SLK55 AMG - When you must v8.
Discussion
So, after a long time in a drought of motoring and years of barely scraping by owning cars plagued with rust, issues and lemon'y in general it was time to make the grand leap back into motoring after so many years of a-b driving.
It started with a quite wide ranging list, anything that had kept the passion alive with cars and reminded me of the world of fun motoring, of drives just to drive and enjoying the sound of a car without being able to explain why that silly noise makes you feel like a kid again.
So here it is, the choice in the end the SLK55 AMG, it was always the car i'd wanted, from owning primarily roadsters, to becoming a RWD convert and still lusting for big displacement high cylinder count before it's all too late to even afford one.
As much as I love the curves of the R171 this comes with more toys, is a bit more clever and what you lose in exhaust potential you make up for in extra power and the gearbox does feel a (Tiny) bit more quick on it's toes. I won't kid anyone though, this is an automatic and i have stepped on my left foot a few times being my first auto and makes me feel a little less involved, but my god what a noise. The engine rocks up to any doubts and growls, snarls and makes farting noises all over the same doubts.
The youtube videos do no justice, you have to be in the car, you have to feel the ceaseless, effortless pull and gears that last forever.
As much as i don't like the front end styling the back end is where the action is for looks, that is a lovely back end to a car. Yet even with the bland front, it lends a bit of "under the radar" to the car, it looks like a 200-350 upfront but people who know see the side badges and the rear end and it's obvious.
I bought this car from Snippersgate in Hetton-Le-Hole, decent place with too many other cars that stole my attention. I would recommended them to anyone who wants to follow suit and enjoy a huge engine in a 2 seater roadster frame that is only a couple of cm's longer than a mk3 mx5.
It started with a quite wide ranging list, anything that had kept the passion alive with cars and reminded me of the world of fun motoring, of drives just to drive and enjoying the sound of a car without being able to explain why that silly noise makes you feel like a kid again.
So here it is, the choice in the end the SLK55 AMG, it was always the car i'd wanted, from owning primarily roadsters, to becoming a RWD convert and still lusting for big displacement high cylinder count before it's all too late to even afford one.
As much as I love the curves of the R171 this comes with more toys, is a bit more clever and what you lose in exhaust potential you make up for in extra power and the gearbox does feel a (Tiny) bit more quick on it's toes. I won't kid anyone though, this is an automatic and i have stepped on my left foot a few times being my first auto and makes me feel a little less involved, but my god what a noise. The engine rocks up to any doubts and growls, snarls and makes farting noises all over the same doubts.
The youtube videos do no justice, you have to be in the car, you have to feel the ceaseless, effortless pull and gears that last forever.
As much as i don't like the front end styling the back end is where the action is for looks, that is a lovely back end to a car. Yet even with the bland front, it lends a bit of "under the radar" to the car, it looks like a 200-350 upfront but people who know see the side badges and the rear end and it's obvious.
I bought this car from Snippersgate in Hetton-Le-Hole, decent place with too many other cars that stole my attention. I would recommended them to anyone who wants to follow suit and enjoy a huge engine in a 2 seater roadster frame that is only a couple of cm's longer than a mk3 mx5.
Edited by MrBrightSi on Sunday 15th August 21:47
The colour sold the car. There were plenty of white with black wheeled cars but it was too in your face, I wanted an understated adult colour to be contrasted with the childishness of the engine.
Edit: Snippersgate just got a black r171 in, a previous customers car that was returned, i was given the same thing "When it's time to sell, give us first refusal please" so you find the same cars passing back into their showroom which does show they really are interested in the SLK55.
Edit: Snippersgate just got a black r171 in, a previous customers car that was returned, i was given the same thing "When it's time to sell, give us first refusal please" so you find the same cars passing back into their showroom which does show they really are interested in the SLK55.
Edited by MrBrightSi on Sunday 15th August 21:56
That’s quite an unusual colour.
They are absolutely epic in terms of performance with that fantastic V8 soundtrack. Gear changes are slicker in manual and accompanied by that lovely downshift crack and crackle from the exhaust.
We have had ours for 6 months now and it is great. Enjoy
One thing that does annoy about Snippersgate is that they leave there cars still advertised for sale even after sold. Yours is still listed on Autotrader.
When we were looking for one I rang them and 3 of the advertised ones were sold and for sometime.
They are absolutely epic in terms of performance with that fantastic V8 soundtrack. Gear changes are slicker in manual and accompanied by that lovely downshift crack and crackle from the exhaust.
We have had ours for 6 months now and it is great. Enjoy
One thing that does annoy about Snippersgate is that they leave there cars still advertised for sale even after sold. Yours is still listed on Autotrader.
When we were looking for one I rang them and 3 of the advertised ones were sold and for sometime.
Stunning car, bet it's a right hoot. Bit like a modern day Cobra.
Even more so with a Kleeman 'charger
https://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/589...
Even more so with a Kleeman 'charger
https://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/589...
Excellent choice - silly big engine in a little car with a nice soundtrack 
I never liked the R171 version looks wise and always planned to upgrade from my R170 straight to an R172 but having now had 2 R171's the looks are growing on me (slowly) I'd still eventually like an R172 one day
I never liked the R171 version looks wise and always planned to upgrade from my R170 straight to an R172 but having now had 2 R171's the looks are growing on me (slowly) I'd still eventually like an R172 one day
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