With fuel prices seemingly breaking new records every week, it pays to be frugal. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself, and the Mercedes-Benz R230 350SL is a case in point. As grand and imposing as the large V8-engined models, it’s a GT convertible with genuine 30mpg fuel economy. 

The R230SL set new standards for Mercedes-Benz in terms of dynamics and handling, too, when it debuted in 2002. The company was competing in Formula One in conjunction with McLaren at the time and the British company played a hand in helping develop the new SL, which was dynamically leagues ahead of its R129 predecessor. 

This 2004 example is a four-owner car that has been garaged for all of its life, so is presented in excellent condition for its 18 years.

Four lucky owners have enjoyed this SL and the only reason it’s being offered for sale again is because the vendor is about to lose his storage and doesn’t want to keep the car ungaraged. 

The SL comes with a factory build record showing an impressive specification including premium features such as the COMAND system, burr walnut trim, a panoramic glass roof, bi-Xenon headlamps, Parktronic parking sensors and an alarm system. 

The service book has five main dealer stamps and independent specialists thereafter, up to 74,000 miles. After that, there are receipts for all the more recent servicing, which is fully up to date with a recent full service in June 2022. The car has a full UK V5C and an MOT until March 2023.

The pale grey heated leather is smart and well-presented, giving the car an air of upmarket luxury. It’s in excellent condition, with no notable wear despite the car having a six-figure mileage. It is rare to see the lighter grey upholstery as most leave the factory with dark anthracite. The lightness of this really highlights the walnut veneer capping well. 

All of the dials and controls appear to operate as intended and the factory-standard Mercedes COMAND system operates as it should, controlling the air con, radio, sat nav and a few other of the car’s features with the exception of the exterior mirror switch which the vendor has pointed out is faulty.

This was the height of technology back in 2004 and it’s still quite impressive today.

The Finished in Brilliant Silver, this one is in by far the best and most popular colour for an R230SL.

All of the paintwork is paintwork largely original with some very minor stone chips. Indeed, it has all the hallmarks of a car that had been properly looked after throughout its life. 

There are no signs of corrosion on top or underneath the car and it still looks bright and clean despite being over 18 years old. The seven-spoke alloys are in good order with some minor kerb marks and are equipped with matching Continental tyres. 

The electric ‘VarioRoof’ is a work of art and folds at the touch of a button, taking just 30 seconds to go from fixed-head GT to full-on convertible.

The vendor also notes that the AMG badges can be easily removed if not wanted. 

While the V8 500 is the flagship of the SL range, the 350 is by no means the poor relation. Under the bonnet, it has a 3.7-litre V6 with 242bhp on tap – enough for 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 155mph, so more than enough to keep up with modern traffic. 

This one is in fine fettle. It fires up on the button and settles to a smooth and steady idle. There’s no excessive smoke and it operates smoothly through all of the gears. The vendor reports that the suspension, steering and brakes are all fine.

On the last service the air conditioning was re-charged. It now delivers ice cold air through the climate control. Also included in the last service was the removal and replacement of all engine and gearbox chassis mounts in order to remove a very slight vibration.

On inspection under the bonnet we noted that the whole compartment had been left pleasantly original and not previously ‘pressured washed’ so showing the patina of age and allowing the the originality of the inner wings and front end to speak for themselves.

Critically, unlike the V8-powered SLs, this one doesn’t feature Mercedes’s Active Body Control. The hydraulic system may have given the SL unbeatable dynamics when new, but it is notoriously fragile and expensive to maintain so its absence will help keep the next owner’s running costs down by virtue of it being a much simpler car, yet one that’s still just as rewarding to drive.

The SL350 is a great compromise car – as stylish and seductive to look at as the SL500 but without the associated running costs, yet with all of the prestige and cachet. It’s also a car that’s very much in vogue as a modern classic, as earlier SLs become prohibitively expensive to some. This one’s a lovely example.