German Car Forum

Two high-buck convertibles and 24 hours to burn. We exercise them on road and track.

There they were, lying on my desk, two key fobs sitting atop a small note that read, “Please return by 3 p.m. tomorrow.” The black matchbox-size remotes belonged to a 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster and a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, arguably two of the most desirable convertibles in the world, with a combined price of over $300,000. My watch showed 3 p.m., which meant I had exactly 24 hours to do as I pleased with these dream machines. Several ideas came to mind, like a quick jaunt to Mulholland Drive and a late-night cruise through Hollywood. Too predictable. As I mentally rejected one idea after another, Feature Editor Mike Monticello walked into my office. I explained the situation.

“We should drive the living @#%! out of them,” he said.

Bingo.

We discussed an appropriate destination, then I recalled Editor-at-Large John Lamm saying that this year marked the 60th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Road Races, where driving legends such as Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby competed. I called Lamm for more information, and not only did he say he would give us a guided tour, he said he could obtain permission for us to run a few laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Our plan was to take scenic Highway 1 to the Monterey Peninsula, about 400 miles away, spend an hour lapping the cars at the track the following morning, visit the old Pebble Beach Road Races road course (made up of public roads), then return to our offices via Highway 1 in time to return the cars. The total distance for the trip was about 1000 miles, and after subtracting six hours for sleep, we would need to average more than 55 miles every hour (gasoline and food breaks included) to achieve our goal. With these cars, no problem.

The Open Highway
Both the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster and Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG were created for the open road. They possess a high level of comfort and refinement, with the option of going top down if the weather permitted…when in California, it usually does. The Vantage has the more communicative chassis of the two as each bump on the road is effectively relayed to the driver in a non-intrusive way. The car feels more nimble than the Mercedes, while still providing excellent ride quality. Although the SL63 AMG feels sturdier and heavier, it’s by no means sluggish; the M-B provided better high-speed stability than the Vantage Roadster and felt more like an Autobahn annihilator than it did a sprightly sports car.

Lowering the top for both cars is performed by a switch on the center console. The tops on both cars stow nicely into their respective compartments, providing the ideal environment for sun and wind worshippers. The air flows smoothly over the driver’s head in the Vantage and SL63 AMG with limited back draft, even at high speed. The Mercedes was the one we preferred for top-down driving, partly because of its AirScarf, which keeps the back of your head and neck warm on cooler days. What’s more, the M-B’s hard top allows the car to play the dual role of coupe and convertible, while the Aston’s soft top, when raised, allows wind and road noise to creep in, and its exterior appearance suffers.


Full Story: Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster vs. Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG - Article - Road and Track


Video: Video: Midnight Run! Two Hot Convertibles and 24 Hours to Burn - Article - Road and Track


Throw in the 911 Turbo S Cabrio and you have my 3 favorite convertibles in this segment.

M

The V8 Roadster is one gorgeous machine with one stunning engine sound…and the interior is one of the most beautiful you can get in this class. But just look at the SL - absolutely timeless design. I'm glad, that I don't have the money to buy such cars. Couldn't decide for which one to go…