Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible (2012 - 2020) SL 350 2d Auto Owner Review

I found the SL a bit of a mixed bag. It's very fast and economical to run (excluding depreciation - but I was leasing so that was Mercedes' problem) and the view down the fluted bonnet is fantastic; but in other respects it's a little bit dull for what should be a supercar. Sit in a 911 or the F type and you feel a frisson of excitement, sit in the SL and apart from the odd bit of alloy you could be sitting in an A class. The menu driven satnav is hopeless (I just used my iphone, it's quicker to use and more accurate) but the standard sound system is excellent. Driving it is lovely; its spritely and a blast on bends but its very wide which massively limits the fun factor once you are off the A roads - the soulful V6 sound is muted so much you can't hear it even with the roof down, and although it's OK on a long journey it's not a good cruiser because the suspension is too firm even on the soft setting. So it's not a great sports car and not a brilliant tourer either. I see very few on the road and M-B have facelifted it after just three years so clearly this particular model was a bit of a disappointment, add to that the very un-Merc like zizzing and buzzing of interior trim panels and you can see why my £70,000 SL was worth £28,000 after just two years.