Whether you consider them performance cars or boulevard cruisers, the Mercedes-Benz SL roadsters set themselves apart from the competition with their folding convertible hardtop.
Among soft-top cars, the Jaguar XK covers some of the same ground--with spectacular speed and handling, especially as an XKR.
Equally masculine and new for 2012, the Porsche 911 is longer and wider, with a pair of real seats bordering on useful for the first time, ever.
More electronics and a more refined interior than ever continue the push ever upward, and outward.
For another German option, look at the Audi R8, a wonderfully capable four-wheel-drive sportscar that comes in Spyder convertible and V-10-powered versions.
Lastly, consider the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, a gorgeous machine with a sonorous V-8 and swift, gentlemanly performance--or the Ferrari California hardtop convertible, which drops 4-second acceleration times along with the famous engine noise and taut, near-exotic-car handling.
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 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL ClassBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Audi R8Browse Used Listings |  2012 Jaguar XKBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Porsche 911Browse Used Listings |  2012 Maserati GranTurismoBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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A powerful near-exotic luxury convertible, or a grand tourer with German precision? The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class is both. |
A marriage of the best of German handling and Italian power, the 2012 Audi R8 is a fantastic all-around supercar. |
How to tell if you're hopeless, when it comes to cars: take your pulse after looking at or driving the 2012 Jaguar XK. |
The 2012 Porsche 911 is one of the best buys in the sports car market, and quite possibly the most practical, luxurious car at its performance level available. |
The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo carves out a grand-touring niche for itself with Italian cachet, an earthy Ferrari rumble, and a serene blend of ride and handling. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $103,650 | $114,200 | $84,500 | $79,000 | $123,000 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 12 MPG City / 22 MPG Hwy | 11 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 13 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas V8 | Gas V8 | Gas V8 | Gas Flat 6 | Gas V8 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| 2 Seater | Compact | Mini-Compact | Mini-Compact | Subcompact Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 2-Door Roadster SL 550 | 2-Door Coupe Manual quattro 4.2L | 2-Door Coupe | 2-Door Coupe 997 Carrera | 2-Door Coupe GranTurismo S |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Rear Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Convertible | Coupe | Coupe | Coupe | Coupe |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic | Manual | Automatic | Manual | Automatic w/Manual Shift |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class vs. 2012 Audi R8 | 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class vs. 2012 Jaguar XK | 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class vs. 2012 Porsche 911 | 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class vs. 2012 Maserati GranTurismo | |
