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Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible (1989-2002) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 1.5 out of 51.5

Written by Parkers Published: 6 June 2019

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

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Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 17 - 25 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

View mpg & specs for any version

It is no surprise that owning an SL is costly; as Mercedes-Benz maintenance is expectedly expensive, plus insurance and fuel consumption is very high. Parts costs are not too bad, but overall, even having the SL on the driveway will be a bit of a drain on the wallet.

The build quality is quite simply beyond criticism. SL-Classes very rarely break down or cause any hassle, and efficient German engineering is undoubtedly the reason for this. You would be hard pushed to find a similar combination of style and dependability elsewhere.