I am amazed by the sheer amount of coverage the spy shots of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster is getting. As part of my Agent duties here at AutoSpies.com I have the dubious task of reviewing and either approving or denying the stories which get submitted. And behind the scenes I can tell you the task is daunting.
The general rule of thumb is those who have submitted an article or topic first usually gets top billing unless the story has already been written by one of the Agents, or in the case of multiple stories on the same topic, the one with the most up to date information or more inclusive with pictures typically wins out. When the same story is submitted twice in a matter of minutes, the one that has pictures attached always gets approved over the one without.
And that is what has amazed me the most this week, the volume of articles submitted that center around the SLR McLaren. I don't know about you, but I think the current SLR is a BORING car. In case you glossed over my last statement, let me say it for you again, I THINK THE CURRENT SLR IS A BORING CAR.
Sure, you can sit there and quote statistics and the like, but for me the car does nothing. Our local Mercedes dealer has a SLR on the showroom floor. Has had it there for almost 2 years now. The owner who bought the car never even took it off the showroom floor, treating it more as an investment versus a toy. Smart perhaps, but for me a car is meant to be driven and enjoyed.
Styling wise, the proportions are wrong. The hood is too long and the rear deck is to short. The tail lights look funny, and the side gills are although a nice touch, do nothing to hide the mass of the front end. The design suggests that every past great Mercedes design element be combined onto this one vehicle in the process creating what I would call a design disaster.
And yet with bated breath we wait for round two. THE REPLACEMENT.
This car is so uninteresting to me, that I have had a hard time staying awake to simply write the article!
But am I wrong? I love cars, if I had the cash right now I would have a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in my garage. If I had the cash right now I would have a S63 in my garage as well (for my wife of course) along with my current M3. If I had the cash, I would have a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. AND I WOULD DRIVE EACH OF THESE CARS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
But I would not have the SLR. NO DESIRE at all.
There is no mystique surrounding the car other than the fact people have plunked down money equal to that which would buy a decent house in most of the country for a car that is BORING.
And I am sure the list has already started to form to purchase the replacement. Or has it? I read an article last year stating that Mercedes-Benz was having a hard time selling the SLR thereby accelerating enhancements and updates to keep the car fresh.
Mercedes-Benz builds great cars, but I would take the SL65 Black Series, heck I would even take the SL63 or SL550 over the SLR any day of the week. And knowing that if I was going to spend the money on the SLR I could instead buy the SL65 Black Series, SL63 and the S550 for the same money, the choice would be clear.
Confirm my suspicions that I am not the only one bored silly by the SLR, chime in to tell me your opinion. And hey, if you love the SLR that is OK as well, tell me why. Try to sell me on the virtues I must be missing. I am curious to hear your arguments.