Discussion
Are there any pitfalls with the SLK32 AMG of which one needs to be aware?
And is the steering any better than that of the SLK320?[/quote]
Hi Nick,
I have owned an SLK 32 AMG for 14 months and its the best SLK i have driven to date. Fast, responsive, great handling, good suspension and usual merc reliability.
With reference to steering i have tried 320 and 230 Kompressor, the AMG is by far the best.
Plaese check classifieds soon
Regards
Bino
HOORAY - FOUND ONE!!
Just what I was looking for! Brilliant Silver, the same age as my SLK320 (03/2003), but with only 8000 miles - plus it has a 'designo' interior. Drove 90 miles to look at it at a Merc Dealership on Saturday - and took a test drive. What a wonderful engine! Seemingly endless grunt - and the acceleration without hitting kickdown seemed better than the 320 was with kickdown! I wasn't able to try full power acceleration in manual though, due to the traffic.
But next Saturday it'll be mine, all mine! Can hardly wait!
Incidentally, the dealer told me that a lot of people had commented adversely on the plastics used in the new model SLK interior giving it a cheap and nasty look and feel. They also all HATE that rear wing aerial!
It was good to find such an honest dealer - and such a nice car which had only been advertised for 3 days.
Just what I was looking for! Brilliant Silver, the same age as my SLK320 (03/2003), but with only 8000 miles - plus it has a 'designo' interior. Drove 90 miles to look at it at a Merc Dealership on Saturday - and took a test drive. What a wonderful engine! Seemingly endless grunt - and the acceleration without hitting kickdown seemed better than the 320 was with kickdown! I wasn't able to try full power acceleration in manual though, due to the traffic.
But next Saturday it'll be mine, all mine! Can hardly wait!
Incidentally, the dealer told me that a lot of people had commented adversely on the plastics used in the new model SLK interior giving it a cheap and nasty look and feel. They also all HATE that rear wing aerial!
It was good to find such an honest dealer - and such a nice car which had only been advertised for 3 days.
nickwilcock said:
Incidentally, the dealer told me that a lot of people had commented adversely on the plastics used in the new model SLK interior giving it a cheap and nasty look and feel. They also all HATE that rear wing aerial!
Well he would say that, as he was selling you an obsolete model at the time. Even if you agree with those comments, which I personally don't, there are many far more important criticisms that can be levelled at the R170.
I would certainly agree that there are points about the R170 which have been resolved in the R171. Certainly the steering, suspension and overall handling is a lot better in the R171.
The new V6 engine is also excellent.
I'm not susceptible to 'yes men' at dealers and can normally detect bull$hit reasonably accurately. The chap showing me around the car said that I wasn't the first to comment on the fit and finish of the R171's interior - and I also discovered that Jeremy Clarkson had said the same things about it. The interior would be vastly improved with more resilient materials, a more integrated look to the plethora of knobs and tits and deletion of that horrid 'sand blast' finish to many of the controls and switches.
I also asked what people thought of the boot space, particularly with the permanent plastic guard rather than the R170's roll-away blind. "A lot of people said they preferred the old boot - even though the new one has more volumetric space, it's a more awkward shape", he replied. There was a brand new SLK 55 AMG outside the showroom; quite nice but I think the body kit looks far less well integrated into the design than it does on the R170. But the interior (the bit you have to live with) still left a lot to be desired. Perhaps there'll be a mid-life makeover in a few years' time?
Back to the SLK 32 AMG - he said that they were astonished at the number of enquiries they'd had. He certainly wasn't desperate to make a sale as he said I was going to make quite a few people very disappointed if I bought it! Which I did.
The new V6 engine is also excellent.
I'm not susceptible to 'yes men' at dealers and can normally detect bull$hit reasonably accurately. The chap showing me around the car said that I wasn't the first to comment on the fit and finish of the R171's interior - and I also discovered that Jeremy Clarkson had said the same things about it. The interior would be vastly improved with more resilient materials, a more integrated look to the plethora of knobs and tits and deletion of that horrid 'sand blast' finish to many of the controls and switches.
I also asked what people thought of the boot space, particularly with the permanent plastic guard rather than the R170's roll-away blind. "A lot of people said they preferred the old boot - even though the new one has more volumetric space, it's a more awkward shape", he replied. There was a brand new SLK 55 AMG outside the showroom; quite nice but I think the body kit looks far less well integrated into the design than it does on the R170. But the interior (the bit you have to live with) still left a lot to be desired. Perhaps there'll be a mid-life makeover in a few years' time?
Back to the SLK 32 AMG - he said that they were astonished at the number of enquiries they'd had. He certainly wasn't desperate to make a sale as he said I was going to make quite a few people very disappointed if I bought it! Which I did.
Picked it up today (plus a bottle of champagne from the sales manager) - and it's everything I'd hoped for! Effortless performance, mcuh better transmission, very poweful brakes. The designo interior and Bose sound round off an excellent package!
It's hard to tell when the blower clutch engages, but you can just hear a slight whine from the supercharger when performance is requested by the right foot. Which is somewhat addictive......
It's hard to tell when the blower clutch engages, but you can just hear a slight whine from the supercharger when performance is requested by the right foot. Which is somewhat addictive......
Good luck with the car; just do yourself a favour and take out the extended warranty when yours expires. If you take it out just before the 3 years are up it will cost about £636. If you leave it til after you have to pay for a used car check (£250) plus the warranty goes up to £719. Did you check the car was UK supplied. Email me the chassis no and I can tell you a bit more.
Or sometimes ignorance is bliss (lol)....
Or sometimes ignorance is bliss (lol)....
Thanks for the tip about the extended warranty!
As far as I'm aware, it's a UK car. As it was bought from a MB main dealer, I'm sure that they'd have to disclose such things if it wasn't?
With only 29 officially imported into the UK in 2003, they are very rare indeed. Especially with only 7000 miles on the clock AND with a 'designo' interior and, of course, all the standard MB toys.
The installer did a great job with the phone; it sits in just the right place and is very unobtrusive with a low profile windscreen antenna and discreet microphone. It was difficult to match it to the main amplifier, but they managed to ultimately. Although, unlike on my SLK 320 which had a similar hands-free, the radio has to be on for the phone to be heard over the speakers.
But it is simply great to drive and very, very fast.
I'm still learning about it - the owner's manual is pretty poor and doesn't explain much about the 'Speedshift' transmission or the way the supercharger operates. I'd also like to know precisely what the differences are between 'S' and 'W' transmission modes.
>> Edited by nickwilcock on Tuesday 30th August 13:11
As far as I'm aware, it's a UK car. As it was bought from a MB main dealer, I'm sure that they'd have to disclose such things if it wasn't?
With only 29 officially imported into the UK in 2003, they are very rare indeed. Especially with only 7000 miles on the clock AND with a 'designo' interior and, of course, all the standard MB toys.
The installer did a great job with the phone; it sits in just the right place and is very unobtrusive with a low profile windscreen antenna and discreet microphone. It was difficult to match it to the main amplifier, but they managed to ultimately. Although, unlike on my SLK 320 which had a similar hands-free, the radio has to be on for the phone to be heard over the speakers.
But it is simply great to drive and very, very fast.
I'm still learning about it - the owner's manual is pretty poor and doesn't explain much about the 'Speedshift' transmission or the way the supercharger operates. I'd also like to know precisely what the differences are between 'S' and 'W' transmission modes.
>> Edited by nickwilcock on Tuesday 30th August 13:11
nickwilcock said:
I'd also like to know precisely what the differences are between 'S' and 'W' transmission modes.
Sounds like the same as my E, where 'S' represents standard, i.e. for normal use, and 'W' is for winter use when the roads are slippery. It misses out first gear and starts off in second to reduce wheelspin.
nickwilcock said:Hey Nick,
....I'd also like to know precisely what the differences are between 'S' and 'W' transmission modes.
Fine car squire.....pictures? Come on, we've had some good weather - you can't have been out in it ALL the time!
OK, perhaps you have! S is Summer, W Winter. If you switch the 'box into Winter mode, it will pull away in second gear (S - 1st) to avoid wheelspin. You will also find it is reluctant to kick down when you are driving. Chauffeurs prefer the W setting as it induces a smoother driving style.
Personally, mine is only ever in W if the weather is really bad, like I'm driving on snow. Other than that, its in S.....
Sounds like a great car you've got there. I've driven an SLK230, but thought the 4 potter was a bit coarse. Great acceleration though, your AMG must be crazy....
Cheers!
Greg
Yes, I understand the basics of the W and S modes - and W seems smoother in traffic around town. But are the upshift points different in W mode? At all accelerator angle, or just at part throttle?
The 'move-the-lever-to-the-left-for-the-best-overtaking-gear' works very well indeed and is much smoother than manually downshifting through the gears. Or maybe it just seems like it. Not sure whether it was a feature of the SLK 320 and I just didn't know about it.
What is truly excellent is the acceleration at part throttle; it is just seamless! When it changes up it does so very smoothly and the rate of acceleration is maintained. You don't need to redline it to get this effect either!
OK - some piccies:
Front views with roof up and roof down:
Rear view - such dainty little tyres:
Interior view. And the 'designo' seats and door trims are 'bordeaux' - NOT pink:
And the best bit - all 354bhp of it:
The 'move-the-lever-to-the-left-for-the-best-overtaking-gear' works very well indeed and is much smoother than manually downshifting through the gears. Or maybe it just seems like it. Not sure whether it was a feature of the SLK 320 and I just didn't know about it.
What is truly excellent is the acceleration at part throttle; it is just seamless! When it changes up it does so very smoothly and the rate of acceleration is maintained. You don't need to redline it to get this effect either!
OK - some piccies:
Front views with roof up and roof down:
Rear view - such dainty little tyres:
Interior view. And the 'designo' seats and door trims are 'bordeaux' - NOT pink:
And the best bit - all 354bhp of it:
I've also found an ideal use for the boot compartment (there's no spare tyre in the SLK 32 AMG):
An excellent system for transporting small cats (or kids?) which you'd perhaps rather not risk carrying on 'designo' leather! Not that 'Ceramicat' could actually complain if she wanted to!
>> Edited by nickwilcock on Tuesday 30th August 18:47
An excellent system for transporting small cats (or kids?) which you'd perhaps rather not risk carrying on 'designo' leather! Not that 'Ceramicat' could actually complain if she wanted to!
>> Edited by nickwilcock on Tuesday 30th August 18:47
I know.....£636 if you take it out before 3 yrs or £719 plus £250 for a used car check if you let it go one day over!!! As a PH'er I will take off our £50 Commission if you contact me when it's time, credit card over the phone. Trust me the warranty will pay for itelf 10 times over if something fails on that baby. Contact me if you want to discuss it.
That's very kind of you, Tony.
But surely MB build quality will ensure that nothing will fail ;-) ...... My SLK 320 was 100% reliable during the 17 months I owned it.
The '32 has a very complex engine/transmission/supercharger management system, so the £600+ will be a good investment.
But surely MB build quality will ensure that nothing will fail ;-) ...... My SLK 320 was 100% reliable during the 17 months I owned it.
The '32 has a very complex engine/transmission/supercharger management system, so the £600+ will be a good investment.
I'll ask the guys at work for the specifics. The symptoms always seem the same. Customer drives it hard for a while, the engine cooks, the Electrics throw a wobbly and the car goes into limp home mode. Suddenly you have the pace of a milk float. I remember a few years back taking a C32 home and passing 5 cars in a row, by the time i hit the front of them the car was doing 105 in a 30.....so maybe it's worth the trouble. How you finding the POWER Nick?
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