SLK350 what are they like ?
Discussion
Has anyone owned or driven the SLK350 ? i'm toying with one as a replacement for our Mk1 TT 225. I'd be looking around the 07/08 mark where the tax drops from £520 to £305. We like the TT and have owned it for 7 years but the wife likes automatics, which is ok as we have an A4 2.0TFSi multitronic and a Mini Cooper S Clubman. I'm thinking of going down to 2 cars, with a Civic Type R or Fiesta ST as likely replacements. Or whatever 9k will buy.
I'm not interested in TT's (mk2) but the only other obvious choice is the Boxster but the PDK is way out of reach, the Z4 is ok but i prefer the look of the SLK. My only other concern is after time in one of the latest AMG SLKs is i felt the cabin space was a bit limited.
I'm not interested in TT's (mk2) but the only other obvious choice is the Boxster but the PDK is way out of reach, the Z4 is ok but i prefer the look of the SLK. My only other concern is after time in one of the latest AMG SLKs is i felt the cabin space was a bit limited.
Its really for the wife so i don't think it needs to be balanced, but then again a Mk1 TT isn't much fun to drive quickly, I see the SLK350 as a step up with a nice engine and better gearbox than the tiptronic in the Boxster. Its going to be left at the station day in day out - or thats the plan and its less likely to get the word knob carved into the bonnet.
garyhun said:
I had a manual SLK 350 (R171) for a couple of years.
Lovely silky engine, nice gearbox and a great car. It's not as balanced or fine handling as a Boxster but it's a great all rounder.
I had the auto version for 8 years, and echo those comments. Reliability was excellent, as well.Lovely silky engine, nice gearbox and a great car. It's not as balanced or fine handling as a Boxster but it's a great all rounder.
I've owned Boxsters, Z4 and SLK.
Want sporty, sharp handling - Boxster
Quiet relaxed cruising - SLK
In the middle - Z4
Only issue with the Z4 was that I found the front end very floaty under hard acceleration. This was with the 35iS.
As an every day car that feels good to be in the SLK would be a good choice for her.
Want sporty, sharp handling - Boxster
Quiet relaxed cruising - SLK
In the middle - Z4
Only issue with the Z4 was that I found the front end very floaty under hard acceleration. This was with the 35iS.
As an every day car that feels good to be in the SLK would be a good choice for her.
Once warmed up the 7G gearbox is very smooth and refined, the suspension in the 350 wont be 'harsher' as in the SLK55 (I've got a MY2006 SLK55). the 350 will feel like a mini SL and I suspect the missus will like it a lot, especially if she is after an auto. Hard top will require maintenance/seals lubing from time to time to keep things absolutely sweet, but its a great feature and will add that winter comfort for the 8 months of the year if used as a daily.
Underneath they are mainly C class of similar vintage so parts plentiful and inexpensive. Much information about these on SLKworld too. on some of the V6's there's an issue with Balancer shafts or cam chains, can't recall exactly but worth getting clued up on it, as the age of these now will be well out of any grace cost covering by Mercedes one would have thought.
Make sure it has airscarf, really effective and makes roof down action in any tempreture a joy.
HK stereo is good. Sav nav clunky by todays standards but works. I put a DAB radio device in mine (£100) mates seamlessly with OEM head unit and has really lifted things. if it has the short 'stubby' aerial from the SL then ditch this, reception is $hit and brings nothing but hassle if she likes her tunes.
The paint and lacquer is really tough and responds well to a correction detail. had mine done took 10 years off the car. Well worth it especially if you get a darker colour.
Underneath they are mainly C class of similar vintage so parts plentiful and inexpensive. Much information about these on SLKworld too. on some of the V6's there's an issue with Balancer shafts or cam chains, can't recall exactly but worth getting clued up on it, as the age of these now will be well out of any grace cost covering by Mercedes one would have thought.
Make sure it has airscarf, really effective and makes roof down action in any tempreture a joy.
HK stereo is good. Sav nav clunky by todays standards but works. I put a DAB radio device in mine (£100) mates seamlessly with OEM head unit and has really lifted things. if it has the short 'stubby' aerial from the SL then ditch this, reception is $hit and brings nothing but hassle if she likes her tunes.
The paint and lacquer is really tough and responds well to a correction detail. had mine done took 10 years off the car. Well worth it especially if you get a darker colour.
Facelift SLK's from 2008 onwards have many updates & revisions inside & out - the SLK 350 gets a significantly increased 305hp with no balance shaft issues and lower road tax too, as they became more economical as well as more powerful than their predecessors.
Revised, smooth & rev-happy engine (has a big red V on the engine cover) sounds great as it howls towards the 7200 redline through an OEM X pipe exhaust surprisingly fitted as standard, and gets to 60 in a fraction over 5 seconds.
Our 2009 SLK 350 averaged about 23mpg around town, over 35mpg out of town on A roads, over 30mpg on a motorway cruise at 75mph, or under 20mpg if fully enjoying the surprising performance available.
Parking sensors are well worth getting - the bonnet is just a bit longer than you or the wife will think when parking...
Heated seats & the wind deflector made top down drives really enjoyable all year round.
Airscarf is a nice to have, although I only tended to use it on sub-zero days as I found the fan noise in my ears a bit too annoying.
Harmon Kardon sounded better to me with the surround sound off, so not a must have, imho.
Optional Sports Pack with stiffer sports suspension & steering wheel gearshift paddles provides very good control for seriously rapid B road fun, at the expense of some low speed ride comfort around town.
This one looks like its got the basic essentials like leather & heated seats + airscarf, but no parking sensors:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
This one has a higher spec with Harmon Kardon, larger & heavier AMG wheels which compromise the ride, built in Comand sat nav / media, and parking sensors over and above the previous one:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
HTH, and let us know what you get.
Revised, smooth & rev-happy engine (has a big red V on the engine cover) sounds great as it howls towards the 7200 redline through an OEM X pipe exhaust surprisingly fitted as standard, and gets to 60 in a fraction over 5 seconds.
Our 2009 SLK 350 averaged about 23mpg around town, over 35mpg out of town on A roads, over 30mpg on a motorway cruise at 75mph, or under 20mpg if fully enjoying the surprising performance available.
Parking sensors are well worth getting - the bonnet is just a bit longer than you or the wife will think when parking...
Heated seats & the wind deflector made top down drives really enjoyable all year round.
Airscarf is a nice to have, although I only tended to use it on sub-zero days as I found the fan noise in my ears a bit too annoying.
Harmon Kardon sounded better to me with the surround sound off, so not a must have, imho.
Optional Sports Pack with stiffer sports suspension & steering wheel gearshift paddles provides very good control for seriously rapid B road fun, at the expense of some low speed ride comfort around town.
This one looks like its got the basic essentials like leather & heated seats + airscarf, but no parking sensors:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
This one has a higher spec with Harmon Kardon, larger & heavier AMG wheels which compromise the ride, built in Comand sat nav / media, and parking sensors over and above the previous one:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
HTH, and let us know what you get.
Thought I'd bump this one up.
10 yrs ago, missus had a 2000 slk 320, went like stink but was way too quiet and I'll say it, a bit girly. It had 2 tone interior which over 3 yrs started to peel away and looked awful but she was involved in an RTA and was totaled, and I mean gone, (not her fault btw).
I came back to the UK and bought an MGB for fun but at 6'1 my eyes were right at the top of the "screen" and I decided I wanted something loud n nasty , so bought a 4.2 HC Chim. Had that for a yr or so BUT to me it looked like an MGB of steroids, so sold that and bought a cheap Boxster 3.2 S. Well that's up for sale and am thinking of what to replace it with. Do I waft along in a XK 4.2 or a grand or 2 more new gen SLK 350? Is the new R172 worth the extra dosh (16/17k) or should I stick with a facelift R171.....? And save some $$$$.
Or is there another alternative??? Don't like TT;s Z whatevers so I'm kinda limited for a quick fun ragtop.........help.
10 yrs ago, missus had a 2000 slk 320, went like stink but was way too quiet and I'll say it, a bit girly. It had 2 tone interior which over 3 yrs started to peel away and looked awful but she was involved in an RTA and was totaled, and I mean gone, (not her fault btw).
I came back to the UK and bought an MGB for fun but at 6'1 my eyes were right at the top of the "screen" and I decided I wanted something loud n nasty , so bought a 4.2 HC Chim. Had that for a yr or so BUT to me it looked like an MGB of steroids, so sold that and bought a cheap Boxster 3.2 S. Well that's up for sale and am thinking of what to replace it with. Do I waft along in a XK 4.2 or a grand or 2 more new gen SLK 350? Is the new R172 worth the extra dosh (16/17k) or should I stick with a facelift R171.....? And save some $$$$.
Or is there another alternative??? Don't like TT;s Z whatevers so I'm kinda limited for a quick fun ragtop.........help.
we have had 2
sold the first to get a Jag
Mrs V40TC missed it so much we went and got another
fully loaded the second version.
great cars having travelled france and italy in one
very reliable
and best of all worlds hard top for saftey and rain
open top for dry days.
sadly ours is now on PH for sale as Mrs V40TC can no longer drive due to eye condition.
other than tyres and routine servicing both have been pretty fault less.
sold the first to get a Jag
Mrs V40TC missed it so much we went and got another
fully loaded the second version.
great cars having travelled france and italy in one
very reliable
and best of all worlds hard top for saftey and rain
open top for dry days.
sadly ours is now on PH for sale as Mrs V40TC can no longer drive due to eye condition.
other than tyres and routine servicing both have been pretty fault less.
I've a 59 registered SLK350 having had 2 boxster s before, 986 and 987. Agree with everyning that has been said, the 7 speed auto is much better on the slk than the 5 speed boxster and I get over 30 mpg all the time. Lovely car and worth considering the post 2008 models with the many mechanical upgrades. Not quite as good in the handling front but for normal use perfectly fine. A bargain as well, compare to the boxster prices which are far above the slk . I love it.
majordad said:
I just bought my first ever Merc yesterday, a 2005 SLK 350 Petrol with AMG wheels.
Check the drain holes at the bottom of the windscreen (outside!) are clear, poke them with a bit of wire to check. If they get blocked with old leaves, water can get in the heater fan and drown it.Otherwise, excellent cars. Got airscarf?
I only discovered that Airscarf word today, so don't know until it arrives on Weds.
My V5 shows the cc as 3200, yet the car is designated SLK 350 , why ? It's here in Ireland so a very slightly market, it has an SLK rear badge from the factory but is not AMG, just appears to be what in Ireland was an SMG pack, AMG wheels and interior.
Lookinng forward to driving it after Weds, road tax here in Ireland is UK £2000 pa.
My V5 shows the cc as 3200, yet the car is designated SLK 350 , why ? It's here in Ireland so a very slightly market, it has an SLK rear badge from the factory but is not AMG, just appears to be what in Ireland was an SMG pack, AMG wheels and interior.
Lookinng forward to driving it after Weds, road tax here in Ireland is UK £2000 pa.
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