The new-millennium generation of the Mercedes SL, designated ‘R230’, was an intriguing proposition. Developed in parallel using two distinct methods (the physical development occurred with 1:4-scale cars, the virtual used the pioneering ‘CAVE’ supercomputer processing technology), the new-for-2001 SL was the product of over five years of work from an improbably massive team of people. Offered with a wide range of V6s, V8s and V12s, this was the quintessential open-top grand tourer.

Offered from launch was the SL 350, a model that many enthusiasts see as the sweet-spot R230 for its blend of power, comfort and real-world usability. The engine is the 3.7-litre evolution of the M112 V6, a motor renowned for its strength thanks to having factory-fitted forged internals; with twin plugs per cylinder, aluminium pistons and a magnesium intake manifold it offers plenty of power – 242bhp – but of course SLs are predominantly about comfort and refinement, and the SL 350 has that in spades, with its luxuriously trimmed and fully-loaded interior. And with very low mileage (just 32,000) and an excellent spec including the sought-after panoramic glass roof and rare Fire Opal Red paint, this is a very attractive example indeed.
 
 

The interior is generously equipped as standard in an SL, with this one trimmed in attractive magnolia leather with the optional ash black wood trim. It’s clear that Mercedes-Benz put a lot of thought into making the cabin eminently usable, as there are storage cubbies hidden everywhere – the armrests in the doors pop open at the touch of a button, there’s storage below the seats, and lidded bins in the space behind.

The underseat cubby on the passenger side houses the original first aid kit. As you’d expect of a car with such low mileage, it’s all very fresh and tidy in the cabin with no undue wear or missing trim. The electric seats are fully functional, there are no warning lights illuminated on the dash, and every button we pressed did what it ought to do, including raising and lowering the rear pop-up roll bar.

The car is equipped with air-conditioning, as well as the wind deflector for when the roof’s down. It’s also worth noting that the original owner specified the optional 6-disc auto-changer, which is located in the cubby behind the passenger seat. The only notable blemishes in the cabin are a small area on the steering wheel centre where the colour’s worn away, and some pixelation to the digital screen that displays the mileage.
 
Fire Opal Red is an offbeat choice for an SL, and it suits the body lines of the R230 very well. The paintwork is in good condition throughout the car, with no notable stone-chips or scratches. The electric folding hard-top is all in perfect working order, and it’s actually quite entertaining to watch as the roof is raised and lowered, with the bootlid hinging up from the rear and the hardtop folding itself away neatly into the boot.
 
This car was specced from new with the staggered-width 19” AMG alloy wheels, and these wear a matching set of Bridgestone Potenza tyres. The light lenses and window glass are in good order, and all of the correct trim is in place. Overall, it looks like exactly what it is: a quality roadster that’s been very well looked after.

It’s a compelling package in this car, offering the perfect blend of smooth wafting and sonorous grunt, depending on how relaxed or aggressive you choose to be with the throttle. Thanks to that highly-advanced V6 motor, there’s oodles of torque to exploit, and the engine is perfectly mated to the slick 7-speed automatic transmission. This car also benefits from a custom straight-through exhaust system with quad tailpipes, which really howls under eager acceleration, making a sound that’s more supercar than V6 – trust us, it’s addictive!

 Given the mileage and the robust service history, it’ll be no surprise to you that there are no gremlins to worry about with this SL. It drives wonderfully, everything’s working as it should, and it really does represent a huge amount of car for the money.

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