2001 Mercedes-Benz SL500 review: classic MOTOR

The last time Mercedes-Benz launched a new SL, Bob Hawke was calling the shots in Canberra and the Berlin Wall stood as a divider between east and west Germany. And the year? It was 1989.

This review was originally published in MOTOR’s December 2001 issue

The world has come a long way since, and with one quick glance at the new 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL and you’ll see that Mercedes-Benz has, too. The two seater, with its sleek new look, fairly oozes desirability.

With 225kW at 5600rpm and a hefty 460Nm of pull between 2700 pm and 4200rpm, the 5.0-litre V8 is brilliant with sharp throttle response and creamy smooth power delivery across a wide rev range. Bury your right boot and the 1845kg SL bolts its way from zero to 60km/h in 6.3 seconds. More impressive still is the engine’s mid-range urge. Acceleration is relentless as the big roadster rushes to its 250km/h top speed.The five-speed auto downloads crisp, seamless changes. There’s a sequential mode, but the transmission is so intuitive that you’re better off leaving it in the set and forget auto mode.On the open road, the new SL is a good deal more responsive and agile than before. The suspension is new, with a four link set-up replacing the previous SL’s struts at the front and a refined version of Benz’s excellent five-link design at the rear. Tyres are 255/45 Z17 shod on new 8.5 inch alloys.

Handling is superb highly involving and failsafe, and the big roadster’s ride composure over badly rutted bitumen is exemplary. The rack-and-pinion steering, with 2.6 turns lock-to-lock, provides crisp turn-in and telegraphs information well.With the use of high strength steel and substantial stiffening in the floorplan, torsional rigidity is up by 20 per cent. Scuttle shake, so often the bane of open top cars, is kept to an absolute minimum. A wind deflector mounted behind the seats ensures occupants are kept well protected from any buffeting, even at high speeds.

Acting on large ventilated discs all-round, they provide plenty of initial bite, strong modulation and astonishing power once you really get on them. Significantly, the typical pulsating effect you get when the ABS is activated is a thing of the past with Sensotronic. You can now carry big speeds into corners, stand on the brakes and let the SL’s electronics do the rest.The SL comes packed with safety features: front airbags, head-thorax airbags, seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters. A roll over bar deploys when a sensor recognises an impending inversion. Bi-Xenon headlights are also standard.

2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 SPECS Engine: 5.0-litre V8 DOHC 24v Power: 225kW @ 5600rpm Torque: 460Nm @ 2700-4200rpm Price: $280,000 (est)