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    Mar 29, 2005 12:23:42 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    I've had my new '05 911 for 6 weeks now, and so far I'm thrilled. I love the car and the exceptional way it handles. I traded in an '03 SL500 after only 18 months because the car was nothing but trouble (rattles, malfuntions, recalls). Mercedes reliability really slipped in the past few years. The Porsche is trouble-free, and I'm glad the rain has let up for the most part here in southern California, as I've been getting up earlier on weekends just to drive through the canyons in Malibu.

    Mar 29, 2005 12:40:10 AM

    AndrewSS
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    AndrewSS
    Loc: columbus, OH
    Posts: 587, Gallery
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    cool! i bet the 911 feels so much better than the soft sl500

    Mar 29, 2005 12:41:14 AM

    Moogle
    Rennteam Master
    Moogle
    Loc: Bay Area , United States
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    Reply to: AndrewSS

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    andrew, that picture in your sig is a little out of hand.

    Mar 29, 2005 12:43:10 AM

    AndrewSS
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    AndrewSS
    Loc: columbus, OH
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    Reply to: Moogle

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    what do you mean?

    Mar 29, 2005 12:49:05 AM

    jfraser
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    jfraser
    Loc: LA
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    Reply to: AndrewSS

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    911 Carrera05
    Me too....I was up in the Canyons on Saturday :-)
    toot your horn if you see me up there...I'm in a Midnight Blue 997S....How bad was the PCH traffic on Saturday!!!!

    Mar 29, 2005 1:23:10 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: jfraser

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    jfraser
    That's why I try to go early in the day -- it's been a mess, and I can't wait for the construction clean up crews (and cops) leave Kanan Road.
    Mine is a black/black 997.

    Mar 29, 2005 1:25:36 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    The SL was "soft" and very heavy compared to the 911. Glad to have a manual again -- first one in about 15 years.

    Mar 29, 2005 1:45:25 AM

    AndrewSS
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    AndrewSS
    Loc: columbus, OH
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    nice, you got the 6spd... i was wondering since you had the sl500 you may have got the auto, but good job with the 6spd!

    pictures?

    Mar 29, 2005 2:27:57 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: AndrewSS

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    I have some pics -- but I'm new with posting them --

    Mar 29, 2005 2:28:22 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    that was easy --

    Mar 29, 2005 2:29:33 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    another pic

    Mar 29, 2005 2:30:31 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    last one...

    Mar 29, 2005 2:31:44 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    here's the old SL I unloaded...

    Mar 29, 2005 2:34:12 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    profile 911...

    Mar 29, 2005 2:46:50 AM

    jfraser
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    jfraser
    Loc: LA
    Posts: 267, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 1, 2005
    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    How bad was the SL? My brother in law is thinking about one.....They really are everywhere in LA!! I think you definately made the right choice switching

    Mar 29, 2005 2:55:50 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: jfraser

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    The main problem with the SL was the poor reliability. I cannot recommend that car. In fact, I bought a second car (an X5) six months after I got the SL because I didn't like driving the dealer's loaner C-Class sedans when my 100K car was in their shop getting fixed. When I first bought it in '03 there weren't that many on the road. Now there are tons of them. I counted four in front and right behind me the other day driving home. The SL was a good looking car, but it really was only skin deep...

    Mar 29, 2005 4:35:24 AM

    AndrewSS
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    AndrewSS
    Loc: columbus, OH
    Posts: 587, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 4, 2004
    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    nice pictures, black 997's are really sharp!

    Mar 29, 2005 4:49:33 AM

    jfraser
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    jfraser
    Loc: LA
    Posts: 267, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 1, 2005
    Reply to: AndrewSS

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    ..."I counted four in front and right behind me the other day driving home"
    Yeah, I know what you mean....I've been at a 4 way stop and 3 of the 4 cars have been SL's....

    Mar 29, 2005 5:18:15 AM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: jfraser

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    Thanks. I like the black too. Planned to get Seal Grey, but switched it to black at the last minute. No regrets.

    Mar 29, 2005 6:59:03 AM

    FutchM
    Rennteam Moderator
    Futch
    Loc: EU , United Kingdom
    Posts: 4759, Gallery
    Registered on: May 14, 2002
    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    Quote:
    911Carrera05 said:
    The main problem with the SL was the poor reliability. I cannot recommend that car. In fact, I bought a second car (an X5) six months after I got the SL because I didn't like driving the dealer's loaner C-Class sedans when my 100K car was in their shop getting fixed. When I first bought it in '03 there weren't that many on the road. Now there are tons of them. I counted four in front and right behind me the other day driving home. The SL was a good looking car, but it really was only skin deep...



    I guess it depends jfraser, we've our for over two years now and it's been even more reliable than the 996!
    I believe it's the 55 models that had a lot of problems.
    You really have to know what you want when you buy an SL.
    It is IMO the best convertible in the world bc it fulfills exactly what a cab is made for: Cruising.
    But 911Carrera05 is right, the car is a fat cow, EXTREMELY heavy and if you some spirited driving, by all means, you can, but the experience is not very rewarding. But that roof!!!
    I personally think that the SL and the 997 complement eachother 110%

    Mar 29, 2005 10:35:38 AM

    Outlaw_Hawk
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    Outlaw_Hawk
    Loc: Qatar
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    Reply to: FutchM

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    congrats, I once had 2002 sl500 for 12 months but I trade it for 03 996tt x50, It was the most beautiful car I have ever seen, topaz blue/province blue + dark blue wood, and dont ask me why I sold that one too! but I'm trying to buy it again from its new owner.

    Mar 29, 2005 11:11:47 AM

    Carlos from SpainM
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    Carlos from Spain
    Loc: Spain. , Spain
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    Reply to: Outlaw_Hawk

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    Congrats 911Carrera05!
    I personally think that the SL is a great car, but not a 911 contender, its a great car but for a different purpose/use. If you are a 911 kind of guy as you seem to be, the SL will be disappointing.

    Mar 29, 2005 11:12:33 AM

    Dilinger
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    Dilinger
    Loc: Athens,Greece , Greece
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    Reply to: Outlaw_Hawk

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    nice car carrera05 happy driving !

    Mar 29, 2005 3:50:18 PM

    Ferdie
    Rennteam VIP
    Ferdie
    Loc: Europe , Germany
    Posts: 8234, Gallery
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    Reply to: Dilinger

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    Yeah, have fun in the car!

    I had an encounter with an SL500 on the Autobahn in the 997S. It was a surprising huge difference in acceleration, even the std. 997 should make a noticable difference.

    Of course it is one of the greatest convertibles around and its electronic suspension makes the best out of the heavy thing.
    I personally am hugely in favour for its predecessor due to reliability and overall feel, one of the last true Mercedes in their historic quality.

    I am looking forward to Mercedes products in the future though, since their new CEO Eckhard Cordes HAS to move mountains to keep customers!

    Mar 29, 2005 3:59:47 PM

    Dilinger
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    Dilinger
    Loc: Athens,Greece , Greece
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    Reply to: Ferdie

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    i ve heard mercedes is going to slow in new "gadgets" inside the cars and focus more on reliability.
    It is a fact that advanced electronic quite often go "crazy"
    And mercedes competitive advantage,at least in the past, was quality and reliability.

    Mar 29, 2005 4:07:32 PM

    SoCal Alan
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    SoCal Alan
    Loc: Orange County , United States
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    About a year ago, I was agonizing between a new SL500 and a new 996. Then, the 997 was coming out and I discovered this great website, rennteam. The members on this website helped guide me through to the "right" decision.

    Mar 29, 2005 4:18:03 PM

    Dilinger
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    Dilinger
    Loc: Athens,Greece , Greece
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    Reply to: SoCal Alan

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    i was also in the edge between these 2 models, once, for 1 hour

    Mar 29, 2005 6:22:53 PM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Reply to: Dilinger

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    well once I decided to dump the SL, there was no other choice than a 911. I work on a lot in Hollywood, and I count five other 911s on the same lot on any given day (all 996s, mostly cabs), and only one other SL (a 65!)

    Mar 29, 2005 7:24:45 PM

    napa707michael
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    napa707michael
    Loc: CA
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    Reply to: 911Carrera05

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    So how often do you upgrade your cars

    Mar 29, 2005 7:59:05 PM

    911Carrera05
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    911Carrera05
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    Reply to: napa707michael

    Re: Goodbye SL500 -- Hello 911

    Napa...
    It depends on the car. As I said, the SL lasted 18 mos. Before that I had a new '03 330ci convertible that I sold after 8 mos. because it rattled and BMW couldn't fix it. I owned a '97 E-Class for about three years which I drove cross country, before trading it for an '00 328i which I kept for two and a half years. I think the 911 is a keeper. The Porsche dealer told me after about forty hours behind the wheel I'd "get it". He was right. It's fast, solid, safe and beautiful.
     
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