Photos by John Finch
On the day Michael Schumacher won his final Italian Grand Prix, and afterwards announced his retirement from Formula One, SCDC set out to drive an unflappable German and a screaming Italian- a tandem not unlike Schumacher and his F1 car. We wanted to figure out what we would buy used for around $80k, if we already had the people mover and we wanted to make a statement in a car we can live with. We have always loved the Mercedes SL, especially the R230 version introduced to the US in 2003. Even with the standard 5.0 liter V8, the large two seat roadster is a very impressive car and the most solid convertible we've ever driven. It would take a lot to change our admittedly biased opinion. Enter the challenger- Ferrari's 355 F1. It definitely got our attention.
It's a Ferrari, right? What more do you need? How can a fairly common Mercedes SL 500 even compare? Well, that's why they play the game and why we set out on some of our favorite roads in Santa Cruz to determine a winner in this Ferrari vs. Mercedes shoot-out.
I will first say that these two cars are very different; but let's start at the similarities. Both are two door, low slung, two passenger sports cars. They both use normally aspirated V8 power plants and are purely rear-wheel drive. And they both have two pedals. Other than that, this is an odd couple.
Differences start with gear choices. In this case the Ferrari is optioned with the 6 speed, semi-automatic F1 transmission; a $20,000 option. Not nearly as rapid fire as the Ferrari F1 versions that have come out since, it takes time to get used to the slight rear-end dip when shifting the paddles aggressively. The Mercedes comes with a solid, no-choice automatic five speed. It's not snappy when gears catch, but it's always smooth and allows for semi-manual sport shifting when needed. The F1 gets the nod for being more involving and more fun...but it never quite feels like you're playing Schumacher.
On paper the Ferrari is a much more focused sports car. It's lighter. It has more power. It's more aggressively tuned in suspension and throttle response. You sit lower to the ground while strapped into less forgiving (and more beautiful) Italian leather seats. It is more nervous and high strung also.
The SL is heavy. Weighing in at 4045 lbs, it's nearly a 1000 pounds heavier than the Ferrari. But what you give up in performance you gain in every conceivable creature comfort and automotive innovation available today. Active body control, folding hard top, Distronic cruise control, electronic brakes...even heated and cooled seats. It's a nice place to spend an afternoon.
Even after racing the two nose to tail through redwood lined back roads, the performance differences are not as apparent as you might think. I drove the SL for most of the afternoon, latching on to the Ferrari's tail more often than not. While doing so I hardly broke a sweat. I felt I could brake later and corner smoother based on the fact I did not have to be quite as focused.
In the Ferrari I was instantly on my heels. Exiting a very rough road at first gear speeds, I scraped the rear trans axle- twice, while doing my best not to. I questioned the Pirelli P-Zero's grip and wondered if I was nearing the limit way more than I should have. Hit a rough patch of asphalt or cross a trickle of water and your heart rate climbs. The Mercedes laughs at such imperfections and always reminds you traction control is never far. Ah, but the Ferrari engine- those noises! The sounds the mid-engine, 40-valve V8 made behind me were terrific. I can see that winning you over right there. Hit a good stretch of smooth pavement with long open straight-aways, let the 355 sing loud and it's imperfections are almost forgotten.
Attention seekers will be more interested in the Ferrari. It is low and sleek, wide and aggressive. It is an event to drive, and should be treated as such. You have to be careful on rough roads and worry when you park it on a dark street. The Mercedes is very comfortable, solid and can serve as a daily driver without a second thought. And even with the disadvantage of being a fatty, the German roadster is so great because of all the things the Ferrari is not. Whats even more attractive to the buyers of this kind of car- it's easier to drive and drive well. With extra attention and effort, the Ferrari is more fun. Period. You gain a sense of accomplishment from it, something that can't be said for the German, but is it worth it?
The short answer is no. While I can imagine everyone wants to take the 355 home, the purpose of this shoot out was to determine which car we'd want to live with and after our comparison the Ferrari's performance advantage is just not big enough to give up all the amenities that come with the more modern Mercedes SL 500. So, we'd buy the SL and I guess the trick is to find a friend with a Ferrari.
