^ "Mercedes-Benz Rings in the New Year with Record 2006 Sales".^ "2004 Highest Year on Record for Mercedes-Benz USA".^ "Mercedes-Benz USA Records Highest Sales in Its History.^ "Mercedes-Benz SLK monthly and annual sales in Europe".^ "The Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster is Officially Done".^ "Salon Detroit 2016 : Mercedes SLC".Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. ^ a b c d e "The new Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class".^ "Auto & Design – 98 – Reinterpretation of the roadster". ^ "Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster Review (1996 - 2004) | Parkers".^ "Mercedes-Benz expands brand world and introduces new nomenclature: Mercedes-Maybach for the ultimate in exclusivity and individuality"."Mercedes renames utility vehicles, repositions Maybach as sub-brand". ^ The roadsters are back TIME William A.As well as that fodling hardtop, there’s also the advantage that service parts are available from the likes of GSF and EuroCarParts, while the SLK offers 140 mph performance with the bonus of an automatic shift. For less than the price of a similar Boxster or S2000, this SLK offers great value and is also a very practical prospect. Once again, I leave a test drive having to keep a firm hand on my wallet. One thing which did afflict the firm’s cars during this era was the well-publicised issues with bodywork rust and it’s not unusual to see early SLKs with grotty wheelarches but the Brilliant Silver paintwork on this example is in great order and in fact the car is in really nice all-round condition. The mileage currently stands at 73,000 and mechanically speaking that’s really nothing for the Mercedes drivetrain. Indeed, on our short test drive we couldn’t identify any impending costs for a new owner. The cabin feels very much the upmarket premium sports car with enough space and convenience kit to make it feel in a different league from the likes of the MX-5 and this example enjoys electric leather seats, cruise control and air conditioning.Ĭhatting to the SL Shop’s Bruce Greetham he mentioned that before his ownership the car had enjoyed the same owner for 16 years, who used the same independent Mercedes specialist throughout his ownership and the car does feel very well sorted. Step-off is brisk and the torquey four-cylinder buzzes the SLK along briskly without needing to be revved hard – an advantage of using the supercharger rather than either a turbocharger or the Honda S2000’s peaky VTEC approach. Like many SLKs, this example uses the five-speed automatic and it suits the character of the car very well. The SLK may lack an exotic soundtrack but there’s no doubt as to its performance. Unlike the Boxster though, the Mercedes four-cylinder engine doesn’t have any Achilles’ Heels in the engine bay, but with the Eaton blower on the M111 engine it’s good for a handy 193 bhp. One of these is price and at the advertised £3,450 this SLK is right there in the ballpark of the cheaper end of the Porsche Boxster market. We found this example during a recent visit to classic Mercedes SL specialist The SL Shop, its presence in the showroom explained by the fact that it’s being sold by one of the company’s directors downsizing his personal collection.ĭespite the car not being the SL Shop’s usual fare, there’s no really no need to make apologies and for those not keen on running the larger and more expensive SL models, the SLK has a lot going for it. With the roof developed in conjunction with Porsche and the styling intended to represent a shrunken version of the contemporary SL, the SLK was also designed to offer saloon car-like standards of crash protection. Based on a shortened W202 C-Class platform, the car was intended from day one to use the folding hardtop in order to differentiate it in the market. The car was developed to add a more affordable sports car to the Mercedes line-up but one pitched a step higher than the MX-5. Key to its appeal of course is the hardtop convertible design which for many people makes it the ideal car: an open two-seater when required, but a car which can also be parked up safely in the roughest of inner city areas and left outside all year round. It also represented a big departure for Mercedes itself which at the time was suffering from a rather stuffy image. Launched in 1996 and immediately creating a two-year waiting list, the Mercedes SLK is very much a low-key and under-appreciated modern classic today yet it kick-started a whole new rtrend for the industry. Classics World’s Paul test drives and reviews the fantastic Mercedes SLK 230…
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