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Follow-Up Test: 2003 Mercedes SL500
Engineered Like No Other Sports Car in the World
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By Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com
Date posted: 03-05-2002
A special thanks goes out to the folks at the Beverly Hills Car Collection for allowing us seat time in this 2003 Mercedes SL500. If you would like to test drive this car, go to their Web site or give them a call at 800/795-3551.
In a world gone mad with technology, it's difficult to run into a collection of microchips and solder connections that can truly impress. We've got recordable DVDs, wireless Web connections that move data faster than conventional dial-ups, and even a car that no longer requires an ignition key.
What's that you say? Haven't heard about that last bit of techno-wizardry yet? Well, if you are seriously considering a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 as your next mode of transport, you best get up-to-speed on all the latest electronic gadgetry. Technophobes would do well to stop reading here. Technophiles will want to stay tuned.
Those of you still with us may have already seen our SL500 Preview and First Drive stories. Both of those articles can give you an overall appreciation of Stuttgart's latest sports car. And with that pre-existing coverage already available, this Road Test Follow Up is going to focus on actual driving impressions, peppered with commentary about the many special features you'll find on Mercedes' newest offering.
One of those features, and perhaps the most exciting to drivers fed up with clanging key chains, is the aforementioned Keyless Go system. Rather than utilizing a traditional key (actually, Mercedes keys haven't been traditional for several years), Keyless Go uses a credit card-sized access chip that doesn't even have to leave your wallet. The SL (or any other Mercedes product featuring this system) simply senses when the "key" is near, and allows the driver to open locked doors or the trunk, as well as allowing the car to start and drive off. Of course, this feature isn't unique to the SL and has been available for a few years, but this was the author's first experience with a vehicle that needed no key.
One item that is unique to the new SL is an Electronic Brake System, or EBS (also known as "brake-by-wire"). Once again, the technology has already appeared on previous Mercedes-Benz models, but because the Cito passenger bus isn't available for purchase to most Americans, the SL is effectively the "first" Mercedes to offer it. The system doesn't immediately make itself known, as brake pedal feel and stopping ability seem as confident and controlled as in any modern Benz product. However, during one particular application while on a spirited drive along a curvy mountain road, the system's ability to brake each wheel individually, based on available traction and weight distribution, helped to keep the SL properly oriented. A lesser car would have almost surely not stayed as properly oriented.
On the flipside, we noticed more than once a slight variance in pedal movement and pressure when casually slowing to a stop. On these occasions, the system seemed to be "figuring out" exactly how much pressure to apply to the various spinning rotors, with the result being a somewhat uneven, almost grabby sensation. We should reiterate that this issue was subtle at worst, and considering how well the brakes performed when we really needed them, we'll take an occasional "grabbiness" at speeds below 10 mph, thank you very much. Like most high-tech innovations, we expect EBS version 1.1, no doubt due in the next year or so, will have this minor issue ironed out.
Next up on our list of SL niceties is a revamped climate control system. This is version 1.1, and we think Mercedes got it right this time. For starters, two large, clearly marked dials allow each passenger to pick her own temperature. In addition, three smaller pop-out dials can be easily accessed to control fan speed and air circulation. This is a vast improvement over the existing CL-Class and S-Class versions that rely on small dials and buttons to control temp, fan speed and ventilation. (It's also more user-friendly than the new BMW 7 Series design). There's even a large, clearly marked "Off" button to quickly shut the system down. Wunderbar!
Speaking of user-friendly, did we mention the folding hardtop? In case you haven't heard, it stows in 16 seconds while performing a more elaborate dance than either the SLK or Lexus SC. It can also be activated using the key without your ever getting inside the SL. Simply hold the "unlock" button down, and the roof retracts while setting the seat ventilation to "cool" because, well, if the top's going down, it must be a warm, sunny day, right? Don't fret if you like driving with the top down even when the mercury reads below 50 degrees. You can override the cool setting and pick from four heated seat levels, as well.
But enough toy talk. How does this all-new SL drive? Not radically different from the old one, actually, though a stiffer body and active suspension certainly make it a more compelling mount. And there's no denying how smooth and confident the car feels at autobahn speeds. We did, however, note a rattle coming from the top of the windshield when traversing medium-to-large bumps. It seemed to be coming from just above the sun visor, though when the top was up the car remained tight as a drum with nary a peep. As a bonus, you can keep the top down with the side windows up and windblocker in place, and 80 mph is as serene as driving an S-Class with an open sunroof.
The 302 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 has adequate power and torque, and even a bit of an exhaust roar when pushed. However, we'll have to wait for the SL55 and/or SL600 before true sports car-like performance will be a part of the SL's repertoire (and even then, we question whether a 2-ton anything can ever feel truly sporty). Our test model had the optional Sport Package that included 18-inch AMG Monoblock wheels and Pirelli PZero tires. The package also includes AMG-designed lower body cladding that makes the already sleek SL look downright aggressive. Those tires, along with ABC (active body control), will have the car doing things on a twisty road that you know it really shouldn't be. Much like the Lexus SC, the SL is about enjoying the ride, not chasing the local Ferrari guy between apexes. But unlike in the SC, Mercedes has engineered enough steering feedback and progressive weighting to make the odd canyon run entertaining, if not entirely thrilling.
What really separates the SL from its competitors, which we'll call the Porsche 911, Jaguar XKR, Maserati Spyder and the already-referenced Lexus SC, is that thrill you get from constantly discovering new features not even dreamed of in those other cars. You want both the exterior mirrors and the interior rearview mirror tied to your seat memory position? No problem. You want a button inside the trunk that will raise the already stowed roof for easy luggage access? You got it. How about a suspension that will lift the vehicle a few inches to keep from smashing that pretty spoiler when you exit a steep driveway? Done. If you're the type who honestly believes "little things mean a lot," then the SL will have you smiling all the way to the optometrist (who you'll need to be visiting after pouring through four books and several hundred pages of owner's manuals).
There's no denying the advanced technology at work here, but some of us still find ourselves asking questions, such as why does a $100,000 car, from a company that prides itself on technology, need multiple CD-ROMS for its GPS navigation system? And why does the multi-disc CD changer for the stereo reside behind the driver seat instead of in the dash?
Ah, but who cares? Let's watch the top go up and down again. Did we mention you can do that with just the key? This, by the way, is the key you don't actually have to carry if you opt for the Keyless Go system. And the interior mirror? It's tied to the seat memory system. And what about...
See all the Ratings: 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2dr Convertible (5.0L 8cyl 5A) Road Test Scoreboard
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