30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Heading West
Our 30-Day 2013 Ram 1500 has made its way safely to our Little Rock bureau. If you're following our... Read More
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“New refinements mostly push it even further up the desirability index”
“The SL63 feels heavy...but in a good way.”
QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
“New refinements mostly push it even further up the desirability index”
Motor Trend
“The SL63 feels heavy...but in a good way.”
Motive
Reviewers were almost unanimous in mentioning the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s feeling of solidity and its ability to absorb rough road surfaces without excess body motion. Car and Driver attributed the sophisticated air-spring system for absorbing “impacts that probably would have caused much more of a disturbance to lesser cars and their occupants.” Motive emphasized that the SL's on-the-road confidence and refined ride amount to a “satisfying paradox,” as “broken, choppy pavement — which we would encounter later — barely creeps into the cabin.”
Several critics described the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s exhaust note, which has been cranked up a bit. It’s still well suppressed, said Motive, but there’s an underlying “ripping, snarling, feral kind of tone,” and Motor Trend said, “Time and again we run up the revs and lift off the throttle just to revel in the exhaust's deep baritone burble on overrun.”
The sound may be raucous from the rear, but inside the SL promises to be one of the best convertibles for long road trips, as Motor Trend complimented an interior that, “with top down and rear wind deflector raised, stays conversation-quiet at 100 mph.”
Regarding materials used inside and out, there were few complaints or compliments. “One definite don't-like is the shiny plastic cover that reappears for 2009 inside the three-pointed star (at the front grille) if you order the radar-guided Adaptive Cruise Control,” said Motor Trend. “It looks cheap.”
In several experiences with the previous SL, TheCarConnection.com found the top arrangement incredibly tight to make an interior that was quieter and more refined than most coupes. However, interior materials were a little disappointing compared to rivals, as they have been in several other recent M-B models. Reviewers didn’t have much to say about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s interior construction, so we’re assuming no news is good news.
Conclusion
An excellent body structure and standout powertrain refinement assure a high-quality driving experience in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL.
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