• Summary

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What does this car say about you?

    Maturity, refinement, class and taste. The quote from the new SL advert also says it all. "If you need to prove you've got it, you probably never had it in the first place. It's not about ostentatious adolescent display. It should be something effortless. Somebody once said, "The whisper is louder than the shout". Amen to that!

    What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

    Would you buy this car again and why?

    Yes, anything after 1998

    What are you likely to buy next?

  • Buying experience

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Type of dealer you bought from?

    Didn't buy from a dealer

    Did you buy this car new?

    No

    What price did you pay?

    £14,000

    When did you buy the car?

    February 2010

    Did you get a good deal and why?

    Extremely low miles (30,000) and excellent condition as it only had 2 previous owners

    Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

    Classic design, Merc build quality, looks and 90's appeal

    What was the dealer like?

  • Driving it

    3 out of 5 3.0

    What's it like to drive?

    A great cruiser, steady acceleration and torque for such a heavy car. Unfortunately not as fun to drive as my Honda S2000. Also comparing it to other cars of today the 230 or-so BHP seems quite feeble.

    What's it like to park?

    Its a large car, not necessarily the easiest to park. Lack of parking sensors on my model do not help as these were optional extras. The other thing to point out is the front is quite low so when parking face forwards it always rubs against the curb.

  • Living with it

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Have you had any problems with the car?

    Nothing major. Brakes discs and pads will be upgraded soon. The alloys also need refurbing as the OEM brakes expell a huge amount of dust. This has then eaten away at the laquer of the wheels.

    What's most practical about your car?

    This car is not supposed to be practical... Though the sun shade is useful when it gets warm ;-)

    Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

    AMG body kit is great as it is identical to the Silver Arrow edition. The glass roof hardtop is also superb as i tend to drive it as a coupe rather than a convertible.