Here's Why the Mercedes-Benz SL Is Failing
2018 ж. 28 Қар.
2 237 258 Рет қаралды
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THE SL'S OWNER: / torq_la
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is failing. Today, I'm reviewing a 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL450 and I'm going to explain why the Mercedes SL is failing -- and I'm going to show you the ins and outs of the 2018 Mercedes SL.
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DOUGSCORE CHART: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I’m a 61 year old dentist and I live on Nantucket. This car looks good to me.
Lol
Funny guy
I’m 19 and I think this car is beautiful
Looks great to me. They are a steal on the used market. You can get a low mile SL63 for the price of a new V6 Camry.
Hilarious!
Imagine renting your car out to someone and then finding a video online of them nagging it 😂
So it’s not okay to rent cars and write reviews? 🙄
A Rios I think you’re making a leap there. He’s simply pointing out it would be shocking to see your car show up on here.
pretty sure he lets the owners know
Too many engine defects.
Haaa
Am 74 years old and just sold my dentist practice. I bought me this car and my 25 year old girl friend loves it!!!? Thanks Doug
I bought me this car?... Lol. Yeah.
woah there.....
A
bro?
Should a bought a 911. All the 20 year old girls would love it
I'm 41 years old, and I definitely love this car! It's not an hardcore driving car, it's an all-rounder! I love its shape, its technology and well... for an average driver it is also very pleasent to drive. Unfortunately, behind a keyboard and a video, a lot of people talk as if they were all Le Mans winners, capable to drive a GT3 RS to its extreme limit. These people make me smile.
2008 years is the best design
lol
The competitors have better handling while still be able to be all rounder cars.
Maybe the sales aren't good because there is a C class Convertible, an E class Convertible, and an S class Convertible....
And GT
Also slk/slc in some countries
and a Maybach convertible
Sakatoki91 maybach convertible is an S65 vert with different trim and better leather (because somehow that’s possible?)
I thought the same.
12:20 The button is not to access the back seats; it's so you can find the pen you dropped.
lol
Or telephone. That is a great idea
*french fry
I thought it was the golf club retrieval button....
maybe to clean it?
I work at a Mercedes dealership and to be completely honest, the SL is one of my favorite models. Sure, the interior is pretty dated, but they make up for it in the sheer luxury ride and awesome driving experience. I love them.
I think the R230 is the best of them all. The design of that car is unbelievably timeless.
The car and interior is refined and sophisticated. Its classy too which BMW, AUDI aspire to but just can't reach Mercedes for such class & elegance. I have in SW France the 2013 SLK 200 which by American taste & standards might appeared underpowered. It still looks great and heads turn approvingly. Here we call it a roadster and its sporty but not a sports car. For that there is the latest great Mazda MX5. But as with the SL range, mazda MX5 are only selling in small numbers and VW has stopped production of the fantastic beetle. Of course he is right. There is no longer the demand for such cars.
@@Fall-off-currencies The interior of the R230 feels like the 90's. I wanted to save money and get an R230, but the interior killed that thought. And the R231 looks much more masculine. And I'm a man. Plus... too many mechanical issues with the R230. I made the better decision with the R231, in spite of the significant additional investment over the R230.
'I just don't know who's buying it?' I did Doug! Just bought one so I can answer your questions. Why not an M4 and get two extra seats? Because the M4 is ultimately a 3 Series. A very fast one - but a 3 Series. The SL is in a completely different league. Why not a 911? Great car, but it's a sportscar. I wanted a GT, a long legged cruiser that monsters distances. Earlier in the video you said why not an AMG GT? Well, because they're substantially dearer and have a tent on top instead of a proper roof. Same applies to the S Class convertible you mentioned, fine until you want to leave it parked on the street. What the SL does brilliantly, is be a top end high performance solid roof GT coupe, but with the unique party trick of turning into a proper convertible. For me, it is the very best car in the world. YMMV. PS. I'm the Doug DeMuro of superyachts apparently! I keep getting told that - I think it's meant as a complement!
More correctly, the car does not suit Doug. It suits a lot of other people, like Aquaholic and me, who want a comfortable, luxurious, sporty, high quality, high performance ride. It is not a sports car. It is a great looking, high quality cruiser. The demographics for this car are older than for a 911. They are expensive, though, and sales will never be that high. Just because it is not perfect for Doug's needs does not mean that no one wants one. How self-absorbed can someone be?
Doug just doesn't know how to use an SL for the long distance autobahn bred road weaponry Bruno Sacco intended. He chose the softest example in 10 years and wonders who would want it. At the very least it is the superior convertible experience of any car and has been since 2001. To this day Doug has yet to review an AMG SL roadster and it's sorely apparent.
I have a neighbor who bought one. Fantastic car. Doug is the type that can test 1000 cars and still can't tell which are the good ones. I mean, the guy owns a Land Rover ! That tells you the whole story. Reviews like these do more damage than he thinks. There are rumors that MB may discontinue the SL for good.
I agree with my whole heart. I bought an audi spyder, but it was so cramped, I absolutely hated it. Being a taller guy, this car has the room plus fun factor that I wanted. The trunk space is huge for a convertible. I have the AMG version, and it keeps up with anything. The hard top makes it versatile, the best "toy" car I've EVER owned. As an addendum, I love all 3 of my clocks, never have to look around to see what time it is. This kid probably has nothing to do, but I have a life and places to be. Nothing about this car that I don't love.
Woah! Nice to see you here Nick!
I've actually started using "Whirrr" in real life. Whenever something moves now.. To me, it WHIRRRS into place.
Whirl*
And desirrrrrred. And retirrrrrred.
The engineering on that roof and wind deflector is so satisfying somehow
gamer0x1 And that’s why the SL is still holding on. If anything, MB is thinking about ending the SLK/SLC because it is just selling as well as the SL but for HALF the price.
I watch all the pieces on that roof & think how does it not leak.
gamer0x1 it’s like the legs of a ballet dancer
@@richardmorris7063 So do I but I have had 2 SLs and none of them have ever had any leaks. It is a really well insulated top.
Love my SL550. Best car I've ever owned. 0-60 in 4s, hard "ragtop", plenty of room, no problems after 6 yrs.
Mulepick you could consider purchasing one of those for me too
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I agree I owned SLK because I'm very short but all my passengers are very tall so I'm upgrading to an SL!! AND the drivers seat actually accommodates my height.
@Cuthbert Bracegirdle My family have owned merc models for the past 8 years, 3 different cars on lease, 1 amg model and no problems at all
@Cuthbert Bracegirdle Are you speaking from ownership experience or are you one of those folks who bash it because you can't afford it??
Cuthbert Bracegirdle it’s totally believable that there leased Mercedes have been reliable, it’s when the lease is over and they start to get a little older is when they start to have problems, like maybe 4-5 years old, then the problems start to happen, and conveniently that’s when the warranties expire.
Y’all saying this for old people , I’m 16 and I’d do some real suspect stuff for one of these
SURF
Maxx's World ayy surfin
@@emilysoto4701 Bro he's 16, I'm calling the FBI
🤣🤣🤣
@@isr2879 A bro called Emily.....WtF?
If Doug was a flight attendant...... THIS..........is your bag of peanuts
And for more information on your bag of peanuts log on to aerotrader.com slash windshear...
And it’s for sale RIGHT NOW for around $70,000. I’ve also compiled a list of all the available bags of peanuts for sale right now on autotrader
@@Garbagejuicewaterfall "XD MAYBE IF I PUT MORE CRYING EMOJIS IT WILL BE FUNNY"
Actually southwest stopped giving out peanuts... 😢
XDD
Doug the type of guy to be honest, thorough, and not clickbait his fans
Good game
Damn straight! Love this guy! =)
@@izihbo don't we all :D
And never ask us to smashthatlikebutton
@@visionist7 Nor did he ask to subscribe or else I'll steal your dog
Doug's the kind of guy who would iron and neatly fold his laundry before he puts them in the washing machine
Thats funny
I love this car The SL63 and SL65 is just so beautiful
The SL65 is a proof that one doesn't always need an SLR McLaren or an SLS AMG
Hey Doug - If you're cold with the top down, couldn't you just put on a 3rd t-shirt?
zing
Curtis Bog
Or wind coat.
Gott'em!
THIS is my third shirt
The MB SL peaked from 2001 to 2011 when you could buy it with those iconic sleek headlights AND a 612 hp, 738ft-lbs of TORQUE, Twin Turbo V12, supercar worthy weaponry. I remember uncontrollably craving this car like a sexual response. 0-60 in 3.6 silky smooth V12 seconds was entirely effortless. The AMG V12 SL cut through traffic like Conan's sword. No it's not that there's the AMG GT with it's little V8 or the decadent S-Class convertible that kills appeal, it's the fact that it's grown bigger, softer and weaker [no V12 now]. It doesn't scream personal superpower anymore. Even the dashboard exuded machismo back in the day. Now, we get a tiny toy shifter. The swag is gone.
Yeah it doesn't have that "my dick bigger then yours" presence and more old lady car
The SL65 actually does have the 600hp twin turbo V12 still, but it starts at $212k so not really worth it
It peaked in 1954
The real peak for the SL was the R107 that ran from 1972-1989. They were everywhere in their day. There were far fewer choices. At the time Mercedes really was a paragon of build quality that the rest of the industry aspired to. The SL was much better built than an E-Type and the SL became the rich man’s Mustang.
I would see the 2008 model at racetracks back in the day and guys would throw Mickey Thompson ET Streets on them and run mid to high 10’s. It was madness.
Im 43 years old. Got my first SL when I was 25 years old. The one i have currently is my 5th one. Still love it as much as I did on day one, almost 20 years ago. Ooh and here is small detail he forgot to mention; a brake job on the AMG GT is over $5000...
i have sl400, and its enough. 0-100 4.9 and all i need is first 50 meters, upto it its just the beast with only rwd. And what a joy is to drive rwd compared to awd))
I have this SL roadster convertible and I absolutely love it...best car I've ever owned. The V6 gets fairly good gas mileage for a sports car yet is incredibly fast, especially when in manual or sport mode. While there are lots of valid points in this video, as an owner of this car, I have yet to find anything I don't absolutely love about it.
I'm thinking about gettin one
Love this car....but then I am 71 years old !!
Lmao
I'm 30 and wouldn't mind one if I lived in a country with wide, fast smooth roads. With a V12 though!
@@visionist7 key word V12...lol
Liony Leftwich does he understand that 😂🤷🏼♂️
I’m a teenager and I certainly wouldn’t mind if one of these showed up in my driveway lol
You know you screwed up when you cancel the SL but still make the GLA.
No, more like they know what the market demands lol
???? Gla sells in the tens of thousands. SL is hundreds.
This car is too expensive for what you get. Its in 100k$+ teritorry and last model came out in 2013, so thats almost 6 years old. For the amount it costs you can get a new S class cabrio with 4 seats and newest tech or the Amg GT that focuses on performance. SL is an excellent car but counting what you can get for the same money and all that by the SAME MANUFACTURER is ridiculous. Its merc’s own fault because they placed this car in retarded position.
Yep the people want a Nissan Sentra SUV with the Mercedes Benz Badge :/
And CLA. Well to be fair they sell/lease alot of them but they are just so hideous
You failed to mention how amazing it is to have a “hard top” convertible.
Don’t apologize for your age. I had SL in 1980,1984,1990,2003 and 2013 The greatest car I ever owned and still do. I remember one of the earlier models 80 or 84 I sold for more than my original price. That was the only time that happened. You won’t let deprecation bother you if you keep it long enough.
Doug the type of guy to make quality content.
Justin Y. ayeee
Yooo big brother! You're back! Haha
i usually support you Justin Y. but that was just a really dumb comment...
Justin Y. Hi person with no life
You're everywhere lmfao
0:17 “glorious Mercedes Benz 300sl gull wing” *Proceeds to show the convertible model which wasn’t a gull wing*
😮
I said the same thing out loud, and I’m home alone!!!
I know!
...and the Pagoda w/o the Pagoda roof on.
He doesn't actually know much about cars
Hey Doug, I looked and tested the 996 version 911 and found it extremely cramped inside, being that I am 6'2" tall and 230lbs. The ride was back breaking. So I took out the SL400 (UK) and had loads more room, comfy ride and seats and 35 mpg on the motorway....Brilliant car!!
I am 6' 5" and totally agree with you!
Doug's the type of guy to blast classical music in his convertible while tapping the steering wheel and lip smacking
Doug is the type of guy who would review his Uber drivers car as he is driving.
N pretend he never saw 1 b4
Now, I'd like to see the video on that, especially the looks on the Uber driver's face while Doug describes the usual "quirks", etc.
the fake voice inflection crap is enough for me to give him a wedgie by hanging him on a fence post - kzhead.info/sun/m8qHfLWxeZuOrWg/bejne.html
This is a Nissan Leaf..xD
Lmao
Can’t wait for that Koenigsegg review ;)
theres only a single white and orange One:1 in the US so he has some calls to make hahaha (I hope Im wrong)
Hunter Rauvola He’s reviewing Whitesse’s white Agera. Follow him on Instagram ;)
thats what ive been waiting forrrrr
Hunter Rauvola it's not really surprising that there is only one One:1 in the US, since those are limited to only 3 or 4. But there are some ageras and probably some regeras in America
It isn't a One:1 it's an Agera RS1, but really mostly no difference :P
In Britain the main reason for not buying a sports car when you're younger is Insurance. They charge the earth to insure a sports car if you're under about 60. When you get old the price really comes down. I bought my SLK as a gift to myself for getting old. By the time I hit 65 I could at last afford to insure it. I drive responsibly. but it's also great fun!!
John Mitchell I did the same, I'm 49 with max no claims and one named driver and I still pay £68 a month with breakdown cover, but breakdown cover was only £38. I do love the car tho. I got a late 2015 SLK 250D so it has the 2016 spec(9-speed box Etc...) What one did you get? if you don't mind me asking.
@@_Daio_ I got a 2001 320 AMG. I think the AMG badge only refers to the wheels and the body modifications, but it has all the toys including Tiptronic 5 speed, ESP etc. Still only 71,000 miles from new. Even my daughter thinks it's the coolest car I've ever had !!
P.S. I only pay £25 per month fully comp....
@@johnmitchell4838 Nice, I have the AMG package too.
I had a mustang GT and was paying 700 per month for insurance at age 26. No dui or major things other than a couple speeding tickets then I replaced it with a 2 seater BMW and was paying 800 per month to insure it.
The bump in the middle of doug's "uuuhm" at 18:50 has me rolling 🤣🤣
I have a new SLC200 which is the poor man's version version of the SL. I love it ! not as fast as this demo but in the UK and our roads ! it's amazing with the top off. Ok I'm old and retired so you are right about that... But It's not my only car... It comes out when the sun shines and when it does it's fantastic - no other 2 seater with an auto roof comes close - Loved the old SLK for years and wish I'd bought one earlier.. Love you reviews Doug ! headphones on - ignore the TV and I' away... Cheers Phil
I've always wanted an slk55 they look like absolute madness
“It comes out when the sun shines.” So, never?
SLC200 a very cool car ! My SLK is a babe ! Had it since new , 2000 I picked it up , it's outside now ! Yep the one on my picture ! Reg is SLK200K on an SLK200K ( Cost more than the car ) hehehe retired people rule ! We don't need a V12 or V8 doing 15mpg we want to drive ! And get to the coast for £25 not £150 in a daft engined car with UK traffic and winding roads ! Ok in the US , big roads a thousand miles long and petrol costs £1.50 a gallon in the US the swines ! And we can convert to electric motor as smaller gearing so our cars will be around a lot longer than the bigger cars as London banning the polluters thats why on ebay an SLK200 is 10k on an 09 plate and the 350SLK is for sale for £4000 ! Unwanted now with the big engine in the UK ....
@Creative La'Roi i know a few poor people with SLC200s but never new ones
@Creative La'Roi fair enuf
Tie his hands up and he wouldn't be able to talk.
He's Italian
So would any public speaker worth anything. That's a weird critique. Gestures are important to effective communication. Without them, it is near impossible to convey trust and expertise.
He can do the fake voice inflection all day without hands, He is indeed unable to have sex without his hands
Hahahahahah
@Mario Cantani NICE TO SEE YOU SHOW THE SAME DISRESPECT TOWARDS OTHER NATIONALITIES THAT YOU CLAIM WAS SHOWN TOWARDS ITALIANS. PS, SINCE WHEN IS TALKING WITH YOUR HANDS AN INSULT?
I have a 2013 SL550 and love it. You must have an extended warranty{exclusionary type}.No problems yet but my previous 2005 SL500 started problems at the 9 year point. Fast 4.3 sec, handling and ride are excellent. I have a panoramic roof feature which allows me to lighten and darken the moon roof. Kenwood sounds great. If you want luxury this is it.
Sl500 isn't a 4 sec car bud
I have same yours and I really love it it's beautiful car
I also had a 2005 SL500 - worst car ever - made me not buy another benz for 10 years, but not I am looking at the newer SL 2014 and up and like them. I am 48, but act like a 72 year old hehe...at least my wife tells me so. I tell her I know the finer things in life - why should I be uncomfortable in those other sports cars...
It's a Harmon Kardon as well, not Kenwood, lol.
Very informative videos. That said, your melodic inflections are more than I can handle.
Review a late 70's volvo, you want to see quirks....
+1000
Or a Saab.
I hate this era, SUVs are taking over and cancelling all the good cars due to sale... Look at what they did to the Eclipse and soon, the Evo😫😫😫
Right, soon there will be no cars. Well all be driving SUVs.... Give me a break
USA sucks. Move to Europe. We love our sedans and our station wagons.
Evo been gone
@mike a people in europe are fat liberals too
Do you drive a sports car/convertible?
YOU KNOW, DOUG..YOURE JUST WONDERFUL AND PRECISE WHEN DOING THESE PRESENTATIONS!!! I HAVE VIEWED MANY OF YOUR VIDS!!! WITH SATISFACTION. MANY THANKS AND MANY BLESSINGS!!!! I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I GET ANOTHER CAR THAT WOULD BE OF GREAT INTEREST. CHEERS & TALLYHO, BUDDY!!!!
I watched this video before I bought my SL and after. My wife and I may be the demographic this car is for. We are nearing 60. We had a 2014 BMW Z4 which I liked and think is a good looking car but was beginning to get dated. I wanted a Corvette for speed and sportiness. my wife didn't want that body style or driving position. We just bought a 2018 SL550. It was our compromise. I think it's a nice blend of sportiness and luxury. The V8 in sport mode is VERY quick. Why would I need more power? on nice days, the top goes down. in bad weather you have a luxury hard top. Granted this may be a narrow market car, and the plastic dash could be improved as Doug said but I'm really enjoying this car! Comfortable, quick, good looking, many amenities.
I have a 2014 SL550. Few things, I like convertibles, but I hate soft tops, that limits the choices significantly. I test drove a lot of cars and this was by far the most fun, I smile every time I drive it, thats why I bought it. Lastly, you missed a few of the best features: Magic Sky (missing in your model), Dynamic/Massaging seats, the ability to have the seats have heating and ventilation on at the same time, Magic vision, the ability to move the passenger seat from the driver's side and auxiliary heating so you get warm air before the engine has warmed up.
@@AI-qd4vb If having an opinion based on fact and experience makes me an idiot, then I guess you're a genius.
@@AI-qd4vb you just got OWNED
@@AI-qd4vb says the fool!
If you like it that’s all that’s important.
I was going to buy a 2011 SL, I wish i went and bought it, but i know repairs would be alot
Doug didn't mention his height, feeling sad
TM 6’4”
Car has no roof or back seats so we don’t get to hear it😞
He is a very tall individual if he really is 6'4. I'm 5'9 (last time a checked... 5 years ago), and I have to slide my seat all the way back in order for me to drive comfortably. Doug probably has to drive his cars from the rear seat.
@@conorsouthard3759 Yea man sad times :( the videos are best when he says he's 6'4"
TM some say he's 6 3
I appreciate how you make your presentation detailing the important features and specification
As a musician, I really appreciated at 9:50 that the *ding* of the car was the tonic resolution of the chord in the music you put in! Not sure if you did it intentionally but it was very satisfying!!
I’ll have to get high and come back and loop that bit of the video about 100 times.
They honestly kind of ruined this car by stopping production of the V12 model.
TheIceWarrior thank the EPA for that
It's more about Carbon tax in Germany more liters and more tax.
Jason B i see
Why not make a smaller displacement v12 , since most euro v8s now are all 4L make a 5L v12
Ppl really did worshipped the SL600
Doug the type of guy to use oven mitts when he gets something out the freezer.
Shut up eith these doug is the type comments...so annoying
@@msdwfa2001 fuck yourself
@@generalbuttnaked1184 no u
kim Oh good, you hate these comments, thanks for the unnecessary information, we don’t care.
😀😀😀😀
I just bought a 2003 SL500 and I absolutely love it. But if I were in the market and could afford to buy it new, there are other Mercedes I’d rather have for the price. But the 2003 really holds up 😂
Doug-I’d suggest the one thing you get with this versus the other cars is the hard top, which I definitely preferred when I bought this car (SL550) over the soft tops with the GT and the S-Class.
The 2022 SL has a soft top and it’s the best SL since the R107. The SL’s of the 2000’s prior are garbage.
Doug the type of guy to dress like a 6th grader from the 90s.
6th graders don't wear cargo shorts
He does
Who remembers Guranimals clothing for kids back in the 70's, them God awful stripped and checker board pants and flowered shirts trying to turn the boys into little fairies. . .
Doug is the type of guy who would film a car review at 2:12 pm
I just bought a 2015 sl65 and I can say it’s my favorite car by far! I’ve only had it for three days and never thought I’d own a roadster but this car is so much fun to drive! I was so surprised by the active bolstering when you go around a corner that’s my favorite little feature
SL will never fail. Its an icon. Much like a Rolex Daydate President. Perfect for old men like me when we retire. 👌👍💪✌️
You forgot to mention it’s a hardtop, the gt and s cabriolet is a soft top, and as a former sl owner there is a difference
Well what is the difference?
Tbh no one cares about that
The diference is pretty much only styling.
The only convertible that looks awful with the top on is that evoke cabriolet, that thing is just really ugly
Efjasa gaming there is a difference with a fabric top and a metal top, you loose the coupe like style. That is the difference
Also, the fake plastic vents are a bad sign...
Your avatar is a good sign.
What would you be gaining from real holes besides worse aerodynamics?
@@betterbeavailable I'm gonna pretend you didnt just say that...
@@SuperHodge08 he has a point though. People like to complain about it but don't even stop to ask why. You act like you are touching the part when you aren't so you would never know just looking at it. Its there for styling and aero. If it were a hole that would be worse for aerodynamics.
I'm not sure why he would test the 6 cylinder. All of his low scores for fun, performance, handling . . . would have been significantly higher had he tested the SL 63 AMG, AND as said by many here in a class by itself with the convertible hardtop AND oh by the way, 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. Lastly, Mercedes just announced a brand new 2022 SL, far from gone so far DM
I like my 2016 SL400, I got it a year ago just off of lease with 4,400 miles. I have no regrets purchasing it, though it is entry level in this class. It's a great car.
I'm not an old man, and I'm not retired. So why do I desire one of these? Answer that Doug and give it a score 😂.
I'm mid 30s and just got one
What do you mean this car doesn't know what it wants to be? It is literally perfect for its target market - old guys. It is just enough power and style for them to think they are still cool, but has supportive seats and suspension to not hurts their bad back. They are building the prefect old guy car. The problem is there aren't enough old guys in this price range. Most old guys can get something even better or can't afford this car. I think if they priced it at 80k it would sell more. That is the spot where old guys will think it is expensive, but they can stretch it as it will be "their last car".
Man, I’m not even old, but you just gave me an existential crisis when I thought about what how eventually we all have a “last car we’ll ever own.” 😅
Team Shmo - with a (often) declining birth rate and a longer like span, there will soon be LOTS of old people. Like a zombie invasion, only with SL Class MBs and in tennis wear. This is a car from a sadder future where senior discount cards replace espresso bar cards.
@@SoberYetDrunk I'm in my 50s, I was just talking the other day to a friend I grew up with who is famously cheap and makes several hundred grand a year. He said he realized its time to spend on a fun car, it might be his last one. Bought his wife the top of the line Benz SUV, and is considering a Maserati for himself.
Screw off Doug, this car is not failing. This generation is not particularly the best version but the SL has a strong legacy and Mercedes would not cut this model.
Doug, I have to respectfully disagree with you on the looks. I own a 2013 SL 550 ,metallic gray, AMG 5 spoke wheels. It is truly stunning and turns heads every time I get out on the road. Personally I love the shape and design and it truly is an incredible machine. I think the color and wheel package has a lot to do with how it appears.
Are you driving in the ghetto or something lmao?
I saw one the other day in white just like this one and it looks incredible. Don’t see many of these on the road but when you do it will definitely make your head turn. Absolutely gorgeous car.
So sad to watch one of my favorite cars die 😔
The wind deflector is a beautiful piece of engineering design.
So are the roof and the trunklid automatics. A pleasure to watch them working.
@@MetalTrabant even the old R129s soft top mechanism is pretty cool to see in action.
I almost got a 2019 SL last year, but purchased a E53 AMG Cabriolet instead. So glad I did. The technology on the E blows this SL out of the water
This is why I bought a used 2014 SL 550 with the twin turbo V8. that V6 sounds terrible.
Doug the type of guy who watches old westerns wearing a cowboy hat.
Same bro, same. 🏇🏼👨🌾
Hey this one was pretty funny.
Hahahaha!!
and super tight jeans
Who doesn't? Can't forget your colt navy either.
Strange review. Here's an idea on the "problem" of having three clocks: when the infotainment screen is switched off then you can't see the clock on that. The passenger can't see the driver's clock in the gauges cluster and neither can the driver when the ignition is switched off, so you need the clock on the dashboard as the only constant. So, not a problem.
Im wearing a watch, my phone has a clock, there’s a clock on my wall. So what? Ones always easy accessible (wrist). Your explanation was pinpoint accurate.
Three clocks… That's a very 'german' thing… At all time you know if you are not running late… thus insulting a person that might be waiting for you… and putting you whole family to shame, and destroying the legacy you have been passed…
This car is about class. Doug does not seem to get that.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Agreed
Totally. Doug wears two tee shirts to an orgy.
Agree
At 69 I bought one. Love it. Top down, romping on the accelerator in Sport Plus driving mode and gobs of torque.
The road sign detection system is for the 70 year old men who drive the wrong way
Most safety features are for the individuals who are not paying attention. I would argue that most safety features are defensive in nature for those who are not driving paying absolute attention.
Tell that to Jeremy Clarkson Self destruct mode
It’s not failing. It’s just old. Can’t wait for the successor soon.
agreed, under all the facelifts the body is 15 years old now
It's pretty much the AMG GT ... It's like the newer version of the SL, with better performance
Du schaust auch alle auto yt channel ☺️
Elliot Marshall This is an R231, that sits on a new frame. Car came out in 2011 as a 2012. It’s not an R230 that came out in 2003.
There is already a successor, it is the GT conv. People are buiying that
My grandmother wants one... one issue... my grandmother doesn’t have a valid drivers liscense
SL Roadster will continue. SLC Roadster is cancelling.
If I'm not wrong MB is canceling the S-Class Convertable too, so the SL will once again be the top luxury convertible.
yay!
@@Scorpio1075 lol they cancelled it this year......i was searching that where is the s class coupe and didnt find anything in 2020
@@nitintonypaul9080 Last thing I read, the all-new SL will be a 2022 model year car.
@@Scorpio1075 ik i am probably going to buy one........the scale model ; )
Hi Doug: Really enjoyed the review . I bought a 2017 SL550 last year and agree with most everything you stated . I previously had a 2012 ZR1 and a 2015 Z28 that I enjoyed for a while . As time went on I found that I was using both of those car less and less . They were great when I was in the mood and not so great when I wasn't. Also to really have fun in those cars I was going faster than I should have been going on public roads. I decided to get something little more relaxed and went shopping . 911 did not fit well , legs were cramped . F type fit better , wasn't crazy about the short overhang in the back . Both had cloth tops ( not a plus ) . M3 was nice but had gotten poor reviews . Had many BMW motorcycles and got tired of the quirks and poor treatment at dealerships . Also relative had engine self destruct in an M3 . Didn't really want a full blown luxury car ( S class ) and not GT's to even sit in at the time . I wasn't crazy about the look of the GT front . Took a long test ride in a used SL and liked how I fit , the ride , the interior , handling and power were reasonable , liked the all aluminum construction and really liked the convertible hardtop . A great all rounder . One year later still very happy with the purchase , would do it again . Added plus , the wife likes it too . I'm not a dentist , but I am an MD that just retired . Close enough ? Thanks again for the review .
How much were the payments??
Not everyone wants practicality foremost. Otherwise Lambo's wouldn't sell like they do. Woe be the poor consumer that wants something other than what the masses clamor for.
LOL - u hear that Dougie! #MD😂
I just went on a 750 mile drive across Spain and the SL would have been perfect. Too bad nobody was renting one on Turo!
TheDurhamBull On Doug’s behalf the dentist joke is just an easy one to pull out when making a point. 👍. Also wouldn’t say practicality is the strong point on a SL. It’s nice but there are a million SUVs for practicality. Also Lambos are a much smaller market and much higher price tag than a SL Mercedes.
Yeahhhh. This whole time I was like "eh, I'd pay $50k for this. Seems pretty good to me." Then Doug said that the price starts at $99k. Yeah, no shit the sales are slumping.
Alaska Fish & Game yeah same, was pretty impressed with everything, figuring it was an $75-80K car, but as soon as I heard starting price $100K, I just thought of all the better, cooler cars around that price point, and everything seemed so stupid afterward. Guess it’s better to watch a full car review and only learn the price at the very end when you’ve had time to form a full opinion.
I barfed when I herd it 🤮
100% same though. I was thinking $60k tops for the entry level car
Can't even compete with against other MB verts. Why should this be 20k higher than an E-class with the same engine??
my jaw dropped when he said that, not exaggerating. M6, 911, F Type, etc, so many better options at that price
74 year old men dont have to sell their dental practice to buy an SL. They were pushing SL's in their thirties and 40s man. And, the SL has always been a soft luxury cruiser as far back as I remember. The AMG models that came out in the mid 2000s are what turned it into a legitimate sports car.
I just bought one today, got a screamin deal On a ‘17 SL500. I’m part of this narrow market. Just an overall fine automobile and the interior in exceptional in build and amenities.
Please review of a R129 SL R73 AMG!
Grünkohlaktionär lol good luck finding one
Beast of a car...everything the SL Should be. Will be really hard to find one, and I doubt Doug will travel across the globe to review one.
B0r3d actually... there is one at a dealer in San Diego! Symbolic international is the name of the dealer Dougie if you're reading this 👌🏻👌🏻
SUVs are ruining EVERYTHING
Murica
Station wagons, but if you called them that, no one would buy them.
@@stephenlacher5460 I'm ok with that. But I get the point of it eventho I like a lotta SUVs I know why some people wish they'd never become a thing (Hope this sentence is correct..)
Evidently they have all the right quirks and features.
@@chriskonte1909 In some cases, I'd classify SUV's simply as hatchbacks with more ground clearance. If some people are buying a Range Rover, or Jeep Cherokee and never really use the 4WD system and hill descent control (don't know if a Cherokee has hill descent, but the Range Rover has), they might as well just get a FWD car which only looks like it can go offroad.
I agree with you completely. I have a 2013 SL550 and it's great for an old, 60 year old geezer like myself. Actually, it's perfect for me!
70 is not old
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.
It's a luxury car. If I wanted plastic, I'd buy a Mitsubishi Space Star instead. Luxury cars are meant to be high maintenance and frequently cleaned up.
People that buy a SL usually spend a day on the weekend cleaning their car because it's a fun thing to do when ur 70 and have nothing better to do. Either that or they have someone who cleans it for them.
@David Topchiev Of course, but the whole idea of a luxury car is to hide plastic parts or not have them visible as much as possible. Radio trim can be made out of literally any material, from piano black veneer all the way to aluminium and chrome. I don't understand why don't certain luxury brands take the extra step of making proper trim. Edit: Trim, not buttons, although the same logic would apply.
thought it was actually a decent car... until he said it was 99k starting...? i thought this thing would be about 70k... who the hell would get this over other cars for that price
In the us the SL class starts at (I believe) like $85k or so
Blame Trump. He decides import taxes
I live literally 40km away from Stuttgart and have NEVER seen an SL
I live in the states but was born in Stuttgart. It's weird to see the name!
Wohne auch in der Gegend hab schon SL 55er und SL 63er gesehen.
lol come to poland then
Echt? Also ich lebe zwar auf der schwäbischen Alb, aber ich seh oft welche. Wir selbst haben einen. Unsere Nachbarn, und einige Freunde der Familie. Ist einfach schön bei schönem Wetter in nem komfortablen Sessel dem V8 grillen zuzuhören.
Gibt einige
I had an 03 SL. Hands down the coolest car I’ve ever had. It cost 2000 every time we took it to the shop. Which was often. It would be a great car for a good do it yourselfer. We traded it in for an EV. It was really fun while it lasted
You might be right with the cabriolets. When there's a warm day, not too hot, with a lot of sun, and a cabriolet passes by, its roof is closed in most cases. I drive my SLK open almost everytime. Even when there's snow. The Air Scarf does a very good job. But sometimes I wish I had a heated steering wheel ;)
The SL , especially the AMG SL specs . Will always be more gorgeous and sleek than the AMG GT lineups
12:26 car salesman slaps the shoulder of Doug This bad boy found my lost pen
Death Stroke lol 😂
Its a rental
Hey Doug, I only started watching car reviews with you, now I’m addicted, I don’t even have a driving licence (I’m 55) but I’ve always loved cars, I’ve watched other guys now, but I stick with you, keep it up Doug
Doug has no idea what he's talking about. I've personally owned over 350 cars over the years and have had a few SLs, these are fantastic cars.
My SL500 is nuts. V8 and active body control is the most comfortable drive I’ve ever had. Absolutely fast too
The way he holds out his last syllable and puts a little hold on the last letter of every word is sort of Vincent Price ish, sort of creepy like a mortician. I assume it's only going to get creepier as he ages. He'll definitely be able to find work narrating horror movies
Larry Fazen there’s a kind of derisory inflection in the end of some of the sentences too, kills me
Or reviewing hearses !!
@@richardshiggins704 haha
YEAH he should be selling caskets but doesn't need to, now.
Haha now that you mention it, it gets VERY irritating
Doug the type of guy to buy winrar
😆😄
Ok, this one is funny lol
After watching his video on the R129, I do appreciate Mercedes giving this car some more squarer edges when compared to the R230. I personally still like the SL. When they depreciate they are a pretty good value. If you are willing to keep up with the repairs of course.
My wife and I live in Newport Beach CA. We have leased SL’s since 2007 and have one now. The car is fun and people still comment on how beautiful it is. I don’t agree with your evaluation. I wouldn’t think of leasing the six, the car should be an eight. I lease an S550 and have had an S Class for 24 years. I’ve just ordered a new 2020 E 450 Cabriolet. I guess we are a convertible family. We have had no problem with the quality of our cars.
U never had problems because u only lease pos cars! Its a money pit when it gets older. U r smarter than most. U only lease them. Dumb people buy them.
You forgot to mention the infotainment screen is not centred.
nazhif1 centered you mean?
@@craystuff9390 This might shock you but there are countries other than the US.
nazhif1 what does a country have to do with what i said? I am also not American idiot
@@nazhif1 all of the other countries are shitholes.
@@craystuff9390 Because that is the typical US spelling of it?
The previous models were much more attractive
kompressor01 I love the look of the 80s SL 🙌🏻
@@duhpizzaboi especially the beverly hills cop one
In law had an 06 v8... excellent
@@duhpizzaboi I also do 😊
kompressor01 exactly💯💯💯
SLs always hold their value well and appreciate as classics. I will be buying a 2006-2008 model soon
Doug the kinda person to get me to watch a benz review even though I'm a BMW M division guy
Doug the type of guy to say “This” 50 times in a video.
I dont mind "this", but if I got a penny for every time he says "interesting" I could buy some of the cars he reviews
@Space Ghost Coast to Coast Q U I R K
@Space Ghost Coast to Coast Also he says Thhhhhiiiiissss is a Merdedes SL
Damnit, after reading your comment, i can't stop hearing word "this" repeating
That quantity of thises is Absolutely Massive.
What!? Porsche 959 review is coming?? 😮
I sure hope so!
The SL, commencing in 2009, is the greatest convertible on the market. It is the only convertible that you can go 75 miles per/hour with the top down and not get out of the car looking like Don King. I also have had a S550 Cabriolet. Once you get past 45 miles per/hour, with the Cabriolet, you better have some firm hold hair gel in your weaponry. The two windows as opposed to the four windows is a hair and noise changer.
You forgot the massage Shiatsu seats that are standard in the SL450. My 2016 SL400 had them, best feeling when on a road trip.