Mercedes SL (1989 - 2002)

Models Covered: 2dr Coupe/Convertible 280SL, SL280, 300SL, 300SL-24, SL320, 500SL, SL500 600SL, SL600 (Cars after August 1993 had an SL prefix)

BY JONATHAN CROUCH

Ask anyone what they'd do if they won the lottery and you can bet somewhere on most people's list will be the following: mansion on the French Riviera, swimming pool filled with champagne and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. The first two may well remain a pipedream for a lot of people but the last one may well these days be possible for many. Stuttgart's SLs have been with us since 1971 and there's certainly something about them that appeals to the hedonist in us. The range grew old and a little uncompetitive in the Eighties though, and Mercedes-Benz eventually brought out a stunning replacement in 1989.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

Looks that will have others giving you either admiring glances or a volley of rotting fruit, depending on their outlook. Because everybody seems to want an SL as their dream car, everyone knows exactly what it is as you park next to them. Not for those who seek a low profile. The SL's party-trick is an automatic soft-top that will stop traffic and pedestrians, it's so fascinating to watch. From roof-up to fresh-air in seconds, unlike many rivals. You'll probably never use all of it, but there's performance aplenty in all these cars, together with all the gadgetry you could desire and that fabulous Mercedes-Benz build quality and crash safety as standard.

No SL is what you'd call cheap, but like any Mercedes-Benz, they're built to last and resale values reflect this. The bigger-engined 500 and 600s have lost a lot of value in the last few years, so could be worth seeking out if you can afford the fuel bills. You can pay as low as £3,000 for the first of the 300SLs and about £4,000 for a 300SL 24v of the same vintage. The 500s will all be a minimum of £5,000.

An SL280 can be bought for about £9,000 (if it's a late 1993 car) and a 1994 L Reg SL320 for around £10,000. Around £15,000 will secure you a 98R SL280, and about £16,500 for a 99S 320. Add another £1,000 to secure you a 00V model. The V12 600s are where the real savings are, if you can afford the car and its running costs in the first place.

An 93K 600SL at about £7,500 and a 96N-plate example should be around the £11,500 mark. That's a slight saving on the new price of over £102,000...

Mercedes' engines, like the cars, last virtually forever as they're always under-stressed. Watch out for oil leaks, though. Avoid manual cars at all costs and anything without a proper service history. The gearchange is slow and heavy and when you sell on youll find buyers are simply not interested in anything other than automatics.

Check all those electronic 'toys' like the central locking, electric windows and air conditioning. Don't forget to take the hard-top off (you'll need help to lift it) and check the condition of the folding roof. Replacements for slashed hoods are none too cheap.

(Based on a 95 500SL and exclusive of VAT) A full exhaust will be around £1500. Brake pads are approximately £60 for the front and £40 for the rear. An alternator is just under £150 and a starter motor roughly £150. A headlamp is about £250 and a radiator should come in at about £250.

It's a fact that you never see a Mercedes-Benz SL being driven anywhere near its (very high) limits, just as you never see £50,000 Range Rovers in muddy fields. It's nevertheless true, however, that the SL was without doubt designed as much more than something to cruise to the beach and back in. The handling, a sensation back in 1989 for such a heavy car, is still amazing, but the competition has finally caught up. Still, on the used market, an SL takes some beating.

A dream car that lives up to the promise. If you can find a way and the right car, sign the cheque and head for that mansion in the hills.