Discussion
So what are they like??? I am coming from a Caterham and now looking for something slightly easier to live with for a while. As much as I love the Caterham I feel it's time for a change.
I need something quick and something that feels special. I've looked at a number of cars and after my dad looked at a sl55 last week I'm tempted into its junior.
It will scratch the v8 I have but I need to know what they are like to live with. It will be mostly used as a toy so maybe 5k miles a year.
Many thanks for any input!!
I need something quick and something that feels special. I've looked at a number of cars and after my dad looked at a sl55 last week I'm tempted into its junior.
It will scratch the v8 I have but I need to know what they are like to live with. It will be mostly used as a toy so maybe 5k miles a year.
Many thanks for any input!!
I loved mine, I had a 58 facelift 171 model. In my opinion I prefare the facelift front end and the steering wheel is nicer. Only downside is 06 onwards are 500 a year road tax.
They do a version with a performance pack which has nice carbon inside, a nicer smaller steering wheel and bigger brakes
What's your budget ?
Remove the secondary cats and the resonator on the exhaust and replace with an X pipe makes them sound awesome while still being quiet a cruising speeds and around town.
Had mine 18 months then went back to a track Westfield but regretted selling it. Really missed that AMG motor so I went out last week and bought a C63
They do a version with a performance pack which has nice carbon inside, a nicer smaller steering wheel and bigger brakes
What's your budget ?
Remove the secondary cats and the resonator on the exhaust and replace with an X pipe makes them sound awesome while still being quiet a cruising speeds and around town.
Had mine 18 months then went back to a track Westfield but regretted selling it. Really missed that AMG motor so I went out last week and bought a C63
Hi VX
Loads of decent stuff in this thread
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=147...
If you want any more specific stuff then re-post to your thread here. Happy to help you mate.
Think of SLK55 as love child of a V8 Westfield and an S class. haha.
Nearly 2 years into mine and still hold it dear. Great car and one to keep ! Take your time browsing and go eyes wide open. fair few dogs out there, good ones when available worth paying extra for. You'll get a good one if you are 15k-20k flexible.
Loads of decent stuff in this thread
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=147...
If you want any more specific stuff then re-post to your thread here. Happy to help you mate.
Think of SLK55 as love child of a V8 Westfield and an S class. haha.
Nearly 2 years into mine and still hold it dear. Great car and one to keep ! Take your time browsing and go eyes wide open. fair few dogs out there, good ones when available worth paying extra for. You'll get a good one if you are 15k-20k flexible.
Came to mine from a RAW Striker, so not dissimilar to you, OP.
I miss the Striker, which was brilliant on the right day, on the right road, with the right weather, and me in the right mood. Much of the rest of the time it was a PITA.
The SLK55 makes the other 99% of the time much more pleasant, and when everything aligns, its as quick as the seven (in a straight line at least) and sounds significantly better. It weighs three times as much, so will never replace a Caterham, but the comfort, roof, boot, traction control etc comfortably outbalance the relative lack of steering feel and handling finesse on the road.
Look for one with Airscarf. 2009(?) got a facelift with better SatNav etc so worth getting if within budget.
Nothing has gone wrong with mine in 2 yrs, and a minor service (oil change) was £180 from a reputable independent specialist.
Test drive one - you'll love it!
I miss the Striker, which was brilliant on the right day, on the right road, with the right weather, and me in the right mood. Much of the rest of the time it was a PITA.
The SLK55 makes the other 99% of the time much more pleasant, and when everything aligns, its as quick as the seven (in a straight line at least) and sounds significantly better. It weighs three times as much, so will never replace a Caterham, but the comfort, roof, boot, traction control etc comfortably outbalance the relative lack of steering feel and handling finesse on the road.
Look for one with Airscarf. 2009(?) got a facelift with better SatNav etc so worth getting if within budget.
Nothing has gone wrong with mine in 2 yrs, and a minor service (oil change) was £180 from a reputable independent specialist.
Test drive one - you'll love it!
Hi
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
Hi
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
Hi
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
Hi
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
had my 05 slk55 for nearly a year now, great car, well put together and has lots of creature comforts. Mine has a air scarf so was available for that year. The car had done 28000 miles when I got it with full Mercedes service history but no spark plug changes. Also it had a slight leak from the rocker covers area which I didn't notice when purchased. Worth checking both these thing when purchasing.
sideways sid said:
Came to mine from a RAW Striker, so not dissimilar to you, OP.
I miss the Striker, which was brilliant on the right day, on the right road, with the right weather, and me in the right mood. Much of the rest of the time it was a PITA.
The SLK55 makes the other 99% of the time much more pleasant, and when everything aligns, its as quick as the seven (in a straight line at least) and sounds significantly better. It weighs three times as much, so will never replace a Caterham, but the comfort, roof, boot, traction control etc comfortably outbalance the relative lack of steering feel and handling finesse on the road.
Look for one with Airscarf. 2009(?) got a facelift with better SatNav etc so worth getting if within budget.
Nothing has gone wrong with mine in 2 yrs, and a minor service (oil change) was £180 from a reputable independent specialist.
Test drive one - you'll love it!
That's exactly part of the reason I fancy a change. The 7's are great cars and brilliant toys but only on the right road, day and perfect weather.I miss the Striker, which was brilliant on the right day, on the right road, with the right weather, and me in the right mood. Much of the rest of the time it was a PITA.
The SLK55 makes the other 99% of the time much more pleasant, and when everything aligns, its as quick as the seven (in a straight line at least) and sounds significantly better. It weighs three times as much, so will never replace a Caterham, but the comfort, roof, boot, traction control etc comfortably outbalance the relative lack of steering feel and handling finesse on the road.
Look for one with Airscarf. 2009(?) got a facelift with better SatNav etc so worth getting if within budget.
Nothing has gone wrong with mine in 2 yrs, and a minor service (oil change) was £180 from a reputable independent specialist.
Test drive one - you'll love it!
The only bad word I've seen is the brakes being costly other than that I think I've had my mind made up.
Brakes are not as bad now you can get replacement for the fronts from TAROX. Which are about £700 for bells and rotors for the pair.
Otherwise I've had my R171 '55 for 2 years now and done plenty of work to get her up to scratch. Discs and pads all round, both rocker cover gaskets replaced. I was unlucky enough to have my waterpump start to fail (which is very uncommon) but it was caught in time. Only cost around £300 for the replacement and fitting.
Otherwise along as the gearbox fluid has been done at 40k, and everything else is looked after they are a dream.
O and if you start looking make sure both heated seats work. The element is a known weak point.
Then make sure you get a X-Pipe and remove the resonator and secondary cats. You can pretend to be Thor as you open the taps.
Otherwise I've had my R171 '55 for 2 years now and done plenty of work to get her up to scratch. Discs and pads all round, both rocker cover gaskets replaced. I was unlucky enough to have my waterpump start to fail (which is very uncommon) but it was caught in time. Only cost around £300 for the replacement and fitting.
Otherwise along as the gearbox fluid has been done at 40k, and everything else is looked after they are a dream.
O and if you start looking make sure both heated seats work. The element is a known weak point.
Then make sure you get a X-Pipe and remove the resonator and secondary cats. You can pretend to be Thor as you open the taps.
I've had mine for a year now, it follows an Elise and a 996 C4.
I still miss the Elise for shear fun (I don't miss the 996 at all), but for 90% of the driving I do the SLK is a far better car and the soundtrack is superb. I went out for a blast today for 30 minutes, roof down, air-scarf and heated seats on and it was a great experience.
The autobox takes a little getting used to, there is a small delay in gear changes, but there's so much torque on offer the need to change down is eliminated for the most part and you learn to adjust the change down anyway when needed.
Be careful about rushing out and getting one of those x-pipes, make sure you have a listen to one in real life as for me its way too much. The standard exhaust is really quiet when you're just crawling along and roars only when giving it some, which is exactly how it should be.
I still miss the Elise for shear fun (I don't miss the 996 at all), but for 90% of the driving I do the SLK is a far better car and the soundtrack is superb. I went out for a blast today for 30 minutes, roof down, air-scarf and heated seats on and it was a great experience.
The autobox takes a little getting used to, there is a small delay in gear changes, but there's so much torque on offer the need to change down is eliminated for the most part and you learn to adjust the change down anyway when needed.
Be careful about rushing out and getting one of those x-pipes, make sure you have a listen to one in real life as for me its way too much. The standard exhaust is really quiet when you're just crawling along and roars only when giving it some, which is exactly how it should be.
adsvx220 said:
Obviously the V8 soundtrack. I understand the SLK won't handle like the caterham but I'm willing to take the sacrafice.
I assume you still want a convertible then? Had you considered a Cerbera for that money? They are much further towards the 7 end of the handling spectrum than the SLK...Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff