1998 Mercedes-Benz Other for sale $14,995
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz Other $14,995 | |
| Car Ad from: Hemmings View Original Ad | |
| Price: | $14,995 |
| Contact: | View Original Ad from Hemmings |
| Location: | Fort Worth, TX |
| Details: |
I dont envy the Mercedes engineers whose job it was to replace the venerable R107 line of SL roadstersand#44; but when the all-new R129 showed upand#44; it was an unequivocal home-run. This 1998 SL500 is an nice example of Mercedes technological tour-de-force and represents one heck of a big bang for a very small pile of bucks. The SL has always been sleekand#44; purposefuland#44; and dignifiedand#44; with a healthy dose of performance under the surface. In bright Imperial Redand#44; this one is definitely an extrovert and remains an imposing symbol of affluence anywhere in the world. It was hugely expensive when it was newand#44; and with typical Mercedes-Benz standardsand#44; the fit of the body panels is really impressiveand#44; even 18 years later. The doors close with precision usually reserved for cars with solid roofsand#44; the gaps are so tight you cant even fit a fingertip in themand#44; and with the color-matched bumper and rocker panel moldingsand#44; it has a very sporty demeanor indeed. A recent detail has brightened this cars high-quality paintand#44; and the only real demerit is a small dent on the hoodand#44; but even with the mileage on this oneand#44; road rash is really minimal. The imposing grille with three-pointed star is almost as good as a plow for getting slower traffic out of your wayand#44; and from the rearand#44; the distinctive fluted Mercedes-Benz taillights are a nod to the previous generation. Where the R129 got a big upgrade is insideand#44; where the formerly austere and basic SL interior transformed into a world-class driving environment that even hedonists wouldnt complain about. Comfortable tan leather buckets adjust in every possible directionand#44; the wheel tilts and telescopesand#44; and all that wood is real wood. It shows light wear on the drivers seatand#44; including a small hole where its worn throughand#44; but againand#44; with a $100and#44;000 discountand#44; this car doesnt ask for many sacrifices. Everything was standardand#44; from power windows and locks to automatic climate controland#44; and the powerful AM/FM/CD stereo is powerful enough to be heard at triple-digit speeds with the top down. And speaking of the topand#44; its black canvas that is fully automatedand#44; stowing itself beneath a hard cover behind the seats. Theres also a pop-up roll bar with wind blockerand#44; as well as a matching hardtop. Nice! The 500 in SL500 refers to the 5.0 liter DOHC V8 that lives under the hood. Making a robust 322 horsepowerand#44; it catapults the roadster with the kind of effortless ease that you get fromand#44; sayand#44; the catapults on an aircraft carrier. Theres a V8 bellow from the exhaust that sounds like LeMans at nightand#44; and it turns out that the engine is virtually bulletproof in the real world. This one shows plenty of care under the hood where its not only cleanand#44; but meticulousand#44; further evidence of an owner who treated this car as more than mere transportation. The 5-speed automatic transmission snaps to attention with the poke of the throttleand#44; and the all-new multi-link suspension is a vast improvement over the old swing axle setup used on earlier SLs. Powerful discs with ABS will keep you safeand#44; and those handsome alloy wheels wear 16-inch Yokohama radials for impressive handling and impressive ride quality. Still every bit the status symbol it was when newand#44; this SL is also quite a bargain today. Call now! |