alroumi

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Everyone worked hard to get his or her preferred method of commuting to work and this is our SLK's who we are here today in this reputable and very diverse forum to talk about and discuss anything related to our beloved roadsters.

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06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
06 Porsche Cayenne S
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I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

ir-ops

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first of all, i do not necessarily agree with hwoalang, however i trust we all agree that the sl and every car in this category and price, has a specific gravity other than the slk, and subsequently targets a different age group.

important is also where in the world you live and drive the car, not only the sl or slk, but in fact any car, and the local culture and economic standards.

it is a different matter to have a 25-year old drive (and be able to afford) a 150k$ car in monaco (a country very popular in other threads lately, mohammed), and a much different matter to have a 25-year old drive the same car in say romania or el salvador, won't you agree? examples of countries are indeed extreme, but aren't nowadays differences in financial power amongst us also so very extreme?

just my 2c
brgds
ir-ops

p.s.1: the new sl is very impressive, but
p.s 2: i'm 40 and don't feel old at all, and still like the slk better than the sl thank you very much,
p.s.3: i'll finish this post now.

alroumi

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I-rops agree and it basically depends on the GDP per capita of a country as you've stated and thank you for your well balanced conclusion.

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06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
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07 Jaguar XKR Coupe'

I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

Ynot

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No flame war, just difference in opinion.

DansSlk

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I've had both the SL55 and 65 and i wouldn't say they made me feel old (I'm mid twenties) but they didn't invoke any emotions either.

They where very business like car's the point of them was to potter about town and go very fast in a straight line, i could not drive them with the roof down.

The SLK on the other hand makes me feel good while I'm driving it and after 3 years of ownership she's the one i invested in with mod's, not the SL's

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dltslk

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I'm 48 and some days I do feel old and I like the SLK better and I don't need the extra 1,000 pounds that come with the SL.

Dolebludger

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Pictures are often not an accurate indicator of the actual styling of a car. With me, I must first see it in person, then see it on the street, then let the styling "settle" into my old brain! As I have not even seen the new SL in person yet, I can't comment, except to say that it does not look that great in the pictures -- but that means little. I am looking forward to seeing (and perhaps driving) the real thing.

As to demographic marketing, I would suspect that Mercedes has figures showing that the SL "skews" to an older group of buyers than lower cost models -- as do all their higher cost models.

As to Monaco, I was there only briefly on a cruise port stop. I chose to use my time visiting the Prince's Automobile Museum. Well worth seeing.

Zut

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I love older SL models. Based on that picture, the 2009 looks too much like a Chrysler Sebring or some other American car IMHO. As for the age thing, I believe the only reason some people tend to think the SL is a car for "older people" is the price. Unless you are filthy rich, you cannot afford one when you are under 35. BTW, I just turned 54, so 35 is young. Very young!!!

Dolebludger

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As I am 64, 35 is very, VERY young. Almost in need of diapers! Yet, if Mercedes is marketing the SL to me, they have missed, personally. Not because of styling. Because of weight.

cyberdrakon

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Besides the marketing, i believe the SL is targeted towards the older folk simply due to having far more 'comfort' options available. The SL is a much more comfortable and quieter, but the trade off is the handling is less sharp, and the acceleration relies on much more power.

MDLSLK55

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Who comes up with the reasoning on ages? There are a lot of us on this forum that are in our early/mid 20's (I'm 25) that have no problem affording these cars. I would expect that anyone who was intelligent, fully employed for a few years, and in a highly technical field or a professional field such as a lawyer or doctor would be ABLE to afford a fairly expensive car. That's not to say that it's a practical or intelligent decision , but it's not breaking the bank. Of course, there are also plenty of younger people who come from $$ and can afford it that way or a combination of them.

In fact, a younger person who doesn't have extra expenses related to family, living, etc, might even be in a better position to get an expensive car than someone a little older.

But, all that aside, I also agree that the SL is targeted to a more "mature" audience than the SLK. Why else would a car that costs 30-40K more be slower, heavier, less nimble, have more space inside and have more "creature comfort" features...


*Btw, I'm not trying to sound conceited in any way, I'm simply trying to point out that you can't really generalize income based on age. Education and the field you're in also have a lot to do with it.

Zut

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Where I live, the official Government figures (2007) for a physician's salary (general practitioner) are:

Minimum $80,730 / year
Maximum $100,220 / year

The SL starts at $135,000. As we speak, our dollar is worth $0.98US. Do the math. We may have a great health-care system, but our doctors are not the wealthiest in the world.

etyu

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I don't know about the doctor part... maybe a plastic surgeon.

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Eddy

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Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package
Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, (
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Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, Mod. R170 ant., EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

-1-

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I have a weakness for ALL nice cars. Just because I like them, doesn't mean I would own one. The SL is a beautiful car, but I wouldn't buy one. I prefer the SLK for the styling, sportiness, and size. Even if the SLK and SL were similar in price. I'd opt for the SLK. I'm 57 and if I'm supposed to lean towards the SL, it isn't working. Besides our SLKs, we own a Mazda6 and a VW NewBeetle. I love my SLK the best, but I also truly enjoy driving the Mazda and VW. Customers at work assume that the Mazda6 belongs to my 25 year younger employee and his big azz Ford one fiddy is my mode of transportation. One customer wanted to know why I was driving a "young" man's car. The VW is also a fun car to drive. I always get a big kick when I see an older (70's plus, white hair) person driving a NewBeetle. Right on! Think young, act young, be young (at heart). Enjoy all stages of your life. I was happy when I was younger, but these are the best years of my life. No four door box for me.

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----------------1-----------------
--------SLK 55 ///AMG---------
THE MON55TER ON THE BLOCK

Ikarus

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That's more than I saw there. In the fall of 88, I spent three hours at the train station waiting for the torrential rain to subside. It never did, so I took another train and left.

Regarding the SL - to me, the old one is still one of the most beautiful cars on the road. I find it hard to believe I'll ever say that about the new one, even after getting used to the sight.

cyberdrakon

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agreed, i did a little calculation the other day and realized i wouldn't be able to afford my SLK 55 if i have kids (even extrapolating a geometric increase in income)....better play now while i have the time and money. (yes i have savings).

Also, better play now while i can physically afford it...i may be able to make a lot more money later on, but can't stay awake or keep up!

Tslick

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Ya.. sure... lets go to the track sometime

coolboarder

I don't think there are too many doctors in their 20's, by the time you finish med school and residency, you most likely would be 28 already, and without specialty (ie surgury too) under your belt it would be hard pressed to make over 120K right after residency. And a lot of doctors have at least 200K student loans to pay off. I think lawyer will be in worse shape just because the pay scale is lower unless you get snatched up by a big time law firm like what you see in movies, but in reality that does not happen. As for technical field, unless you are in sales and draw big commission, I doubt that too. Or you could happen to work for a startup and make a bundle on IPO, that happens, I know a few of those but they mostly opt for Porsches. Of course you can drive 100K plus car in your 20's, but that is usually because of your parents. I know quite a few of those too but almost none of them drive a Mercedes, they usually opt for more flashy cars.

alroumi

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[quote=Dolebludger;64962

As to Monaco, I was there only briefly on a cruise port stop. I chose to use my time visiting the Prince's Automobile Museum. Well worth seeing.[/QUOTE]

I visited the Prince's collection and one of my favourite cars were the Triple Black Lamborghini Countach 25th anniversay, VW Camper , F1 Ferrari and the classic 560 SE AMG Coupe.

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06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
06 Porsche Cayenne S
07 Jaguar XKR Coupe'

I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

MDLSLK55

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Ok, so I guess I should clarify what I said. I was more so talking about cars in the SLK55 range and up to the SL550, not the SL55/SL63 AMG. In the US, the SL550 starts around 96K and the SL55 AMG at 130K. I'd tend to agree that a car in the low/mid 100's is really pushing the limits for a younger person unless they made great investments when they were just starting out or came from some money. As for the fields I specified, I was reaching for examples, maybe doctor and lawyer weren't the best choices. You don't have to tell me about doctors, I went to Johns Hopkins for undergrad and my MSE and have multiple friends who were pre-med. One is at Yale Med right now for Neuroscience and he's still not done (8 years from start of undergrad). I also had another friend who ended up at Harvard Law after an accelerated undergrad career and is practicing somewhere in NY, but I don't really know how well he ended up (I'm assuming pretty well).

So, all I'm saying is that it's certainly possible for a "younger" person to splurge on a fairly expensive car, but it's definitely an exception to any norms.