400SL advice

[sl500amgsport]

It moves the inner cover so that you can check that your luggage will not interfere with the roof. However if the cover cannot deploy, the roof will not open. The boot lid has to be fully open for the red button to work.

Thanks for the tip I will lower roof and try it with boot lid fully open, that may be where I was going wrong, it took me 2 days to work out the handbrake after coming from a Jag.....

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[rorywquin]

I thought it was to lift the roof out of the way when the roof is folded so you can access the boot area.

correct I forgot about that --also tilts the roof (that is when the boot lid has to be fully open) but also open closes the cover so that you can check that it will deploy. Otherwise you are seated back in the car and discover you cannot open the roof.

 

[rorywquin]

The 0-60 times in my opinion do not tell the whole story, it is the torque improvement, grunt and ease of driving/overtaking that makes the difference, there is just no beating that V8 effortless drive, I came from a V6 twin turbo Jag, the V8 is so much smoother.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

I have no trouble whatsoever overtaking and it is pretty effortless ......;-) the differences are marginal (although the V8 would be better) as the 400 is lighter. For me that was not a reason to buy a V8 - I wanted the better turn in and handling.

 

[Jim Agar]

I've now been given a £45k limit by SWMBO so a new 400 is out now as is any facelift used car but Autotrader has quite a few tasty 400's and 500's in the £40-45k range and doesn't seem a big difference between the two models at 2/3 years old. So, first drive in any version today- the Cavansite 500sl at McClaren Ascot. At least I'll get some decent car porn in the showroom!

 

[sl500amgsport]

I've now been given a £45k limit by SWMBO so a new 400 is out now as is any facelift used car but Autotrader has quite a few tasty 400's and 500's in the £40-45k range and doesn't seem a big difference between the two models at 2/3 years old. So, first drive in any version today- the Cavansite 500sl at McClaren Ascot. At least I'll get some decent car porn in the showroom!

Take a look at the 7 spoke AMG variant wheels, that and the ash wood was high on my spec list along with cooled seats (only because I sometimes wear a suit to meetings).

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[LostKiwi]

So, first drive in any version today- the Cavansite 500sl at McClaren Ascot.

Looks lovely - quite possibly my favourite colour scheme.

 

[Jim Agar]

It's got my top 4 options - HK, Nappa, air scarf and electric wind deflector and I too love the colour combo. Wheels, cooled seats and trim are less important to me and it's impossible to get absolutely everything you fancy when buying used. Just a little concerned about lack of powered boot from what I hear but the 2017 facelift 400 I saw in Bromley didn't have it as standard so we'll see. Off now so will report back later. Quite excited!

 

[sl500amgsport]

I have no trouble whatsoever overtaking and it is pretty effortless ......;-) the differences are marginal (although the V8 would be better) as the 400 is lighter. For me that was not a reason to buy a V8 - I wanted the better turn in and handling.

160 lb ft torque difference and 100 bhp is a little more useable than extreme cornering ability on a race track in my opinion, where the 400 really scores is on fuel consumption. Oddly road tax and insurance is the same.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[Monday]

Monday can I ask, just bought my pre facelift and agree about heavy boot, I have a red button left side but it doesn't seem to do anything can you advise of its function?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Apologies for late reply, I only just got back to this thread. To clarify what others have said, on the pre-facelift car, the red button is to lift/tilt the folded roof so that you can get stuff into the boot when the roof is down. The boot lid needs to be fully open - hard up against the stops - for the button to work. The post facelift car apparently has a power-operated boot separator - the shield that separates the boot contents from the roof - and it appears that this button also operates the separator. But the separator is manual on the pre-facelift car. This means that your cool demeanour when opening the roof in public is somewhat spoiled if you have to get out, open the boot and shut the separator! Facelift owners can maintain their cool.

 

[rorywquin]

160 lb ft torque difference and 100 bhp is a little more useable than extreme cornering ability on a race track in my opinion, where the 400 really scores is on fuel consumption. Oddly road tax and insurance is the same.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

My comments have nothing to do with extreme cornering on race tracks nor the difference in measured power & torque. The difference in acceleration is not that great.

You said the V8 makes the car easier to drive and overtake with - I said the difference would be minimal. I do not believe that anyone would find a 400 harder to drive or overtake with than a 500 and my comment alluded to the fact that the 400 is lighter ( all on the front end) and as stated by reviewers, that drove both, was nicer to drive than the 500.

I test drove both ......and each to their own. I'm sure I enjoy driving mine as much as you enjoy driving yours...........I would love the sound of the V8 which is the only reason I sometimes regret not ordering one........(I started off looking for a used SLK 55 to replace my 350 but my wife vetoed the SLK as too small and no place for her handbag)so I had to double my budget...:-(

 

[Jim Agar]

Rather liked the 500, wonderful wafting quality and the gentle V8 burble very addictive. It has the ash wood trim plus ambient lighting as well as previous options. Due a service in Feb 2018, guessing too distant to get one thrown in? There are a few other 500's of similar spec/age at MB main dealers at a better price so hope I can negotiate a discount on the price. Just need to sell my '78 Alfa Spider now!

 

[sl500amgsport]

Rather liked the 500, wonderful wafting quality and the gentle V8 burble very addictive. It has the ash wood trim plus ambient lighting as well as previous options. Due a service in Feb 2018, guessing too distant to get one thrown in? There are a few other 500's of similar spec/age at MB main dealers at a better price so hope I can negotiate a discount on the price. Just need to sell my '78 Alfa Spider now!

You should be able to negotiate the service, mine was due August so I let that go but got a new tyre fitted and £500 off..

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[sl500amgsport]

My comments have nothing to do with extreme cornering on race tracks nor the difference in measured power & torque. The difference in acceleration is not that great.

You said the V8 makes the car easier to drive and overtake with - I said the difference would be minimal. I do not believe that anyone would find a 400 harder to drive or overtake with than a 500 and my comment alluded to the fact that the 400 is lighter ( all on the front end) and as stated by reviewers, that drove both, was nicer to drive than the 500.

I test drove both ......and each to their own. I'm sure I enjoy driving mine as much as you enjoy driving yours...........I would love the sound of the V8 which is the only reason I sometimes regret not ordering one........(I started off looking for a used SLK 55 to replace my 350 but my wife vetoed the SLK as too small and no place for her handbag)so I had to double my budget...:-(

Wives have a lot to answer for ;-), daughter has the slk200 (at 21 insurers said no to anything quicker) much heavier steering but more feel, seems more sports than GT bit of a bone shaker for me in my old age!

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[Jim Agar]

Particularly keen to get the complete opposite of a bone shaker too!

 

[Hi RX7]

If it's any help the two things my SL63 (apart from staggeringly good oomph) had that I would without doubt have again are the Airscarfs lovely on a cool evening drive with the top down. Vented seats a hot day essential. I guess Mercedes has learnt a trick or two with building this type of car for so long it just felt that a lot of thought went into the whole design of creature comforts and driver involvement. These cars can do civilised comfortable cruising and with the press of a few buttons become a complete hooligan. I'd have one again and having got over my paranoia about V12's would have a V12 AMG SL if I could find a secondhand one.

 

[sl500amgsport]

If it's any help the two things my SL63 (apart from staggeringly good oomph) had that I would without doubt have again are the Airscarfs lovely on a cool evening drive with the top down. Vented seats a hot day essential. I guess Mercedes has learnt a trick or two with building this type of car for so long it just felt that a lot of thought went into the whole design of creature comforts and driver involvement. These cars can do civilised comfortable cruising and with the press of a few buttons become a complete hooligan. I'd have one again and having got over my paranoia about V12's would have a V12 AMG SL if I could find a secondhand one.

Good advice, would love a V12 too but will settle for one of yours next time round ;-).

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk