Being that time of year again, I have just returned from my annual holiday to France. The SL performed faultlessly. In particular, I drove 888 miles this Saturday. I stopped three times only: twice for fuel and a pee (about 5 mins on each occasion) and once while we went through the channel tunnel (about 3/4 of an hour). Otherwise at the wheel from 7am (CET) to 7pm (BST), a total of 13 hours, an average speed of 69mph (including the tunnel journey). When I stepped out of the car I felt no worse than I do after a day at work. What a car! On the way there (last Saturday) we covered the distance from Dordrecht in Holland to the Dordogne in France in about 9 1/2 hours, again, non-stop.

This time I fitted the panoramic top for the journey, removing it when I arrived at our holiday house in France. IMHO the soft top is too noisy for long distance high speed work. On the French autoroute I set my cruise control to 93mph (150kph), which I was able to maintain for extended periods, occasionally stretching the legs to 140mph on long clear straights. (The Gendarmes are getting hot in France, so no real high speed stuff anymore.) I went a little slower here in Blighty as I'm holding on to my licence by the skin of my teeth. In Holland and Belgium I cruised at about 85mph (their limit is 120kph).

While in France I was able to enjoy some wonderful motoring. Some of the mountain roads are unbelievable: look up Souillac to Rocamadour on your Michelin map and dream about those bends, those hills and those views! Reality was even better: next to no traffic. Even my wife didn't complain about spirited driving! I will add a few pictures for your delectation. This is how to use your SL: with fine but simple food in your belly, a rough local red in your blood, sun on your face and a never ending ribbon of blacktop ahead!!

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JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190