Mercedes got Scrunched

[MexicoCityM3]

What's your primary driver right now? Why do you and mom have to saddle yourselves with an SUV when the Merc made you so happy? To hell with practical... it's boring and you only live once.

Yeah why the SUV? It seems that Merc made you very happy. How about a new C-class convertible? That is gorgeous and in the same vein.

[shp4man]

Perhaps, as a new resident country gentleman, you should now consider an actual usable utility vehicle.



Keeping it British and all that sort of thing. 

[CALL_911]

Yeah why the SUV? It seems that Merc made you very happy. How about a new C-class convertible? That is gorgeous and in the same vein.

I agree

[68_427]

2018 F150 RCSB 5.0L with 3.73 rear gear.  You'll be in the 12's with the speed limiter removed.

[AutobahnSHO]

F350 or nothing

[Raza]

Just get another CLK if you loved it so much.

[Submariner]

We'll probably swoop into a dealer an hour before closing on January 31st. See if we can do a deal on something: CR-V, Edge, SantaFe Sport, X3, Q5.
I know it's just a lump of metal but I'm pissed off about the CLK. The thing was immaculately-well screwed together. Easily the highest quality car I've ever owned. 

[2o6]

Sort of a real suggestion; it's not as nice as a CLK but they're not moving many and dealers are giving them away:

[Submariner]

Sort of a real suggestion; it's not as nice as a CLK but they're not moving many and dealers are giving them away:

That Buick isn't selling any should be a pretty strong indication to Morris...not to get one.

[2o6]

That Buick isn't selling any should be a pretty strong indication to Morris...not to get one.

It's not a bad car, it's just that no one really likes cheap convertibles anymore.

[AutobahnSHO]

Looks like it's kinda heavy and underpowered. Compared to most 'sporty' cars it isn't as sporty. Compared to big cruisers, it's too small.

https://www.caranddriver.com/buick/cascada

And HOLY BUTTONS, BATMAN!!!

https://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/2016-buick-cascada-instrumented-test-gallery#40

[Submariner]

I know it's the opposite of Morris's sad, depressing requirement of practicality and pragmatism, but a last gen SL 550 might inject a needed dose of testosterone into his life 

The SL550 is more of everything he loved about his CLK, except in seat count.  There are three variants in the base V8 range, the 2003-2006 SL500, the 2007-2008 SL550, and the 2009-2012 SL550, by which time it was on it's second face lift.

Both SL550 variants are powered by a 382HP 5.5l V8, and send power to the back through a 7-speed transmission.  The combination provides exceptionally smooth power, enough of which to send the SL to 60 in 4.9-5.1 seconds, depending on whose watch you're looking at.

The SL comes standard with Merc's ABC semi-active hydraulic suspension, along with air bags for ride hight control.  The idea is, the hydraulics counteract physics when the car corners, firming up the suspension on the side the car leans in to, keeping the car level.  It works quite well in that regard.  That being said, ABC can get pricy to fix if the hydraulic system springs a leak.  It's mostly reliable - a mechanic friend of mine says that very few Merc's equipped with the option need extensive repairs, but some people, when faced with the prospect of spending 6k+ to replace the system will just swap in steel springs instead.

Because the SL is a hardtop roadster, it's as useable in the colder months as a regular coupe.  Though there is no fixed roof variant to compare it to (not counting the SL65 black), road noise isn't much worse than say, a CL 550.  Trunk space is decent with the roof up, and acceptable with the roof down, but you do have a few useful cubic feet of storage space behind the seats, enough actually for a couple of weekend duffle bags. 

Morris, I took the liberty of looking up a few different options in the range, capping the search at $35k. 

For example, here is a nice 2009 SL550, for $34k, with 32,000mi on the clock.  By the 2009 model year, bi-xenon headlamps, keyless go, multi counter seats w/ massage and a panoramic sunroof were standard kit, being options previously: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/724019737/overview/

Here is a 2007 SL550 with 29,000 miles, going for $30,000.  It's mechanically identical to the car above, but is a pre facelift variant with an older COMAND interface.  It comes with multi counter seats and keyless go, though no panoramic roof option:
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/698799361/overview/

For $25k you can get a 2009 SL550 with 42,000 miles: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/721167257/overview/

And for $20k, you can find a 2008 SL550 with 68,000 miles: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/719757565/overview/

Obviously, the above are only ideas of what you can get and for how much - you'll need to do more research on price, vehicle history, reputation of the dealer, etc.

[Laconian]

The Cascada is made in Poland.

https://youtu.be/07vdtBMG4Kg

[Payman]

2014 Jaguar F-Type S Roadster. 28,974 miles, $38,890.


https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/723425004/overview/

[dazzleman]

I hate car mishaps like that.  Such a pain in the balls.  Glad your wife is ok.

[Payman]

Andrew, you and Mrs Minor need to fly to Dallas and drive that F-Type back. Have some British decency. 

[AutobahnSHO]

Have some British decency. 

+1

[Soup DeVille]

The Cascada is made in Poland.

https://youtu.be/07vdtBMG4Kg

Polish cars, Chinese cars, Mexican cars; but the dealership surrounds itself in flags and tells me to buy American. 

That can't be right.

[Morris Minor]

I hate car mishaps like that.  Such a pain in the balls.  Glad your wife is ok.

Thanks. She's okay & reminded me of all the scrapes & scuffs she'd put on the M-B's wheels; she's 5' 7" and found the corners of the car difficult to see: a corollary of high waistline convertibles. She's buying the replacement on her company, & after perusing the choices from Optimas to Santa Fes to Highlanders & up to Q5s & X3s, has decided on a CRV! Lebowski will be happy. Sorry Nick. the F-Type will have to wait.

[Lebowski]

CRVspin!  Excellent choice, she clearly has good taste.

[CaminoRacer]

LOL no way

[AutobahnSHO]

Lol niiiiiiiice.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Thanks. She's okay & reminded me of all the scrapes & scuffs she'd put on the M-B's wheels; she's 5' 7" and found the corners of the car difficult to see: a corollary of high waistline convertibles. She's buying the replacement on her company, & after perusing the choices from Optimas to Santa Fes to Highlanders & up to Q5s & X3s, has decided on a CRV! Lebowski will be happy. Sorry Nick. the F-Type will have to wait.

[MexicoCityM3]

Hmmmm....

BoreSpin YawnSpin SensilbleSpin

M3 -> Lexus RX
CLK  Cabrio -> CR-V

Who's next to give up on life?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Hmmmm....

BoreSpin YawnSpin SensilbleSpin

M3 -> Lexus RX
CLK  Cabrio -> CR-V

Who's next to give up on life?

Sporty is gonna go CUV on us next! Lowered on Coil overs and summer tires course......... 

[SJ_GTI]

Hmmmm....

BoreSpin YawnSpin SensilbleSpin

M3 -> Lexus RX
CLK  Cabrio -> CR-V

Who's next to give up on life?

Audi S4 -> VW Golf? 

[AutobahnSHO]

Who's next to give up on life?

Although wife and I had informally agreed upon waiting until spring 2019 to get a Miata, I'm been perusing minivans for sale.

A few years newer than mine could mean
-sunroof possible
-rolldown 2nd row windows (mine don't open)
-subwoofer options
-DVD/entertainment system for back
-nav builtin
-Bluetooth? steering wheel controls?

Odyssey now has 217k miles and although "Sandy" has been extremely reliable for us for 50k miles (since Feb2015) I worry that eventually she'll need to be replaced.

[MexicoCityM3]

Audi S4 -> VW Golf? 

R is too irresponsible . Get a 1.4 next time and we'd be in SensibleSpin acceptability zone.

[MexicoCityM3]

Although wife and I had informally agreed upon waiting until spring 2019 to get a Miata, I'm been perusing minivans for sale.

A few years newer than mine could mean
-sunroof possible
-rolldown 2nd row windows (mine don't open)
-subwoofer options
-DVD/entertainment system for back
-nav builtin
-Bluetooth? steering wheel controls?

Odyssey now has 217k miles and although "Sandy" has been extremely reliable for us for 50k miles (since Feb2015) I worry that eventually she'll need to be replaced.

You already are a trailblazer for sensible spin.

[AutobahnSHO]

You already are a trailblazer for sensible spin.

But I have dreams man!!!