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Mercedes SL 350

Less is more?

The words 'base model' don't really work with a car such as Mercedes' SL, but that is essentially what this newcomer is. Priced at £56,340, it's £11,450 less than the familiar SL 500 - despite identical looks.

By John Simister

January 2003

The words 'base model' don't really work with a car such as Mercedes' SL, but that is essentially what this newcomer is. Priced at ΂£56,340, it's ΂£11,450 less than the familiar SL 500 - despite identical looks.

What's the catch? The key difference is the loss of two cylinders, 61bhp and 1,242cc. Less obviously, we lose the hydraulically modulated Active Automatic Body Control and the five-speed auto box. These are replaced respectively with ordinary springs and a six-speed Sequentronic manual transmission.

With 245bhp from its 3.7 litres, the SL 350 is far from underpowered, and it is also less thirsty than the SL 500, averaging 24.6mpg. But the V8 woofle has gone, replaced by a smooth, sporty six-pot hum. Our test car's ΂£670 auto option was not the best, though, and smooth progress can be made only in manual mode. The V6 is barely slower than the V8, and the small pace deficit could be due to the conventional chassis. To prove it, we sampled another SL 350 with ABC. The result is astonishing - the ΂£2,450 option transforms the car, and with the lighter engine the car feels more incisive in corners than the V8. And even with the options, it is still ΂£8,300 less than the SL 500.

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FIRST OPINION

    With the optional air suspension system the SL 350 is a credible sports car, but without it the cheapest SL is little more than a boulevard cruiser. If image matters more to you than pace and poise, a conventionally sprung SL 350 won't make you suffer too much for your saving.
 

AT A GLANCE

    SL 350 costs £56,340
    On sale in March
     
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