What kind of idiot drives a white SLK with the roof down in the middle of December, gets it covered in clart and then attempts to sell this as an appealing way to spend 50-odd grand to an already sceptical audience?
Two vital ingredients that transform the SLK
Seriously, you'd probably forgotten the SLK55 even existed. At first glance you'd probably wish that was still the case, this third-generation model having had a hefty beating with the fugly stick. Disguising it under a layer of winter grime probably isn't a bad idea in fact, especially when you consider it's up against the likes of the Boxster and even the F-Type. Heck, even the Z4 has matured into a half-decent looker.
More on these comparisons in due course but we booked the SLK55 in for a couple of reasons. First, we're belligerent types ready to champion an underdog, especially a V8 powered one. And secondly it's a bit of an oddity in the AMG range and the only recipient of the normally aspirated version of the M157 5.5-litre V8 more usually bearing two turbos and doing exciting things to E-Classes, CLSes and the like. It's an intriguing engine, the more so for the fact this is its only application.
Also available in the sunshine, apparently
There are plenty of reasons why this SLK won't be remembered as one of the AMG greats but to overlook it entirely is a missed opportunity. It may not be a beauty but the engine is mighty, with a sophisticated low-rev woofle and free-revving and increasingly more fearsome top-end. It doesn't quite have the race engine feel of the big 6.2 but, recent move to four-pots or not, AMG knows its V8s and how to make them sing.
Hearing that kind of noise erupting from the supposedly effeminate SLK is always an amusing juxtaposition, the '55 a proper junior muscle car that if not poised is always eager to please and delightfully willing to throw surprisingly uncouth shapes. On greasy winter roads it is, quite simply, highly amusing.
T'was ever thus with the AMG SLKs too. They've never been the sharpest but the '32 was a junior SL55 with a supercharged V6 and the prettier previous-shape '55 maintained the pint-sized hot-rod tradition, this time with the three-valve M113 V8 and an appetite for easy sideways thrills seemingly maintained in this car.
A lot of V8 and not a lot of car - appealing combo
Given the alternative ways in which the money could be spent -
Boxster
Z4 M Roadster
spring to mind - it's highly unlikely you'd ever end up with an SLK55 on your shortlist unless it was a spectacular bargain. £48K for a
nearly-new white one
like 'ours' (but cleaner) is a welcome saving off the £56K list but rather more attractive is the £14,995 for this supposed
Black Series replica
Read past that optimistic bluster and it's actually a standard '55 with a loud exhaust but since when did that sound like a bad idea, especially given it's £10K less than the only other in the classifieds. If there's a bigger V8 in a smaller car for this money we can't think of it. Have faith. As the headline says, you probably didn't know you want to. But you might just.
Mercedes SLK55 AMG
Price: £14,995
Why you should: It's got a big V8 and likes to go sideways - anything else?
Why you shouldn't: Predictable and tedious stereotypes
See the original advert here.