Well, I'm sadly thinking of selling the SL >>

[Eli (NJ)]

Please see the Classified section if interested.

I love the car overall but I really miss the manual stick shifts. So i'm thinking of getting a Boxster with a manual, hopefully an S. I know it's no SL (God knows the looks can't even compare), but when I drove one last, I liked its fun factor. I figure I'll give it a try anyhow.

Eli.

[bobterry99]

I like shifting gears too, which is why I enjoy my 300SLs much more than I do my SL500 even though the V-8 car is "nicer". It's like tecqboy wrote a couple of months ago:

I actually enjoy driving the 300SL more than the 500SL because I do actually have to "drive" the car and become a bit more involved in the driving experience

[CDNC36AMG]

Best of luck to you Eli....I have an MR2, which I'm in the process of selling. I find I like shifting but only for very brief periods.

To me, the power of the R129 makes it easier to drive fast.

[Eli (NJ)]

I have reduced the price to $17,000 (is this in the right ballpark?) if you or anyone you know is interested. Thanks.

Eli.

[Eli (NJ)]

What do you guys think the price should be in the newspapers? With this crazy market, it's impossible to judge what people will pay for a car.

Thanks.

Eli.

[bobterry99]

Kelley Blue Book gives a "private party" value of about $14K for a '90 500SL. I think that is nuts. I would think advertising $18K should attract plenty of interest. And I'm not sure about your local market, but here in Atlanta that price would make it one of the lowest asking prices among SLs in both the paper and the Autotrader. Finally, I think the intrinsic value of the car isn't worth much less than $20K even though the used car market may say different.

[KenSilver]

Stick shifts drive me insane! Just as well we all have different tastes because I couldn't face another stick car.

I think of all my years of graunched changes, bungled changes at speed, double-declutching and sore clutch leg in traffic jams. Never again.

All my cars are auto now, and I wouldn't even consider a Ferrari, Porsche or other exotic unless it had some steering wheel paddle option.

Just my view of course. Hope you have plenty of fun with your new purchase.

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)
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[RickM]

Very good point, Ken. I think that feature will discount many potential purchasers. However, because it's not common it may close the deal for some that want the unobtanium feature.