Mercedes SL and SLK...any comments.

[jdw100]

Good Morning All,

I'm thinking of buying a Merc SL or SLK, with the 350 engine varient.

Has anyone on here owned or driven either of these? I realise that they are quite different in terms of size and performance.

Probably looking for a 3-5 year old car. Not a big fan of buying new and depreciation does make the SL look very attractive after 4 years or so.

Look forward to your comments!

Cheers.

[Matt UK]

A mate at work had an SL350.

Nice car but if that roof mechanism fails out of warranty, be prepared for an eye-watering bill...

[PHmember]

Matt UK said:

Nice car but if that roof mechanism fails out of warranty, be prepared for an eye-watering bill...

I think you could apply that to ANY 3-4 year old convertible as they all have quite complex roof mechanisms these days.

[edo]

My wife had a 2005 SLK350 for a while. I really liked it. A different car to something like a boxster, but great fun, quick, well put together and a brilliant roof that makes it like a coupe when up.

We even made a profit selling it after 6 months!

[Rawwr]

Balls = SL
Boobs = SLK

[kambites]

Rawwr said:

Balls = SL
Boobs = SLK

So "balls" for the slower, worse handling barge? Strange.

[edo]

Matt UK said:

A mate at work had an SL350.

Nice car but if that roof mechanism fails out of warranty, be prepared for an eye-watering bill...

I spoke to mechanics and service managers at 2 main dealers before I bought ours, and they all said that roof failures were few and far between.

[jdw100]

Thanks for the comments. The roof does cause a few doubts for me....wonder if its covered under 3rd party warranty?

By the way I have balls and am favouring the SL. Partner has the boobs and is maybe a bit keener on the SLK. She loves the idea of a sub six second 0-60.

[Matt UK]

edo said:

Matt UK said:

A mate at work had an SL350.

Nice car but if that roof mechanism fails out of warranty, be prepared for an eye-watering bill...

I spoke to mechanics and service managers at 2 main dealers before I bought ours, and they all said that roof failures were few and far between.

Fair enough, I'm no expert I just know it took the wind out of his sails for a week or two.

[kambites]

Bear in mind that the SL350 lacks the active suspension of the bigger engined models (it might have been optional, not sure), so it doesn't drive as well. They upped the power of the SL350 in about 2006 I think, at which point it was damned nearly as powerful as the SL500 anyway.

I'd still go for an SLK though, personally, unless I was covering huge mileages in it.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 11th August 10:21

[edo]

kambites said:

Bear in mind that the SL350 lacks the active suspension of the bigger engined models (it might have been optional, not sure), so it doesn't drive as well. They upped the power of the SL350 in about 2006 I think, at which point it was damned nearly as powerful as the SL500 anyway.

I know a dealer who wont touch the active suspension cars due to the reliability of that system....

[kambites]

I don't know, I've never actually owned one to have experienced the reliability or lack there-of.

[jdw100]

All good stuff - thanks.

We tend to use car only for long distance driving and only maybe once a week at most. Fortunate that we live ten minutes walk into St Albans and are only 20 minutes out of London on the train.

Therefore most of our journeys tend to be motorway. Maybe do 8,000 miles a year. Just a bit concerned that SLK might be a tad small if we try to take walking gear away with us. SL seems to have a lot more storage.

Still at least no horror stories so far......

Thanks.

[DickyC]

edo said:

Matt UK said:

A mate at work had an SL350.

Nice car but if that roof mechanism fails out of warranty, be prepared for an eye-watering bill...

I spoke to mechanics and service managers at 2 main dealers before I bought ours, and they all said that roof failures were few and far between.

Admittedly it's the earlier SLK but my wife has had hers for seven years and there's never been a problem with the roof. I believe I'm right in saying the handbook suggests not interupting the roof routine part way through its machinations; presumably because it might get confused. This is unless you're cleaning the inside of the rear windscreen. In that case there's a little procedure.

[Rawwr]

kambites said:

Rawwr said:

Balls = SL
Boobs = SLK

So "balls" for the slower, worse handling barge? Strange.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger!

[kambites]

Rawwr said:

kambites said:

Rawwr said:

Balls = SL
Boobs = SLK

So "balls" for the slower, worse handling barge? Strange.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger!

[jdw100]

Edo and DickyC - I'm a lanky 6"1' type of person will I find enough space in the SLK do you think?

Looking forward to a few test drives later in the year now. Have to say have really enjoyed the current car (407 Coupe 2.7 GT) but really do fancy a convertible....Must get in some factor 50 for the balding head!

[PHmember]

jdw100 said:

Just a bit concerned that SLK might be a tad small if we try to take walking gear away with us. SL seems to have a lot more storage

If you haven't done so already, you really need to go & have a look at both cars & look at the boot space with the roof down. Storage space on the SLK is fine with the roof up, but with the roof down it is appalling - unless your only luggage is an A4 envelope. Might be worth having a look at the Z4 or Boxster, both have good boot space even with the roof down. I know I'd be extremely pissed off if I couldn't put the roof down just because I had a minimal amount of luggage to carry around.

[DickyC]

jdw100 said:

Edo and DickyC - I'm a lanky 6"1' type of person will I find enough space in the SLK do you think?

Looking forward to a few test drives later in the year now. Have to say have really enjoyed the current car (407 Coupe 2.7 GT) but really do fancy a convertible....Must get in some factor 50 for the balding head!

Mrs Dicky and I are 5'9"ish but don't forget Clarkson had an SLK for a while and he's too tall for some cars. Number One son is 6'4" (for some reason...) and has been a passenger many times.

[Rawwr]

I thought Clarkson had an SL55?