Luxury Sport Convertible Comparison

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500
Classic? Oh, yes: Mercedes-Benz has been building SLs for 50 years.
Though redesigned in '02, the SL500 remains a classic. The SL's shape is both modern and nostalgic, sharing an unmistakable resemblance to the 300SL from five decades earlier

The cabin has every imaginable luxury, including an optional Keyless Go system that allows pushbutton engine starting if a coded key card is inside the vehicle (say, in the driver's pocket).

The SOHC 5.0-liter V-8 ripples with 302 horsepower at 5600 rpm--enough to propel the SL from zero to 60 mph in 6.67 seconds. Moreover, the SL delivers its class-leading 339 lb-ft of torque at just 2700 rpm--even at 4045 pounds, the Benz needs only a nudge of the throttle to hustle forward. Our test car, equipped with optional 18-inch AMG wheels and high-performance tires, also posted the most grip in the group--0.85 g--and ran the slalom 2.5 mph faster than the second-place XLR.

The SL is brimming with safety systems. A rollbar automatically deploys if the top is down and the vehicle exceeds a programmed tilt limit. Electro-hydraulic brakes (the world's first) are said to deliver better stops than conventional systems. Active body control helps reduce ride motions and allows the driver to select a firmer suspension setting, if desired.

You'll pay for such royal treatment, though. Base sticker is a group-high $86,710--and it climbs quickly from there. Our test car, equipped with such options as the Comfort, Wood, and Sport packages, rolled out the door for $100,360. Sure, you could buy a small house for that. But you wouldn't live nearly as well.