irishcar.com - Mercedes SL first view

More in-taking of air and sucking of teeth than greeted Liz Hurley’s safety pin dress a few years back were heard last Thursday evening at the Irish unveiling of the new Mercedes-Benz SL roadster.

Growing older, wiser, and certainly more cynical, I worry deeply for my junior colleagues; particularly those who fawned so visibly over (and under) a very much over-priced sportscar.

God knows just what drivel these novice driver/scribes will pen in imitation Clarkson when they sit down to extol the virtues of a car they’ll probably never drive. Lord spare me from ever having to read their comments.

Don’t get me wrong. As a rule, I love Mercedes-Benz cars. I’ll even go along with the Mercedes spin and applaud the SL as the best roadster of its type in the world - ever. At the moment!

Why I even love roadsters. In France, Spain or Italy where the roadster has a reason for being. In Ireland, in our weather, on our roads? You got to be joking. O.K.. The SL isn’t just an open top roadster. It’s a cabrio with a vario roof that turns from open top to coupe in just 16 seconds. You know like a Mercedes CLK, a Lexus SC430 … or a Peugeot 206CC.

Two things struck me at the launch; the introductory price, a cool 145,235 euros, ex works; and the fact that anyone would even bother talking about fuel economy. I kid you not. Shell out all those lids - and you worry about the cost of a litre of petrol. BO…….CKS!

In France the asking price for the SL is 106,000 euros. UK citizenry stump up just Stg£67,790. A B.M.T-T. figure (Before McCreevy Tax-Take) would be interesting - if we had one - but a rough guesstimate puts the tax cut close to ¤60,000.

Who would pay 145,235 euros-plus for a car? For what purpose? That answer was given on the evening of the launch. People with loads and loads of money buy SLs. Many of them as an investment.

A gull wing 300 SL circa 1955 vintage, of which a mere 1,400 were produced (one of six of the new SL’s predecessors on display on launch night) is priced at over 1,000,000 euros. A 300 SL roadster from 1963 (total produced: 1,858 must also belong to the euro millionaire category.

However, this investment reasoning won’t hold too much water. While residual value will always be pretty high, latter-day SLs have been built in ever-increasing numbers (production of the 450 SL (1971 to 1989) numbered 174,408. And Mercedes-Benz ran out 202,326 of their resplendent 500 SL models of 1990 to 2002 fame. Most of this, of course, happened before M-B actually became a mass producer. What end-number awaits the new SL?

Fuel frugalness, and this (with improved safety features) comes under the ‘we didn’t really want to know heading, is marvellous. Despite a host of new comfort and safety add-ons, ‘the new SL is on par with its predecessor with a fuel economy of 12.7 litres per 100 kilometres.’ That equates to an optimum return of 22.17 mpg - or 14.8 mpg around town - also a best-hoped for figure. Put it all down to better aerodynamics (nine percent lower than its predecessor) and mucho use of aluminium.

Fitting SL with an SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) system that works by wire (a world first) to reduce emergency stopping by up to three percent more than before is one of several safety enhancing features that sets the new M-B roadster apart from the herd. SL is also equipped with ABC (active body control) suspension, improved ESP (electronic stability programming), even better Brake Assist, proven ASR (acceleration skid control and ABS.

Occupant protection is enhanced by a high-strength body structure (torsionally stiffer by over 20% than before), two-stage airbags for driver and passenger, head-thorax bags in the doors, new integral seats, seat belt tensioners, belt force limiters and the sensor-controlled roll-over bar.

Other bits and pieces on board include: cruise control, automatic climate control, xenon headlamps, and a multi-function steering wheel. And there’s also a pair of leather-clad, electrically-adjustable, incredibly comfortable body-hugging seats. For the sort of money Mercedes-Benz and Charlie Mack want, the body would want to be Kylie Minogues.

First question a boy (in this case filthy rich) racer worth his S(a)L(t) would want o know is what can he bleedin’ do. With its muscle-coiled body and big throbbing V8, SL is a male roadster (should that be cock-o’-the-walk rooster).

In Merc-speak, the V8 ‘taps huge reserves of power from its 4966 c displacement, giving it the energy for lightning acceleration, rapid bursts of speed and fast motorway driving’ (in Ireland?). Four hundred (400) Newton metres of torque is available as low down as 2000 rpm - that’s almost ninety per cent of the 460NM maximum torque which the engine delivers at just 2700 rpm and maintains up to 4250 rpm. The V8 mill hits peak performance at 5,600 rpm : 306 hp (225 kW). Accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds, it covers the burst from 60 to 75 mph in 7.6 seconds in third gear. Top speed is 155 mph.

Colleagues in France and Germany tell me the SL’s ride, comfort and handling are second to none - while it isn’t as quite as slick or as fast as the Porsche 911 (or as responsive as the BMW Z8 to the pedal), Fit and finish are top-drawer. And scuttle shake has been virtually eliminated.

Not enough! Wait until end of summer then, for the thumping great SL 55 AMG - gushing 476 hp from a supercharged 5.5 litre plant. Boasting even more sporty suspension settings, four chrome exhaust pipes, an in-yer-face bumper, gear change buttons behind the steering wheel and an even better braking system, it’ll set wannabe racers back another 50,000 euros - at least.

Nice little earner this for you, Eh Charlie!

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