The SL 500 shows just how good life can be!
THE
MERCEDES CHALLENGE
By JOHN GRAFMAN
Everyday seems
like a challenge. The day seems to starts off just fine. The sun is shinning
and the birds are singing. Theres food on the table and a roof overhead.
Just when things are going fine, the reality of whats going on in the
world sets in. Nukes in Korea, possibilities of bio terrorism and small pox,
and even as the war with Iraq is appearing to wrap up, continued threats of
violence from the other countries emerge. Another week passes and another oil
tanker spills a full belly of crude into the waiting waters of some unsuspecting
ocean. Hell, even the tap water isnt safe to drink. Have no fear. The
Mercedes Benz SL 500 is here to save the day.
The SL 500 has so few faults that regardless of how messed up the world may
seem; the view from inside the flagship is nothing less than inspiring. We live
in some crazy, wild, technology driven times and this car is a reflection of
that unlike virtually any other car that I can recall being in. Nearly every
part of this machine has been well thought out and engineered to respond to
the owners wishes. Those who would comment unfavorably on the six-figure price
tag on our model obviously havent driven one. The SL has looks that can
stop traffic, sure so does an Aztec but lets get serious. The curvaceous,
vented and flaring appearance is just a hint at the power and handling that
lies within. The SL will be the benchmark in style and performance for many
years to come. These may seem like heady comments however completely appropriate
for this vehicle.
The SL 500 could be the poster child for capitalism. As with most of the cars
with a three-pointed star upfront, a certain level of acceptance in society
is associated with ownership. The SL badging elevates owners to the next tier.
The level that calls the shots on what is accepted and cool. Not a bad place
to be.
After arriving at a business meeting in the Hollywood Hills, high above Sunset
Boulevard, I realized that the element that made the meeting so serious was
the ride there. There is no getting around the impact this pinnacle of Mercedes
Benz development can have on life in general. Drive one of these and you are
a somebody. Instant credibility is just a seat belt click away for anyone whether
theyre a sixteen-hour a day CEO or the twenty year old, trust fund, retired,
surfer. Far beyond its overly capable ability to motor down the highway, the
Mercedes Benz SL 500 influences life much the same as being the significant
other to a supermodel. In their presence or not, the inspirational qualities
are unmistakable and unavoidable.
One of the odder moments I had was parking next to another virtually identical
SL 500 in an Orange County parking. In fact there were numerous others similar
to the one I was cruising around in. How strange is it when six-figures doesnt
even buy exclusivity in automobiles anymore.
The fluidity of the design and in particular compared to the old, out going
model is certainly classical and dramatic without being overly crass or flamboyant.
Bold, yes. Ludicrous, no. The strakes in the ported areas are a perfect example
of how a small, well-done detail can effectively enhance the overall design.
A detail that is taken to the extreme as seen in the flanks of the Testarosa
has not aged gracefully and rather overwhelms the overall design. The SL 500
is sporty without having to resort to ham fisted barbarianism, or an overabundance
of nonfunctional styling cues.
Not to be out overshadowed, the interior is also a model of good taste. A designer
can ascertain a great deal by absorbing the lessons that can be learned from
this product. A couple of slight improvements I wouldnt object to might
be a redesign of the lever used to operate the convertible top. The current
unit just doesnt look up to snuff. The switch is too large to integrate
seamlessly nor is it large enough to be a substantial element. I was also expecting
the driver seat to move rearward and the steering wheel to tilt out of the way
once the engine is off and the door opened, but that didnt happen. Certainly
the egress from the low-slung car would benefit from this. The most noticeable
interior part in need of a redo is the foldout cup holders. The driver side
holder that emanates from just under the stereo has a few issues, one of which
is the driver side holder positions its beverage in perfect position to obstruct
numerous controls. They couldnt block more if they tried. The crushing
kung-fu grip the cup holders have on flimsy containers made of paper or styrofoam
could be problematic, particularly when the beverage is hovering above numerous
electrical switches, buttons and components.
Aside from those few issues, the interior is top notch through and through.
Just look at the finish of the header and the material quality leaps out. Many
noteworthy convertibles utilize less than premium material in such secondary
places however there is no skimping here. The high level of quality in fit and
execution of the parts is well understood by those privileged to enjoy sitting
between the coupes two doors. Those who admire from afar probably wont
know and certainly wont truly appreciate the niceties of the heated and
vented seats with a welcomed massager unit that can almost make one wish for
a lengthy traffic snarl.
As one might expect, the engine and transmission are a treat. Coupled with an
advanced, well-matched suspension, I felt beyond confident. Being aware that
the limits of this vehicle are so far beyond the realm of what would be attainable
on city streets, there really wasnt any needed to push it to the bounds
of adhesion. I never felt that this car was ever losing its composure even when
it was being exercised. The SL has the solidness of a linebacker and the moves
of a ballerina. On the streets of Beverly Hills and the San Diego Freeway and
throughout Los Angeles the Mercedes behaved and operated as a car of this price
ought to. Surgical strikes through traffic are simple, just point and go. No
delays in throttle or sway in body. The top folds into the trunk so smoothly
and quickly that you cant help but be impressed. Even when stowed, the
trunk access beneath the roof panels is just a touch of a button away. When
the trunk lid is opened, a switch mounted in the exposed area pops the stored
roof panels upward allowing easy access to whatever lies beneath. Oh those crafty
Germans. It seems they thought of everything, so why do they struggle on cup
holders? Obviously if this is the worst of what we can find with our suave tanning
machine, then we have to admit that those guys at Mercedes Benz really did their
homework.
Balancing a car like this with a world slightly off kilter makes good sense.
Not only is it easy to appreciate all that this machine does so well, but also
the SL 500 puts most of life's complicated issues in their place. Besides the
SL 500 gives the rest of the automotive world something to aim for.
Now there's a challenge!
For more on Mercedes Benz please go
to www.mercedes-benz.com
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 Technical Data
Vehicle type Two-door, two-passenger coupe/roadster with power retractable hardtop
Engine
90-degree V8 Engine material Aluminum
Valvetrain Chain-driven single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank, three valves
per cylinder
(two intake / one exhaust)
Displacement (cu. in./cc) 303 / 4,966 331.9 / 5,439
Bore (in./mm) 3.82 / 97 3.82 / 97
Stroke (in./mm) 3.31 / 84 3.62 / 92
Compression ratio 10.0:1 9.0:1
Horsepower @ rpm 302 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm 339 @ 2,700-4,250
Intake system Sequential fuel injection, electronic throttle control,
2-stage resonance intake manifold Belt-driven supercharger,
sequential fuel injection, electronic throttle control; Max boost 11.6-psi
(0.8 bar)
Engine management ME 2.8 engine control with phase-shifted twin sparkplugs per
cylinder,
two coils per cylinder
Max. engine speed 6,000 rpm 6,500 rpm
Transmission
Five-speed electronically controlled automatic with driver-adaptive shift logic,
Touch Shift selectable manual control
Stability control Electronic Stability Programming (ESP) integrating single
brake application,
throttle intervention
Traction control Full-range ASR uses rear brakes and throttle intervention to
control wheelspin
Suspension
Four-wheel independent
Front Upper and lower control arms, active electrohydraulic with load-dependent
spring rates, gas-charged
shocks, coil springs, level control
Rear Five-link, active electrohydraulic with load-dependent spring rates, gas-charged
shocks, coil springs,
level control
Steering
Speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion, hydraulic power assist
Turns, lock-to-lock 2.95
Turning radius (ft.) 36.2 35.7
Wheels
8.5x17-inch
(8.5x18-inch front, 9.5x18-inch rear w/Sport pkg.)
choice of 5-spoke or monoblock designs
Brakes Electronic, power assisted 4-wheel vented discs with 4-channel ABS anti-lock,
Brake Assist, electronic brake proportioning
Exterior
dimensions (in./mm)
Wheelbase 100.8 / 2,560
Length 178.5 / 4,535
Width 71.9 / 1,827
Height 51.1 / 1,298
Curb weight (lbs.) 4,045
Aerodynamic drag (Cd) 0.29
Interior dimensions (in./mm)
Headroom 37.7 / 957
Shoulder room 54.0 / 1372
Legroom 42.9 / 1089
Capacities
Cabin volume (cu. ft.) 57.8
Trunk volume (cu. ft.) 11.2 (with roof open: 8.3)
Fuel tank / reserve (gal.) 21.1 24
Performance
0-60 mph (seconds) 6.1
Top speed (mph) 155 (electronically limited)
Fuel mileage, city/hwy (EPA estimates) 15 / 22
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