Used 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible Consumer Reviews
Used SL-Class for sale
Wish I would have gotten one sooner!
Joe, 09/23/2015
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
Was shopping for a Mustang GT when I came across this beauty. One test drive and I was hooked. After having owned many sports cars their is no comparison. I have had C3, C4, C5 Corvettes, Many Mustangs, MGB's, MR5's, 350Z's, just to name a few. Not one of them could even come close to the fit and finish of this Mercedes. I was parked right next to a brand new Corvette at a car show so I had plenty of time to study the fine details of the paint etc. Mind you my Mercedes is already 14 years old. Looking close at the Vet then at the Mercedes it was no contest! The paint on the Vet had small waves in it the Mercedes was like a mirror. The materials used in the interior of the Corvette looked like they came from Walmart. Fourteen years old and the thick leather and plush carpet still look new on the Mercedes. The car oozes quality. Granted the Corvette looked way more flashy and in race would win hands down. But if I had to drive cross country the SL500 would be my pick. At 80 mph I was able to let go of the steering wheel and let the car track down the road straight as an arrow. The car handles as if it is on rails, very stable and just a joy to drive.
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The SL experience
Ron Boatright, 03/11/2006
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have a beautiful '85 SL and an '04 E series for my wife and this 500 is the bomb. You feel special driving this car and it is the classic MB roadster experience. The handling is very responsive considering the weight of the car. The 18" rubber helps. The performance is all you ever need (I'm willing to give up a little hair raising bullet speed for more creature comforts at my age). The torque is story here and just keeps coming. Very smooth and responsive. The cabin is very comfortable and at speed with the hard top on, you're hard pressed to remember you're not in a fixed top coupe. The trunk is ample and will hold a set of golf club or several shopping bags
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Classic open road cruiser!
stefano, 12/25/2009
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
This SL500 wasn't my first choice. I went to a dealer to look at a 2002 Porsche Carrera convertible but it had just been sold. The sales guy asked me if I'd like to look at a low mileage SL500. I'm glad I did. The triple black AMG SL500 had only 8K on the clock and looked new. Then I drove it. It's a classic cruiser, not a sports car but who cares! It's fast, beautiful and a blast to drive with the top down.
Timeless Roadster, Fun for Everyday
Al_hiFi, 03/06/2006
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
This roadster is making presence on the road, parking lot or garage. Puts a smile on owners face every time is driven. Abundant performance, whisper quiet with the top down. It feels very safe to be in on the road even when surrounded by SUV's. Hardtop feature is extremely usefull when cold and it improves body flex. Sport package must to have since it makes this car to stand out of the crowd and it helps to keep the resale value. Reliability is far better than new R230. Everything in this car is overbuild for quality, but you pay the price in extra weight and extra $$. Great highway cruiser.
Exceptional SL600 (R129 series)
F1 Strategies, 10/12/2008
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL600 2dr Convertible (6.0L 12cyl 5A)
46 of 63 people found this review helpful
Exceptional 2001 SL600; purchased pre-owned from a dealer who'd gotten from the orignal owner. Totally stock,black, V12, 275/35 18s in back, 245/40 18s front, only 11,000 miles! Guess it just wasn't cool anymore for the country-club. Built like classic Benz cars were in-the-day. Heavy - more of a GT than a sports car; wonderful to cruise on the highway at any speed. V12 engine with 48-valves is a symphony. 5-speed automatic. Torque like locomotive. Low-down, brooding-and-mean looking, but a total gentleman. Leather everywhere. Wonderful, can border on scary-fast acceleration, but totally controlled Well cared-for examples are known to be reliable if maintained.
Best all around driving automobile!
Tyman, 01/29/2009
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL600 2dr Convertible (6.0L 12cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2001 SL500 from a dealership in Calfornia two weeks ago and drove it to Idaho. This Mercedes is the best all around automobile that I have ever had the pleasure of driving. The handling was fantantic, the performance is unbelievible, especially at top end. My other two super performance cars are a 03 & a 06 Z06 Corvettes which are dream cars, but the Mercedes is just the total package. An all around great driving car. You just feel great driving in it. My Mercedes is Red with Black leather interior. It has 44,000 miles on it. An engineering marvel!
Bullet Proof
John Phin, 09/05/2016
updated 03/25/2024
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've owned my SL 500 for five years. No, as in none, maintenance expense beyond routine oil and fluid changes. I bought it with 42,000 miles. 48,000 now. Suburban driving only. A/C is great in Arizona summers. Cars and Coffee monthly, Club car shows, out to dinner a couple of times a month and now being used for routine trips too. We have a CLS 550 and a GLE 350 as well so quite familiar with the Mercedes-Benz brand. Two previous owners: None under 65. The high beams didn't work when we got the car...probably never out at night! After a couple of on/off high beam flashes, the high beams started working fine. So it goes with the car. Subsequently, traded on a 2013 SL 550 with 7,000 miles and warranty to seven years. Why? Easy to drop the top, dynamic seats, ventilated seats, lots of safety features enjoyed on CLS and GLE. Sigh every time a 129 SL passes. I traded the car in on a R231 SL550 as the new technology was appealing as was the trade-in price offered by my retailer...he had a buyer for a concours quality R129. I miss the lovely colors and analog driving experience...until I want to put the top down or listen to my music.
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A Great Value as a Used Car
Leonard, 08/13/2017
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
The newest of the R129 cars (last built in 2001) is now 16 years old. Automotive engineering has progressed a long way in the interim. My daughter told me that her 2014 Nissan Altima rides better than my 2001 SL 500 and I agree with her. That said, the R129 is one fine automobile. No Mercedes Benz is a sports car but they corner well and have a comfortable ride even if they don't quite match the highway ride of a new car. What's not to like about a 300+ horsepower vehicle that gets 26 mpg on the freeway and has a smooth shifting 5-speed automatic that always seems to be in the right gear or quickly downshifts to a lower gear for any situation? The car was @$84,000.00 new. Fourteen years later I bought it with 37,500 miles on the car for @15% of the original purchase price. Things that I don't like about the car- my SL is a few inches longer than my 2015 Mercedes GLK250 but has less driver leg room (it has enough legroom for my 6'-01" frame but it is not excessive); the beautiful chrome 18" sport wheels need regular waxing or they will rust in a heartbeat and MB strongly cautions against the use of chains and/or cable chains on these rims (not convenient in a region where the occasional surprise snowfall happens); the view backing out of a parking space is not as good as I would like; the car has been very reliable, the local MB dealer less so. Overall a fine car that is lots of fun to drive.
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Life is boring without a Mercedes benz!
LIBWAMB3, 12/08/2005
2001 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Just picked the car up last week. My second MB. First was a 2000 CLK 320 Cab. Loved that one. This one is an absolute monster! Perfect blend of sport and luxury! The car has unbelievable road manners. Will give you more than enough power to pass just about anything on the road while still giving me that classic MB experience. Much better suited to my driving habits compared to my CLK. I hope this thing lasts a very long time...I'm expecting it to.