[POLL] How would you rate the new SL
- Thread starter Zafiro
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Centurion
Apex Apex Predator
Judging a car design is not a simple matter of black or white, does it look good or not. My first question is always, does it improve on the predecessor? The new SL unfortunately doesn't. It has retained the outgoing body shape but the new appearance is not an improvement. Designs don't always have to improve of whatever occupied its place before. A prime example is the 458 Italia. One can hardly argue that it devalued the F430's design? Both barely share any similarities are are basically designed from different view points. In the new SL there isn't a departure from the outgoing R230. Both share the same roof and same body shape. That is the nemesis in this mess, the body shape. Design and shape cannot be separated. You cannot slap a new design on a new body without any disharmony. The R231 is in no man's land of looking like the R230 but yet trying to look "100% new" which it doesn't.
Mercedes seem to be stuck in an era of eye candy and icing sugar. They have stopped focusing on design and have locked their efforts into decorating. This is very much highlighted by their current trend of presenting all new cars with AMG-kit because more creases, skirts and fins make their cars more eye catchy. A very false illusion it is indeed. Take the new SLK. With AMG-kit it's somewhat bearable to look at. Without AMG-kit it's as generic as an overpriced t-shirt with a big fat Dolce & Gabbana logo in the middle. Where is the design? There is none, just a logo and nothing else. We should have to read comment about people saying "oh wait until the AMG version comes out, the car will look banging". Only praises should be heard like in the 6-Series Gran Coupe thread where few even mention M-Package. The car is an absolute stunner without any eye candy to please 11 year old boys who want everything to look fast. I fear the SL will be equally as anonymous as the new SLK. It lacks any form of aspirational design attributes on the outside. There is nothing to discuss, to remember or to carry on to other cars.
For these reasons I rated the car 3. The exterior is a 2 but the redeeming aspect, the interior is a 5.
Mercedes seem to be stuck in an era of eye candy and icing sugar. They have stopped focusing on design and have locked their efforts into decorating. This is very much highlighted by their current trend of presenting all new cars with AMG-kit because more creases, skirts and fins make their cars more eye catchy. A very false illusion it is indeed. Take the new SLK. With AMG-kit it's somewhat bearable to look at. Without AMG-kit it's as generic as an overpriced t-shirt with a big fat Dolce & Gabbana logo in the middle. Where is the design? There is none, just a logo and nothing else. We should have to read comment about people saying "oh wait until the AMG version comes out, the car will look banging". Only praises should be heard like in the 6-Series Gran Coupe thread where few even mention M-Package. The car is an absolute stunner without any eye candy to please 11 year old boys who want everything to look fast. I fear the SL will be equally as anonymous as the new SLK. It lacks any form of aspirational design attributes on the outside. There is nothing to discuss, to remember or to carry on to other cars.
For these reasons I rated the car 3. The exterior is a 2 but the redeeming aspect, the interior is a 5.
NarutoRamen
Kraftwagen König
I gave it a 4. I don't have as much issue with the exterior than the SLK. The interior though, to me, is a bit underwhelming. It's not bad, but it's not "wow" either. Also, I think the exterior does a better job of cohesion with the front and the rear. The SLK still looks like the people who drew the front were inspired by a square the and the people who drew the rear were inspired by circle, and both of those teams had no idea they're working on the same car.
D
Deleted member 25
I would have liked a 3.5 but i gave it a 4.
Shining Star
Chicane Challenger
Without the AMG pack, I give this car a three. With the AMG pack, a four. I don't have a problem with anything other than the front.
ateekt
Nürburgring Navigator
Very well said. I'd second that. Can't get over those weirdly odd head-lamps!
HighestOfHigh
Cornering Kingpin
Looks great...Might be a few things I would change, but it gets a 5 in my book.
-=Hot|Ice=-
High-Rev Hero
4
3, so far. Have to see it in motion, and IRL to get a full grasp.
It looks good, but not epic, yet at least. Not "SL" worthy.... yet. Too many flaws, too immature/amateur for such a classy car. However, perhaps in real life, when you can take the actual size and proportions/dimensions into consideration, and the dynamics, there's a method to the madness. I like the Design more than the CLS overall I think, but at the same time, it doesn't look as passionate or evoking as the CLS.... Which can be good or bad, I guess? I wish they can do passion AND understated elegance at the same time.... Kind of like the original CLS, which wasn't flawless, but was a great showing of extravagant elegance, not extravagant extravagance like what we're seeing more and more now.
It looks good, but not epic, yet at least. Not "SL" worthy.... yet. Too many flaws, too immature/amateur for such a classy car. However, perhaps in real life, when you can take the actual size and proportions/dimensions into consideration, and the dynamics, there's a method to the madness. I like the Design more than the CLS overall I think, but at the same time, it doesn't look as passionate or evoking as the CLS.... Which can be good or bad, I guess? I wish they can do passion AND understated elegance at the same time.... Kind of like the original CLS, which wasn't flawless, but was a great showing of extravagant elegance, not extravagant extravagance like what we're seeing more and more now.
martinbo
Staff member
I gave it a two. I'm a huge admirer of the SL - it's the only car in the world that has its own class. And, up until now it's been nothing but pure class too. Sure, there are alternatives and wannabees but they're not direct SL competitors because they simply don't have the heritage to capture the essence of what is an SL. Again, up until now that is. Not even Ferrari with its California - arguably one of the SL's most direct comparators in concept - can come close to beating the SL at its own game.
An SL needs to have an air of elegant sophistication about it imbued with simple yet beautiful lines. Its styling needs to be taut and to the point and - in non AMG models at least - dispossessed of unnecessary frippery.
How did this car go so wrong? You can't even credit it for being radical - it just isn't. There's an incongruity to the look as a whole that I can't resolve. There's fussy detailing on the flanks, a rear-end that would look great on a facelift and - yes, most of all - just plain odd-looking headlights that evoke imaginings of a constipated Chihuahua. Viewed holistically, the thing that stands out most for me the lack of tension in the lines of the car - if I could come up with a word that sums up the new SL for me in one go it would be "gloopy".
Harsh? Not when the car in question is an SL because when it actually is an SL there should be no room for doubt.
Edit: Oh and by the way - that off-centre vent, screen and hangdown console is inexcusable because it doesn't look deliberate (like on previous Mercs) - it looks like a concession.
An SL needs to have an air of elegant sophistication about it imbued with simple yet beautiful lines. Its styling needs to be taut and to the point and - in non AMG models at least - dispossessed of unnecessary frippery.
How did this car go so wrong? You can't even credit it for being radical - it just isn't. There's an incongruity to the look as a whole that I can't resolve. There's fussy detailing on the flanks, a rear-end that would look great on a facelift and - yes, most of all - just plain odd-looking headlights that evoke imaginings of a constipated Chihuahua. Viewed holistically, the thing that stands out most for me the lack of tension in the lines of the car - if I could come up with a word that sums up the new SL for me in one go it would be "gloopy".
Harsh? Not when the car in question is an SL because when it actually is an SL there should be no room for doubt.
Edit: Oh and by the way - that off-centre vent, screen and hangdown console is inexcusable because it doesn't look deliberate (like on previous Mercs) - it looks like a concession.
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
2 Star:
THE (SL) icon, just not that dis-tinc-tive (serving to distinguish it from others.) anymore?
Even the interior is a copy of the SLS AMG - speaking of which is a FAR better looking and way, way more special + unique car.
DAIMLER! Bring Sacco back, please!
Edit: Oh and one last thing. If you wanna gripe about 6er coupe/GC headlamps, the new Sl's looks hideous
THE (SL) icon, just not that dis-tinc-tive (serving to distinguish it from others.) anymore?
Even the interior is a copy of the SLS AMG - speaking of which is a FAR better looking and way, way more special + unique car.
DAIMLER! Bring Sacco back, please!
Edit: Oh and one last thing. If you wanna gripe about 6er coupe/GC headlamps, the new Sl's looks hideous
Wunderkind
Chicane Challenger
I gave it a 4 star. I would have given it a 4.5 star rating if I could.
I am sold on the aluminium monocoque. That alone deserved 4 stars in my book. I don't think any other carmaker would dare to design a aluminium monocoque for fear of failure, especially for an open-top roadster. It's an absolute technical tour de force.
I think most of us will warm to the looks in time. It doesn't look ugly. I'm sure the headlights will look better in real life - that I am sure. Or Mercedes Benz will have to provide a new corporate optical insurance plan for all their staff.
Also, are we gonna see the 9-speed auto tranny debuting in the SL?
I am sold on the aluminium monocoque. That alone deserved 4 stars in my book. I don't think any other carmaker would dare to design a aluminium monocoque for fear of failure, especially for an open-top roadster. It's an absolute technical tour de force.
I think most of us will warm to the looks in time. It doesn't look ugly. I'm sure the headlights will look better in real life - that I am sure. Or Mercedes Benz will have to provide a new corporate optical insurance plan for all their staff.
Also, are we gonna see the 9-speed auto tranny debuting in the SL?
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