My Evaluation of 1996 SL-500

[Hesam]

After months of driving my 96 SL500 I can say that this car is made with a superior quality than older SL's. 1996 is the first of three years (96-97-980 that offer 5-speed automatic, plus side airbags, plus quad cam 315HP/345ibs torque and better gas mileage (16-23mpg) all together and it's made by Mercedes not Chrysler.
The injectors are similar to Honda VTEC's and trasmission is smooth even at my car's 92000 miles.
I've seen similar SL's with over 200,000 miles but people don't over use these beauties so it's not easy to know just how long they's last.
Key/remote combo sells for $190 at dealers.
Brake pedal travels a bit too long before it reaches the end making smooth braking difficult since you rarely know howfar more you gotta push, but when it reaches the end it stops fast.
Ride is firm and sporty.
hard top separates with a push of 1 button and 2 people can lift it manually afterwards. Or buy a $250 lifter and hook up to garage roof. The soft top easily lowers with the same switch.
Car has a great stereo and mine has the optional trunk mounted 6-disc factory changer.
Beware of the plastic tow-hook cover plate (just below front bumper a little toward passenger side), the plate falls and gets lost if you hit a curb. To prevent that, tie the back of it to the tow-hook with a fishing line.
Use only full-synthetic oil. Every 4000 miles.
Change transmission fluid every 10,000 miles if you like to keep it trouble free.
Engine has great power up to 155MPH. use lower gears when going downhil or the heavy car speeds up and you'll ruin your brake pads.
I do not recommend aftermarket computer chips to bypass factory limits. You wouldn't wanna have a missile when going downhill in Tahoe. Factory limits are far more than you'd ever need on slow American highways.
Car gives you 6.3 sec 0-60 and 155mph just the way it is.
Oh, in case you didn't know, now whoever that owns a Mercedes, used or new, any model, now gets free roadside assitance by calling their direct 800 number. I only paid $13000 for my SL and I love the value. That's a $80,000 discount for a AMG-sport package goreous roadster.