CD Article: 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

[dave]

  You say people wouldn't cross-shop the NSX and XL because the NSX is a track car, then go on to say people will cross shop the 911 with the SL?  The Porsche has more in common with the NSX than it does the SL.

People buying any of these cars new are in all likelihood not taking them out to track days anyway.  So they're all buying them to be seen in.  No reason they wouldn't cross-shop the NSX and the SL when new.

I agree they wouldn't cross-shop the S2000, though...

A Porsche Carrera Cabrio is pretty comparable to the SL.  An NSX is not.  Just about every car rag has done luxury cabrio comparisons with the cars I listed above (including the Porsche 911).
I'm just saying that they're totally different cars.  Sure, people may look at both the NSX and SL...if they have NO idea what they want.  If they want a performance car, they'll end up in the NSX.  If they want a luxury cruiser, the'll end up in the SL.

[wing]

I was following an SL 550 yesterday going 40km/h around my curvy drive home hitting the brakes before every turn it was driving me batty!

[dave]

I was following an SL 550 yesterday going 40km/h around my curvy drive home hitting the brakes before every turn it was driving me batty!

  Exactly.  Typical SL driver.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Jag XK would probably be the closest competitor, no? Then 6-Series and 911.

[initial_D]

They might be in different leagues, but that doesn't mean people don't cross-shop them.  My old man went from an NSX to a Porsche to an SL.

That just says a man getting a lot softer with age. 

[safristi]

  hey I'll have ya know my UPPER LIP is as STIFF as ever............nice cars ALL those being bandied about and I wouldn't kick any of them out my Garage (IF I HAD ONE  ).......man those depreciation numbers sure HURT a regular guy...$70 K in 4 years............YIKES.........well it is a different ball game in the TOP 5%.......would that we all could be there.......Yeah Boulevarding onna Sat night brings back the memories of a house mate who somehow swagged a red convertible Vette with a phone...in those days it was an actual house type dial phone hooked into the car with a range of about 5 miles of Yonge & Bloor...he gave it to me and a Welsh roomie one Sat Night (bigger fool HIM).....we cruised!!!! and fake phoned in B/S calls all over downtown...talk about a babe magnet...we had ta fight them off with anto_AXE  serum.... okay but we got looks and a few ride alongs...all the #'s received  were  bogus..bar ONE........

   As Manney said a HOT CAR is the best crumpet catcher known to man............

[Demosthenes X]

That just says a man getting a lot softer with age. 

He loved the NSX, but it proved unreliable.  Complete transmission rebuild...  ugh.  And it was ten years old.  He's not opposed to going back to a 911, so I'm not sure you can say it's just a matter of "getting soft" (although that's probably part of it it!).  I'm waiting for used R8s to hit the market at something approaching a reasonable price, and the point him in that direction.