Quentin Wilson has just told me that I can buy an SL for about five grand.

Has anyone got one for sale? Is this for real? If so where and when?

One I of these?…

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/mercedes-benz/sl_class/postcode/de655gw/radius/1500/price-to/5000/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew

There’s an excellent old Merc specialist on the road to Stockers, Julian. Hill Farm. I’d start there!

Oh, and as any fule kno, you really ought to get a proper Benz. W123!

Just one thing to remember is depending what goes wrong with it, you are driving what was an expensive car, and the price if some parts will reflect this.

Buy right and service regular and you can indeed live the luxury life cheaply. Cheap private plate and you’ve lost the age.

yeah 5K – wait till you need a new clutch and get it fitted….

colleague has one on a J plate for his summer motor.

lovely car would never know its 24 years old. pulls like a train and the autobox is smooth – not lumpy and shit like a range rover box 😀

Thanks guys. Was hoping to get an older one – the one after the pagoda top mega expensive one.

Liking the idea of an SL for three grand as well! The 2.8 isn’t that quick though – surprised that it’s not as quick as either of our cars!

Good point about Hill Farm CFH, cheers. Will have a look next time I’m going that way. – might even pop over there today.

One of those cars in Auto Trade apparently comes with receipts for £40,000. It has done over 200,000 miles, though, so perhaps it’s not too bad.

I wonder what my Defender has cost me over a similar mileage… No, I don’t think I want to know!

Most of these will be auto….why would you buy a manual Merc anyway, so no clutch to worry about. Most parts will be readily available and still suppirted by MB? Though expensive if things go wrong, they are pretty robust mechanically so mileage not an issue if you buy a decent one. Bodywork us the main thing to look out for. Dated, but a lot of car for the money.

front wings on the j plate shape were/are their achillies heel.

Very tempting!

Thanks all – keep those observations coming!

I ran a 70’s SL500 for a while. Mechanically they are pretty bombproof, some of the ancillary items are a bit flaky – vacuum central locking that loses the vacuum!. Also the bodywork will be a bit frayed – behind the headlights, wing edges etc. Check the hood mechanism and get a hardtop as well. Dont skimp on tyres – they eat anything other than decent rubber. Loads of fun, hugely powerful and everyday useable.