Mercedes SLK buyer’s guide
FROM £4,000 Coupé-cabriolet offers premium motoring at an affordable price
Second-generation drop-top is a bargain from £4,000
ALTHOUGH the Mercedes SLK wasn’t the first coupé-cabriolet (Peugeot got there first, six decades earlier), it was the first with global premium appeal. The original SLK (codenamed R170) arrived in 1996, then in 2004 an all-new second-generation model went on sale, codenamed the R171.
While the Mk1 was a very good car, the second edition was a big improvement, with a much better driving experience, stronger levels of build quality and a much smarter design inside and out.
Add in some excellent engines that range from mild to wild, along with some very slick gearboxes, and it’s easy to see why the SLK is so popular, even if it’s more of a cruiser than a pin-sharp driving machine.
History
WHEN the second-generation SLK was launched in July 2003 there was a choice of 163bhp 1.8 or 272bhp 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines (SLK 200K or SLK 350), as well as a high-performance variant, the SLK 55 AMG, with a supercharged 360bhp 5.5-litre V8. The AMG only came with a seven-speed auto box, while the other two got six-speed manual boxes as standard, with the option of an auto. All versions are rear-wheel drive.
By June 2005 an SLK 280 had joined the range, with a 231bhp 3.0-litre V6, then in April 2008 a facelifted SLK appeared, with a sportier nose, more efficient engines and extra standard kit. The SLK 200K was rated at 184bhp and the SLK 350 at 305bhp; the SLK 280 also became the SLK 300.
Which one?
THERE is no diesel SLK Mk2, so it’s a choice of four, six or eight-cylinder petrol engines. The SLK 350 is super-smooth, but the four-cylinder SLK 200K is also quick, refined and smooth enough. It also costs less to run than the SLK 350. However, it’s worth buying a facelifted car (from April 2008), because the extra 21bhp makes more of a difference than you might think.
Most SLKS have the optional auto gearbox, which suits the car’s nature very well; the main reason not to buy a manual is that it might be hard to sell on later. Mercedes offered a lot of options, including sports suspension which significantly firms things up – but you might find it uncomfortable.
Alternatives
THE Audi TT is more usable in the winter because it has either front or four-wheel drive, but the cabrio is a soft-top, so you have to pick either a Roadster or a coupé.
Like the TT, the BMW Z4 is well built and the first generation came in cabrio or coupé forms; the Mk2 (from 2009) was a coupécabriolet. With rear-wheel drive, it’s more of a driver’s car than the Audi, and it sounds nicer, too, especially in six-cylinder form.
The Porsche Boxster is the best of the lot to drive, though, and is beautifully built, as well as being surprisingly practical, while the Honda S2000 provides plenty of thrills and excellent reliability for not much cash.
Verdict
BUYING a convertible at Christmas might seem like madness, but the beauty of the SLK is that its coupé-cabriolet set-up means you get the year-round usability of a closed car with the added thrill of a convertible.
The fly in the ointment is the rear-wheel drive, which ensures the Mercedes isn’t great in wintry conditions. However, fit a set of suitable tyres and you’ll be amazed at just how usable this two-seater is.
Indeed, when you consider its premium image, and how affordable it is, the SLK is something of a steal. Find yourself a decent independent specialist to look after the Mercedes and you really have got a very special model for not much money.
“Beauty of the SLK is you get the year-round usability of a closed car with the added thrill of a convertible”