SL-Class (R231) [Official] Mercedes-Benz SL (R231)

[Rolf]

After I have seen a number of S-coupe's now this generation SL looks really out of place in the Mercedes car line up (together with the SLK). I saw an SL also parked outside the Qatar Show and was looking at the car for a few minutes trying to imagine how they can change it to make it look more attractive. The car won't need serious bodyshell mods, the main styling weakness is the front lights, front grill (needs to be less square edged with rounder curves and give it new internal mesh design, like the diamond looks etc on the S-coupe), the front lower bumper intakes and then the back lights need different graphics (with thin tubes like the S-Class, C-Class and E-class). The car will need a major upgrade to the center console inside by removing that small screen and fitting the ipad style monitor and touch pad/scroller as in other new Mercedes models.

 

[dermeister]

I just got my 2015 R231 in Tenorite grey metallic on black interior. I've always known the R231 was controversial, but didn't realize the extent of it until reading here. I even went back to the first pages of the thread to see initial reactions. Honestly, I think you guys are mad. The car looks great, and the interior is basically the perfect version of the early 2010s design. I had a 2013 C300 prior to this, and it feels like I now have the idealized version of the design. I was thinking of getting a 2011 R230, but being a 2013 C owner the inside was just too dated and it drove like a truck. The R231 is just amazing. The early posts in the thread mention things like it being "copy-pasted" from the SLK and SLS, which is absurd because I'm pretty sure it was designed before both. Later some mention the AMG GT being better, but I don't agree - the exterior is nice, but the interior is vulgar - almost Porsche-like. You all seem hopeful that the refresh will "help fix it", but I find that doubtful. My 2013 C300 was great. I consider the 2015 C to be much uglier. The iPad screen inside is a step back from the integrated screen under the dash-hood, the plastic wood/metals are too much, and the exterior is bulbous. For the same reason, I am afraid to see what will happen with the SL mid-update. I think all your moaning and groaning about the beautiful R231, which is the zenith of MB, has driven MB insane. The new spy shots of the 2017(?) SL seem to reveal a hideous front update: jelly-bean headlights instead of eagle-eyes, and a down-drooping grill. The update to the back underside looks OK. I'm even more scared for the interior, the perfect version of the early 2010s MB interiors. If they put a bloody iPad in it like some cheap car, it's all on you guys. Personally. All of you who couldn't be trusted to recognize perfection when you saw it and jeered. I guess this is a pretty ballsy first-post, but I registered to give my opinion on what I think is a very misunderstood and under-appreciated car. In fact, I'll say the following, just to add insult to what may so far be a few injuries: I think the R129 is beautiful, the early R230 didn't age well, the late R230 is a save on an old carcass, and the R231 is a masterpiece, aesthetically and technologically. //End Rant

 

[Serpens]

The sales of the current SL have remained solid [in the U.S.]. I think many people share your opinion about the styling. It definitely had to grow on me but I like it now. Unlike you, however, I'm looking forward to the facelift as an advancement to the design.

 

[dermeister]

I'm not against a better design, but I do think the current direction is a step backwards... C and CLS are uglier IMO... and as for the E... I've never liked the E, period. Do you have a link for the SL sales by the way? Curious to see...!

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Well dermeister, you are certainly in a minority here. Most of the MB fans on here are quite enamored by the new design direction.

I don't think the current SL is ugly, I still love the vehicle overall, I just feels it looks a little awkward from some angles. It's not conventionally pretty either.

 

[SDNR]

I'm not against a better design, but I do think the current direction is a step backwards... C and CLS are uglier IMO... and as for the E... I've never liked the E, period. Do you have a link for the SL sales by the way? Curious to see...!

The current E class was created under Peter Pfeiffer .....which I believe was quite a messy period for Mercedes design .....they seemed to be uncertain about their styling themes and tried several different approaches (such as the Retro influence from Chrysler).

The E class is a case-in-point, it hardly relates to the rest of the Mercedes-Benz family except the GLK (which shares some of the same themes and retro angularity), the facelift did help a little to soften it and attempt to bring it closer to the rest of Mercedes new styling direction under Gordon Wagener.

 

[Serpens]

I'm not against a better design, but I do think the current direction is a step backwards... C and CLS are uglier IMO... and as for the E... I've never liked the E, period. Do you have a link for the SL sales by the way? Curious to see...!

Sales were down 2k units (no small measure) vs. last year but were still better than many of the years after 2008. It's hard to compare the sales of the intitial R230 design because there was less competition back then, the economy was booming, and the luxury SUV market wasn't taking up nearly as much discretionary money as it is now. But anyways:

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/mercedes-benz-sl-class-sales-figures.html

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The current E class was created under Peter Pfeiffer .....which I believe was quite a messy period for Mercedes design .....they seemed to be uncertain about their styling themes and tried several different approaches (such as the Retro influence from Chrysler).

The E class is a case-in-point, it hardly relates to the rest of the Mercedes-Benz family except the GLK (which shares some of the same themes and retro angularity), the facelift did help a little to soften it and attempt to bring it closer to the rest of Mercedes new styling direction under Gordon Wagener.

I'd love to know what the hell was going on in MB design at that time. After the W221 and W204 I just don't know how they arrived at the W212. And if Wagener was taking over from Pfeiffer, why did they allow these vehicles to go ahead as they did, when he would have obviously had his own ideas for MB design which we are now seeing. The E and GLK were completely out of step with the cars that followed and the ML, SLK etc were such weak designs from the onset. After a steller late 90's and early 2000's era, I think Pfeiffer lost his way towards the end of his tenure. But I'm loving what we are seeing so far from Wagener and his team now. My only question mark is over the SUV and SAV range.

 

[Serpens]

I'd love to know what the hell was going on in MB design at that time. After the W221 and W204 I just don't know how they arrived at the W212. And if Wagener was taking over from Pfeiffer, why did they allow these vehicles to go ahead as they did, when he would have obviously had his own ideas for MB design which we are now seeing. The E and GLK were completely out of step with the cars that followed and the ML, SLK etc were such weak designs from the onset. After a steller late 90's and early 2000's era, I think Pfeiffer lost his way towards the end of his tenure. But I'm loving what we are seeing so far from Wagener and his team now. My only question mark is over the SUV and SAV range.

By the time Wagener was coming in I'm sure the W212 and R231 designs was much too far in development for him to influence it much. Especially considering the R231 design was done and ready well before its debut due to MB temporarily putting it on hold.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

By the time Wagener was coming in I'm sure the W212 and R231 designs was much too far in development for him to influence it much. Especially considering the R231 design was done and ready well before its debut due to MB temporarily putting it on hold.

He was already working there and already earmarked as the successor to Pfeiffer.

Ultimately the whole transition should have been handled much better and issues such as discordant designs, dashboard architectures that couldn't support larger command screens etc. should have been avoided.

 

[Serpens]

He was already working there and already earmarked as the successor to Pfeiffer.

Ultimately the whole transition should have been handled much better and issues such as discordant designs, dashboard architectures that couldn't support larger command screens etc. should have been avoided.

Just because he was earmarked as the successor doesnt mean he could influence the designs at the time. @Carmaker1 knows more about this subject than I do- hopefully he will chime in.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Just because he was earmarked as the successor doesnt mean he could influence the designs at the time. @Carmaker1 knows more about this subject than I do- hopefully he will chime in.

Yeah, hope he does. It would be awesome to know what the hell went on.

 

[Wolfgang]

The SL's fate was probably similar to the Mercedes-Maybach recently revealed by its chief engineer in one of the videos. Development started around 2007 and was put on hold in 2009 when the financial crisis hit. Lateron, development picked up again, thus the SL may have come to market with a delay.

Believe the initially planned headlights were similar to the CLS:

But where changed to the falcon eyes later. They look pretty cool IRL.

 

[SDNR]

The SL's fate was probably similar to the Mercedes-Maybach recently revealed by its chief engineer in one of the videos. Development started around 2007 and was put on hold in 2009 when the financial crisis hit. Lateron, development picked up again, thus the SL may have come to market with a delay.

Believe the initially planned headlights were similar to the CLS:

But where changed to the falcon eyes later. They look pretty cool IRL.

The current SL is so completely impractical. Even the Porsche 911 Targa has room for two children in the back. This was a big oversight ...considering how popular these things traditionally are with affluent 30-something mothers.

 

[Wolfgang]

^ Many SL owners may also have an S, G or GL to take along the kids.

 

[SDNR]

^ Many SL owners may also have an S, G or GL to take along the kids.

You are correct .....but I look at it this way:

The SL (like most Mercedes vehicles) is bought by a very diverse group of people. Let's be honest, this is no sports car, it's a luxury GT. The SL is an aspirational car for many .....a car for the upwardly mobile. So often this car will be required to fit into a "real world" situation.

I agree many families have an SUV these days .....but practicality is still a part of the decision-making process even when buying an SL ......especially when women are involved

I'm sure the SL has lost many sales to the E Class Cabrioloet because it lacks room.

The new S class convertible will not help the SL either.

 

[klier]

[......]
//End Rant

Fantastic first post! Welcome, and enjoy your car!

 

[DjordjeC63]

Falcon headlights are definition of ugly.

 

[SDNR]

I just got my 2015 R231 in Tenorite grey metallic on black interior. I've always known the R231 was controversial, but didn't realize the extent of it until reading here. I even went back to the first pages of the thread to see initial reactions. Honestly, I think you guys are mad. The car looks great, and the interior is basically the perfect version of the early 2010s design. I had a 2013 C300 prior to this, and it feels like I now have the idealized version of the design. I was thinking of getting a 2011 R230, but being a 2013 C owner the inside was just too dated and it drove like a truck. The R231 is just amazing. The early posts in the thread mention things like it being "copy-pasted" from the SLK and SLS, which is absurd because I'm pretty sure it was designed before both. Later some mention the AMG GT being better, but I don't agree - the exterior is nice, but the interior is vulgar - almost Porsche-like. You all seem hopeful that the refresh will "help fix it", but I find that doubtful. My 2013 C300 was great. I consider the 2015 C to be much uglier. The iPad screen inside is a step back from the integrated screen under the dash-hood, the plastic wood/metals are too much, and the exterior is bulbous. For the same reason, I am afraid to see what will happen with the SL mid-update. I think all your moaning and groaning about the beautiful R231, which is the zenith of MB, has driven MB insane. The new spy shots of the 2017(?) SL seem to reveal a hideous front update: jelly-bean headlights instead of eagle-eyes, and a down-drooping grill. The update to the back underside looks OK. I'm even more scared for the interior, the perfect version of the early 2010s MB interiors. If they put a bloody iPad in it like some cheap car, it's all on you guys. Personally. All of you who couldn't be trusted to recognize perfection when you saw it and jeered. I guess this is a pretty ballsy first-post, but I registered to give my opinion on what I think is a very misunderstood and under-appreciated car. In fact, I'll say the following, just to add insult to what may so far be a few injuries: I think the R129 is beautiful, the early R230 didn't age well, the late R230 is a save on an old carcass, and the R231 is a masterpiece, aesthetically and technologically. //End Rant

Maybe time will be kind to the R231 ......and we'll all come to appreciate its imperfect looks .....at least you think it's perfect.

Don't feel too insulted by anybody here who is critical ......we are all very opinionated because we love German cars. The SL is still undeniably one of the best cars in the world so congrats on your good choice.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The SL's fate was probably similar to the Mercedes-Maybach recently revealed by its chief engineer in one of the videos. Development started around 2007 and was put on hold in 2009 when the financial crisis hit. Lateron, development picked up again, thus the SL may have come to market with a delay.

Believe the initially planned headlights were similar to the CLS:

But where changed to the falcon eyes later. They look pretty cool IRL.

Thank god it got the falcon eyes!