SLK AMG 32 vs newer SLK 350
Discussion
Ok, this is my first post on this forum, having always been a TVR man. But circumstances have meant that I need something "easier" to live particularly with respect to roof removal, heavy clutch and gear changing
A friend has an AMG 32 and reckons its a belter, but i'm not too keen on the looks and much prefer the newer shape. The 350 seems not to be too far off the pace of the AMG, and is a lot easier to find. On the other hand I reckon a 24K 350 will be worth Sub £20 if I have to sell in 9-12 months, whereas the £16K AMG might still be worth £14 or £15K; the depreciation over the next year is actually more of an issue than the price.
The finances aren't everything (I was toying with idea of an SL500) and the driving fun factor is as important, and this maybe is where the AMG will win.
So does anyone have any experience of both these cars and able to give me an objective comparison. I will obviouly test drive both, but any less obvious differences would be usefull to know about.
Thanks
Steve
A friend has an AMG 32 and reckons its a belter, but i'm not too keen on the looks and much prefer the newer shape. The 350 seems not to be too far off the pace of the AMG, and is a lot easier to find. On the other hand I reckon a 24K 350 will be worth Sub £20 if I have to sell in 9-12 months, whereas the £16K AMG might still be worth £14 or £15K; the depreciation over the next year is actually more of an issue than the price.
The finances aren't everything (I was toying with idea of an SL500) and the driving fun factor is as important, and this maybe is where the AMG will win.
So does anyone have any experience of both these cars and able to give me an objective comparison. I will obviouly test drive both, but any less obvious differences would be usefull to know about.
Thanks
Steve
Personally I like the 350 and the auto (but with the paddles - different sotfware), the even with the roof down the boot is still useable. It is a practical everyday car, unless you need more than 2 seats.
The AMG is more specialist, and older, so good ones are getting rarer and you need to choose with care. It also looks, err, softer.
Not much to choose between them in performance, but the 350 will use less petrol.
Probably worth looking the MB specialist places like mbclub.
The AMG is more specialist, and older, so good ones are getting rarer and you need to choose with care. It also looks, err, softer.
Not much to choose between them in performance, but the 350 will use less petrol.
Probably worth looking the MB specialist places like mbclub.
SLK32 AMG is a gem of a car and often overlooked. There were only 270 odd ever sold in this country and they tend to be well looked after. As for value they are pretty firm around 16k and will loose less than the 350 over the years. They sit lower and the body kit gives them a very different look to other R170 SLK models.
Problem areas tend to be seat heaters and intercooler pumps failing. Had mine for 3+ years and only changed a battery (which was my fault as I left the interior light on which drained the original completely which then refused to charge).
I have not driven a 350 and the figures look good but when the SC kicks in on the AMG I don't think the 350 would hold a candle to it.
Problem areas tend to be seat heaters and intercooler pumps failing. Had mine for 3+ years and only changed a battery (which was my fault as I left the interior light on which drained the original completely which then refused to charge).
I have not driven a 350 and the figures look good but when the SC kicks in on the AMG I don't think the 350 would hold a candle to it.
Thanks chaps.
As always when I buy a car I cant help looking at the next one up and hence today I drove (or was rather driven, as I forgot my licence) in a 55 SLK and it was awesome, and had the grin factor and soundtrack which almost matched the Griffith. Only problem is the price or more importantly the price in 6 months if I have to sell it. I'm thinking that with all the s##t going on at the moment 5.5 litre cars falling into the £450 Tax bracket might depreciate sharply, i can cope with 3-4 grand in that period (although if you sold through a dealer youll lose another 3K on their margin) but to lose 7-8K would be a bit hard to justify. Maybe the relative rarity of the 55 will help. I want to get a move on as the TVR is just getting too hard to drive. decisions, decisions!!
As always when I buy a car I cant help looking at the next one up and hence today I drove (or was rather driven, as I forgot my licence) in a 55 SLK and it was awesome, and had the grin factor and soundtrack which almost matched the Griffith. Only problem is the price or more importantly the price in 6 months if I have to sell it. I'm thinking that with all the s##t going on at the moment 5.5 litre cars falling into the £450 Tax bracket might depreciate sharply, i can cope with 3-4 grand in that period (although if you sold through a dealer youll lose another 3K on their margin) but to lose 7-8K would be a bit hard to justify. Maybe the relative rarity of the 55 will help. I want to get a move on as the TVR is just getting too hard to drive. decisions, decisions!!
Mercedes Enthusiast, if I recall correctly, rated the SLK32 slightly higher than the SLK55.
I've had a '32 for almost 3 years and the only thing to have failed was a rear three-quarter window - a non-AMG part. Although I don't think the seat heaters are any use - so it's possible they might be faulty.
Drove 1500 miles around Germany at Easter in snow, ice, nice weather, town and 210 kph+ autobahn cruising. Overall mpg worked out at 28.
Only 27 2003 models were imported, so they're pretty rare. The R171 looks, well, vulgar from many angles and the latest version is even worse with that silly lower grille. Whereas the '32 has an ageless look - and 0-60 in 4.8 sec is pretty damn good in anyone's eyes!
I also bought some fitted suitcases from a German company which fit under the load screen with the roof down. The R170 has a much better boot shape than the R171 as well - and doesn't have that clumsy plastic guard thing in the boot either.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. But compared to some tacky plastic Lancastrian kit car, either are vastly superior.
I've had a '32 for almost 3 years and the only thing to have failed was a rear three-quarter window - a non-AMG part. Although I don't think the seat heaters are any use - so it's possible they might be faulty.
Drove 1500 miles around Germany at Easter in snow, ice, nice weather, town and 210 kph+ autobahn cruising. Overall mpg worked out at 28.
Only 27 2003 models were imported, so they're pretty rare. The R171 looks, well, vulgar from many angles and the latest version is even worse with that silly lower grille. Whereas the '32 has an ageless look - and 0-60 in 4.8 sec is pretty damn good in anyone's eyes!
I also bought some fitted suitcases from a German company which fit under the load screen with the roof down. The R170 has a much better boot shape than the R171 as well - and doesn't have that clumsy plastic guard thing in the boot either.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. But compared to some tacky plastic Lancastrian kit car, either are vastly superior.
Edited by nickwilcock on Friday 18th July 21:00
garyhun said:
Chauch said:
The SLK350 Manual is my favourite of all SLKs to drive, personally I prefer it to the SLK55!
Chauch said:
garyhun said:
Chauch said:
The SLK350 Manual is my favourite of all SLKs to drive, personally I prefer it to the SLK55!
Just seen this thread as my Chim is going up for sale next month and a 350SLK is on my shopping list along with a Boxster/Cayman S, Z4M coupe/cab or Tuscan 2.
Nick - as you owned a 450 chim you'll be in a good position to answer this, how does the 350 compare performance wise to the Chim? I'll have a budget of 25k ish so should easily get a 350 for that but just don't want to go backwards in terms of performance from my 400 Chim. Ideally I want to move up a notch.
Chauch said:
Evening Tony 
Hope all is well mate.
They could not be more different. The handling and balance of the SLK350 is fantastic. The noise is good, but clearly not in the same league as the Chim, and the build quality
I am very tempted to get rid of the 996 and get another SLK....
Hiya Nick, Hope all is well mate.They could not be more different. The handling and balance of the SLK350 is fantastic. The noise is good, but clearly not in the same league as the Chim, and the build quality
I am very tempted to get rid of the 996 and get another SLK....
Yeah all going well thanks mate - just prepping for my wedding in Jan.
Glad to see you really rate the 350 - I had a 55 plate 200 when they first came out for 2 months as a hire car and liked it but it was soooo underpowered. Whats the performance like in terms of acceleration and straight line speed (I know the handling is going to be way better)?
Chauch said:
It is quick mate - 0-60 in 5.1 for the manual from memory and feels so balanced. I would have said that in real terms, there is not much difference from what you are used to other than it being much more "controlled".
I think the 350 auto is slightly quicker than the manual (5.4 vs 5.5), auto is 7 speed. Either is a great car, drive all the varieties and choose
My wife has a 2004 SLK350 and on rare occasions I am allowed to drive it.
If I had to describe the experience in one word I'd say "Phenominal".
I had initially planned to buy her the SLK55 but it was £50K new (The 350 was £40K) and it would depreciate to the same value over 3 years as the 350. A no-brainer really.
I test drove the 200 (Not really enough power - why did they ever drop the 230K? We had 2 of those before this one) before deciding on the 350, in telurite silver with 17" 10-spokes.
Oh, and you must buy one with the airscarf option if you're worried about resale.
I think we made the right choice.
Rock
If I had to describe the experience in one word I'd say "Phenominal".
I had initially planned to buy her the SLK55 but it was £50K new (The 350 was £40K) and it would depreciate to the same value over 3 years as the 350. A no-brainer really.
I test drove the 200 (Not really enough power - why did they ever drop the 230K? We had 2 of those before this one) before deciding on the 350, in telurite silver with 17" 10-spokes.
Oh, and you must buy one with the airscarf option if you're worried about resale.
I think we made the right choice.
Rock
For me it has to be the SLK 32. I bought mine in March after trying out several Boxster s Models and the M3. For me , part of the appeal is the Q car look- very discreet and not all shouty, after thinking that it was basically the SLK 320 with a supercharger I didnt realise initially that the only common part of the engine was the block- everything else has been hand built and comprehensively re-engineered. The car is pretty much bullet proof as long as it is maintained properly and as far as things go, it's rarity will mean that residuals should be quite good too. As for performance it still has a better BHP/Tonne ratio than the SLK 55!(and is considerably cheaper!). The only downside is that the cabin can feel a bit' plasticky'- certainly around the centre console/ handbrake.... however that is a minor gripe which will soon be forgotten once you drive it and here the fantastic V6
slk 32 said:
For me it has to be the SLK 32. I bought mine in March after trying out several Boxster s Models and the M3. For me , part of the appeal is the Q car look- very discreet and not all shouty, after thinking that it was basically the SLK 320 with a supercharger I didnt realise initially that the only common part of the engine was the block- everything else has been hand built and comprehensively re-engineered. The car is pretty much bullet proof as long as it is maintained properly and as far as things go, it's rarity will mean that residuals should be quite good too. As for performance it still has a better BHP/Tonne ratio than the SLK 55!(and is considerably cheaper!). The only downside is that the cabin can feel a bit' plasticky'- certainly around the centre console/ handbrake.... however that is a minor gripe which will soon be forgotten once you drive it and here the fantastic V6
Totally agree. Had mine for 3+ years and it is a keeper. Had a 230K from new in 1997 and kept that for 3 years.I am so sad that I have even contemplated a second 32 but in Silver because I like the silver as well as the blue. I will wait for my dream garage for that though.
steve-p said:
The Rock said:
I had initially planned to buy her the SLK55 but it was £50K new (The 350 was £40K) and it would depreciate to the same value over 3 years as the 350. A no-brainer really.
I doubt that, I got £40K for my SLK55 at nearly 3 years old.Rock
steve-p said:
The Rock said:
I had initially planned to buy her the SLK55 but it was £50K new (The 350 was £40K) and it would depreciate to the same value over 3 years as the 350. A no-brainer really.
I doubt that, I got £40K for my SLK55 at nearly 3 years old.Rock
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