In Part 1, we explored the appeal of the R231 SL400’s Active Body Control and its 276-hp engine. In this second part, let’s dive deeper into the car’s core strengths: its handling characteristics, highway performance, and the comfort it offers as a convertible.

After covering 1,000 kilometers, what stood out most was how exceptionally refined this car is as a grand touring machine. It transcends being just a means of transportation—driving itself becomes the ultimate pleasure.

The Heart of Mercedes-Style Handling

The SL400’s handling embodies what you’d call “classic Mercedes”. Its straight-line stability is remarkable, consistently showing a strong will to stay perfectly on course. This trait truly shines on the highway.

You might expect that such a strong straight-line bias would lead to pronounced understeer in corners. However, this is where Mercedes’ clever engineering comes into play. The car turns precisely as much as you steer. This unwavering fidelity to driver input reflects Mercedes’ deep commitment to safety.

Unlike the more visceral handling of Porsche or BMW, the SL400 responds honestly and reliably to the driver’s intentions. This characteristic likely stems from a focus on maximizing hazard avoidance. It’s not a car designed to chase track limits, but it’s ideal for covering long distances comfortably and safely.

Several Porsche owners who test drove it were unanimous in their praise. Especially in Sport mode, the driving experience is so rewarding that you want to keep going. This might just be the true essence of a grand tourer.

Highway Performance: The Autobahn-Bred Excellence

Moving onto the highway, the flatness delivered by Active Body Control (ABC) becomes even more apparent.

It offers a level of stability that conventional suspensions simply can’t match. Roland, a YouTuber, once commented on his R231 SL65 that its flatness rivals that of a Rolls-Royce Wraith—and that impression is spot on.

As speed increases, ABC automatically lowers the ride height, enhancing road adhesion. Cruising at high speeds in Sport mode is pure bliss. While Porsche might edge it out at racing speeds, for effortlessly covering the 500 km between Osaka and Tokyo without fatigue, few cars can match the SL.

For an SL, bred on the Autobahn, Japan’s lower-speed highways are a breeze.

Over 20 years ago, while cruising the Tomei Expressway in my Audi TT Coupe, I was suddenly overtaken on the left at what must have been over 200 km/h by an R230 SL500. The stable, arrow-straight composure of that moment remains vivid in my memory. That razor-sharp straight-line stability is the SL’s hallmark.

This high-speed stability inspires a longing for long-distance drives. When on the highway, you feel an irresistible urge to explore even further.

Open-Air Comfort and Premium Seating

The SL400’s seats, while lacking the massage and dynamic features of higher trims like the SL550 or AMG models, are still very refined. Their thick cushioning and wide adjustability keep fatigue at bay even on long drives. Ventilation is modest given the era’s technology, but seat heaters and the Airscarf neck-level warm air system make open-top winter driving comfortable.

Wind buffeting when open is far less than in the Boxster—among convertibles, it’s impressively minimal. Using the rear wind deflector further enhances comfort, making high-speed cruising a breeze. While it doesn’t quite match the 911 Cabriolet’s wind deflector effectiveness, it still offers a level of comfort that lets you enjoy highway speeds with the roof down.

The wind deflector deploys automatically at the push of a button, adding to its convenience. Driving open-air in the SL400 delivers a unique, special experience you won’t find anywhere else.

On the downside, the audio quality leaves much to be desired. The SL400 in Japan doesn’t come with the Harman/Kardon system found in higher trims, but rather a basic 8-speaker setup. The sound quality is notably poor. Even as someone not particular about car audio, I found the treble harsh and cheap-sounding, with sibilant vocals that are grating. The midrange is muddy, and no amount of equalizer tweaking helps. Upgrading the speakers is definitely on my to-do list.

Unfortunately, Mercedes no longer offers seats this plush in their current lineup

The True Value of a Grand Tourer Realized on a Long Drive

I recently took a short tour toward Wakayama, and the joy of winding country roads was truly moving.

Driving a Porsche, even over 100 km, delivers intense enjoyment but also accumulates a fair amount of fatigue. With the SL, you can cover 200 km with the same level of tiredness. This effortless desire to keep going is the car’s greatest appeal.

On a tour, you encounter various roads and scenarios. If Porsche offers a series of “these roads and that road felt amazing” moments, the SL provides a broader experience of “every road is enjoyable, and I want to drive more”. You want to rack up miles without feeling tired. It’s truly a car you want to drive endlessly.

This is the very essence of a grand tourer: harmonizing comfort and driving pleasure at a high level, making long-distance travel a rewarding goal in itself.

I firmly believe the R231 is the last true SL. I’ve grown so fond of this car that I can’t see myself letting it go anytime soon. If you’re interested, it’s definitely worth searching the used car market. I hope many enthusiasts get to experience this pinnacle of Mercedes grand touring for themselves.