1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class consumer reviews

Bruno Sacco is considered one of Mercedes best designers. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame along with GMs Bill Mitchell and Harley Earl. Heady company indeed. The other day, I am on the freeway and a motorcycle cop is following me. Then he pulls into the right lane comes up beside me. It is hard to stay the speed limit in this car - it likes to run. The cruise control is your friend. Oh !#$%^ I think He yells out, "Nice Car" and speeds off. I paid $7,000 for this car in 2013. When new it was close to $100,000. I have probably put $20,000 into it making it reliable to the point I could hop in it and drive across country tomorrow. I got it with 113,000 miles and now have 205,000 miles. In addition to normal stuff you'd replace on a (then) 17 year old car, I had to replace the transmission with a factory rebuild. It was the first year of the electronic 5 speed and while it had 3 major updates though 2000, it had its issues. Still, I got 145,000 miles from that. The top is an intricate set up of an electric hydraulic pump and 11 hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders seals leak over time, and I replaced those last year. That can run up to $4,000 depending on where you do it. Had tie rod ends, other front end parts replaced recently. New A/C compressor, a/c hoses rebuilt. Normal stuff for an old car. But getting back to Bruno Sacco - he made cars with timeless designs, such as the 80's line of Mercedes. And he considers this car to be his best design. Make sure it comes with a hardtop. The hardtop came standard but believe it or not some are sold without a hard top. For years I wondered how you managed to lose a hard top weighing over 100 lbs and then it occurred to me that many of these tops were stored outside the home - I have a rack with wheels and it sits in the garage. But if the owner died no one would know where the top is. Others have different opinions but I would avoid the V12 unless you have a lot of money budgeted for maintenance. This was their flagship - $130,000 new, but the engine is tight and just about anything you have to work on involves the intake manifold being removed. Book time on the V12 to replace th rubber valve cover gaskets - 7.5 hours! On this engine (M119 SL500) they are easy. Beautiful car and that engine (V12) is turbine smooth but when you need maintenance... By the same token I would avoid the ADS - their air suspension. Came standard on the 600, optional on the 500, N/A on the 6. Nice when it works but when it ages can be maintenance intensive. In summary, I have spent more money than I thought maintaining this car but I love driving it.

This car is great in any weather snow or sun. Fun to drive with Top Down or hard top. A lot of room and many great features.

Better have a fat wallet. I had engine swap,power steering pump,tires,hydraulic issues. Owners manual says it will do 151MPH and it will do it.I had it to136 smooth.

Mercedes S class is the most comfortable smooth ride of them all. The older ones were hand built. They are very heavy and safe.

Awesome car to drive love to one button top control awesome sound system and a lot of compliments used to always love the older 87-93 Mustang5.0s but once I got behind the wheel of this machine WOW what a difference!

Built just in time. Before the quality sank for 15 years Not a sportscar, but as a great almost handmade leisure car for a nice day. Puts a smile on Ur face!