2008 Mercedes-Benz SL Class vs. Its Competition

2008 Mercedes-Benz SL Class 2-door Roadster 5.5L V8 Angular Front Exterior View

Meta Rating 8.4 out of 10

Browse Used Listings
What’s this?

What’s this? X

Our expert editors build comparisons like this one to make it easy for you to understand the small handful of cars you should compare to whatever car you are already looking at. You get general thoughts on each car you should consider plus an easy way to compare basic information for yourself.

Marty Padgett

Editorial Director BIO

Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

LATEST ARTICLE
30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Photo Gallery
Our month with the 2013 Ram 1500 is about half over, so it's time to switch gears. The Ram's been... Read More

#5LEADERBOARD RANK
5164ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
111COMMENTS POSTED

Jul 5, 2008

The 2008 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.

2008 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Browse Used Listings	2008 Audi R8 Browse Used Listings	2008 Cadillac XLR Browse Used Listings	2008 Jaguar XK Browse Used Listings	2008 Porsche 911 Browse Used Listings	2008 Aston Martin Vantage Browse Used Listings
Quick Specs
Meta Rating
8.4 Think of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class as a big, luxurious grand tourer with a little bit of sportscar soul, and you're on the right track.	8.4 The 2008 Audi R8 looks and sounds like an exotic, but it has the day-to-day livability and comfort of a grand-touring coupe.	8.6 The 2008 Cadillac XLR still manages to turn heads with its style.	9.6 The 2008 Jaguar XK is the brand's best mainstream car ever, with performance equal to its German competitors and looks to beat them all.	9.2 The 2008 Porsche 911 has few peers in performance or in endurance.	N/A
MSRP From
$95,300	$109,000	$80,650	$74,835	$73,500	$111,300
Gas Mileage
11 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy	13 MPG City / 20 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy	13 MPG City / 20 MPG Hwy
Engine
Gas V8	Gas V8	Gas V8	Gas V8	Gas Flat 6-cyl	Gas V8
EPA Class
2 Seater	Compact	Two-seater	Mini-Compact	Mini-Compact	Subcompact
Style Name
2dr Roadster 5.5L V8	2dr Coupe Man quattro Ltd Avail	2dr Convertible	2dr Coupe	2dr Coupe Carrera	2dr Coupe Man
Drivetrain
Rear Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity
2	2	2	4	4	2
Passenger Doors
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Body Style
2 Door Convertible	2 Door Coupe	2 Door Conv	2-Door Coupe	2 Door Coupe	2 Door Coupe
Transmission
Automatic w/OD	Manual	Automatic w/OD	Automatic w/OD	Manual w/OD	Manual w/OD