I have left the RX8...its been fun yall...
 

Well, after 8 years of :beer05::D::icon_tup::Eyecrazy::lol::jump::dragste r::bling::tear::scared::anger: I have finally retired the RX8. 1 Transmission, 2 engines, a rear axle, and a rear differential still don't equal up to the fun and times I have had in this car. Its been to every state in the south except Florida. After, a final tune up and a final year of about $4000 in maintenance and 110,000 miles I decided to trade it in. I also felt that as I am now a dentist - I needed to start moving up the ladder to my holy grail of vehicles...the 911:bowdown: Well I made an interim stop on the way to 911. A 06 SL500 with an extended warranty...the most beneficial modification available on those cars. I miss the braking and agility of the RX8, but the torque is pretty intoxicating. Yea its faster than the RX8 - but not by a big big margin. The comfort, slightly better mpg of the car, and prestige has helped ease my memories of the RX8. Its been real RX8'ers. :beer05:

sry to hear but congrats. speaking of 500sl im trying to locate a sc kit for a 1990. any suggestions? i emailed barabus allready

Renntech may be your best bet for a r129 SL. There are some pretty fast ones out there that have been boosted.

thanx and gl

When I think Mercedes, I don't think prestige, I think expensive car that falls apart a lot. lol

Hope you enjoy it, but they are not know for build quality any more, that is for damn sure.

I feel your pain, but i know you will miss the rx8. Anyway, good luck with the new ride.

Pics of new ride? lol

your on your way up with the SL500 for sure. but, hmm, one thing that concerns me ......does that mean no more free teeth cleaning for an 8 owner? hah , jk....good luck on your new ride.

btw guys the kit im looking for is not for me. its for one of my bros customers.

+1 on the pics op

Thankfully myself or other folks don't agree. My folks have had Benz in the house for a minute. My mom currently has a 98 SLK230 with 115,000 miles and it has never seen a tow truck. My folks also have a 2003 E500 with 68,000 miles and they have no complaints. What I will say about benz is that they are very expensive when something does go wrong - which is why a warranty is a must. On the SL for example the ABC suspension system is a problem area and can break the bank open. I'm not concerned because I am covered under warranty though. Besides. a statement like 'they are not known for build quality' is a little hypocritical coming from one RX8 owner to a former loyal owner :p: Don't ya think.
I'll post some pics soon.

Reliability ratings say more than what your folks think. Simple fact is the late 90's through about 2010 Mercs had very poor reliability ratings as a whole. Not so much drive line issues, just everything else. Hell, even Top Gear used to rip on them in those days.

Yea, no arguing that, I can only talk from personal experience. I see that you have an 09 rx8...you may not know that you are the pot calling the kettle black yet. I loved the rx8, but it by far was the most expensive to maintain and unreliable car I ever had...surprisingly my FD was more reliable. So buckle up, get to know your mechanic, banker, and this forum inside out. If I wasnt a damn dentist I feel like I could open up a rotary mx shop with the amount of shop time ive had with it.

My point is it's not really a move up. I'm not sure about Texas, but here in MN Merc is nothing to get excited about. Most of the "prestige" crowd drive Audi's and BMW. The higher ups are in Land Rover's and few Maserati's. There is a bit of a gap where Merc used to be. Most ass holes drive Audi though. lol

Personally I rather have a car that is unique and speaks to me, rather than prestigious. I could care less what others think. I never have cared what others think.

Minnesota...LOL,

That is a different argument all together and we could go tit for tat about prestige vs. non prestige BMW vs. Merc, Coke vs. Pepsi, etc. To argue that an RX8 and SL are on the same plane is slightly laughable on several levels. We might as well compare an H1 hummer to a Fiat as far as I'm concerned. The only BMW that I like is the M3, I came close to getting one but I felt it was too juvenile. Audi really is boring to me personally, save for the R8. I like the A5/S5 but they have boring interiors and I see them everywhere here - they are also not that engaging.

If you want a car that speaks to you...you have the right car, the RX8 will really start to speak to you soon - right in that pocket so get ready newbie. To each his own I suppose. I have always liked the SL and it does speak to me, its the polar opposite of the RX8 though - once I started having those 4 figure maintenance bills on a car that was not really worth it IMO, got stranded several times throughout the year, I had to move on. I loved the RX8, but as it got older - I needed a car that actually worked. I made and still make excuses that the RX8 is a great car and drive blah blah blah, but at the end of the day I gotta get to my destination sometimes lol. Enjoy the RX8 - drive the shit out of it while you can. I don't think any long standing owner will tell you they are reliable though.

500SL? Old man car, bro.

Why didn't you just get a 911 again? If cost was an issue, why wouldn't you get a Cayman before a 911?

Cost was the issue because I really like the 991, I decided to wait till it was more feasible, I'm trying to do a lot more right now than spend $115-$130K on a car. Second - I like the Cayman, but not enough to buy one - I know how well it performs and honestly it handles much better than a 911 from my driving experience - but I am not really a big fan of the design and size of the Cayman. Third - and most importantly, I like the SL, it has always been my second choice. BMW really doesn't sell anything that I am interested in - the last 6 series is hideous to me and the new one is a little to plain, nice looking though. The M3, I felt was just a little too juvenile - I wanted something different from the RX8. Audi is simply ok - the only one I gave 1/2 of a chance to was the S5 and it really didn't do it for me like I thought it would.

And you don't think you will get 4 figure repair bills with a Merc???..lol...you are being very naive .....how about close to 5 figure bills for ANY German made car when dealer repairs are done or any repairs for that matter.

why are you all hating...
let the man enjoy his car, it`s not up to you to tell him if he made a good or a bad choice. Ratings show this rating show that, look at the rx8, do you honestly think they are more reliable then mercs lol... even Alfas are more reliable.
props on the new toy :) SL`s are the nicest merc`s to me by far.

and he has a warranty lol, if it`s not a rotary its no good.... relax people.

Completely agree. My friend needed a new transmission for his 3 series, came close to $10,000.

Who said I didnt think that? Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups as they said in Under Seige.

I've got a warranty. I'm not new to German cars at all, like I said my folks have two of them as it is. I can tell you from personal experience that the RX8 was by far the most unreliable car I have ever had experience with, I just can't say the same about the Mercedes that we have had. I know what Top Gear and consumer reports say, I've done my homework and I know the problem areas on the SL - believe me it was not a blind purchase. I would not buy any german car (or any car) without a warranty. Also AMEN at SHAZY.

Good luck with the SL, nice looking car. I have a feeling though you will go for a 911, sooner than later. You will miss the true sports car feel. Good used 996 911's can be had for a reasonable price, but I assume you want someone new or almost new from your choice. Have fun with the new ride.

The SL is very nice. I have a soft spot for the AMG version in particular. 06/07 SL55 would be my choice. The reliability of any car comes down to proper maintenance and recognizing the signs of potential issue. BTW, just like you doc, the 911 (turbo) is my holy grail :)