Faults:

Initial gearbox fault. Cleared the fault codes and has been fine ever since.

General Comments:

A deceptive car, at first you think it's going to be a cruiser for boulevards and the south of France; a bit of posing pouch.

However, after you get to know the car, you find out it really handles like a sports car (albeit a large one.

Motoring with the hood down is one of the more pleasurable experiences in life, and one that I have grown increasingly addicted to.

The 5.0 V8 is an excellent engine and perfectly matched to the SL. Don't be swayed into buying a 320, the car is too heavy for the engine and fuel economy is about the same as the 500. Ignore the 6.0 V12 as it is nose heavy, and if driven with gusto, has an enormous appetite for fuel.

My only criticism of the car is the brakes, they offer very little in way of feel and require quite a shove sometimes to get good stopping power.

I must admit to owning several Mercedes, all of a similar age ,and the cars built in and around the mid 90's are built to such an incredible standard, nothing ever squeaks, rattles or shakes; the ride comfort for an open car is exceptional.

If you are looking to purchase a roadster on a budget, don't look any further; these cars represent the height of Mercedes build quality, and are fitted with some of the finest engines ever made.

Faults:

Brakes failed at speed (turned out to be an electronic problem).

Steering stuck at the dead-ahead position whilst driving (hydraulic problem).

Hydraulic suspension failed whilst driving (clouds of smoke, and the car dropped down onto its bushes).

Electric seat movement stuck in complete forward position.

Seat-belt mechanism failed (warning light came on, took 10 days for the garage to get parts & fix).

Phone software failed (no longer able to answer calls).

Parktronic incorrectly installed.

Fuel flap failed (stuck open).

Regular brake warning lights when starting on cold mornings.

Frequent shut-off of non-essential electric systems (e.g. heated seats).

General Comments:

When this car is working, it is a joy to drive - comfortable, fast, turns heads (still) and the roof is magnificent.

However it is horribly unreliable - in three years it has been back to Mercedes more times than I can count, and I have had too many scary experiences (like the brakes failing while I was driving on the motorway).

Systems testing seems to have been very poor at Mercedes design. The car systems are complicated, but they don't seem to have cross-tested functions or thought about practicalities.

For example, if you press the button that moves the seat fully forwards, and then press the seat UP button, you can crash the computer, which means a trip to a dealer to reset it.

Similarly updating the software for the phone required the dealer to remove the passenger seat.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

This particular car is in good rather than brilliant condition.

The car handles badly (even on a motorway) at speeds in excess of 100mph.

The engine / exhaust noise on a V8 model is better - and probably worth the poor fuel economy.

The interior has lasted amazingly for a car that has done over 110,000 miles. It is spotless.

Faults:

Speedometer head failed shortly after driving it home from the dealer, but he agreed to pay for a replacement.

General Comments:

The build quality of this car is quite staggering, putting other more modern Mercedes cars to shame.

There is no other car that can compete, it has the perfect combination of being a quick, attractive V8 roadster, as well as having superb build quality.

Too many cars of this age and power spend 9 months of the year in the workshop, these cars are made to be driven and enjoyed.