Had to get a weekend toy...
03-15-2009, 08:03 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Had to get a weekend toy...
Well, after 4 months of 911-lessness, I have to admit I was flipping... My Smart car is a blast but after 5 years well it gets a bit boring...
So in search for the replacement of my 997 to get me through the new times I am going through (left my job after 11 years, as I felt I had come full circle, bought a stake in a friends firm, and off we go for bigger and better things...) i was looking for a reasonable alternative... Of course nothing drives like a 911, and although I did some soul searching to get an older car (it would mean 1975-1980 era for it to be viable in Greece - duty wise) I decided that air con and airbags are a good thing, so I turned elsewhere.
Here is where my quest got me... 2001 SL320, final edition, 60k miles and in tip top shape... and 1/3 of what I sold the 997... And half the price of what a 996 gen1 conv would cost... In Greece of course, where prices are a bit skewed... And although I have no doubt that the 996 is a better engine and handling car, well, you cant really beat the looks of the SL...
I think it will be enough to carry me for a bit till the next fat a$$ed lady...
Pictures from the dealer showroom...
So in search for the replacement of my 997 to get me through the new times I am going through (left my job after 11 years, as I felt I had come full circle, bought a stake in a friends firm, and off we go for bigger and better things...) i was looking for a reasonable alternative... Of course nothing drives like a 911, and although I did some soul searching to get an older car (it would mean 1975-1980 era for it to be viable in Greece - duty wise) I decided that air con and airbags are a good thing, so I turned elsewhere.
Here is where my quest got me... 2001 SL320, final edition, 60k miles and in tip top shape... and 1/3 of what I sold the 997... And half the price of what a 996 gen1 conv would cost... In Greece of course, where prices are a bit skewed... And although I have no doubt that the 996 is a better engine and handling car, well, you cant really beat the looks of the SL...
I think it will be enough to carry me for a bit till the next fat a$$ed lady...
Pictures from the dealer showroom...
03-15-2009, 08:38 PM
#2
The R129 SL is a nice car. I had a '99 SL 500 that I traded in for my p-car.
It's very stylish but very heavy. The 3.2 L V6 engine is a little underpowered for that 4000+ pound vehicle. The 5.0 L engine gave it reasonable acceleration (about 6 sec to 60).
The car, itself, has a great deal of character but I wouldn't characterize it as fun to drive. It's too heavy.
Anyway good luck with it and your new job.
P.S. you should join mbworld.org--they have an R129 forum.
It's very stylish but very heavy. The 3.2 L V6 engine is a little underpowered for that 4000+ pound vehicle. The 5.0 L engine gave it reasonable acceleration (about 6 sec to 60).
The car, itself, has a great deal of character but I wouldn't characterize it as fun to drive. It's too heavy.
Anyway good luck with it and your new job.
P.S. you should join mbworld.org--they have an R129 forum.
03-16-2009, 07:27 AM
#3
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I had a 1997 SL320 for about a year and a half and enjoyed it for what it was, a great touring car. The SL class and the 911 are and have been completely different cars, in my opinion, and each have their relative strengths. If I recall, my SL got 30 mpg on the highway and about 20mpg around town.
03-16-2009, 08:48 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
both of you are correct. I am very much aware of what the car is and what its not. SL500's arent really easy to come around in Athens in the R129 chassis, the few that I did find where 1995-1996 year models and with a lot more mileage. I am content with the way it drives its a torqy engine, wont be burning up strips I am very aware.