After 16 years of faithful service i came in the heat in the file uphill in Switzerland concluded in 2009

After 16 years of faithful service i came in the heat in the file uphill in Switzerland concluded in 2009 that I saw my age still needed some more luxurious than my beautiful Alfa 2000 Spider 1980 could offer me. These include air conditioning, solid brake and an accelerator pedal which the foot does not have to stand in a corner so you can hardly walk after 1000 kilometers.
Upon returning home with son went to visit van Vliet Nieuwerkerk a / d IJssel for he wanted a long time to go. There stood in the midst of often priceless cars a fire red from the SL series R129. I found very affordable. Now I have a friend who has a 420SL from the series R107. Nice car but has a curious entry and exit because of the (too long) door. Not for me at least. So once again to see how it was with the successor. When the R129 was it not the case, just was very good and entry and exit normally.
Originally grown big on the back of various Mercedes so I had a soft spot for the brand, but my mind was made up; This model had to be it. A piece of German thoroughness.

So went searching over the internet. Not hindered by any technical knowledge selected two cars; 500 in 1993 and 280 in 1996.
To cut a long story; 500 (via dealer in Amsterdam) appeared dilapidated and no documentation, and something Monaco, very vague. By contrast, the 280 in 1996 was very fresh and throbbing story and documentation at Broekema in IJmuiden.
Moreover, modern decor and even navigation! Deal made car and retrieved week later. So when Mercedes and Alfa in the garage.
Summer holidays ridden but soon I wondered what I was doing one of which no longer rode with two cabriolets in the garage. Again visited the Internet and new SL (R230) came into the picture. Were reasonably affordable. Turned out real hard to find someone and 280 and spider wild exchange.
Bergen op Zoom at ICS was one be prepared to do so. There was a topaasblauwe 500 sales and after test drive the greed had risen to unprecedented levels. Blinded and thereby again made with lack of knowledge and technical insight deal and week later picked up this car. It is August 2010, one year after purchase of the first SL.
Ok, the roof opened that far back and did some navigation weird. I also had no idea of the cost of such a car and spare parts prices. But I got it back later. To be continued.....
500 sl Part 2 (74,000 km)Anyway, week retrieved later car and handed two cars. What an episode; nothing by convention, a real disaster. Could just find the service booklets. So get out quickly and forget quickly!
Did strangely not even so much pain to leave the Alfa there. But later it began to gnaw and more than four months later, my ex girlfriend Alfa for 1,000 euros less than the exchange rate taken from that merchant. Was still there as at as I had left him.
What a delight this car! Sufficient power at any speed and fast enough for me. Special and distinguished color to color topaasblauw with ditto interior. Also says something about the previous owner.
On closer inspection turned out to be delivered the car in Luxembourg and after exactly one year and one day be brought to the Netherlands. Then practically stood still maintained by Ruttchen Breda but from 2007. Unfortunately Ruttchen was not willing to give me old notes so I could see what maintenance and / or repairs outside booklets was / were committed. My own dealer could also not found in the system because that is not all centrally controlled. It seemed so logical, especially for MB. So in that respect I in the dark. Now the car was in my possession the party could really begin!

It started with a visit to Alfa Electronics in Rotterdam because of faulty navigation. Perfect case and ditto service; For € 283, - new laser installed and since then no more problems. This command system was replaced in 2006, but acts in my opinion still fine. I drive the car alone is in leisure and holidays.
even as new inner sleeve ordered in the UK because of dust I hate. Also saves a lot of washes! Also a new visor raison from € 165, -. Then realize that it is no ordinary Mercedes.

Then came April 2011 and time for a first turn at position 48 555 km. At ROGAM because around the corner. Would a little turn, but unfortunately the brake discs had to be replaced, etc. around. Together a small € 2000, -. Weather swallow peat but I could again just ahead. Moreover turn it known that price level. In June even replace what upholstery, feathers of the recesses dakscharnieren had lamb so that it was already done. Because other black parts were equal even purchased in good color so that it formed an a whole. Cost around € 645, -.
In July a new battery in the back. Now I do not do everything by the dealer for price difference is sometimes dramatically. Also, the battery does not, really was € 150, -.

Wonderful holiday had in Italy but unfortunately, the air conditioning was not working. I had to solve so again.

But first the roof because it was still very far back. So in September 2011 to the dealer.
After a long search proved to be the tubular frame. Monday was further reported that it was a cylinder for hydraulic but Tuesday - after they had asked to visit another client with a SL - it was still something else. With some little things over € 2800, -. Given the state of affairs after conversation brought back to about € 2000, -. But since then everything ok!
Summer 2012 was approaching, the French Riviera was the target. Surely nice if the air conditioning then functions, especially considering my experiences in Italy.
So in March 2012 to dealer. Turned the entire control panel to the sharks. After a good conversation about quality and Mercedes, etc. I got the unit with 50% discount.
However installation requires expansion dashboard so hup, again approximately € 1750, - direction dealer.
Thought to have now just finished. Nothing was less true!
At 57,000 km state a rattle in the exhaust. My fears were confirmed; catalyst broken. Not original was cheaper but I chose dealer. because I still have a lot of money would be lost also bought some other trim parts so that everything was in color. So I had a little idea that the money was paid to optical improvements so that it was visible. Notes amounted to almost € 3,500, -......
Effortless summer and lots of fun. Via Route Napoleon to the French, what a party! And then spot rides in the lovely, warm summer night along the coast. Really great!
To be continued!
sl500 part 3 (74,000 km)After the holiday time for regular maintenance was a Assyst A, km stand 63 146 dated 13/08/12.
Was more expensive than expected because of new spark plugs. There appeared to be no 8 but 16, a Twin Spark so in order to remain in Alfa terms. Replacing apparently takes more time than regular cars. Cute cost of over € 1500, - but I could again just ahead.
Incidentally, during the replacement of the control unit of the heating module, also the replacement of the remote control. Which is clumsy, therefore the dashboard had to be developed.

Afterwards just had fun and only new tires Continental Sport Contact 5 dated 06.29.13. What a difference! The old tires proved even 7 years old and were somewhat stiff. Valve also revealed all torn! High time for replacement. Costs € 965, - all in. Again not at dealership because they can not access these prices.

Again wonderful holiday had with beautiful routes through SW England. Before leaving for a bit dealership to look at rattling in trunk. Could not find anything, would play on roof mechanism and more than 10 hours of work to restore it. But the roof did more good and could no longer on vacation. Note from € 250, - soon followed.
A week later, of course, on Saturday morning because this kind of thing usually happens at the weekend when the garage is closed, however, proved anything but. Parking lot was not possible to close the roof, last stage refused the system. Meanwhile, light rain roof but then again open. Drove Ford dealership to address dealer but he knew former MB mechanic who had started himself. What close and quickly found.
To set in for analysis and problem within 5 minutes. Tighten all screws were loose or missing making tordeerde entire roof and could not close. After tinkering 3 minutes and 66 pounds the problem was solved. He also said that the beating would be gone. And that was indeed the case.
I'm still talking with dealers about their diagnosis of 10 hours and more .....

Conclusion; fantastic car, I've just been a bit quick with the purchase because many of the failures were present at purchase. Had I be able to save some costs by better inform. History is all so you might have to buy a car with such; up with all notes there! Maybe my car or major back injury had seen problem with roof and different color interior parts.
Consumption is on average 1: 8 but with quiet driving is also 1:10 to realize.
Relaxed as you want and as fast as it should be with a lot of torque.
Travel is not a problem, can bring anything, although the space is to be used behind the front seats.
Costs do fall somewhat disappointing, parts are usually pricey. But actually makes sense, that's just the way a / every car in this price range.
Insurance no point through KNAC WA Plus insured for approximately € 700, - per year.

Must reserve money for costs ABC system because that is apparently a weak link and rather costly to repair faulty. Really hope that's been replaced in part by previous owner for the period in which there arise problems with it can vary considerably. But that information is sadly lacking.

Despite all this, I am still very satisfied with the car. And I now know at least what's happened, and when. However, some cost ....

need short term serviced again. Only question is whether it will still be at the dealership ....
Stuck in P (75 108 km)What I feared was going to happen on Sunday has taken place this year, based on other reviews and discussions with other owners; automatic selector lever in P. fixed guessed that this was the major shortcoming as also described in another review, module failure, and it showed indeed the case. Only came to me at a somewhat lower mileage. Rate of repair is also the same.
Furthermore well arranged with mobility guarantee from Mercedes but I still manage to find a disastrous appearance this. Takes 5 business days for the item inside is as apparent theft sensitive part, just all the key. What does this mean to me unclear.
We also have had weather I guess. Unfortunately, once a year without repair ...
Do have contacted MB Netherlands because I think this is actually a manufacturing flaw given that it happens to every SL and at different mileages. Let's see how they look and if I will still meet there entered.
Come also cater to reader reaction that reliability is valued too high and will downgrade it. Not only on the basis of this experience, had too much first time a pink glasses.
Update (90 425 km)After some silence seemed to me nice and perhaps instructive for others again to schirjven a piece.
Now back quite a few kilometers away. Beautiful journeys through England and the Alps / Italy.
We speak summer 2013. holiday in England a beating in the trunk. Dealer gone to check because I do not like rattles and certainly not when I go on holiday!
Analysis; which cost it at least 10 hours of work but everything checked further and I could just on vacation.
Week later in southern England on Saturday in Brixham (always happens at the weekend); roof would not close and it just started to rain .... Through local Ford dealership refers to former Mercedes mechanic with own garage that specialized in SL. Could it be better? Was also so close with a nice corridor there. Gzd case was open and very friendly reception. Equal inside and get to work. Also told him of beating. Three minutes and 60 pounds later, everything functioned properly and the beating I'd also according to him. That knocked. There appeared several bolts not tightened, or lack making frame / roof properly tordeerde. Why properly checked, why at least 10 hours repair ???
So that was also the end of my relationship with the dealer, which speaks for itself. Now, to the great satisfaction under roof at fa. Vuik in Krimpen a / d IJssel.
Spring 2014 at MaxiPerformance last dampers replace a slightly deeper sound. Neat and careful work delivered great sound and ditto price! Tailpipes have kept original.
Autumn 2014 proved wrong, something that is feared by every rider SL with ABC. All signals in red dashboard !! Strut right to replace, expensive joke, right then leave but preventative automatic flushing.
Also in this connection also visited Automobile Exclusive in northern Germany, a specialist in the area of the ABC system. There as also bought magnetic filter and installed to - once again - to absorb potential preventive iron particles in liquid.
This summer tasty touring France, a beautiful strip is again!

We now live in early 2014. The rugged, Spartan Viking Volvo 440 have lost their lives and just in time I get the precursor for my lease! I will take this to go to customers and will ride approximately about 25.000km per year. An A-segmentation. I fit well with 1.86m. Seats are somewhat small, narrow and hard. Steering wheel is made of plastic and navigation TomTom. Palastic plastic. Minimalistic. Mass production inhibits the costs. 10.5k cost 'ie new. start; the three-cylinder 1.0 eagerly bubbling like crazy. Delicious raw. Delicious spicy!

Okay, to be honest. I prefer European cars. Preferably German, French and Swedish but I can appreciate. And this is a Japanese. Despite the re-badge to C1 and 107, and continues to this car made of, for and by Toyota ...

Boarding. To drive. What is íe economical! What is he bright! In the city he came into its own. Stoplight sprints You do not win; but the opponent is surprised how long the little Jap lags! A small biter. The handling is good for such a small car. Sends fine, parking is a big party and this car will let you criticize everything: Technically I'm not getting broken.

Thirsty? Hó it! You should do your best to get under 1:20! Even with my rather clumsy right foot. The few Japanese will do everything it can to keep your money in your wallet. Price / quality is top notch! Especially in the '' moving '' costs (onderoud, petrol, sat., ACT). Unmatched. Because of this depreciation also is relatively moderate. A budget-topper! For the lease driver. Think about it; 14% bite up to a value of 10,500 ?! I give another round in the pub!

Ah yes, the problem of a city budget topper ... The big scary (quick) way. I often drive long distances and often in Germany. On the Autobahn, one should not arrive with a 1.0. He's not made for. Is not its habitat. In the Netherlands meets the Aygo. With speeds of up to 130km / h there is nothing wrong. Moreover, the Japanese retired from his comfort zone. And the driver literally. It is not a freeway tiger and will not ever be. But a very good city car. And also a budget-topper. You definitely get value for money.

After eight months I'm exchanged; Time for a company car that loves the highway. Time for a diesel. See the following review.


Conclusion:
The Japanese is good. Robust and extremely frugal with your hard-earned money. Reason alone nearly unmatched. Yet he is not as good as its German competitor; VW Up !. Which is slightly more sophisticated, and in terms of interior and infotainment. About appearance can argue and also on the autobahn they do not do much for each other. But all the pluses and minuses: The VW Up! wins. And that a substantially similar price tag.