2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500

First registered on the 22nd of November 2002, this lovely Mercedes-Benz SL500 has spent its entire life with two lady owners in London. Most latterly looked after by Klasse of Fulham, as you can see from the attached invoices money does not appear to have been a consideration in its maintenance.

Still showing just 22,500 miles, it came straight to the vendor via Klasse, who had been tasked with selling the car on her behalf.

Now offered for sale with a ridiculously low reserve price, this is your opportunity to get your hands on a barely run-in SL500 that goes as well as it looks.

The subtle dark blue coachwork adds a purposeful and discreet air to a car that already throbs with latent menace. It all aligns bloomin’ well too, but then that’s only to be expected given its charmed life.

It has razor-sharp shutlines, perfect panel alignment and almost impeccable paintwork.

It’s got the bi-Xenon headlights too, plus that complex but incredibly effective folding metal roof. Obviously, the latter works as it should, furling and unfurling on command and providing what might just be the most effective convertible experience available anywhere for less than six-figures.

The AMG 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels are unsullied (just look how clean the inner rims are…) and fitted with matching Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres, all of which have good tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, there is the odd stonechip, a small touched-in mark on the boot lid, and a small blemish on the tonneau cover but other than that there’s little for even the fussiest of enthusiasts to find.

Which is as boring to read as it was to write but then boring is exactly what you want to see when you’re thinking of buying a car like this.

The grey leather interior features heated and cooled electric front seats, burr walnut trim, a wind deflector, a first aid kit and fire extinguisher, and a Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system. As you’d expect given its low mileage and careful curation, it is in a stunning condition with barely a mark much less any significant wear.

Seriously, this is going to be one of the shortest interior write-ups we’ll ever publish because it all looks like a two-year-old car rather than one that’s old enough to buy you a pint. There is a small blemish on the nearside rear seat/luggage shelf trim (please see the photograph for details) and the very lightest of creasing to the driver’s seat, but that seems to be it.

It all seems to work too but then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

The SL’s service history is a bit of a dream, having been serviced on the dot from the beginning – and contrary to the usual practice, the regimen was stepped up as it got older, being serviced every year regardless of mileage.

The stamps in the book show:

14.07.2004 and 5,868 miles – Mercedes-Benz Tooting

08.12.2006 and 8,200 miles – Dixon Square Group

05.02.2008 and 9,454 miles – Dixon Square Group

12.05.2009 and 11,225 miles – Mercedes-Benz Brentford

07.04.2011 and 13,997 miles – Mercedes-Benz Brentford

16.04.2012 and 14,913 miles - AMC

20.05.2013 and 16,174 miles – Klasse of Fulham

26.08.2014 and 17,455 miles – Klasse of Fulham

19.08.2015 and 18,371 miles – Klasse of Fulham

10.08.2016 and 19,398 miles – Klasse of Fulham

20.08.2017 and 20,308 miles – Klasse of Fulham

08.08.2018 and 21,356 miles – Klasse of Fulham

It features a high-capacity battery, Active Body Control, and the five-speed automatic gearbox. Plus, of course, that staggeringly effective five-litre V8 engine; with 302bhp and 339lb/ft of torque at the driver’s disposal, it can hit 62mph in just over six seconds, which should be quick enough to silence anyone who tells you that its more of a boulevard cruiser than a sportscar – if, that is, you can hear them over the sound of that wonderfully gruff exhaust note…

The engine bay is wonderfully clean and the underside is utterly solid.

The SL’s MOT certificate expires in August 2021.

It has a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years, along with a fully stamped service history booklet, the original owner’s handbook, book pack and wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to an impeccable standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

With an impeccable service history, an almost unblemished condition and one of the best engines in the business, we can’t think of a safer or better way to blow four-year-old Mazda MX-5 money.

Yup, that’s right; this incredible sportscar could probably be yours for somewhere between £12,000 and £16,000, which is a ridiculously small sum for a car that was the epitome of performance and style when it was new.

Barely run-in, we should think it’s got another couple of decades of life in it yet too, which should bode well for its future value.

You see, sometimes you can have your cake and eat it - and then go back for seconds…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.