It’s been a popular status symbol with actors, sports stars and other species of financially-gifted folks for decades, but the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 has more going for it than bragging rights and rank in the office car-park.
The SL 550 is the entry model to the German automaker’s SL-Class model range. It’s a nameplate with recognition that brand managers would kill for: instantly synonymous with high-class roadster touring luxury and performance. If you only know one Mercedes-Benz model, it’s probably this one.
Trendy and topless
Best part? The SL has a motorized roof that takes a hike in mere seconds, folding away into the trunk at the touch of a button. Fellow motorists will watch the display of morphing panels in awe.
Roof or not, it looks magnificent. The tester was finished in a unique matte silver paint for a special, custom appearance. Air vents, body sculpting and a sleek, wind-swept look call the world of aviation to mind – and the unmistakable Benz grille was flanked by beautiful, steerable xenon projector headlights.
Dual exhausts, great-looking rims and a few subtle, clever character lines round out the package. Up front, it’s capped off with a massive star emblem that’s sealed into the grille so nobody can pop it off with a screwdriver to sell on eBay.
Its own little world
On board, the SL welcomes its two occupants into a world of stitched leather and metal trim. This lines a cockpit that blends traditional European luxury with a healthy dose of modern high-tech: simple, focused and relaxing on one hand, but fitted with features like navigation, radar-guided cruise control, parking assist and automatic or motorized everything.
The seats are heated, chilled, and offer up a massage function as well as the AIRSCARF heaters that blow warm air out of the headrests and onto your neck. There's a glass segment in the convertible top that includes a sunshade, the push-button engine start button is right on the shifter, and a simply awesome, eardrum-rupturing harman/kardon stereo system was also fitted.
Most every click, switch, latch and control in the SL feels solid, robust and high-quality. This is a great example of a car that feels like it costs as much as it does – except for the climate control temperature selector dials which feel somewhat flimsy and cheap.
The sensible six-figure drop-top?
Road tripping? SL serves up room for two full-sized adults, as well as plenty of storage via cubbies behind the seats, a rear shelf, and even belts to buckle your luggage or briefcase in place. There’s a massive centre console, a drawer under each seat, and a big pocket on each door, too. Drivers will find no issue staying organized and clutter-free on the go.
Trunk space is adequate with the roof down, and almost generous with it up. A button press even lifts the stored roof gear out of the way for easy access to your stuff.
Snorty and Sporty
Even in the shadow of its mighty, AMG-powered siblings, the SL 550’s powerplant stands on its own. A 5.5-litre V8 engine with 382 horsepower, the torque-monster engine moves things along with authority, runs liquid smooth, and makes generic Hollywood V8 car-chase sounds every time the throttle is opened. Observed mileage: 12 L/100km.
It’s as classy as the rest of the SL: refined, quietly powerful and silky, but not shy about making a delightful snarl while pinning torsos into the seatbacks when drivers hammer on it. Monster fixed-piston brakes with cross-drilled rotors scrub off speed in a jiff when required. Watch it with this car – it’s seriously quick.
A 7-speed automatic offers paddle-shift control, as well as both Sport and Comfort gearshift patterns. Shift speed and responsiveness from the paddles are far from the market’s best, though they’re still entertaining to use.
Sportiness can be dialed up further with an Active Body Control SPORT button, which firms up the suspension, and SL rides with a slightly stiff but mainly comfortable demeanor with the suspension in its softer setting.
Light and quick steering combined with the powerful, rear-drive setup and a lenient stability control system mean the SL 550 is lively and entertaining to drive hard, and just as willing to deliver world-class comfort when a relaxing cruise is more in order.
This isn’t a machine that reacts to inputs with hyperactive urgency like some comparable rivals, but it is remarkably easygoing to drive in virtually any situation.
Really, when it comes to comfort, power, handling and actual convertible utility, the SL 550 is sort of a jack of all trades. Fantastic nighttime headlight performance, too.
Gripes?
Complaints? Brake pedal feel is numb and mushy, and some road surfaces coax that rigid jiggle, typical of convertible cars, out of the body. Lastly, some of the advanced controls inside do take a bit of getting used to before they become second nature.
End of the day, this was, and remains, one of the world’s foremost convertible driving experiences – at least on this side of the six-figure pricing ballpark. Mercedes has been perfecting the SL for decades, and it sort of shows. For a comfy, refined, big-dollar convertible, this machine basically just does everything right.
New to this market segment? Be sure to check out the BMW 650i and Jaguar XKR convertibles as well. Pricing for the SL 550 starts around $126,000.
