Insurance Group: 50
MPG: 20.0
CO2: 328
0-62 Mph: 4.6 secs
BHP: 518 BHP
Range: 352 miles
However, it is hugely expensive and the running costs and emissions are sky high. The cheaper SL 500 is still a great performing convertible, not too far away from the performance of the AMG, and a slightly more realistic choice for most people.
PROS: The AMG is the biggest engine in the SL-Class range and provides an amazing driving experience. The convertible looks great inside and out and has Active Body Control, which fixes the problems with the suspension on the smaller engines in the SL range.
CONS: Incredibly expensive to buy with huge running costs and emissions. The SL 500 is a great engine with a much lower price tag.
The handling of the SL-Class is excellent and the AMG is a hugely powerful machine. The V8 comes with Active Body Control, which allows the driver to choose the suspension to fit the road and makes a big difference to the driving experience.
The V8 engine is 6208cc and uses super unleaded petrol with a fuel tank capacity of 80 litres. There is a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration, although the changes can be a bit jerky at higher speeds.
The engine is refined and although there is a tiny bit of wind noise at high speeds, the convertibles are incredibly quiet with the metal roof up. The wind blocker means that there is limited noise with the roof down.
The SL 63 AMG has a 518bhp engine delivering 464lb-ft of torque at 5200rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
The interior of the SL-Class convertible is well-designed and high-quality, living up to the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as a stylish manufacturer.
The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is comprehensive with the Command system proving easy access to the equipment such as satellite navigation and stereo, although it is a bit more distracting than the BMW’s iDrive system. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the visibility good.
The SL 63 AMG comes with leather seats, power steering, cruise control, metallic paint, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard, with optional extras including rear parking sensors for £630.
For fuel economy, the SL-Class convertible has a start/stop system, which allows for better efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
The SL-Class convertible comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has the stability control, Attention Assist system, which alerts tired drivers, the Pre-Safe anticipatory crash-protection system and a pop-up bonnet to protect pedestrians in the case of a collision.
The convertible also comes with an automatically released roll-over bar and the metal roof is much more secure than a fabric roof, as on other convertibles.
Mercedes-Benz has a great record in reliability and came 6th in the 2011 JD Power survey out of 28 other manufacturers.
The boot is a fair size offering 206 litres of space with the roof down and 310 litres with the roof up. The SL-Class convertible has loads of room in the front for two passengers and there are loads of storage options in the convertible.
The running costs are high with the SL-Class convertibles despite the efficient engine stop/start system. The SL 63 AMG model costs £106,820 and has a combined economy of 20.0mpg and CO2 emission rate of 328g/km.
The SL-Class convertibles are expensive, but the AMG is the priciest of the lot and the running costs are sky high, although the convertibles look the part and drive excellently. The AMG has a huge engine and definitely lives up to the price tag, but as the SL 500 is such a good car, it is hard to justify the extra cost of the AMG. The amount of equipment it comes with reflects the price and the quality of Mercedes.
The resale value on the SL-Class convertible is good and Mercedes-Benz promise good service and reliability as well, although servicing is expensive.
The SL 350 has a strong and powerful engine and the V6 is one of the more economical in the range, but this by no means makes it cheap to run. It is an expensive car too, but the convertible drives...
The SL 63 AMG is a great convertible, with a huge V8 engine and great handling and steering, with the Active Body Control lending itself to the driveability. The cabin looks high-quality and luxuri...
This is the second generation of the SL-Class, and whether you have the roof up or down it delivers excellent performance, and it also has a reasonable amount of storage for this type of car. The ...
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