Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG roadster 2002 Review

Two laps. It's just not fair. Opportunities to drive the world's quickest production car don't grow on Gum trees, especially in our far-flung Great Southern Land. Opportunities to drive the world's quickest production car on a closed road circuit with no traffic and no radar-toting cops practically never come along.

So, what mal-adjusted, acerbic demon of the underworld placed a two lap restriction on my time in the automotive candy shop? It's just not fair.

Two laps in a two-seat, teutonic roadster as supremely competent and mind-blowingly fast as the SL55 AMG came and went quicker than a fumbling teenager's first time. Barely enough time to turn the key and fire the engine with the gearshift mounted starter button. Precious seconds wasted listening, physically feeling the throbbing, malicious intent in every note of the supercharged V8's deep baritone exhaust.

Dropping the folding hardtop roof to better tantalize the ears chewed another 16 seconds. Strapping the belt, adjusting the electric driver's seat and wheel, disengaging the ESP fun police, getting the mirrors right - it all wastes precious seconds. At the time I didn't realise it. Now I rue it desperately. Oh, for one more chance.

Just one more chance to blast away from standstill, the SL55 screaming up the hill. Piling on speed phenomenally quick through massive 18inch rear tyres fighting 500 pissed off ponies for traction. First gear dispatched in moments, second automatically engaged. The tyres take advantage of the lapse to find traction for a split second before giving up all over again.

Second gear didn't stay much longer than first, the force fed V8 rocketing the SL55 up the hill with total disregard for Newton's law. Barreling into the first corner - a long, uphill right - the ballistic Benz completely destroys my expectations. It calls my bluff and doubles the stakes, piling on more speed in the corner. The front end never strays, never deviates from the racing line.

Apex nailed, the SL explodes out of the corner. Short straight, quick left into downhill right into uphill right and light over crest - fast. Very fast. Faster than I thought possible. Faster wasn't fast enough anymore... I want more. Sign me up, take my soul. This life is full.

After the crest the road goes lazily left and up - really up - we're talking 26 degrees of climb. Steeper than governments will build roads, steeper than a passenger aircraft on takeoff. At the top the road kinks madly to the left. Viewed from above it's a constant radius corner. Viewed from the front seat of the road-going exorcet Benz, it's a leap of faith.

I had faith. I fully expected - no, I knew - the SL55 would simply take off. The 1955kg, two seat roadster would go into orbit, such was its accelerative force during the climb. Just hours before I'd been cresting in a Falcon XR6 at 130km/h, the tyres skipping luridly sideways, suspension at full droop. The Benz slips up - and over - with 150km/h on the dial and all four feet firmly gripping Mother Earth. I swear it's laughing at me.

Down the other side, fast downhill right, long downhill left, then a slight dogleg left taken at full noise. The SL55 AMG feels like it is accelerating quicker above 100km/h than it was below.

Tap the brakes before tipping into the long, floating, uphill left-hander. Guard rail on the outside, we hug the inside line. The Benz turns in and settles quickly, the rear end dancing, drifting ever so slightly as I test the limits of grip. Then a thought - this car is worth more than the house I live in. Care should be taken, restraint exercised, caution heeded. Shouldn't I back off?

Then, the voice of reason: Opportunities like this don't come along that often, it said. Make the most of your two laps. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the SL55. Enjoy the moment.

So I did six laps.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 AMG:

» Mercedes claims the SL55 AMG is the fastest accelerating road car to 300km/h. It's 5.5-litre, supercharged V8 engine produces 368kW of power and an earth-rending 700Newton-metres of torque. Compare that to an 8.0-litre Dodge Viper, with 336kW and 664Nm, and Porsche 911 Turbo with 306kW and 560Nm.

» The SL55 will accelerate from rest to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and crack 200km/h in 15 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250km/h.

» The Benz SL55 comes with all manner of technical wizards, including hydraulic self leveling suspension to iron out body roll during cornering, and acceleration and braking.

» The 360mm front brake discs have twice as much surface area as those fitted to the SL500 roadster. Brakes and throttle are driven electronically, there is no mechanical link from the pedals.

» At the butchers' the SL55 AMG would cost a meagre $188 per kilo. By comparison a BMW M3 costs $200 per kilo, an HSV ClubSport costs $35 per kilo.

» Do that same comparison with peak torque and the ClubSport costs $122 per Nm, the 911 costs $551 per Nm, the Benz costs $525 per Nm.

» The SL55 AMG's 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine will also be fitted to the E55 sedan, while the CLK55 AMG coupe gets a non-supercharged version. Both are expected in Australia in 2003.