Discussion
well 6am was wakey, wakey time so jump up get ready to go. Open the door and...... it's starting to snow! Oh well it's only 280 miles away off we go :grin:
To be honest travelling there in mrs W's SLK 250 was a pleasure, quick enough, quiet, comfortable (and above all warm!!). After a 30/45 minute stop for some brekkie it's off again and after a brisk(ish) 300 odd minutes we arrive at Newcastle.
1
Well what can I say? There are a lot of nice toys there but obviously all of my attention is on one thing - the mystic blue.
First thoughts?
In the flesh it does look good - there are some stone-chips (you've got to expect that on a 12 y/o car) and in fairness although it isn't fully valeted is is clean enough (interior to be honest is spotless). Have a looksee around everything else seems to tie-up. All the paperwork seems to be in order ok... let's try for a test drive.
Salesman will drive it out and down the road leaving me to drive back - it's not a long test drive but it is long enough (and to be fair the offer is there for longer should I want it). So key goes in, pumps prime and all of a sudden a giant is clearing its throat. Wow this exhaust they've swapped over really does sound the business! On the road however while I'd not go as far as to say that it's actually quiet inside the car it's certainly not obtrusive. Score one. The ride is firmer than the 250 but still comfortable - the seats are lovely and snug (well maybe not snug but I'm just fat).
Ok I'm sold!
now to drive back... I actually prefer the ride of the 55. Yes it is firmer but I'm really used to firm rides so really nice.
Open the taps...... ooooh that's nice.
Open a little more -
it accelerates quickly but (other than the noise) very little drama (the Lightning just pushed you back in your seat) but to be fair I've not really pushed it yet - weather is not really conducive towards enthusiastic acceleration :grin:
So thoughts after 280 miles back...
you can hear the exhaust in another car above the noise of a load stereo
the seats are great
the dials are good
the cd is quite good and LOUD (the exhaust is louder!)
accelerating from 70(ish) is just giggle inducing - the noise is incredible!
there are cold spots in the cabin
there is a squeal in the cabin (from the fan?)
If this is a hairderesser's car I'd hate to meet said hairdresser!!
there is a rubbery(?) squeak in the cabin
I need to RTFMso I can learn how to do stuff
To be honest travelling there in mrs W's SLK 250 was a pleasure, quick enough, quiet, comfortable (and above all warm!!). After a 30/45 minute stop for some brekkie it's off again and after a brisk(ish) 300 odd minutes we arrive at Newcastle.
1
Well what can I say? There are a lot of nice toys there but obviously all of my attention is on one thing - the mystic blue.
First thoughts?
In the flesh it does look good - there are some stone-chips (you've got to expect that on a 12 y/o car) and in fairness although it isn't fully valeted is is clean enough (interior to be honest is spotless). Have a looksee around everything else seems to tie-up. All the paperwork seems to be in order ok... let's try for a test drive.
Salesman will drive it out and down the road leaving me to drive back - it's not a long test drive but it is long enough (and to be fair the offer is there for longer should I want it). So key goes in, pumps prime and all of a sudden a giant is clearing its throat. Wow this exhaust they've swapped over really does sound the business! On the road however while I'd not go as far as to say that it's actually quiet inside the car it's certainly not obtrusive. Score one. The ride is firmer than the 250 but still comfortable - the seats are lovely and snug (well maybe not snug but I'm just fat).
Ok I'm sold!
now to drive back... I actually prefer the ride of the 55. Yes it is firmer but I'm really used to firm rides so really nice.
Open the taps...... ooooh that's nice.
Open a little more -
it accelerates quickly but (other than the noise) very little drama (the Lightning just pushed you back in your seat) but to be fair I've not really pushed it yet - weather is not really conducive towards enthusiastic acceleration :grin:
So thoughts after 280 miles back...
you can hear the exhaust in another car above the noise of a load stereo
the seats are great
the dials are good
the cd is quite good and LOUD (the exhaust is louder!)
accelerating from 70(ish) is just giggle inducing - the noise is incredible!
there are cold spots in the cabin
there is a squeal in the cabin (from the fan?)
If this is a hairderesser's car I'd hate to meet said hairdresser!!
there is a rubbery(?) squeak in the cabin
I need to RTFMso I can learn how to do stuff
Nicely written with added humor.
I slowly scrolled down when reading and the way you described the seating position,noise,power etc was convinced I was going to see a TVR.
Very nice subtle colour... I'm sure there will be interior pics to follow. Are they black/grey? Can't quite tell from the 1st pic
I not long ago heard one of these pulling away from the petrol station and my ears pricked up
A really nice growl 
I slowly scrolled down when reading and the way you described the seating position,noise,power etc was convinced I was going to see a TVR.
Very nice subtle colour... I'm sure there will be interior pics to follow. Are they black/grey? Can't quite tell from the 1st pic
I not long ago heard one of these pulling away from the petrol station and my ears pricked up
A really nice growl Edited by TVRJAS on Monday 13th February 22:56
That's just lovely, what a classy little thing! always liked the look of these, especially the facelift with the slightly more aggressive front end. I remember looking into these ages ago and came across a youtube video of one with a X pipe - WOW.
Must be a good contrast to the S2000?
What's the running costs like on one of these? assuming the engine is pretty solid as is the car in general?
Can I ask who you bought it from? They seem to have some nice stock in there wouldn't mind having a gander!
Must be a good contrast to the S2000?
What's the running costs like on one of these? assuming the engine is pretty solid as is the car in general?
Can I ask who you bought it from? They seem to have some nice stock in there wouldn't mind having a gander!
lewisf182 said:
That's just lovely, what a classy little thing! always liked the look of these, especially the facelift with the slightly more aggressive front end. I remember looking into these ages ago and came across a youtube video of one with a X pipe - WOW.
Must be a good contrast to the S2000?
What's the running costs like on one of these? assuming the engine is pretty solid as is the car in general?
Can I ask who you bought it from? They seem to have some nice stock in there wouldn't mind having a gander!
It isn't me with the S2000 (funnily enough though he did look at the car). Must be a good contrast to the S2000?
What's the running costs like on one of these? assuming the engine is pretty solid as is the car in general?
Can I ask who you bought it from? They seem to have some nice stock in there wouldn't mind having a gander!
WRT running costs - it's early doors yet, literally purchased 11th but.... brake replacement on the early SLK55's is eye watering, 07 onwards reasonable. Apparently spark plugs is quite lumpy too (16 needed?) so it's a little early to know about that HOWEVER s
tty day (so not much fooling about) gave me a gnat's under 30 pmg (add a few mpg for me enjoying the noise too much!).Bought from Snippersgate near Newcastle - and yes they do have a fair portfolio of cars there
TVRJAS said:
Very nice subtle colour... I'm sure there will be interior pics to follow. Are they black/grey? Can't quite tell from the pic
Seats are dark charcoal (black) - truth be told I'd have preferred nearly any available colour combo but not enough to put me off (& yes pics to follow 
)Edited by irocfan on Tuesday 14th February 21:09
Heaveho said:
We've has a couple of these, both debadged, and both modified to about 600 brake by Kleeman. The 2nd one had a few more mods than the 1st, and was probably the quickest thing I've driven once traction had been regained.
600 bhp in one of those, what was done to it ?Nice car OP !
J4CKO said:
600 bhp in one of those, what was done to it ?
Nice car OP !
Well, more or less the full Kleeman back catalogue on the 2nd one. I think they called it the S8, from memory, was a while ago now. Supercharger, cams, remap, exhaust, headers, uprated fuel system. Probably more, but it escapes me now. Death trap really, but spectacular when it wasn't struggling for grip, which, as you can imagine, was a frequent occurrence. It was clearly good for more than 200, we managed a high of 193 battling with a madly driven V10 RS6 through Italy on the way back from Crete, and I must have had more than a dozen attempts to max it on that trip, sadly never got the opportunity. Got to the point where 170 felt like walking pace, it was so easy to get it there.Nice car OP !
It was my father-in laws car. He bought it unseen, and had it delivered to Kleeman to have the mods done. He hadn't even clapped eyes on it when I flew out to Denmark and picked it up from the Kleeman factory after the mods were completed and drove it back in the January through rain and snow. I did the drive back to Southampton in one hit, so ended up driving through the night in Germany........the weather seemed to have cleared, I was sat at a steady ton on the Autobahn, as the car reached the bottom of a dip, it hit standing water, and I had to apply what felt like a lot of opposite lock to catch it. It did this twice in about 30 miles, my passenger slept through the first one, but awoke the 2nd time. He looked across at what I assume would be my ashen face and said " I don't know what just happened, I just know something did, because I heard you go " Aaaaargh ".
I'm not the world's greatest driver, it was pitch black when this happened, I reckon if I could have seen anything outside, I would have hit it!
Some interesting facts about your car the dealership probably hasn't told you:
1. It's got a Quaiffe diff
2. It's running Bilstein suspension
3. It's got some engine mods (edit - AMS Short headers, remap, plus decat and silencer removal).
It belonged to a fellow on SLKWorld. I know this, because I wanted this exact car, but it never came up for sale at the right time. Great cars, and the mods above will make it even better
(Edit2: I'm 99% sure this is the same car...)
1. It's got a Quaiffe diff
2. It's running Bilstein suspension
3. It's got some engine mods (edit - AMS Short headers, remap, plus decat and silencer removal).
It belonged to a fellow on SLKWorld. I know this, because I wanted this exact car, but it never came up for sale at the right time. Great cars, and the mods above will make it even better
(Edit2: I'm 99% sure this is the same car...)
Edited by MattyB_ on Wednesday 15th February 00:03
Just to add, even with all the mods, Kleeman see no need to strip and strengthen the internals, and both of ours proved very reliable mechanically.
As others have said, nice car op. I think you'll enjoy that a lot. Make sure the tyres are as good a make as possible, and have lots of tread, those cars need all the help they can get!
Incidentally, with regard to cold spots in the cabin, has yours got the air scarf thing in the seats, can't remember if it was an option or standard fit?
As others have said, nice car op. I think you'll enjoy that a lot. Make sure the tyres are as good a make as possible, and have lots of tread, those cars need all the help they can get!
Incidentally, with regard to cold spots in the cabin, has yours got the air scarf thing in the seats, can't remember if it was an option or standard fit?
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