Top Down in February | 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Full Tour & Review

Рет қаралды 27,869

7 жыл бұрын

This week on TestDrive we're behind the wheel of the R231 Mercedes-Benz SL550 roadster. With 60+ years of heritage behind the SL nameplate, Mercedes offers it's most technologically advanced Sport Lightweight roadster yet. We show you all the features of this car, go for a drive, and let you know what you need to know if you're in the market for this 429 horsepower convertible.
Surprisingly we had double digit weather in February which allowed us to drive this 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 roadster during the middle of the coldest winter we've had in years. This performance-oriented roadster has a lot to offer, including HID Xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic power opening trunk, and a power operated hardtop convertible.
Some of the interior features of this car include heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, Comand with navigation, SiriusXM Radio, and aux input, Mercedes' AirScarf which blows warm air out of the head rest, a backup camera, and plenty more goodies.
The SL roadster has always been one of the most expensive cars sold in Mercedes' lineup, and even without the AMG model, this SL550 has enough power to put a big smile on your face. We go in-depth with our full tour and review of this 2013 R231 SL550 by taking it for a drive and going over the important information you need if you're in the market for this convertible grand tourer.
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Пікірлер: 52

@mahindanv 7 жыл бұрын

It's not even finding the car that goes fast, it's finding the car that can put a smile on your face. Couldn't agree more!

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

It's helps that this car goes fast too ;) But that's always been my philosophy with cars, it's about the overall feeling and experience the car and driver achieve, not just the baseline speed.

@LawrenceMarkFearon 4 жыл бұрын

The last SL was much better in a lot of ways from it's power roll bar or SBC [Brake by wire system] to it's spare tire and pump. But by far the coolest feature of the SL was Keyless-Go. Nothing cooler than controlling the whole car without ever touching the key in your pocket unseen.

@PRNTestDrive 4 жыл бұрын

We had a blast filming this one, lots of tech available on it. We're hoping to get the chance to feature some older SL models!

@vs800rider 7 жыл бұрын

Nice review. Thanks for looking at the controls. Only review I've seen that does it.

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! We started off by covering cars this way and have continued since. Some might find it boring but we enjoy covering everything, glad you liked it!

@andresreyes5398 7 жыл бұрын

Great review Nile!

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! We really liked this car, hoping to try out a SL63 soon.

@halhansen778 6 жыл бұрын

From NYC. Great review, first time seeing your channel. One of the problems with sporty cars today, having a nice big console in the middle is that there’s not enough room. You’re a big guy and considering North Americans are the widest people in the world now - we need to know that we can fit! For me a practical review on sports leaning cars, always includes bottoming out the car, how smooth on the rougher roads and expansion joints transmitting harshly or not, into the cabin

@PRNTestDrive 6 жыл бұрын

Well we definitely do have a good idea of we can fit or not! It's been a bit since we drove this, but it wasn't overly roomy from what I remember. We've been trying to narrow down our review process for these episodes to cover as much as possible, the performance vehicles like this are a little harder to film since we're doing everything solo, it's one of the reasons why we haven't featured many since the summer.

@moushmoush 5 жыл бұрын

Very good video. I drive the exact year and model, coming from an SLK55 AMG, and while I deeply enjoyed the SLK for 12 full years and a whopping 240,000 miles, this baby has a monster under the hood and eliminates the need for an SL63, if I may say. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the AMG engines and always will be a fan, but in the case of the SL, I don't think there's a need. If I feel like another AMG, I'd take the GT Cabriolet which is a pleasure to drive.

@PRNTestDrive 5 жыл бұрын

That's certainly a great way to look at it! This car was quite a lot of fun on our short little drive, I think the AMG would be overkill in terms of performance.

@TheFadingTheory 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe it was only that year that did that, but the car does not have to be running now in order to operate the top. All done via the key fob.

@Marshal_Dunnik 5 жыл бұрын

Watch: 10 or 20 years from now, those integrated washers in the wipers will be a standard safety feature on all cars.

@PRNTestDrive 5 жыл бұрын

We're starting to see a couple more cars add this tech each year, recently the 2019 Mazda3 and 2019 Honda Clarity both had integrated wipers.

@lavery0365 6 жыл бұрын

That is one amazingly powerful vehicle, AND I WILL REFRAIN FROM TELLING YOU WHY.....

@PRNTestDrive 6 жыл бұрын

We really enjoyed the drive of this SL 550, especially since we had the chance to do it during the middle of winter!

@ianhuth37 6 жыл бұрын

Great review as always I'm a Mercedes dude but what were they thinking making the parking a button and not on the lever smh

@PRNTestDrive 6 жыл бұрын

It was a very strange setup, but not the worst we've driven either. Sometimes they shouldn't mess with things that just work right the way they are.

@kebekebe8025 9 ай бұрын

Yes

@PRNTestDrive 9 ай бұрын

Definitely.

@anthonycooper598 4 жыл бұрын

I'm 20 days from the year 2020 and have found one with 14k miles that's CPO and in 40 k price range, when considering anything newer I don't see anything comparable with amenities loaded like the 2013 model I'm considering. If I do it. I'm saving on insurance, price of new and depreciation. Not to mention the fact of a loaded new one is 115.K payment wise 1300.00 verse a CPO at 630.00 and most 2020 vehicles for 40K would depreciate too.and wouldn't be a SL Mercedes. So I think like this guy and I'm hoping I can convince my wife.

@PRNTestDrive 4 жыл бұрын

It's a seriously good price for a whole lot of car. A roadster like this is ideal for cruising, and having that V8 helps a lot.

@BorisHooiBoef 7 жыл бұрын

Nice vid! Maybe for your next video you could pay attention to your audio levels. There was some clipping in this. Keep it up!

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

We know, this was the first time using our new audio recording device, and also the first time doing an in-car convertible so we ended up losing all the audio we recorded on our route to the intro area and had to resort to using the GoPro audio.

@thjn23 7 жыл бұрын

It is somehow funny that analog clock is preferred nowadays again for that premium touch after the modern and cool association faded away from those cheap pixels :D though iam not sure if mb ever used digital clock (excluded a, b series etc)

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

I always loved the Chrysler analog clocks, but they are a nice touch on cars like this. Sometimes it's a pain in the ass to figure out which screen has the time on it, something we appreciate with the older S Class gauge clusters.

@thjn23 7 жыл бұрын

PRN true! I personally like the W123 clock the best, it's so big that it takes 1/3 of the cluster :D

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

That's one car we're still looking for to feature!

@daveriley6310 4 жыл бұрын

My M-B SL500 R-230 has a digital clock. I would have much preferred a classy looking dial. The position of the clock is poor as well, since it is susceptible to being unusable due to bright sunlight...in a roadster, no less. The good news is that this is the only complaint I have of the design.

@oliverlathe 3 жыл бұрын

That car is incredible...and they are going up in resale because the 2021 is no longer the hard top...😉

@PRNTestDrive 3 жыл бұрын

I don't doubt it! The SL-Class in general has always kept it's value really well, older ones go for quite a bit when you compare them to other luxury cars for sale from the same year. This is a car I'd really like to re-visit with the better equipment and smoother flow that I've developed over the years.

@kaurkoop 7 жыл бұрын

what a sexy looking car!

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

@DrAcid12 7 жыл бұрын

we don't have the sl550 here in the UK we have the sl500 it's 4.7 litre V8 435hp. for some reason the European cars have more HP then the US and Canada.

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

The German auto makers like to restrict our power output unfortunately. I believe the SL550 is only marketed this way here in Canada, no idea why.

@prodromosprodromou7942 6 жыл бұрын

Sl500 and sl550 has the same bhp its call 550 in usa why not sure but same engine

@99277450 5 жыл бұрын

يس

@TrustMeIKnowEverything Жыл бұрын

Identical car bro

@Sirclassic718 5 жыл бұрын

So if a cat runs under the back of your car at a red light the trunk will open? Lol.

@PRNTestDrive 5 жыл бұрын

If the cat has the key fob!

@TrustMeIKnowEverything Жыл бұрын

Lol no moron.

@buddybestor 6 жыл бұрын

Oh Dear Santa....

@AlainCarAudioManiac 7 жыл бұрын

I love this car but I find the fake driver's side air vent on the hood disappointing.

@PRNTestDrive 7 жыл бұрын

Seems to be a very acceptable design technique now, almost all the manufacturers are getting away with them.

@realtywithseankemp9704 6 жыл бұрын

Almost 100 likes and no dislikes!?!??!the fuck?!?! Dude that's awesome

@PRNTestDrive 6 жыл бұрын

Probably since no one ended up watching this video, which is disappointing. We really liked the SL550, it ended up being our favourite car last year during our Year in Review episode.