Tested: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SL Is V-12 Royalty

From the April 1993 subject of Car and Driver.

Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II, is just not revered for her sense of style, nor for her immeasurable wealth, nor even for her prowess at garden bowling. Her topics revere her for the impeccable breeding and heritage that she and the centuries-old British Crown signify (or at the least as soon as did). Where manners, refinement, and sophistication are con­cerned—to not point out smart footwear­—the queen is the world’s chief.

Similarly, Mercedes-Benz’s new 600SL won’t be appreciated for flashy styling, an enormous price ticket, or supercar efficiency, however relatively for the understated and over­engineered manner during which these qualities are built-in. In phrases of sophistication and refine­ment, the 600SL can be a world chief.

Mercedes has taken the 500SL, a superlative two-place grand-touring con­vertible we likened to a modern-day Duesenberg SJ in our December 1989 street take a look at, and infused it with smoothness, swiftness, quietness—or, in a phrase, “V-12ness.” SLs have all the time been lav­ishly costly, and the 600 is not any excep­tion. Simply put, anybody studying that is solely barely much less more likely to ascend to the British throne than to personal this automobile. Mercedes say 9 hundred wealthy Americans may have the chance to jot down on the second line of a verify, in tiny letters: One hundred thirty-two thousand, one hundred-ninety {dollars} and no cents.

That sum will, in fact, embody an built-in mobile phone, a six-disc CD changer, Adaptive Damping Control, and heated seats, all of which value further on a 500SL. Only the lumbar-adjustable seats and selection of shade stay as choices.

These individuals may have The Best. More costly Rolls, Bentley, and Aston Martin convertibles maybe provide superior standing in some circles, however vastly inferior engineering comes with them.

This Mercedes is not a conspicuous con­sumer’s automobile. There’s a 600SL badge on the trunk, two small V-12 emblems on the entrance fenders, and an extended entrance bumper—­that is all that distinguishes this automobile from a 300SL, which can impress the proletariat equally properly for 68 cents on the greenback.

Inside, the V-12 SL is lavished with further walnut veneer. Walnut roll-top cov­ers conceal the console-mounted ashtray and cassette-tape holders, and the leather-topped shifter has a wood-covered shank. Mercedes’ singular capability to cowl such advanced surfaces with real wooden is outstanding.

Inside and out, this is likely one of the most elegant and exquisite shapes on the street. Only a naked minimal of particulars adorn its lengthy majestic hood and a brief deck—the basic “cab-back” form. The automobile is three years outdated, however its fashion will stay contem­porary for years. Its snug-fitting aluminum prime and extremely sophisticated absolutely auto­matic comfortable prime are benchmarks for the con­vertible trade. Still, the actual “value” lies simply beneath that lengthy hood.

In transferring Mercedes’ top-drawer 48-valve 6.0-liter V-12 from the S-class into the SL’s smaller quarters, revisions had been made to the oil sump, the manifolding, the air filter, and the accent drive. For­tunately, each little bit of its 389 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque survived the transfer. To safe crashworthiness with the bigger engine, the entrance bumper is prolonged subtly for 2 inches of extra crush area.

So what’s it wish to drive? Special. Like a nuclear-powered hovercraft. Like the Concorde, or the bullet prepare. Phenom­enal. To speak numbers is to bourgeoisify the expertise. Suffice to say that the Mercedes-Benz 600SL is faster than a Ferrari 348tb, a BMW M5, and plenty of different unique sports activities and GT vehicles.

With an SL, it is not the pace, however how properly the pace is achieved that counts. Several editors right here had been shocked to listen to the spectacular efficiency numbers, as a result of the automobile is so easy and quiet that it would not really feel like an ultra-high-perfor­mance automobile.

Push the accelerator by means of its lengthy, linear journey to the ground, and with out the screech of wheelspin you are off. In the time it takes to speed-dial your dealer, you will be over most pace limits. Before the answering machine picks up—and you’ll hear it high quality, as there isn’t a multivalve banshee howl to drown it out—you will be nearing double the bounds. By the time you’ve got completed recording your sell-IBM order, should you’ve left your foot planted, the speedometer needle may have come gently to relaxation at its ruled 155-mph restrict. Your coronary heart price won’t have risen appreciably and your palms won’t be sweating, as a result of with out the aerodynamic elevate or skitteriness that afflicts lesser 150-plus-mph vehicles at pace, the 600SL stays firmly planted on the street, the steering wheel resting calmly in your fingers.

An amazingly inflexible physique and two and 1 / 4 tons of road-hugging weight assist present the smoothest, most supple journey of any 99-inch-wheelbase convertible extant. However, asking these 4524 kilos to vary course rapidly makes for unhealthy physics. Running a gymkhana within the 600SL can be like asking Her Majesty to run a boot-camp impediment course. Gradual high-speed corners are navigated with aplomb, nevertheless, and the large brakes are properly as much as the duty of shedding pace previous to getting into the tightest corners. The 600SL has the S-class computer-controlled brake system, which reduces rear brake strain throughout cornering to lengthen restrict­-braking previous to ABS intervention.

The 315-horsepower 500SL is arguably the higher automobile for the pure driving enthusi­ast. At the monitor, it’s roughly a second slower to 60 mph, nevertheless it ideas the scales 300 kilos lighter, which makes it really feel way more keen to hustle down twisty mountain roads. The V-8 inherently emits a much less easy, extra visceral and sporty­-sounding exhaust word, which provides to the driving enjoyable and additional highlights the totally different mission of the “cheaper” $107,660 SL.

Is the 600SL an ideal automobile with no room for enchancment? Is the queen infallible? Heavens no. The cockpit ergo­nomics stay Germanically unintuitive, requiring an intensive research of the proprietor’s guide to fully comprehend; within the winter, the climate-control system blows chilly air with gusto till the heater core warms up (most programs in the present day are clever sufficient to attend). Part-throttle upshifts are relatively abrupt, some buttons and switches require very excessive effort, and the seat backrests are too flat and arduous.

Clearly, there could be no affordable rationalization for proudly owning a automobile like this. But it is The Best, and being wealthy means by no means having to rationalize. There is just one queen of England, and there is just one 600SL. God save the queen and the little crimson automobile.

Counterpoint

The 500SL offers each automo­tive indulgence recognized to man, includ­ing the world’s most easy convertible prime. What makes the 600SL $24,000 higher? How about easy pace? The 500 is quick, however the 600 is quicker and it by no means breathes arduous. The V-12 offers sharp getaways from relaxation with none jerky first-gear kick­downs. And on the freeway, a mild squeeze of the best pedal offers extra pull than most vehicles provide whenever you attempt to punch their accelerators by means of the ground. I’m undecided it is price 24 grand, nevertheless it certain is sweet. —Csaba Csere

I’ve some issue bringing my emotional response to the 600SL in step with my goal realizations. I imply, the SL hardly wants a six-liter V-12 engine simply to maneuver two individuals, and the marginal efficiency will increase over the 500SL cannot justify the large engine or the upper worth of this extravagant transplant. But it solely takes a day on this splendid automobile to smash these smart arguments to mud. The smoothness, solidity, energy, and mechanical concord of it’s gloriously intoxicating. Despite the value, I guess Mercedes strikes all of them. —Barry Winfield

I hold considering what a sacrifice Barry Bonds should make to pay for his 600SL. He goes to must play three entire baseball video games! It’s going to value him six or seven hours and possibly sixteen at-bats! But hey, on the brief record of vehicles to kill for, I’d get within the ring with Mike Tyson for this one. (Did I say vehicles to kill for, or vehicles to be killed for?) I gotta replenish this area, trigger describing this automobile is a one-word exer­cise: perfection. Okay, if you need a niggle, for 132 grand the shelf behind the seats must be lined in one thing apart from cotton carpet. Like, how about gold fleece? —Steve Spence