SL's...For older gentleman???

[Guido1986]

I got my so when I was 16 from my grandfather back in 2002 when the 03 models just the dealers and I remember my dad saying it was a oldmans car.....I always like the luxury cars over real sports cars like Porsche, Ferrari etc.....I love the new cl but pple say its a oldmans car..... By the way I saw the new sl a hour ago on the road and I liked it. Just when its drivingbfrpm the front veiw it looks like a slk but the more u look at its pretty nice......

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[lisaleigh]

RJC,
Age has nothing to do with it, the SL is dead sexy...performance and luxury all in one. Once you get one your only regret will be that you did not do it sooner!
BTW, I am 40, he is 37, SL55! HOT, HOT, HOT!!!
Best of luck with your decision, LLC~

[SL2003driver]

I would of thought the Porsche was more of an old guys car?

[leloz]

I am getting closer to 60 and bought a new 2007 Z06 last year... I just could not drive it in traffic back and forth to work.

I then went to a SL55 and now a SL600, they are more refined for the "older" crowd but do not offer the handling and weekend track ability of the Porsche or Z06.

[IngenereAMG]

Originally Posted by BACK2DTM

I am 25 and I just got my SL500 on Sunday and yes I paid for it myself. I have been independent since I was 22.
Luckily I look like I am 30 so people might not think I am just 1 of those rich kids.

93 BMW 325IS - 18yrs old
95 BMW M3 - 19yrs old
04 Subaru WRX Wagon - 20 yrs old
05 MINI COOPER S - 22 yrs old
96 BMW Z3 - 23 yrs old
01 Boxster S - 24 yrs old
03 MBZ SL 500 - 25 yrs old

Hopefully I can keep this car until its warranty ends (2010)

I was 28 when I started buying Ferrari's, and I looked about 16! I have made all my own money, but I had to put up with "Driving mommy's car" BS for years. Good for you for making it on your own.

[Leike]

Heya Folks,

I am such an oldie, driving just SL. My fisrt was a 250SL from 1967, afterwards followd by a 450SL in 1975, a 500SL in 1989 and now SL500 from about 2002: so....I know what I am talking about: I ever used the cars for my work as insurance-brooker. Oy yes: in between I did buy some other cars, just for fun, just as I had my Harley Davidson to compensate the midlife-crises....haha. I tried Corvette and Porsche and some others, but it could not really give me the pleasure of an SL. To drive 1000 miles for a holliday-trip in a Porsche is noise and stress: people concider you as someone who has to prove the "need for speed", and thats not me at all. I want comfort and speed at the same time, and dont want to fall out of the car as a wrek, after a 1000 miles trip.
Last item is money: SL is one of the few "working sports-cars" that give you value for your money. Even after more than 10 years use and 150.000 miles,
you will get back a lot of money for it.
Hurrah for the SL !!

[Mercutio.Mont]

Originally Posted by Leike

Even after more than 10 years use and 150.000 miles,
you will get back a lot of money for it.

Things must be different out there in the Netherlands!

[RJC]

Dealer has called me several times and it appears sales '09's have gotten off to a slow start as they indicated gas prices along with the slowing economy are affecting sales of the 13 mpg city rated SL...they are offering pretty strong discounts even on an ordered car.

The price of gas at $4.50+ per gallon is certainly not going to change my life but it still pisses me off that I have to pay $70.00 or more to fill up the tank.

I just got the info on the '09 DFI 911's and not only has power jumped up by 30 to 385 (pretty nice for a 3200 lb car), but both city and highway fuel economy got a healthy boost as well. MB needs to get their act together as they have too many models that are true gas guzzlers.

[leloz]

I can't believe the SL550 is rated for 13 mpg.

I am getting 13-14 mpg in pure city driving according to the computer on my SL600 (V12 Biturbo).

[SL2003driver]

Originally Posted by leloz

I can't believe the SL550 is rated for 13 mpg.

I am getting 13-14 mpg in pure city driving according to the computer on my SL600 (V12 Biturbo).

The worst I've gotten on mine with less then 3K miles on it is 16 mpg. That is city driving and not slow city driving. Also it is figured by hand using miles driven versus gallons used. When I've mixed in highway driving I normally get 19 mpg.

[RJC]

Originally Posted by leloz

I can't believe the SL550 is rated for 13 mpg.

I am getting 13-14 mpg in pure city driving according to the computer on my SL600 (V12 Biturbo).

Sometimes turbocharged cars actually get better mpgs than NA cars of the same power or less so this would explain what you are seeing.

[yankeefan22]

I don't think the SL is an "old man" car at all. I think it's a perfect blend of luxury and performance (especially with the AMGs). Then again I never really gave much attention to "old man" or "girl car" stereotypes. If you like it and are able to get it, go for it , I think the 09 facelift looks fantastic. To put age into perspective, I'm 18 and would drive an SL in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose

[Leike]

RJC....be glad that you dont have to fill up in the Netherlands. Come on....just count a moment with me.

The price here is in euro and per litre.

Price for a litre > 1,60 euro.
a gallon is about 4.5 litre.
Price for a gallon 4,5 x 1,60 euro = 7,20 euro.
Google that and you will see that 7,20 euro is over $ 11,-.

I wished we could fill up for $ 4,50

btw: the largest part of the $11,- is taxes....bah...

[clkcadet]

Originally Posted by RJC

I am getting tired of my '07 Porsche 997S mostly due to the 6 speed manual tranny and I mentioned to my girlfriend "what about a new '09 SL"..she replied "maybe when you are in your 50's"...I also queried some of my colleagues and they pretty much said the same thing with some saying they'd drive one when they hit 60. I realize age shouldn't matter so long as I like the car, but it is true most folks around here that drive SL's are 50-70 yrs of age.

I am in my 40's btw.

Thoughts?

nice sig, its true what they say, once you go benz you never go back,

[RJC]

Originally Posted by Leike

RJC....be glad that you dont have to fill up in the Netherlands. Come on....just count a moment with me.

The price here is in euro and per litre.

Price for a litre > 1,60 euro.
a gallon is about 4.5 litre.
Price for a gallon 4,5 x 1,60 euro = 7,20 euro.
Google that and you will see that 7,20 euro is over $ 11,-.

I wished we could fill up for $ 4,50

btw: the largest part of the $11,- is taxes....bah...

What government subsidized perks do you get over there comp'd to the US...everyone get healthcare etc???

[JackStraw]

Originally Posted by RJC

What government subsidized perks do you get over there comp'd to the US...everyone get healthcare etc???

Hash bars.

[Leike]

JackStraw.....

I hope you did make a joke....if not, you would be one of the people, out of other countries, who are trying to buy that crap here....we are very tolerant, to avoid criminal actions out of the use of drugs, but sometimes we are not able to stop the crowd of very agressive outsiders. As an example: a border-city like Maastricht (200.000 inhab) has to deal with about 500 drugsrunners, all from North Africa, who are specialised in drugs-transport, in a way you cant imagine: they have no trafic rules or any concideration for other people in the trafic: hit and run is there motto, like Kamikazes in WW2.

RJC..... health care here is based on an obligated insurance:price is about $180,- every month for every adult. Kids up to 18 are free. If you work, your boss has to add about the same amount as a kind of "employee-benefit". We all know that our health-care system is sick; its to expensive out of the structure in the past, where patients are "owned" by the doctors.
One little example: if an ambulance has to take you to a hospital, no matter at what distance, the costs are about $1600,-. If you are in Austria, where a helicopter has to get you from a mountain ( ski-accident) to a hospital, the costs are about $1250,-.

[Mercutio.Mont]

Originally Posted by Leike

I hope you did make a joke....if not, you would be one of the people, out of other countries, who are trying to buy that crap here....we are very tolerant, to avoid criminal actions out of the use of drugs, but sometimes we are not able to stop the crowd of very agressive outsiders. As an example: a border-city like Maastricht (200.000 inhab) has to deal with about 500 drugsrunners, all from North Africa, who are specialised in drugs-transport, in a way you cant imagine: they have no trafic rules or any concideration for other people in the trafic: hit and run is there motto, like Kamikazes in WW2.

I bet the drug runners in Maastricht have got nothing on the drug runners here in San Diego / Tijuana.

[Mercutio.Mont]

Originally Posted by Leike

I hope you did make a joke....if not, you would be one of the people, out of other countries, who are trying to buy that crap here....we are very tolerant, to avoid criminal actions out of the use of drugs, but sometimes we are not able to stop the crowd of very agressive outsiders. As an example: a border-city like Maastricht (200.000 inhab) has to deal with about 500 drugsrunners, all from North Africa, who are specialised in drugs-transport, in a way you cant imagine: they have no trafic rules or any concideration for other people in the trafic: hit and run is there motto, like Kamikazes in WW2.

I bet the drug runners in Maastricht have got nothing on the drug runners here in San Diego / Tijuana.

[BACK2DTM]

Originally Posted by IngenereAMG

I was 28 when I started buying Ferrari's, and I looked about 16! I have made all my own money, but I had to put up with "Driving mommy's car" BS for years. Good for you for making it on your own.

oh wow impressive!

[jmf003]

Back to the original thread...

I found this article from 2001 (http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/...010112_405.htm) which claims the average age of a 911 buyer is 52.

I also found this article from 2002 (http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feature/preview/1769/5) which claims that the average age of an SL buyer is 53.

[JackStraw]

Originally Posted by Leike

JackStraw.....

I hope you did make a joke

Yes, it was a joke.

[bltserv]

Originally Posted by Mercutio.Mont

I bet the drug runners in Maastricht have got nothing on the drug runners here in San Diego / Tijuana.

I have been to Maastricht. Beautiful small college town. Really old.
9th Centry Church and Roman Ruins. Very quiet and friendly.
One of the nicest places I went when we were in Europe.
I can see where it could happen. The European Borders are all real close.

[Leike]

Bltserv......

Thanks....you made my day....I am born in Maastricht....

btw:...did you buy bonbons at "aux friandises", like Reagan and Clinton did ?

[RJC]

Originally Posted by JackStraw

Hash bars.

SIGN ME UP!!!!