The Car My Porsche-Loving Husband Wants

Watching my husband, I sometimes think that the most enjoyable time for him might be when he’s pondering, “What car should I buy next…?”

Last year, he said wistfully things like, “I’m starting to run out of cars I really want…” but lately, he’s been talking about cars he wants again.

Of course, this is just in the realm of daydreams—he’s not actually planning to buy anything right now.

Right now, the car he wants is the Mercedes-Benz SL400.

*Image source: Mercedes-Benz “SL400 Grand Edition”

Since he was a child, my husband has admired the Mercedes-Benz SL. His first car of his own was a Honda Legend Coupe handed down from his father, but even then, he always thought, “Someday I want to drive an SL or CL.”

A few years ago, when he finally bought the SL500 (R129), he was thrilled:

It felt like walking on the thick carpet you find in luxury hotel lobbies and hallways! Soft and supple, yet when it counts, it corners, drives, and stops perfectly. That’s Mercedes for you!

In the end, he sold the SL500 when he bought an air-cooled Porsche 911 (964), but he still often talks about the SL.

The SL400

Recently, he started saying this:

We have six cars at home now, but honestly, I can’t keep up with them all. I like driving cars, not just collecting them, so I think we really need to cut down the number.
Right now, we have to keep the cars moving regularly so the batteries don’t die, but driving out of obligation isn’t fun.
So if I buy another car, I think it’s best to sell one or two first.

Well… six is still a lot, but I guess it’s better to have fewer (laughs).

He’s been eyeing the SL400 on Car Sensor lately, but since they’re still expensive, he’s not planning to buy one anytime soon.

When I asked, “You want the SL400, not an AMG?” he said:

Yeah, I prefer the SL400. I don’t need the power or speed of an AMG.
I want to drive more relaxed, and since the SL400 has a V6 and a lighter front end, I think it’ll feel nimble. Plus, this model has great value for money, and the engine sound and torque delivery are excellent. SL400 is enough for me.
When I drove the AMG S63 Coupe before, I remember thinking I wanted to drive more leisurely, not in “battle mode,” so I didn’t really need an AMG.

Among the SL400 models, the one he wants is the “SL400 Grand Edition,” which incorporates some of the luxury features from the AMG SL65.

The SL400 Grand Edition’s interior is super luxurious. The seats are thick and plush, and the wood deck panel on the dashboard looks incredibly cool.
Just recently, an SL400 Grand Edition was on the Royu Driveway, and I couldn’t stop staring at it. It was seriously stunning.

he said.

When I teased him, “But we’re a family of five, and we already have two two-seaters, plus two convertibles—buying another two-seater convertible sounds like a math-challenged person’s shopping spree (laughs),” he replied:

Yeah, I know that well, but I really dream of commuting in an SL.
Well, with more work-from-home days, I go to the office less, but when I used to commute in the SL500, it was fun and made me happy.
I like driving relaxed, not pushing hard like when I’m in a Porsche, so I’m okay with trying something other than a Porsche now.
But if I do that, I’d probably sell the GT3 or the Nissan Note first, and since it overlaps with the 992, I’d have to think about replacing one or the other… lots to consider. So it’s not something immediate, and since the SL400 is still expensive at around 7 to 9 million yen, I’ll wait until it gets cheaper before seriously thinking about it.

For a while, he said, “There aren’t many cars I want anymore.” But as a car lover and driving enthusiast, I think having a car he really wants makes his days more lively and fulfilling.

I wonder how our car life will evolve this year.