Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The best (and original) folding metal roof in the business just got a little better. The best large GT drop-top in the business bar none.

• Comfort

  You can splurge down south and still have a spine, or tool through traffic for several hours without feeling trapped. Yes the SL tends toward a firm ride, but it's a heavy car and irons out most stuff that might annoy you. It might not offer the tactile sensations of a tiny, speedy two-seater but that trade off is a good one when it comes to making long distances melt away.

  

• Performance

  If you like the look rather than need to humble other road users at the traffic lights, then the 200kW 350SL is more than good enough. It's quicker than pretty much any hot hatch. The 500 V8 is much quicker, but if you want to give the environment a good shoeing then you need either the SL600 or the even more ludicrous SL65 AMG, which shoves 450kW to the floor through the rear wheels, hits 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, can spin its tyres in third on a wet road and sounds like the apocalypse whispered through an organ pipe.

  

• Cool

  Slightly Pools-winner, chestwig-esque if in the wrong specification, otherwise quite cool. Jeremy Clarkson bought one, so it can't be that cool.

  

• Quality

  Say what you like about Mercedes Benz, they know how to put together a car. They might have had a slightly dodgy reputation over the past few years, but cars like the SL make you realize that engineering is still very much a priority for the firm. Just don't go for a lairy interior combination.

  

• Handling

  It doesn't roll, doesn't pitch, there isn't any scuttle shake roof up or down. You can't help but be impressed with the SL. You might expect something soft but the SL feels as taut as ever even if it is a little on the lardy side thanks to a kit list that can, if you get heavy with the option ticking, be as long as an orang-utang's arm.

  

• Practicality

  The roof is quite intrusive in the 235-litre boot when it gets folded, but otherwise the SL is quite practical in terms of two away for a weekend. Don't expect to get much IKEA flatpack in there.

  

• Running costs

  It's a great-looking, expensive Mercedes, so expect high insurance, high tax, high fuel consumption and rock-like residuals.