Now creeping up on 14 years old but showing fewer than 66,000 miles on the odometer, ‘J4 XPP’ is the very definition of a modern classic: Stuffed to the gunnels with life-saving technology beneath a lightweight alloy body, buying a modern classic has never been safer.

There’s fun to be had too thanks to the 3.5-litre V6 under the bonnet, a powerplant whose 303bhp, 273lb.ft of torque, and seven-speed automatic gearbox help it waft past 62mph in 5.9 seconds on its way to an artificially limited top speed of 155mph.

It’ll do it reliably and economically too; if you’ve ever fancied a classic Mercedes SL but can’t shake your fears about running a car that’s older than you, this might be the solution you’ve been dreaming of.

Finished in a discreet black, the SL presents very well.

Of course, rust and rot aren’t a consideration thanks to that aluminium body, but we were nonetheless struck by how well it looks.

Especially given the hue, because black highlights flaws and imperfections wit...