1997 Mercedes-Benz SL 320 3.2

Summary:

A 70 grand convertible for £7k - buy one!

Faults:

Nothing serious has gone wrong with this car; probably down to the fact that they were massively over engineered when they were designed and built, and mine has been looked after by its previous owners.

I've replaced the battery and some worn front suspension parts - thanks to 97000 miles on British roads with potholes and speed bumps. There's no rust as long as you keep on top of the stone chips, and the engine and gearbox seem bombproof.

General Comments:

It's no M3 away from the lights, but wafting around with the top down in the summer is what it's all about with these cars.

Mine's the facelift 320 with a nice quiet straight six. It rumbles along nicely, and gets a bit throaty when you hoof it. They also handle very surefooted, thanks to the wide track and low centre of gravity.

The 320 does about 26 MPG, and 29/30 on a run.

In the 1990's SL's cost a fortune, starting at about 60k to 80 grand if you bought loads of extras.

Tip - get one with the glass hardtop, fab!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th June, 2012

1999 Mercedes-Benz SL 320 3.2

Summary:

Get one and drive it on a nice summer's evening with the top down - heaven

Faults:

Given the car is 11 years old, it has been good so far.

I had a few problems such as a broken front suspension spring, door speaker not working, a few dashboard lights blown, and a broken plug lead, but overall it's in good condition.

I will need to replace the front shocks at some point, along with their mounts.

General Comments:

I have always loved these from the day they were released in 1989.

It's not a sports car, being too large and heavy, and you do notice the lower centre of gravity - even when you have the tyres starting to squeal, you're not pressed against the driver's door with 'G' force, unlike a normal saloon car. I don't actually drive it like that very often, as it's more a car for wafting around in with the top down.

Performance is pretty good, with sufficient power to overtake most dawdlers, and the automatic gearbox kicks down quickly (better with a fluid change).

The interior is a bit dated, but that's part of the charm, and you do get a lovely instrument panel with 6 gauges, which is a pleasant change from the modern day practice of 'two is enough'.

I have the glass hardtop, and I love the swish coupe look it lends the car. With the soft top up it's quite noisy, which surprised me given Mercedes alleged proficiency with such contraptions, but I only use if it rains, and to keep the fag butts, phlegm and litter out of the car when I park it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th July, 2011

20th Dec 2011, 18:52

I have now owned this car for 9 months, and have changed the front shocks and mounts, and it's much nicer to drive now, with less roll through the corners, less dive under braking, and also less road noise.

It's a lovely car, although I am getting curious about the V8. The 3.2 V6 is fine and feels particularly 'grunty' at part throttle and low revs, which leaves you expecting much more at high revs and full throttle, but there isn't that much more to come. Having said that, it's only an issue when you can find an empty road. However, I feel a V8 coming.

In reply to 20th Dec 2011, 18:52

25th Jul 2012, 15:15

I still have the car, and it's running nicely and I haven't felt the need for a V8 yet, although I did drive a Jaguar XKR recently, which was very fast and refined.

I am probably going to change the front lower wishbones next, as the car makes a slight clunk when going from forward to reverse, or vice-versa, and there's also a slight steering wheel wobble at motorway speeds, which remains, despite having the wheels balanced twice.

I have a done a few long motorway runs at around the speed limit, and always get 32 MPG, which is fairly good given its age, weight etc.