Sure, 0-60mph in 5.8sec, 0-100mph in 13.5sec and a limited 155mph aren’t astonishing figures. But as you’ll know, there are ways of going about your acceleration, and the SL’s is addictive. And the brakes are brilliant. Their ability to keep the car stable under big loads in bends and apply maximum braking pressure in a split-second is remarkable. Well worth the five-year wait. Then there’s the gearchange; it, too, is reference point stuff.
No hiding the verdict on ride and handling: the SL isn’t perfect. But it gets agonisingly close in most areas and proves that Mercedes’ decision to develop a hybrid suspension system with active and conventional components was spot-on. Crawling round town, the ride quality is excellent. Small intrusions get swept up and the bodyshell doesn’t flex or shimmy. Up the speed a little and the SL’s ride is at its very best; even big executive saloons won’t offer much more comfort.
It’s fun, too: agile in a way that something on the chubby side of 1800kg has no right to be. A quick 2.6 turns between locks gives the steering good precision and accuracy. But it still isn’t a true sports car. Weight transfers eventually build to an uncomfortable level, and despite doing a great job of containing body roll, the active suspension keeps the front end so stiff that the steering can kick back sharply over mid-corner bumps. But other than that it’s a groundbreaking chassis that will satisfy the needs of nearly every prospective buyer perfectly.
