Mercedes SL500: specifications and reviews

Mercedes SL500 (formerly known as 500SL) is perhaps one of the most iconic models of the Mercedes-Benz car. It has been an indispensable and extremely attractive attribute of the line of luxury roadsters since 1980, but does the recent external updating of the road line keep pace with the times?

Users liked the clearer and more purposeful look, the sophisticated transmission, the improved on-board technologies. At the same time, they are unhappy with the large size, uncomfortable when driving in the city.

Nearest competitors

Possible alternatives to the model are:

• A slightly more practical BMW 650i Convertible M Sport, which may not have such a thorough-looking appearance, but beautiful, somewhat sportier than the Mercedes SL500 (the photo is given further in the article), and with additional seats for two people (although the rear is not so A lot of legroom).
• More sporty Jaguar F-Type R Convertible, equipped with a super powerful V8 engine, has a lively dynamic and, perhaps, is one of the most beautiful produced road cars. It has a meager load, and although it is designed for cruising, it is more suitable for a vigorous driving style.
• Exotic second-hand models - 3-4-year-old Maserati GranCabrio and Aston Martin DB9 Volante.

SL - what is it?

Mercedes-Benz SL is an icon of the automobile industry. The history of the class goes back to the time when the Zindelfingen company created a road version of its racing car of the 1950s, which led to the introduction of the 300SL "Gullwing Wing" memorable model, followed by the Pagoda SL 60's and the Der Panzerwagen or Bobby Ewing SL 70- X and 80-ies.

Since the 90s, however, the SL-class has evolved from a compact roadster into an open-top boulevard cruiser. The introduction of a retractable hardtop in R230 at the beginning of the new millennium seemed to emphasize this. Regardless of the introduction of powerful AMG-versions, the SL-class has turned into a somewhat fat, with a soft suspension, though, undoubtedly, a classy sports-tourist type car.

The current sixth generation SL, which appeared 4 years ago, has become even longer and wider than its predecessor, and it used technologies that reduce weight, the abundance of on-board features and adaptive damping. Moreover, the automotive media were not particularly impressed by the somewhat abrupt change in the type of sports roadster in front. Moreover, the traditional rivals of the Mercedes-Benz still refrain from the temptation to build a large open model with a folding metal roof. They prefer the fabric top, which is more compact and makes possible the configuration of the "2 + 2" cabriolet.

With the recent restyling, an aesthetic style update was carried out and some functional features of the super-luxury S-class coupe were adopted. But now, when Mercedes-Benz offers a more practical version of the convertible of the Sonderklass, does it make any sense in the SL?

How does it look on the road?

Perhaps indicative is that Mercedes-Benz offers a series of SL with the AMG package. While some may believe that the standard version before the cosmetic improvement seemed a little fresh, given the bold style of the model's predecessors, the low torpedo shape of the "Benz" got the characteristic sharp "snout" of the summoning front bumper, the bold diamond-shaped grille and the elongated headlights With a standard LED intelligent lighting system. The most astute observer will notice that on the hood now flaunts a pair of powerfully projecting ridges.

In terms of attractiveness, the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz SL500 cabriolet is certainly unique. At more than 4.6 m in length and almost 1.9 m in width, the roadster has more than enough space to fill ... It's good when you blissfully admire the ride from afar, but the impressive dimensions are not quite comfortable when the driver tries to maneuver in an overburdened city center . The elongated Mercedes SL500 hood complicates the assessment of the parking stop. Fortunately, there are distance sensors. There is also a standard parking system, so you can use the help of electronics. Extruded doors should be opened neatly to avoid contact with vehicles parked near the flanks of the Mercedes. And the old "dead" accelerator pedal, which in the beginning needs a strong push so that the car can be set in motion, requires addiction.

Mercedes SL500: specifications

Yes, SL can be bulky on a shopping trip, making it almost unbearable, but with a calm ride on a Sunday winding winding scenic road, "Benz" is brilliant and is in its element. The Mercedes-Benz SL500, the characteristics of which are determined by the 335-kW louder, 4.7-liter V8 engine, perfectly coordinated with the 9-speed automatic transmission, provides powerful (possibly unmeasured) performance in combination with (mostly) sweeping motion. The maximum speed is 250 km / h. Acceleration to 100 km / h occurs in 4.3 seconds. Fuel consumption - 12.4 liters in the city, 7 liters - outside and combined - 9 liters.

Like the entire AMG range, the ground clearance is reduced by 10 mm, but the car is also equipped with an adaptive Active Body Control (ABC) Active Body Control suspension with cornering function. ABC works in conjunction with the appropriate dynamic modes of transmission selection: "Curve" (CV), which strategically applies a maximum of 2.65 degrees of tilt in the speed range of 15-180 km / h to optimize passenger comfort, "Comfort" (C), " Sports "(S)," Sport plus "(S +) and finally" Individual "(I), which allows individual adjustment of various parameters in accordance with the requirements of the driver.

Manageability and smooth running

Mercedes-Benz SL500 reviews owners characterize as a car that perfectly copes with variable road conditions. Its handling is admirable considering the weight of the roadster, but on the most uneven surfaces, the Benz feels a little unreliable, probably because of the size of the wheels and the low profile of the rubber. And honestly, if the steering is not quite foggy, it feels a little fuzzy. This means that although the Mercedes SL500 is quite capable of providing high speed, the driver will not be inclined to press the gas pedal with pleasure.

However, taking into account the nature of the "Benz" and the supposed urban sophistication of its target market, the strength of the model is a relaxed and exciting open-top ride. It will be natural if "Benz" sells most of its SL in rich coastal cities: as a proposal that corresponds to the appropriate lifestyle, it justifies itself.

Moreover, the ability to manually adjust the clearance causes deep appreciation. At the touch of a button, you can raise the ground clearance by 50 mm, which is a salvation when landing and disembarking from a car with such generous overhangs.

Luxury salon

There is, of course, a positive side to the dimensions of the Mercedes-Benz SL500, - an excellent comfortable interior, as far as possible from the roadster. Large adaptive seats offer many functions, such as a wide range of electrical adjustment, heating or cooling functions, as well as various massage modes.

The interior design, although not as elegant as the S-Class, is classically designed and has a beautifully stitched leather trim and stylish metal accents on the dashboard.

Elite Audio

Music fans can order the Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system with a 10-channel DSP amplifier with a total power of 600 watts and 11 speakers, including Frontbass, which uses the free space of the aluminum cavities in front of the legs as resonators for bass speakers. Not luxurious enough? Then you can order the Bang & Olufsen Beosound AMG sound system with a 16-channel digital amplifier with a total power of 900 watts and a dozen speakers!

The Magic of "Benz"

Although the all-encompassing luxury for a car worth about 150 thousand dollars is expected, the Mercedes-Benz SL500 can still surprise and please, including the Magic Vision Control system, which splashes a trickle of water onto the windshield and gently applies washing liquid through the wipers, and the system Magic Sky Control can change the tint of the glass panel of the panoramic roof from dark to transparent for a few seconds or vice versa.

Folding top

On the electrohydraulic folding roof, you can say that the opening or closing procedure can be performed at speeds up to 40 km / h, which is very convenient when you need to start traffic after a traffic light or intersection, and the roof installation has not yet been completed. True, this operation can be initiated only when the car is stationary ... In other words, it is impossible to activate the mechanism, simply reducing the speed to 40 km / h.

Verdict

Sixty years after the Mercedes-Benz SL left an indelible mark on the automotive world, the Mercedes SL500 R230 and its brothers (SL400, SL63 AMG and SL65 AMG) continue to exist as the only big luxury roadsters against the backdrop of rival convertibles of the formula "2+ 2 "and exotic Grand Tourers with a soft top. Perhaps the rivals did not develop a direct competitor to the SL out of respect for its cult status, but it seems more likely that they consider the car market of this type to be too niche and not worth "making".

It should be remembered that in the absence of the S-Class convertible, which now returned after a 44-year hiatus, the SL was to perform the role of roadster and Gran Turismo. This explains why the car began to resemble a little "luxe". Users who had the opportunity to ride a new S-Class convertible say that it is more practical, refined and, perhaps, more prestigious than their colleague. Fans of the SL may object that the S500 is a quarter more expensive than the SL. This is a great advantage if, however, there is no intention of using extra seats and having a larger trunk.

Apogee of a luxury cruiser

Whatever it was, according to some sources, the next SL, due in 2018-19, will have a more compact layout, a fabric roof and supposedly cover the gap between SLC and SL. Therefore today the Mercedes SL500 is SL at the apogee of the stage of the luxury cruiser of the evolution of the iconic class of cars. It can not be for everyone, and yes, it now seems an anomaly in terms of the supply of the market as a whole. But for fans of what the SL-class was and is, only a few offers of competitors can compare with the model.