£*K budget to spend on a convertible -help needed?

[television]

The SL 129 is a very good car, PITA taking the hardtop on and off, also you have to have somewhere to store it. The CLK convertible is the best bet IMHO.
Just check the roof mechanism is OK and obviously the rest of the car as you would normally.

Must agree on this, not many problems at all on them.

 

[as400]

If you ever look in a different direction do consider the critically acclaimed Porsche Boxter

Great chassis and a real drivers car. Loads around for £6-7K

 

[PeterT49]

I acquired my 2002 clk 320 cabriolet on Friday for 5K - looked on the website http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/

This might help.

 

[television]

I acquired my 2002 clk 320 cabriolet on Friday for 5K - looked on the website http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/

This might help.

Welcome Peter to the forum.

 

[epervier]

The SL 129 is a very good car, PITA taking the hardtop on and off, also you have to have somewhere to store it. The CLK convertible is the best bet IMHO.
Just check the roof mechanism is OK and obviously the rest of the car as you would normally.

I told my misses that's what dinning rooms are for, mine goes into summer storage in the dinning room on it's wheeled stand against the radiator

 

[the director]

I told my misses that's what dinning rooms are for, mine goes into summer storage in the dinning room on it's wheeled stand against the radiator

She sounds like a keeper!

 

[SL63 Mark]

I told my misses that's what dinning rooms are for, mine goes into summer storage in the dinning room on it's wheeled stand against the radiator

How does she react ?

 

[orb the Impaler]

The SLK is fine for taller people - I'm 6'3" and yes, they are snug, but ok. The OH has more trouble though - she's 6'2" and most of that is her 37" inside leg. The SLs and SLKs have a dummy bulkhead on the passenger side that robs legroom (it's more pronounced on the SLK). The extra space in the SL makes it great for foreign touring and camping etc.

I've had 3 SLKs (1xR170 (230), 2xR172 (250CDis)) and an R230 SL500.

I'm a big fan of SLKs though.

Not keen on the soft top CLKs or E class cars though. To my eyes they don't look "right".

I would think that isn't enough for an SL that would be trouble free

I reckon a 350 newer than 2004 (even if it's higher mileage) would be a reasonable proposition. The only really big bill would be SBC. Other than that I can't really see all that much that would make running it all that much more expensive than an SLK350 for example.

NI seem to recall there was a lad on here that had a fully sorted SL with all the weaknesses sorted with replacement parts and he could only get £7.5K for it.

That was me - June 2012, so heaven knows what you can pick them up for now. Mind you even if the ABC cars were free I wouldn't have one given to me.

 

[toby1]

I told my misses that's what dinning rooms are for, mine goes into summer storage in the dinning room on it's wheeled stand against the radiator

I'm surprised she heard you over all the din

 

[Philedge]

That was me - June 2012, so heaven knows what you can pick them up for now. Mind you even if the ABC cars were free I wouldn't have one given to me.

Shame you had so many problems with the SL but I'm sure they aren't all that bad. With a partner having a 37" inside leg you've clearly been luckier in other aspects of life.

 

[dreadlockdw]

I bought a CLK 500 Cab earlier this year - information about this in my separate thread entitled "Food for thought when buying a Used Mercedes".

I am still really pleased with the car, and to my eyes it is a very classic design that's wearing well. Many open top cars are susceptible to being seen as a bit "hairdressery" but IMHO the 4 seaters are often less likely to be seen this way. Yes of course TVR and top end Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini etc are amongst honourable 2 seater exceptions...

No offence intended to anyone whatsoever.

A small point that I don't think has been mentioned so far is to try to get a windbreak with your convertible. Certainly for the CLK they are pretty expensive to obtain on Ebay post-purchase.

 

[Gkinghorn]

I reckon a 350 newer than 2004 (even if it's higher mileage) would be a reasonable proposition. The only really big bill would be SBC. Other than that I can't really see all that much that would make running it all that much more expensive than an SLK350 for example.

That's what I thought too but after spending around £2.5k in a year of ownership in a 2009 SL 350 it changed my mind ....



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[television]

That's what I thought too but after spending around £2.5k in a year of ownership in a 2009 SL 350 it changed my mind ....



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Has your 2009 car cost you that much Gordon.

 

[dreadlockdw]

I suppose this question is a bit obvious but was that £2.5k partly spent on getting the car "right" after purchase, or was it all spent on routine maintenance/consumables and therefore likely to be repeated each year?

 

[Gkinghorn]

£200 , new tyre after a puncture - day 3 of ownership , replaced 2 fronts at a cost of £380 due to uneven wear - realigned wheels and all ok since , water ingress into all the electrics , over £1200 but negotiated down to £400 , air con failure £600 , coolant pipe replaced - warranty repair , air con cracked pipe warranty repair ... class A service over £200 all in .. my warranty pretty useless mostly ... oh and I now have water ingress I to the boot I need to sort...

Not all of it year on year but ask Mic for his costs of running his SL - he's been a lot luckier than me..

Not bad for a year ...worst car I have ever owned and I have asked the dealer principal to comment on my driving year...

On the bright side I still love driving it...

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[dreadlockdw]

I don't want to appear unsympathetic. I do see what you are saying. Hopefully you'll soon have a fully sorted car and can continue to enjoy it at a lower annual cost

 

[orb the Impaler]

I don't want to appear unsympathetic. I do see what you are saying. Hopefully you'll soon have a fully sorted car and can continue to enjoy it at a lower annual cost

Haha! That's what I thought. But it never stopped. £18k in 3 years.

But as pointed out - some people have very few issues.

 

[rigpig]

I have a V8 CLK (Not Cab)

Running costs in 6 months £1400 not including petrol
This does include 4 new tyres though.
Regrets, None!

 

[Philedge]

I've got through £2400 in 18 months, but only £500 of that is unexpected. The rest is-
B service and brake fluid change £490
Gearbox service, ABC flush, twice £500
Wheel refurb £420
Second set of wheels and tyres £420

Wheel refurb and second set of tyres were niceties, and some of the service costs were on offs and wont need doing again for a while.

 

[jonthetourist]

I've got through £2400 in 18 months, but only £500 of that is unexpected. The rest is-
B service and brake fluid change £490
Gearbox service, ABC flush, twice £500
Wheel refurb £420
Second set of wheels and tyres £420

Wheel refurb and second set of tyres were niceties, and some of the service costs were on offs and wont need doing again for a while.

In case we are in danger of scaring the OP, my 129 is coming up to 4 years in my possession. Non-routine servicing costs close to zero, apart from a few cosmetic items (leather treatment, new headlining in hard top). The small tear in my soft top (about an inch) means I may need a new one soon, but I have been saying that for four years.

My total spend since I bought it, including petrol and road tax, but excluding insurance, is £6047 for 14,000+ miles.

Jon