2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Quality Review

If there is one area where faults appear on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, it's in the comfort and quality section. To put it simply, it's nearly impossible to live up to the expectations that accompany a $400,000-plus price tag in this category.

In terms of interior comfort for the two occupants of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Popular Mechanics appreciates that "the cockpit is all leather and carbon fiber" but also finds that "unfortunately, interior space and the bucket seats...are not suited for very tall drivers." Speaking of those seats in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Edmunds finds them to be "very supportive, but [they] lack the adjustability most drivers expect." Headroom can be made virtually unlimited by removing the top on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, though as mentioned earlier, some reviewers find that tall drivers may have some difficulty on the Mercedes-Benz 2008 with the top up. ForbesAutos also notes that "getting in and out of the SLR McLaren Roadster can be a problem for all but the most limber enthusiasts (it's much easier with the top down)."

When it comes to storage space, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is obviously not the car to use for a Costco trip or IKEA shopping spree, though Cars.com does list "Full floor console with covered box," "Mini overhead console," and "Interior concealed storage" as standard. Car and Driver raves about the "generous trunk space compared with other cars of the genre" and "the three interior storage compartments." Edmunds, however, says that with "only 7.2 cubic feet of trunk space, don't expect to fit two sets of golf clubs and luggage for a trip to Pebble Beach."

As far as other interior quality elements go, Edmunds loves the "Alcantara suede" seats, but they don't hesitate to point out that the interior "feels too much like a standard-issue Mercedes sedan." ForbesAutos reports that the "leather-trimmed carbon-fiber sport seats ...come with interchangeable pads for customized comfort" and that the range of "amenities includes dual-zone climate control." MyRide.com notes the lack of "fancy polished wood or chrome inside the SLR"; instead, the "very sporty interior" of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is "mostly black, with brushed finishes on most of the metallic pieces that don't flare back into your eyes in bright sunlight with the top down." They say the interior is "put together perfectly, with the accent on delivering necessary data to the driver as quickly and clearly as possible through two central instrument pods up high on the dash panel."

On the road, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren suffers from the age-old convertible drawback of excessive road noise. Edmunds says that "road noise can be intrusive," but Motor Trend finds that "at U.S. cruising speeds, the open cabin was quiet enough to enjoy the Bose stereo." While this may be true when driving at a constant cruising speed, as soon as the engine begins to spool up, drivers and passengers are more likely to hear "the basso profundo of the sidepipes or the supercharger's shrill shrieks" than tunes from the sound system.