Mercedes Is Gunning For The MX-5 RF With A New Entry-Level SLC
Mercedes is about to release an SLC that will be cheaper to put on your drive than the Mazda MX-5 RF – in monthly payments, at least.
The company is planning a four-cylinder SLC 180 that will offer cheaper finance than that of the hard-top Mazda, with ballpark performance, too. Longer gearing means fewer gear changes on the way to the benchmark sprint time.
It’s six tenths slower to 62mph than the RF, but it’s a whisker better on fuel, claiming to return 1.6mpg more. For CO2 it’s worlds better, with 134g/km versus the MX-5’s 161g/km, but both will cost the same to tax after the first year.
The SLC is a hell of a lot heavier than the RF, though, leading us to suspect that the performance and economy figures might not be telling the whole story. Although the SLC 180 will be the lightest version in the range, at 1435kg, the heaviest RF is almost 400kg lighter than that.
Despite being over £8600 more expensive than the cheapest RF, though, the SLC 180 will have much better residual values, says Mercedes. That means the buyer is paying for less depreciation and has lower monthly payments.
Which one would you have? The lightweight, short-geared but small MX-5 RF or the larger, more spacious SLC 180 with lower payments but a sacrifice in driving fun?
Via: Autocar
Comments
I don’t think people you are interested in an MX5 would look at a 1450Kkg GT from Mercedes. Just because it’s a convertible and has two seats doesn’t make it a competitor to the MX5
I wish the car manufacturers would spend a few minutes reading the posts on websites like this. Comments by divers. I have a 2014 Audi S4 (with that awful dual clutch auto gearbox) sitting in my garage. My daily driver? A 2007 Miata. Why. Because it’s so much damned fun!!! I’d like to replace the Audi with a AWD manual gear box car (I live in PA) but no one makes anything worth driving, except maybe Porsche but they’re totally bloated now and stupid money. F MB and this POS poser car. That company lost their real driver base long ago. Lord help us if we’re ever abandoned by Mazda.
Too many Benz drivers forget that the vey brand they covet are taxis and cop cars in Europe!
I’ll take a Miata/MX-5 any day. I’m currently driving my second almost continuously for the last 13 years. Replaces the Fiat 124 Spider I had from new in the 70’s for 7 years, but with far better drivability and less leaks from the top!
Since when is Mercedes competing with Mazda? From a marketing perspective they’re making a huge mistake here. There’s nothing wrong with Mazda but since they’re operating within a lower-level segment, Mercedes can only gain in that segment by lowering their brand’s standards, which won’t really be a gain will it…
The car I would have would be a normal soft-top MX-5, to be honest.
I’m guessing this is the cheapest way to get into the Mercedes Owners Club
400kg difference? I’d pick the MX-5 in a heartbeat.
MX5 all the way
Eh, I wouldn’t have either of them. I never liked small convertibles such as these.
The RF in grey , is one good looking car.