doesn't want to p*** off Temecula by taking the p***
You can write "piss", you know
I’m surprised he got into the front seat let alone the back lol. I don’t even know why they would try to make this four seater at all. They make it a more performance car with only making it AMG but then they include four seats to take some performance out of the car? 🤔
Those seats were designed for veterans with no legs. A nice gestures to those who serve.
@@stephenjablonsky1941 I giggled as well mate nice joke mate
7:34 It's so great that modern technology is solving these problems caused by modern technology.
Love the Video & the spec! The new AMG SL will probably be one of the last real AMGs of our time with an amazing V8 sound.
There is a third option for the new SL which is currently under consideration for the US market: The SL43 & it features the 4 cylinder AMG engine so you would have the SL43, 55 & 63! 💪🏼
Was just waiting for Doug to describe the fascinating airscarf in amazement and astonishment like he did with the other 15 cars that had it lol
This really feels like a car thats going to have MASS depreciation, like get one used for 40k in 4 or 5 years.
If that were the case then the S63 from 2015 would’ve plummeted to that price but they’re still going for $75k+
😂 maybe sl450 or a much older 500 but probably not the amgs
@Doug Demuro: Love MB v8s v6s V4s I6s I5s and I4s. Highly underrated, no question. Keep these hot cakes coming boy.
Beautiful SL. RIP B.T. V12. Good to see the SL55 AMG came back after 20 years, but with a BiTurbo V8 (M177 with the same amount of power as an E55, but with 2 less lb-ft), I'd rather take the SL63 with a whopping 577 HP (like the AMG G63). Like I said, I'm sad the V12 is history. Can't wait to test one of these soon.
Love that Doug is still extolling the virtues of Airscarf - 18 years after it was introduced :P
Best looking SL since the first one.
7:40
You know a screen in a car is a bad idea when you have to come up with solutions like this.
I miss the old Doug scores with the longer explanations
that comment that doug made to this is a scam and not actually doug do not do what it says!
that comment that doug made to this is a scam and not actually doug do not do what it says!
Poor guy at 22:21 almost had a bad day stepping over the curb lmao
What a coincidence Doug is reviewing the new SL, I was just scrolling through picture after picture last night, beautiful!
I was born into a dealership owned by my grandfather.He would only drive Mercedes.He brought a Rolls Royce home one day and grandma was not impressed.Being a V12 she said it smoked the tires taking off from red lights...😆
He brought a 735 BMW home one day and she said that was "just a box a Mercedes comes in".Grandma knew some things.
I owned the SL 550 2013 and the problem with the new model to me is that is no longer two seats roadster,the missing analog and high quality buttons and knobs,the cheap digital speedometer and tachometer and no more hard top
.....and the price is higher. Less for more money.
@@tedmarakas2626 Better leather, tech, sound system, ambient lighting (which can be turned off)
Fit/finish could be better but the infotainment is the best of all the GT roadsters. The overall materials quality is still good but the tech of the old SLs was severely lacking even for it's time.
Also, this design is WAY better and the handling is eons ahead... I've driven both numerous times (neighbor collects MBs).
The digital gauge cluster is actually phenomenal and lots of cars in its class have gone that route, Mbs is one of if not the best digital gauge clusters.
Oh and I forgot to say, this one is a noticeably smoother ride.
@@danielmiller9012 They should make it roaster and hard top in my opinion
Not gonna lie, I like the old model better. I absolutely disagree with Doug's assertion that people think a soft top looks better. It doesn't, and it never has. Sure, a hard top takes up more space, but it can have the space that is instead being wasted on those useless back seats. Sure, it's heavier, but 50 pounds is not a significant difference on a car this large and powerful. Plus, RWD is just more fun than AWD. I'd rather get last year's SL63, or even go a few years further back to when the SL65 was still in production.
yeah he's uh, out of his frickin mind
Personally I don't think this car lacks name recognition at all - the SL (in the context of the Gullwing) is one of the most desirable nameplates ever, not to mention AMG, and Mercedes itself can carry extremely high levels of prestige on the right models. Cool car - impressive that Mercedes made some of the decisions that they did - like saying golfclubs be damned.
With the loss of the S-class convertible, though, it does seem a little odd that Mercedes doesn't large luxury convertible for the old SL country club crowd - and perhaps an overcrowding of AMG models (the new SL, the AMG GT variants). It'll be interesting to see the lineup continue to evolve.
Can't understand why some people like the soft top better. My SL's top is much quieter and you don't have to replace it every few years, as fabric, no matter how good, will not stand up to repeated use like my retractable hard-top will. Oh well.....
These look so much better in person. Mercedes nailed this design.
I love Mercedes SL and AMG lineup. Been so solid for many years it seems. The SL65 AMG is just something else. Those earlier models... love em.
Hey Doug, thank you for your positive energy🙂 Great review!!!
Hey how are you doing
2:00 “use the description in the link below”
💀💀💀🤣🤣🤣
"They will never send a car to me"
-Scotty Kilmer
Therapist: Giant VW Atlas isn't real, it can't hurt you.
Giant VW Atlas: 8:12
The Atlas is huge. It's almost as wide as a full-size pickup. For some reason, the one with the sloping roof looks even wider.
Looks great with the top down, but removing the hardtop is a fat L
hard tops rattle too much.
My takeaway from Doug's newer videos , if he borrowed it from the dealer, it's a puff piece.
It's from Turro, it's a hit piece.
If it's from an owner, hard telling.
Just when Doug moved screen more glare appeared from that interior angle 😄
This is the real comeback of the SL. I LOVE IT!!! It's beautiful and it's badass
I like how when opening/closing the top, back seat passengers would be smacked in the head by the "wing" covers that move out of the way for the top to move.
It always baffled me why they even exist. It would me more practical to have this space utilized for storing stuff, which is the only thing these rear seats are good for. Some elegant bag-matching storage compartment purposefully designed for said bags. Something similar to the dedicated trunk for Pagani Huayra's bags.
they're getting straight up decapitated
Especially in a convertible where no screens really work when it’s open you are enjoying sunshine when you enjoy the sunshine you can’t see devices that’s why I am all for buttons plus you don’t have to look down to see what you’re doing
So they made it look more aggressive, made it heavier, presumably gave it a worse ride (given the increased weight and the pretend-sportiness), and added an interior which cannot be used while looking at the road.
In summary, they made the car worse.
I Actually Like The Hard Drop Top Mercedes SL. People Would Get A Big Surprise At The Red Light Not Knowing The Top Would Drop! None The Less! This The Best Looking SL That Has Come To The World As We Know It!
I think we can collectively agree that the new SL is one of the most beautiful Mercedes ever made
I don’t love the design but it looks good, I think the best designs as of late from Mercedes have been the s class coupe, the amg gt, and the new Mercedes s class, especially the rear lights, I love them!
@@iosgaming2824 I can agree. Personally though I’m not a fan of super long bonnets but the GT still looks striking. Mercedes are doing well at the moment for sure
@@BigManTivO I like them a lot when it comes to cars because I think it makes the cars presence more special for some reasoning but I probably think that because I associate long bonnets with the expensive cars like Aston martins, Bentleys and Mercedeses, P.S. I understand not all things expensive are special in comparison to the alternatives that are cheaper lol.
I thought the amg gt was pretty nice looking as well Mercedes really hasn’t fumbled a 300SL generation yet fortunately, hopefully the amg gt’s successor isn’t a fumble.
I think the cars their producing right now are nice as well but when it comes to the GLS the thing I don’t like about the rear is that makes the car look too chunky. I hope with them making cars under the maybach name plate I.e. the maybach project one (I don’t know how many there are though, I’ve only seen drake post one and Mercedes post pictures of it) that they do it in a way that doesn’t negatively affect the success they’ve garnered with maybach since 2016 because their Mercedes maybach vehicles are already a very big competitor to any model rolls Royce has and it be cool if it became an even bigger one.
I wanted to add to that I wish Mercedes had left the rear seats out of the new SL to save weight. people that can afford 100k cars can afford to buy different cars for different purposes so they don’t need a SL especially the new one that’s predominately performance based to have back seats and if they want back seats they can get an amg gt 4 door or a e class but maybe they added the seats because they felt it was needed for a better driving experience because I know their cars being heavier more often then their competitors is a very traditional mentality of their…. Designers I guess I’d say
I love how the top cover will swing in trying to chop anyone's head seating in the back seat but thank god nobody will try the backseat cause you would actually have to chop your legs to get on it.
Ok thank god it’s still a V8😮💨
You can also have it in R4.
"My screen is so glaring that I cannot see anything at all. No worries, I'll just adjust that using the screen."
There will never be a day when you see the new SL with four people inside.
What if they're two children in the back seat? Children count as people even if they're infants. You might even see a couple of adult dwarves or midgets riding in the backseat as well.
Just like a 911.
Unless a pimp buys one.
@@orishaeshu1084
Have you ever actually seen a pimp?
@@ivanlowjones If you see any of those scenarios you outlined, I'd love a picture.
Doug is the type of guy to say that the long answer is longer than the short answer
I have to wonder why they would put in totally unusable back seats instead of nice cargo space.
to compete against the 911 directly
@@rc7016 Okay, but I still think it is kind of dumb. 🙂
@@genewaddlerandomstuff2122 I completely agree with you. unusable back seats are pointless. I have to wonder though if maybe a 2+2 classification in some way changes the vehicle designation in terms of EPA or emissions ratings as well.
I suppose that's possible. I won't be buying one but thought it was a curious thing to do.
Doug, you didn't even say anything about the interior and lighting. It's an amazing cabin at night.
Actually one of the most beautiful convertibles. It should get a 9/10 in Styling.
According to Mr Doug Lexus LC 500 got 10 / 10 !!
1:58 "Use the description in the link below..." Never change Doug
So is there any main reason to get this over the AMG GT convertible? Or are they to wildly separate experiences to drive
Major difference. GT has super stiff suspension, pretty much a track-focused car whereas the SL is more practical and has a much softer, live-able ride.
Meh, I prefer the AMG GT. Better lines, RWD, more storage. The iPad infotainment will be divisive -- most enthusiasts don't want to do everything through the infotainment. I think the '18-19 GT is the sweet spot.
LOVE IT! We use to own a SL450 , great cars!
Officer: do you know how fast you were going?
Doug: no I was in track mode, and let me show you some of the other quirks and features of this gauge cluster
I was kind of suspecting the SL was going to be axed after the old one was taken out of production - seemed like it had become a redundant model next to the AMG GT and it clearly was the least desirable of all SLs. Good that Mercedes realised something needed to be done. One thing that comes to mind, watching the interior: the SL is and has always been a model destined to be a future classic. Will all those screens work as good as they do now in 15 - 20 - 30 years? I have had laptops were the screen died after 6-7 years - will that be a common thing in used cars in the future too? And will it be possible to find a spare screen to replace the dead with? Only time will tell...
That's why I love the new Bentley Flying Spur thing. U can rotate the screen so when it becomes old in a few years u can just ignore it xD
Hey Mate how’s your day going have you heard of bitcoin and It’s current value….?
@@Nikica40 what happens when the rotate thingy breaks? 🤔
Just watching this. Spot on review. I think the pricing is way too high considering the alternatives in that price range. No one is going to buy a SL if they can buy a mid-engine R8 for the same price. SL55AMG should start around 100k and SL63 should be around 130k, and I think they would sell much more.
Given the choice, I would absolutely choose the Nerc!
Love this! Front is beautiful and aggressive. Only thing missing is a hard top.
Love hard tops but they rattle like crazy even on super expensive cars, the sound proofing on this is extremely impressive for a soft top.
I hate that it has that ugly ass soft top. The old people who buy this fucked this car.
As a long time Mercedes owner, the brand has really lost their way with the current generation of vehicles all looking like an A-Class and focusing on screens. They used to be champions of safety now they don’t care if you have to take your eyes off the road to use a screen rather than a button
No the soft tops doesnt look better. It looks cheaper. If its due to the weight they should make a carbon fiber foldable hardtop... That would be special. Softtops are garbage.
Wait... wouldn't the tilting function be voided for the soul fact that you can't see the screen, if we're going with that logic?
It be like: "Oh, there is a ton of glare on the screen to where you can't see it? No problem let's integrate the screen controls on the screen!"
Me: "Yeah... but I can't see the screen."
You're not supposed to notice that, just accept the screen. Screens are the future. Soon the steering wheel and door handles will be screens.
Sweet ride Doug...BUT
Questions: Do you think this machine has too much screen integration for some of those basic functions like the convertible roof action?
There's literally a button.
Not sure if I like some of the changes.
Cons:
- convertible soft top - I think they should have kept a hardtop.
- addition of a back seat - nope
- Pricing - seems a little expensive for what it is. The Jaguar F-type is a decent competitor for a cheaper price.
Pros:
- AWD 👍👍
- Styling (Inside & Outside )👍👍
This might be my next car!
Agreed
I'd still prefer the classic Mercs.
"I'm sorry I ran you over, I was busy playing with my screens". Not a fan, to say the least.
Doug is the type of guy who would read the owners manual to his kids to make them fall asleep
... except he keeps giggling with excitement at all the gizmos, scaring the kids awake.
The reason it sounds so attractive inside is the fact it's fake - fed through the speakers
Finally ! The styling isn’t awful… the infotainment how ever … is awful . For fucks sake give me some buttons
Ikr, tactile quality switch gear is so underrated. They dont age, unlike tacky PC graphics on a touch screen that will eventually fail to work properly, then nothing in the car will work.
@@3UZFEdriving down the road at 140 mph I don’t want to fuck with an I pad to change the volume on the music
Sergio Rodriguez? I was expecting Gunter Von Schlubenschlaussen
I was surprised that Doug didn't cover the comfort part of the ride - curious if Mercedes tried to include that aspect of the SL, as a comfortable sports car, and if its comfort mode suspension achieves something special. A bit like an M5 or E63, which have two personalities. Also curious if Doug thinks the car will sell well, given how different it is, and aimed perhaps at the 911 market.
He said he doesn't think it will sell well. Mostly due to high price. It is also not an 911 he said that 4 times. He also mentioned during the doug score review that it has a smoother ride than a Porsche
...a button, to activate a touchscreen, to actuate a digital slider, to open a roof...
...kill me now...
Holy crap, is this the first time Doug has gotten a sponsor?
nope it is not
Hopefully scotty doesn't boomer him again...
i remember like it was yesterday. when i was a car mechanic in The Netherlands (Dordrecht) Beamer dealer now 15 years ago. There was 1 lady always who was maintaing her car at our dealership. She had a Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG, when she always came, we always fighted to get the work-order first. So we can do some test drivings. She had a pink SL65AMG. The lady was about 60 years old at that moment.
Beautiful car. I remember I had a 2007 SL500 like 8 years ago, what I really liked was the hard top… It was like having 2 cars in one. Not a fan of soft tops, but other than that, this car might be one of the most beautiful cars MB has made in the last 10 years. I hope im the next years the hard top returns to the SL.
Okay spider man