2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Long-Term Road Test

Although it costs nearly as much as a 458 Italia or a Gallardo, when you drive the SLS people don't hate you, they like you.

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lowprofile

While I've not personally experienced driving the Mercedes, you have some interesting and astute observations on how people react to exotic car drivers. I think you are mostly correct. There's no way to drive a newer Ferrari or Lambo without looking like a pretentious SOB trying to flaunt your wealth in the face of most others who can't afford a house that costs less than your car. Whether you're pretentious or not, you can't change the way others look at it.

duck87

It's because those cars tend to be flamboyant, obnoxious, and in some cases pretty tacky. That being said, you can probably get away with driving a Ferrari F458 if you get it in a muted color like grey or black rather than yellow or red. You have no chance of getting away in any Lamborghini.

The 911 and the SLS fly under the radar because they look good ("classic", in the case of the Ford GT and the 911) but they aren't super flashy either.

darthbimmer

I agree with the previous comments about the SLS and GT having more conservative or classic styling that helps them fly under the radar. In addition, these are both halo cars that sit at the top of very broad ranges of models. There's a Benz that nominally starts at $30k. Fords start at, what, $12k? The cheapest Ferrari or Lambo is $200k, so there's no way to drive one of those that DOESN'T say "conspicuous 1%er".

mfennell

Maybe because it's "old" (2000) or because it's not red (titanium) but I can honestly say I've not had one single negative reaction to my 360 in the 2+ years I've had it, even when it was your-car-makes-my-daughter-cry loud. Car people love it, normal people seem mostly indifferent though they sometimes compliment its appearance.

Maybe it's a regional thing.

stovt001_

My guess is that it has to do with brand, along the lines of what Darth Bimmer was saying. The average man on the street knows a Ferrari or Lambo cost at least multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, does the average man on the street know how much more an SLS costs than your average C-Class? (admittedly still a pricey segment, but nonetheless somewhat attainable) or how much more the Ford GT is than a Mustang? In America especially brand perceptions seem to carry more-than-propotional weight than actual model value. That's why MB and BMW haven't sold their cheaper, entry-level European offerings here until now, and VW's Phaeton went absolutely nowhere.

bassrockerx

People will judge you no matter what you drive. to most people a car is like clothing that you wear everywhere you go. i get judged by driving my honda fit somehow makes me effiminate or a hippie. i will drive the speed limit and people will honk and road rage for me going slow and blow past me but when i drive my lexus coupe going the speed limit people keep their distance.

you can't base a car decision based on what other people will think because most likely you wont be that happy although too many are too concerned about others so its no wonder the "top 10" cars are the same year after year.