2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class - Specifications
Mercedes-Benz SL Class Related News
Chris Harris Tests The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG: Video
We recently drove the new 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG along some very lovely roads in the south of France and came away quite impressed with the car. British journo and avid... May 10, 2012 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG: First Drive
To understand a car—okay, especially one that’s perhaps a little removed from our own fiscal reality—it helps to peer into the buyers’ mindset for a... April 29, 2012 by Bengt Halvorson 5
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Official Walkaround: Video
So you've seen the photos, you've read the reviews, but you're still eager to see more about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Class? You're not alone, and you're in luck... April 24, 2012 by Nelson Ireson 1
Chris Harris Contrasts The New Mercedes SL With The Old: Video
The Mercedes-Benz SL roadster was first launched in 1957 as a lightweight, grand-touring convertible. The SL designation stands for “Sport Leicht,” or Sport... March 29, 2012 by Kurt Ernst
Mercedes' New SL550, And The Importance Of Paying Attention To Details: Video
The latest version of Mercedes-Benz’s iconic roadster, the SL, comes packed full of all the best the German automaker has to offer. In addition to the quality of... March 26, 2012 by Kurt Ernst
Why should I also consider these?
The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL spans a vast price range, with the top-of-the-line, very exclusive SL65 AMG almost twice the price of the SL550.
At the bottom, the SL550 competes against the Cadillac XLR, a vehicle that, much like the SL, straddles the line between luxury car and true sportscar.
The XLR, with its Corvette sportscar roots, arguably feels a little more entertaining to drive than the SL550, though the Cadillac has more road and wind noise and isn't nearly as refined overall.
The Jaguar XK Convertible compares in appointments to the SL, but the new XK drives more like a sportscar, with more pep than the numbers might suggest and a light, agile feel on a curvy road that the SL sorely lacks.
Likewise, the top-performance Cadillac XLR-V and Jaguar XKR match up to the SL55 AMG.
The Porsche 911 Cabriolet is also a worthy alternative to the SL-Class, offering responsive handling and track-ready performance, but it has a bumpier ride, and like the Jaguar XK, it has a soft-top arrangement and a noisier cabin.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Audi R8 are two other alternatives to the AMG cars that both have more overt--some would say exotic--styling inside and out, which makes them more attractive than the AMG cars if pure horsepower isn't what drives you.
