Great review but feels like it was recorded many more years ago. On modern Michelin Cup2 tires the AMG SL's achieve even more astounding performance from track worthy grip and road feel. Mercedes can't even build SL's like this anymore. R230 is still peak SL in 2023.
I just sold my Z3M roadster & replaced it with a low mileage R231 SL500 in hyacinth red with cream leather. It corners really well. Nice & flat hardly any body roll. No scuttle shake. I think Chris Harris knows his cars well & he loved the SL63. Mine's not the SL63 admittedly. But not much less power or performance. It's more than enough. In fact I'm in awe of it. The fact it takes an extra 200 or 300 milliseconds to reach the legal speed limit compared to the SL63 is immaterial. 0-60 in 4.5s effortlessly is fine with me. It doesn't even feel like it's trying, there's so much torque. Sounds like I have 4 V twin superbike engines under the bonnet :-) I'm loving it to bits. I considered an SLK55. But they're almost as expensive. A great little V8 roadster, but less car for the money. Plus I'm 6 foot tall so it felt a little cramped TBH SLK55 £55k new. SL500 £85k new but only £3 or £4k more second hand for the SL. And it's an almost all aluminium engineering masterpiece with massive torque from 1800 RPM & higher spec than SLK. It's S class after all. Far more luxury & comfort, but still the performance of a fast sports car. When I test drove an Slk55 I felt the engine was special. When I drive my SL500 the whole car feels special. They're lot of car for the money at present. Third of the new price for car with low mileage !
@@pobinrthanks for this! I’m definitely leaning towards the r231 now (350 or 500). If you don’t mind me asking, have you had any issues with ownership so far? Hard to find any long term issues so far, but I suspect that may also be because of the few examples on the road
I've had an 08 SL550 for a few years and I can recommend this, don't buy one. I just paid over $9k to have the suspension fixed and the radiator hoses replaced. The problem, radiator hoses direct from Mercedes pop off. It did it on the drive home from the dealership and purged all of the fluid in the middle of a traffic jam. It took a few minutes to get pulled over. It likely fractured the head. Sent it back to the shop where they said they 'looked at it' but found no problems, of course. After informing them that this would likely turn into a lawsuit if the head indeed cracked they returned the car back to my home. Yesterday I started the car to charge the batteries and let it run for about a half hour while I prepared the car port. As I approached the car I saw the purple radiator fluid on the ground and in the snow to my horror. I jumped in and shut if off while looking at the temp gauge, it was pegged, again. Took pictures and sent them to Mercedes, again, re-attached the hose and clicked the locking clip then filled with fluid. Drove it into the car port for the winter and walked away. If anyone is interested, this car is for sale.
My SL500 Didn't pull that 5.5 seconds But it was well in the below 6 now that I've had some coil overs on it it's faster I think the steering oh my gosh wow the only one I wouldn't suggest coil overs is somebody that wants to drive that in no man's mouth. If you drive this in sport I think you would Barely fill the difference with coil overs. Sport Old Man's mode And ABC mode
Great review but feels like it was recorded many more years ago. On modern Michelin Cup2 tires the AMG SL's achieve even more astounding performance from track worthy grip and road feel. Mercedes can't even build SL's like this anymore. R230 is still peak SL in 2023.
I just sold my Z3M roadster & replaced it with a low mileage R231 SL500 in hyacinth red with cream leather. It corners really well. Nice & flat hardly any body roll. No scuttle shake.
I think Chris Harris knows his cars well & he loved the SL63. Mine's not the SL63 admittedly. But not much less power or performance. It's more than enough. In fact I'm in awe of it.
The fact it takes an extra 200 or 300 milliseconds to reach the legal speed limit compared to the SL63 is immaterial. 0-60 in 4.5s effortlessly is fine with me. It doesn't even feel like it's trying, there's so much torque. Sounds like I have 4 V twin superbike engines under the bonnet :-)
I'm loving it to bits. I considered an SLK55. But they're almost as expensive. A great little V8 roadster, but less car for the money. Plus I'm 6 foot tall so it felt a little cramped TBH
SLK55 £55k new. SL500 £85k new but only £3 or £4k more second hand for the SL. And it's an almost all aluminium engineering masterpiece with massive torque from 1800 RPM & higher spec than SLK. It's S class after all. Far more luxury & comfort, but still the performance of a fast sports car.
When I test drove an Slk55 I felt the engine was special. When I drive my SL500 the whole car feels special. They're lot of car for the money at present. Third of the new price for car with low mileage !
Thanks for posting this - coming to the same conclusion with my decision between an SLK and an SL. Thoughts on the R231 SL350?
@@EnriqueRomualdez I have R231 SL500. I love the power & torque but I gather for most people the SL400 is quite sufficient.
Had zero issues
@@pobinrthanks for this! I’m definitely leaning towards the r231 now (350 or 500).
If you don’t mind me asking, have you had any issues with ownership so far? Hard to find any long term issues so far, but I suspect that may also be because of the few examples on the road
I CAN T AFFORD
I can only buy the basic sport cars as
SL 350 AMG 2008
SL 350 AMG 2010
TTS 2012
Z4 35i 2011
Jaguar XK 2012
👍 😎
@@EnriqueRomualdez 350 has perfectly adequate performance.
I've had an 08 SL550 for a few years and I can recommend this, don't buy one. I just paid over $9k to have the suspension fixed and the radiator hoses replaced. The problem, radiator hoses direct from Mercedes pop off. It did it on the drive home from the dealership and purged all of the fluid in the middle of a traffic jam. It took a few minutes to get pulled over. It likely fractured the head. Sent it back to the shop where they said they 'looked at it' but found no problems, of course. After informing them that this would likely turn into a lawsuit if the head indeed cracked they returned the car back to my home. Yesterday I started the car to charge the batteries and let it run for about a half hour while I prepared the car port. As I approached the car I saw the purple radiator fluid on the ground and in the snow to my horror. I jumped in and shut if off while looking at the temp gauge, it was pegged, again. Took pictures and sent them to Mercedes, again, re-attached the hose and clicked the locking clip then filled with fluid. Drove it into the car port for the winter and walked away. If anyone is interested, this car is for sale.
It's pronounced zeenon NOT X-enon 😂😂😂
Elephants have trunks, cars have boots
Nope, cars have trunks...boots are for walking ;)
My SL500 Didn't pull that 5.5 seconds But it was well in the below 6 now that I've had some coil overs on it it's faster I think the steering oh my gosh wow the only one I wouldn't suggest coil overs is somebody that wants to drive that in no man's mouth. If you drive this in sport I think you would Barely fill the difference with coil overs. Sport Old Man's mode And ABC mode
Should you buy an… don’t be silly, man! Along with a Porsche and a Ferrari, EVERYONE should buy an SL if they have the budget.
Save your money and get a r129
Take care of the R129 motor and it will last.
No they're ugly put those bug ears headlights