Dream car of a man

Initially, it feels like its going to be a lesser experience. The instant gratification of the torque-rich SL55 is missing, despite seven gears (as opposed to five) and the sharper throttle response; you have to work the new engine hard, using lots of revs. However, while the start-of-day feeling was that the SL63 was a little flat and not as exciting as its 518bhp rating suggested, by the time I handed the keys back I had been won over by its ability and consistency. The further you drive the SL63, the better it feels. The directness of its steering, the firmness of its chassis and the need to work its engine and gearbox hard ultimately fuse into a very satisfying experience. As ever, the active suspension helps disguise the SLs weight, giving the car a neat, agile feel through a sequence of bends.