Mercedes SL500: specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Mercedes SL500 (formerly known as 500SL) is perhaps one of the most iconic models of the Mercedes-Benz automobile. It has been a fixture in the luxury roadster line since 1980, but has the recent exterior update kept up with the times?

Users liked the sharper and more purposeful look, the sophisticated powertrain, and the improved on-board technology. At the same time, they are dissatisfied with the large size, inconvenient when driving in the city.

Closest competitors

Possible alternatives to the model are:

• Slightly more practical BMW 650i Convertible M Sport, which may not have such a thoroughbred appearance, but is beautiful, somewhat sportier than the Mercedes SL500 (photo below), and with additional seating for two people (although there isn't much legroom in the back).
• Sportier, the Jaguar F-Type R Convertible, powered by a super-powerful V8 engine, has a lively performance and is arguably one of the most beautiful road cars in production. He has a meager load, and, although it is designed for cruising, it is more suitable for an energetic driving style.
• Exotic used models - 3-4 year old Maserati GranCabrio and Aston Martin DB9 Volante.

SL – what is it?

Mercedes-Benz SL is an icon of the automotive industry. The history of the class dates back to when the Sindelfingen company created a road version of its 50s racing car, which led to the introduction of the commemorative 300SL Gullwing model, followed by the Pagoda SL of the 60s and the Der Panzerwagen or Bobby Ewing SL 70- 1980s and 1980s.

Since the 90s, however, the SL-Class has evolved from compact roadster to open-top boulevard cruiser. The introduction of a retractable hardtop in the R230 at the start of the new millennium seemed to highlight this. Regardless of the introduction of powerful AMG versions, the SL class has evolved into a somewhat obese, soft-suspended, albeit undeniably classy sports touring car.

The current sixth-generation SL, launched 4 years ago, is even longer and wider than its predecessor, and features weight-saving technologies, an abundance of luxury on-board features and adaptive damping. What's more, the automotive media weren't particularly impressed by the sporty roadster's somewhat drastic change to the front. What's more, Mercedes-Benz's traditional rivals are still resisting the temptation to build a large open model with a folding metal roof. They prefer a fabric upper that is morecompact and allows a 2+2 cabriolet configuration.

Recently restyled, an aesthetic styling update was carried out and some functional features of the super-luxury S-Class Coupé were adopted. But now that Mercedes-Benz is offering a more practical version of the Sonderclass convertible, does the SL still make sense?

How does it look on the road?

Perhaps telling is that Mercedes-Benz is offering the SL series with the AMG package. While some may think that the standard version seemed a bit bland before the facelift, given the bold styling of its predecessors, the Benz's low, torpedo-shaped body features a sharp front bumper, a bold diamond-shaped grille and bulging headlights. with standard LED intelligent lighting system. The most astute observer will notice that the bonnet now sports a pair of powerfully protruding ridges.

In terms of attractiveness, the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz SL500 Convertible is undoubtedly unique. At more than 4.6m long and almost 1.9m wide, the roadster has plenty to fill the parking space… It’s good when you’re blissfully admiring the ride from afar, but the imposing dimensions are not exactly comfortable when the driver is trying to maneuver in a congested city center. The extended bonnet of the Mercedes SL500 makes it difficult to judge where to park. Fortunately, there are distance sensors. There is also a standard parking system, so you cantake advantage of electronics. Extended doors must be opened carefully to avoid contact with vehicles parked near the flanks of the Mercedes. And the old "dead" accelerator pedal, which needs a lot of push in the beginning to get the car moving, takes some getting used to.

Mercedes SL500 specifications

Yes, the SL can be unwieldy on a shopping trip, making it nearly unbearable, but when driving calmly on a Sunday afternoon down a winding scenic road, the Benz is brilliant and in its element. Powered by a gurgling 335kW 4.7-litre V8 engine perfectly matched to a 9-speed automatic transmission, the Mercedes-Benz SL500 delivers powerful (perhaps over-the-top) performance coupled with a (mostly) sweeping ride. Maximum speed - 250 km / h. Acceleration to 100 km / h occurs in 4.3 s. Fuel consumption - 12.4 liters in the city, 7 liters - outside it and combined - 9 liters.

As with the entire AMG range, ground clearance has been reduced by 10mm, but the vehicle is also equipped with Active Body Control (ABC) adaptive suspension with cornering lean function. ABC works in conjunction with the appropriate dynamic gear selection modes: Curve (CV), which strategically applies a maximum of 2.65 degrees of lean in the 15–180 km/h speed range to optimize passenger comfort, Comfort (C), “Sport" (S), "Sport Plus" (S+) and finally "Individual" (I),which allows the individual setting of various parameters according to the requirements of the driver.

Control and smoothness

Mercedes-Benz SL500 owner reviews characterize as a car that copes well with variable road conditions. Its handling is admirable given the roadster's weight, but the Benz feels a bit unreliable on the roughest surfaces, probably due to the large wheels and low rubber profile. And to be honest, the steering, if not rather vague, feels a bit fuzzy. This means that while the Mercedes SL500 is perfectly capable of delivering high speeds, the driver will not be inclined to stomp on the gas pedal with pleasure.

However, given the nature of the Benz and the perceived urban sophistication of its target market, the model's strong point is its laid-back and exciting open-top ride. It only makes sense if Benz sells most of its SLs in we althy seaside towns: as a lifestyle proposition, it pays off.

Moreover, the ability to manually adjust the clearance causes deep appreciation. At the push of a button, you can raise the ride height by 50mm, which is a lifesaver when getting in and out of a car with such generous overhangs.

Luxury salon

There is certainly a positive side to the size of the Mercedes-Benz SL500, which is an excellent comfortable interior, as far as a roadster can be. Large adaptive seatsoffer a variety of functions, such as a wide range of electric adjustment, heating or cooling functions, and various massage modes.

The interior design, while not as elegant as the S-Class, is classically seasoned, with beautifully tailored leather trim and stylish metal accents on the instrument panel.

Luxury Audio

Audiophiles can order a Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system with a 10-channel DSP amplifier with a total output of 600 watts and 11 speakers, including Frontbass, which uses the free space of the aluminum cavities in front of the feet as resonators for the bass speakers. Not luxury enough? Then you can order a 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 the Benz

While all-encompassing luxury for a $150,000 car is to be expected, the Mercedes-Benz SL500 is still capable of surprising and delighting, including Magic Vision Control, which sprays water on the windshield and gently applies washer fluid through the wipers, and the Magic Sky Control system can change the tint of the glass panel of the panoramic roof from dark to transparent or vice versa in a few seconds.

Flip top

About the electro-hydraulic convertible roof, it can be said that the opening or closing procedure can be carried out onspeeds up to 40 km / h, which is very convenient when you need to start moving after a traffic light or an intersection, and the installation of the roof has not yet been completed. True, this operation can only be initiated when the car is stationary… In other words, it is impossible to activate the mechanism by 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 siblings (the SL400, SL63 AMG and SL65 AMG) continue to exist as the only large luxury roadsters among rival 2+2 convertibles and exotic soft-top grand tourers. Perhaps rivals have not developed a direct competitor to the SL out of deference to its cult status, but it seems more likely that they consider the market for this type of car to be too niche and not worth the candle.

It should be remembered that in the absence of the S-Class convertible, which has now returned after a 44-year hiatus, the SL had to fill the roles of a roadster and a Gran Turismo. This explains why the car began to look a bit like a "luxury barge". Users who have had the opportunity to drive the new S-Class Convertible note that it is more practical, refined and, perhaps, more prestigious than its counterpart. SL fans might argue that the S500 costs a quarter as much as the SL. This is a great advantage if, however, there is no intention of using additional seats and having a larger trunk.

Apogee of the luxury cruiser

Whatever, according toSome sources speculate that the next SL due in 2018-19 will have a more compact layout, a fabric roof, and supposedly span the gap between the SLC and SL. So today the Mercedes SL500 is the SL at the pinnacle of the luxury cruiser phase in the evolution of the iconic vehicle class. It may not be for everyone, and yes, it now seems like an anomaly in terms of market supply as a whole. But for fans of what the SL was and is, only a handful of competing offerings can match the model.