Video: Mercedes SL55 AMG | Future Classics

27th September 2024

Simon Ostler

The Mercedes SL55 AMG must surely be considered one of the most enticing sportscars the German marque has ever produced. It was perhaps underappreciated when it first arrived on the market in in 2002, but it was always going to be tricky for the brand to follow up on a golden period it enjoyed through the 1990s. Two decades later, you can find SL55s, which were originally priced at around £100,000, for as little as £15,000… somebody confiscate my wallet.

This early-2000s SL has a timeless quality to it. Its styling remains exquisite to this day, and its build quality still stands up well 20 years on, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a pretty good car to drive, too. The best part of course is that silky smooth 5.4-litre V8 that burbles under the bonnet producing around 500PS (368kW) and 700Nm (516lb ft) of torque, and while the gearbox might be a little bit pedestrian, the performance you get is still substantial thanks to the way the engine loves to rev.

It's convertible, too, which in our eyes immediately bumps this sportscar into the next level. It’s easy to see why these cars were owned by the likes of Tom Jones and Michael Jordan, their appeal is obvious.

In this video, Becky Evans caught up with Paul, the lucky owner of a pristine Mercedes SL55 AMG to find out more about what it’s like to own, and more importantly how enjoyable it is to drive. We apologise in advance if you’re £30,000 poorer by the end of it.