Brother's new R230 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jjrodger · #1 05-06-2004, 02:30 AM

My brother has just collected his brand new SL500. It is black over graphite with walnut. It is pretty loaded, with a panoramic roof, COMAND, parktronic, 18" alloys, telephone prep, and all that sort of stuff. Most significantly it has the new 7-speed 7G-tronic gearbox.

I will post pictures when I can (I had my digital camera picked from my pocket while in St Petersburg at the weekend--bloody Russians). I like the car; the gearbox feels great. However I am not sure I like it any more than my 129... I am not convinced it has that last-forever feeling. Also, it feels too much like other cars; it lacks that unique feeling you used to get only in a Merc.

Arju · #2 05-06-2004, 09:39 PM

Agreed I prefer the R129 over the 230. It feels solid and that look never gets old. :p

spinedoc · #3 05-07-2004, 05:27 PM

JJ the new SL's are great to look at, but I worry quite a bit over the apparent dip in quality in MBz over the last half decade. I wonder what the depreciation on MB will be in the future with all the bad press they have been receiving lately. I have also heard that the hard tops are having quite a lot of problems. I have a feeling they will not have the same drivetrain reliability the R129's enjoy, but only time will tell.

fahrgewehr2 · #4 05-07-2004, 05:53 PM

I find the 129 SL's to be a much more attractive car. The new SL's are ugly to my eyes- the the styling is ackward and heavy handed. But then again, I think the 300SL gullwings are ugly.

G-Benz · #5 05-10-2004, 04:08 PM

A lot of R230-hatin' goin' on here!

Never got to drive one...but I have no qualms about its styling!

And if someone delivered one to my home, I would be elated!

Would be terrified to DIY on one though...

Bruce Hat · #6 05-12-2004, 09:32 AM

It's very interesting how Mercedes people take to change. Remember when the 129 came out. The 107 people said it was an ugly duckling, most still do. But I personally think it's one of the sleekest best looking modern two seaters produced. It takes time to grow on people. The 230 is very nice, just so different than the 129. Just like the 129 was so different then the 107, and so on....... I do have fears of ever owning one that is out of warranty, could be a nightmare if reliability is not there like the 129. Like we say...time will tell. Could too much technology and electronics be a real proplem in a 5 to 10 yr. old car?

jjrodger · #7 05-12-2004, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Hat
I do have fears of ever owning one that is out of warranty, could be a nightmare if reliability is not there like the 129. Like we say...time will tell. Could too much technology and electronics be a real proplem in a 5 to 10 yr. old car?

This is a problem with any new car out just now. Look at BMWs with their fancy Dynamic Drive stuff. Then again, we've had relatively sophisticated ECUs in cars for 20years now. The R129 is hardly uncomplicated!!

KenSilver · #8 05-13-2004, 09:08 AM

I was in London when the first R230 came out, and in the flesh it is a stunning-looking car. (The showroom was in Slough of all places, JJ).

But in photos - and even on tv - as in one of last year's BBC "Top Gear" programs when host and owner Jeremy Clarkson was crowing about it and we saw his on the track, it looks decidedly ordinary.

We had several here in the Wellington dealership from time to time, and the crowning feature on the one I saw was the tough black overcoat finish... a kind of super paint that looked absolutely fantastic. As for the features - no contest.

No photo actually does it justice. I wouldn't buy one from a catalog, but I would from the showroom.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.