Then there's the variable but extremely light power steering rack that makes directing the SL in tight parking lots a breeze. Even with all of its power, the SL is as calm as an S-Class when rolling around town. It's also quiet until the hard top drops (in around 16 seconds at speeds no higher than around 2 mph), the revs climb, and that burbling barrel-chested growl reveals itself.

Our SL wore $17,940 worth of options, $11,850 of them comfort and convenience related. The priciest of them, the Premium 1 Package ($4900), features a rearview camera, Parktronic radar guidance, ventilated and multi-contour seats, Airscarf, and keyless ignition. The camera is a godsend, considering the SL's minimal rearward visibility, though COMAND must be on to use it.

Speaking of COMAND, the SL's modern, brightly painted exterior only exacerbates the dated look of the multimedia system's brown- and yellow-tinged menus. That said, I could overlook the screen's drab colors and the simplistic, overly retro black interior because of one absurdly named item: Magic Sky Control, the spiffiest panoramic roof in the automotive biz. The glass can change its transparency with the charge of an electric current that's operated by a ceiling-mounted button. It will impress many dates. Trust me.

You might not have as much luck impressing with the SL's exterior lines.

As Lago put it, "The exterior styling is disappointing. Looks like three different people were responsible for three different parts - the nose, the mid section, and the rear. Alone, these parts look all right (the rear reminds me of the Maybach Exelero concept), but they mix poorly on the car itself. The overall look is incongruent."

Around L.A., the car got plenty of stares, so it's possible Benz's designers did something right after all.

Mercedes-Benz has stayed true to the SL's roots, crafting a lighter, more powerful, more fuel-efficient roadster that's as comfortable and classy as it is attention-getting and absurdly quick. Buyers put an SL in their garages to make a statement no matter where they roll. This Benz successfully does just that. Now how about those AMGs...

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550
BASE PRICE	$106,405
PRICE AS TESTED	$124,345
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door convertible
ENGINE	4.7L/429-hp/516-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION	7-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4104 lb (52/48%)
WHEELBASE	101.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	181.8 x 73.9 x 51.8 in
0-60 MPH	4.0 sec
QUARTER MILE	12.5 sec @ 114.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	105 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.94 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	25.0 sec @ 0.73 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON	16/24 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY	211/140 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS	1.03 lb/mile