The new one is a great car, but I shan't be swapping my now 'old' version for one because they've halved the size of the boot and swapped the metal folding roof for a tent! The big draw of my SL is the ability for it to be a 'proper' coupe (rather than a soft top) that I don't have to worry where I park it, and a surprisingly practical car for things like the airport run (getting cases in the boot). It's a shame, because I really don't know what I will change it for when the time comes.

Back in March I traded in my GLC 300, and bought a SL 450. I'm absolutely in love! ❤ While the new version has newer technology, I really don't care for the addition of a back seat. In my opinion, it removes the romantic drama of a roadster and just makes it another cabriolet. I will tell you that on chilly nights the neck scarf feature is an amazing thing (especially in concert with the heated seats). With Mercedes making the new SL's only available in the AMG versions I'm not sure what I'll do when it comes time to trade in. The AMG price point is significantly higher. On a vehicle with a already heavy price tag. Thank you for making this video!

They have destroyed the SL. In your own words the rear seat is mainly for bags & the boot is smaller. Not only that but the hardtop is gone in favour of a soft top that someone can put a knife in. I am on my third Mercedes SL as they are a fantastic car. I will not be buying a 4th. Why did they need a soft top.

I’m going to agree with what a lot of people are saying here: the rear seats are pretty useless and detract from the new car being an attractive roadster plus the loss of a hardtop is I think a mistake. That said, I like the overall shape of the new SL, that is until the rear seats come into view. So, if given the choice, I would opt for the latter SL. Sorry Mercedes, I think you’ve got this one wrong.

Like the old version Mercedes SL compare to New version Mercedes SL

I haven't been this in love with a SL since Bruno Sacco created the one I currently own today...the New ones that AMG took over are the best hands down thus far!!

Thanks, Nick, for the update and comparison.

Correct. All SL models have electric seats and yes, some have a massage option. I have the massage option on mine and I literally turn it on each time I get in the car.

Feels like Christmas is here already Nick. Now I know what to tell my wife what I want for Christmas this year😊👍🇲🇹🇬🇧🙏

The interior on the new one looks awesome and those led screens on the steering wheel look well cool

That new SL55 is gorgeous inside and out. Nice rumbly V8 too 👍

Such a beautiful ride and love the sound of the new SL

New SL is stunning 😍, thank you Nick.

Thanks for this Nick. I’m ordering the AMG 43 premium plus in the summer for delivery on March 1 next year and I’m so excited

Obviously you totally ignored the old SL's single best feature: the glass convertible roof. But once you live with a proper Panorama Roof complete with adjustable tinting, there's no backsliding to the cloth top life. Mercedes spent 20 years showing us folding hardtops make for superior convertibles. A glaring omission past SL drivers notice. Another reason R230 AMG values are appreciating in America.

Thanks for this look in the future Nick! My preference goes to the 2023 model , but my bank account says “stay with your new GLAe 😊 “

I specced the cheapest SL 43 as a comparison with my current SL400. The new one is £108,805 otr my current one is valued at £27,000 with 21K on the clock. Quite a big chunk of money to change my current car which ,in my opinion, has the futher benefit of a real hardtop and a panoramic roof. Also the new SL is 80kg heavier!

Hi Nick, new subscriber here. I’m with a lot of the comments from other SL owners here having owned three SL’s myself over the last 14 years, 2003 SL350, 2014 SL500 and just bought a 2017 SL500 with 12,500 on the clock. This new AMG ‘SL” isn’t an SL at all. The rear seats are a useless waste of space, the boot is very small and the fabulous vario roof is no more. Trendy but ergonomically flawed touchscreen. Added to which the price is eye watering. A cynical use of the SL badge by MB on a car which doesn’t deserve it. Best, TonyS

The new SL Nick , hands down for sure!

slightly gutted you didn’t race how fast the roof takes on each to open/close but great idea comparing outgoing and incoming models side by side, loved the video!

Imagine us Yoda Nick touring Europe in the summer with all that power. I think the Alps would be amazing for us ❤

I've asked Santa for mine but I don't think I've been good enough this year.

Nice review Nick, but it’s a new AMG gt convertible, and should be compared to that model and not the SL. Merc essentially rebadged the AMG to keep the SL name alive but I still love my SL400. Maybe compare to the AMG gt and see the changes? Good review though. Thanks.

Another great video. I’m on my 3rd Merc in two years . Picking up on Tuesday 😂

One more to add: how to get the satnav to give just roads like other apps ie Google map and Waze

I’ll keep my R231, thanks. It, too, has space behind the seats, has a well insulated hard top and, when new, cost me a lot less than the latest offering. If MB offered a version £30k cheaper, I’d consider the new one. Why pay for two useless seats?

I am still a keeper of my SL 400. The shape and roadster, with hard top, beats the new SLs. (And depreciation since Covid has been non-existent). The Centre Console Screen on the new SL may have been "thought about" but not thought about enough imo. Why? Because it may tilt but it doesn't swivel! The further forward one sits the more "edge-on" the view will be. Being short-legged I wonder about the visibility and whether the dtiver's head turn to the left will be too much or too distractive from the head-on view?

Hi Nick, the steering wheel buttons on my new SL43 don't always light up when the ignition is switched on. Is there a reason for that? I was trying to close the rear spoiler manually after cleaning but couldn't do it because the buttons did not light up. The manual says the rear spoiler can be closed using the multi-media system but doesn't explain how. Could I just say "hey mercedes, close rear spoiler?

SL65 Black Series for me

...is that one mine? Thanks Nick 👍😃

This is an optional request could you do a full ntg 5.0 infotainment system review

Dear Nick, what mode do we use for snow and icy road?

The new cars are beautiful, I have the prior US model such as what you have shown. Here in the USA dealers are marking the new ones up by $80k which is laughable. As nice as the new ones are I would never pay $80k over sticker. Never. I also think it was a mistake getting rid of the hard top for the soft. With the hard top I am convertible when I want, or I can look like a normal coupe when I want. Most don't even know I have a convertible until I drop the top. No matter how they try to justify that move they have removed the new car from remaining a true roadster. Also the "all up/down" widow control you showed in the new SL is not new. Our all up/down button is in the section where the top control is and puts all four windows up, or down at the same time. Nothing new there. The new cars rear seats are nothing more than spaces for bags, which is fine, but they should have called it a bag area, etc. No adult and not many children can fit back there.It has been tried in other vides and it is not a practical back seat. The new boot is not "technically smaller" than the prior boot. It is "actually smaller" Very, very nice car the new one, but not worth $180k and they dropped the ball by getting rid of the hard top.

Let’s see. Smaller trunk, useless back seats, soft top vs quiet secure hardtop, tablet with glare rather than buttons which don’t require taking eyes off the road…yes I will keep my current SL400.

Ive just returned from a 3500 mile european trip to Puglia and back with a great number of alpine passes on the way. The bigger boot was useful plus the SL400 has plenty of space behind the seats for hand luggage if only a little less than the new one. I would like to see an insert for the seats that protected the leather and made them into luggage freindly space

I hate that screen in the middle. It is going to age so bad. They should have used a smaller screen and a rotary dial.

you're comparing the sl83 to the base sl400?

Harmon kardon for the older one hmm interesting its not Burmeister.

Just look at the two cars do you think it Justifys nearly 80 Thousand pounds more?

yup like the new one Nick ermm how much though ?

old sl`s but is much nicer, much much much nicer

softtop ugh

the new SL is far too expensive and in my opinion not justifiable . i have a previous SL 500 and is a good car . for the money asked for a new SL you are in Porsche territory and i know which one i would choose - with better residuals to boot .

Why i think the older SL is better 1) Hard Top plus the panoramic Roof Which even if you wanted you cant get on the New Sl 2) i Dont like having a Ipad as my instrument base as this Car should look Classic 3) seats in the Back of the New Sl is a waste of space 4) it dosnt have the automatic wind protecter 5) The price is to Much for what you get compared to Before so to sum it up the Major issue for me is The Bagage space No hard top no automatic wind breaker and the new car just dosnt seem like a SL yes design looks nice but the comfort from the model before is not there Here is a Man that knows hes Sl`s kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hqiHq62hp5OVlXU.html Its more Like Porsche than a Sl

Who cares ? They're both suited for old codgers.

It’s a Chinese car with Chinese owned company with poor plastic quality, technology failed all the times, the distronic radar function is poor on protecting the car from the lane change on curves and Dingle around the lane left to right and right to left.

stunning car.. frankly can't choose.. as the old sl had a different philosophy.. 😏🧓.. its just great nevertheless the new one got a pill from amg.. but am just curious about the lineup in the future.. is a coupe and corvertible ala s classe still viable.. Anyway great cars and lets hope the best for you and everyone for the future. 👍