BMW 650i, Mercedes SL500, Porsche911: convertibles with a sports car soul

W are the Isn't going to the monastery preferable to enrolling at a university? Would the marriage with anyone else have lasted longer? Should you really bet everything on 13? Often the subjunctive - the so-called irrealis - dominates the thoughts, preferably with the question: What if a bulging suitcase got lost to me?

When it comes to cars, models like the one come along quickly BMW 650i and the Porsche 911 Carrera S in consciousness, openly, the Mercedes SL 500 anyway. The driver and front passenger should obviously feel as comfortable in it as they did on their last cruise, even if they didn't have the most generous interior dimensions available. On the other hand, thanks to the generous glazing, with the roof closed, you can enjoy the best sense of space and, according to the measured values, the least restricted all-round view. Better than any sun lounger: the multi-contour seats that can be adjusted in all imaginable directions, the position of which actually justifies the super attribute of the model name.

New Mercedes SL 125 kilograms lighter?

And light? After all, the manufacturer promises that the new Mercedes SL will weigh 125 kilograms less than its predecessor. However, there is a difference of just ten kilograms in favor of the current Mercedes SL 500 between the corresponding test cars.

According to this, its double-charged V8 weighs just under 1.9 tons. Only the BMW engine has to lift another three hundredweight more, while the Porsche engine works in the rear of a body that is comparatively light, weighing less than 1.6 tons. When it comes to longitudinal dynamics, the Mercedes SL 500 is pretty unimpressed by its weight. Already just above idling speed, at around 1,600 rpm, the direct-injection engine pushes a monstrous 700 Newton-meter chunk of torque to the rest of the drive train, accompanied by the compositionally warm, subtle simmering of the eight pots.

The cleverly spread, The very gently working seven-speed automatic then processes it in no time at all in a time of 4.6 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km /h. And what happens at the end of the straight? Enter the ABC chassis. The four-link front axle (with tension strut and spring link instead of a lower triangular wishbone) and the rear axle are supported by a hydraulic actuating cylinder in the strut. Its control electronicsalso prevents rolling and pitching movements of the Mercedes SL 500. Also new: an electromechanical steering.

Mercedes SL 500 with superior comfort

How does the combination work? Great on country roads, especially in sport mode, which eliminates annoying vertical movements. Still, there is much more superior comfort than the BMW 650i and Porsche 911 Carrera S offer. The Mercedes SL 500 steers in directly and follows curve radii with largely neutral self-steering behavior. The results of the driving dynamics tests show that the two-seater distances itself from the BMW, albeit not extraordinarily - that is reserved for the Porsche 911.

Sensitive Mercedes drivers soon realize that the Agility is mostly artificially generated and the ESP is primarily responsible for driving safety. A trip to the small course in Hockenheim confirms the assumption. The pedal feel of the brake, which is definitely reminiscent of the last hike in the mudflats, is also annoying here. On the other hand, the BMW 650i communicates much more reliably with its driver. Its double wishbone front axle and integral rear axle do not manage to drive out constant understeer, but the whimpering of the 19-inch front wheels hardly swells into a pathetic lament.

Just as clearly defined: the pressure point of the Brake and the integral active steering, which makes contact with the road like a forceful handshake. In terms of driving comfort, a little more suppleness would be desirable (attention, one more subjunctive), although the BMW 650i Convertible - once again - stumbles over its run-flat tires. In addition, the dampers do not respond adequately to short bumps. In contrast, the two turbochargers of the V8 petrol engine are much more sensitive. At first he grumbles behind closed doors, but then raises his grumpy tavern voice much more vehemently as the engine speed rises.

BMW 650i convertible more revving than Mercedes SL 500

The Bavarian 4.4-liter doesn’t get as far with its torque lobe as the Mercedes SL 500, but it is easier to turn. When it comes to driving performance, however, it has to admit defeat to the Mercedes convertible as well as to consumption. Between the two eight-cylinders there is at least 1.1 L /100 km, compared to the Porsche 911 Carrera S, the BMW 650 i swallows 1.4 liters more. The 911 needs Super Plus for this - and BMW buyers have more money left over in their suitcases, because the 650i is by far the cheapest in this trio. The most spacious one on top of that, especially since its top barely restricts the luggage space when it is open.

The Porsche 911 Carrera S is not impressed, its trunk always remains consistently small, but easy to use - in contrast to the rear seats that are at most suitable for hamsters . The 911 is much more interested inSpeed. When opening the convertible top, it takes the least time at 13 seconds (BMW 19, Mercedes 20 seconds). Even more: the best time in the acceleration measurements, ultra-fast gear changes of the dual clutch transmission and the highest speeds in the slalom and ISO wagging course. The 102 kilograms more weight compared to the Coupé in the Porsche 911 Cabrio only load on the drive axle in an elaborate five-link design (weight distribution: 37.6 to 62.4 percent) and are probably only noticeable in driving behavior if the driver exceeds the ideal size 1 , 96–78–2 (meter-kilogram World Rally Championship title). The narrowly cut seats and the comparatively slim dashboard also match this. Despite the many buttons: the current 911 generation is error-free operation almost immediately.

Tachometer dominant element in the Porsche 911

The dominant element in the Porsche 911 Cabrio: the rev counter. The raging of the six-cylinder boxer in the rear is visualized on this scale, biting the driver's right trouser leg when the accelerator pedal is touched lightly and is only whistled back by the rev limiter shortly before the 8,000 rpm mark. Please do not get it wrong: The 3.8-liter unit is not the bitchy racing diva, it also likes to dawdle and consumes just 8.1 liters /100 km ( auto motor und sport Consumption round). As long as the flaps of the optional sports exhaust remain closed, the characteristic boxer rattle hardly scares anyone. And the chassis actually shows good ride comfort despite the 20-inch wheels. Compared to the Mercedes SL 500 and BMW 650i, however, the Porsche 911 always remains 'hard', the sports button tensions the adaptive dampers to 'even harder'. If the combustion chambers are now flooded, the engine trumpets, puts a shovel of punch from 5,500 rpm and a few thundering brass on top from 6,200 rpm.

The sports car soul is not lost with the fixed roof , however, costs a lot of points - and a considerable sum of money on top of that. But when the unrealis turns into a real desire for emotions: be sure to buy the Porsche 911 Carrera S. If there is less money in the case than expected, the balanced BMW 650i. And if comfort counts, then the Mercedes SL 500.