There are certain rights and privileges afforded the
Mercedes-Benz SL320 driver that are not ordinarily extended to drivers of lower-priced cars.
For example, after genuflecting, parking valets will make certain your car is parked in front, safe from all manner of dents and dings, as well as from the inconvenience of having to wait for your Mercedes to be brought around.
And on the road, left-lane squatters will quickly take heed of the broad, star-tipped hood in their mirror and virtually leap to the next lane, allowing for safe and expedient passing.
You see, the most important - or annoying, as the case may be - point of owning a the SL320 is that it is never invisible. Whether clean or dirty, moving fast or slow, everyone notices the SL320. Frankly, it's just too difficult to ignore.
Walking toward the SL320 with key in hand imparts a sense of awe mingled with delight. The awe is because the key might as well be a house key, for the SL320 costs about as much as the average single-family house.
As mind-numbing as its stratospheric prices may be, Mercedes is recognizing the importance of value - even in premium luxury cars. In fact, the automaker has loaded its new S-Class and SL-Class models with more standard equipment and lowered the total amount.
Mercedes Benz SL-Class models include the SL320, SL500 and SL600. For our test drive, we chose the SL320 convertible, which featured no optional equipment and came in at $78,775.
Once the effects of the astronomical price pass and your head properly clears, your eyes focus on the crisp surfaces of the SL320's shape.
From the front of the car, the signature Mercedes-Benz 3-pointed star sits nestled in the center of the chrome grille. Attractive flush-mounted halogen headlights are placed on either side of the grille, and clear-lensed turning indicators smoothly flow from headlight to fender.
Small wipers rest at the bottom of both headlight assemblies and operate in conjunction with the windshield wiper only when the headlights are switched on. Small ellipsoidal front foglights are found below the headlights, and are integrated into the front spoiler.
The single-arm windshield wiper was interesting to watch and a seemingly stunning example of Mercedes-Benz engineering prowess, but ultimately it was ineffective at cleaning our windshield.
Following the taut skin over the sloping nose to the steeply raked windshield and back to the tapered rear leaves an impression of cleanliness and size. The shapes are simple and flowing; thoroughly contemporary, but avoiding both the wind-tunneled blob and creased and folded designs that too often plague modern styling.
Smooth-faced 8-spoke alloy wheels, shod with 16-in. Pirellis, fill the wheel wells with fluid grace.
