SLK 230? Please educate me.

So after an exhaustive search for a replacement fun/weekend car for my 91 Miata I stumbled upon the Mercedes SLK 230. The seat height is close enough to my desired height, for ingress/egress from the wheelchair. It's doors open nice and wide, a big plus for snuggling up close for the same, previously mentioned reason. It's not ugly to look at, another plus. But how durable are the auto trannies? How would/could it perform at autocross?

I'm looking at the 98/99 non sport versions. The rocker panel cladding on the sport/newer versions would mean I'm a little farther away from the seat than the non sport 98/99's.

Any owners out there? Anyone autocross one?

thanks again GRM faithful, mark

I have no input for the SLK but if headed that route, that may make the Audi TT an option as well. Audi's have notoriously wide opening doors (nearly 90 degrees.)
Sample:

If it's anything like it's larger sibling (I'm driving an '01 SL500 this morning) it's very, very far from a sports car. I've driven a few Mercs of that vintage, and not one of them has had steering that could not be described as anything but shockingly vague.

My experience in the Jaguar community says that Mercedes Benz automatic transmissions are fairly strong, but extremely expensive.

If it looks like that, I'd so go for it.

jrw - thanks for the suggestion. I want a droptop, and the jellybean styling of the TTs never did much for me.

Bryan - I was afraid that might be the case, hence my question to you more 'experienced' brethren.

pinchvalve - WOW, the one I looked at certainly didn't have flares like that!!!

Any of you guys track these?

Less top but not much less on the J-bean

pinchvalve wrote:

I drove one once. They handle like total crap, the steering is numb, numb, NUMB! They are also extraordinarily heavy for their size and are not really fun to drive or interesting in any way, shape, or form. Virtually zero aftermarket. They were designed and sold as cars for women in middle management and it shows.

A TT roadster is 10x the car, any day of the week, no questions asked. A TT is also an actual "sports car", not a "sporty luxury convertible."

A TT roadster with the 3.2 and DSG gearbox would probably suit your needs quite well...

I wonder which car is more / less reliable, the SLK (any variant) or the TT (any variant)? I doubt either of them are that impressive...

My friend had one for a couple of weeks and got rid of it. It's a really boring car to drive. It sounded like crap and it couldn't handle. It was also severely lacking in the power department.

Honestly, the SLK230 does nothing that another car couldn't do twice as better.

+1 for the Audi TT Roadster suggestion.

Isn't the TT just a Golf in a track suit?

^ that's most of why it's better than an slk..

Gotta say ive NEVER heard anything positive about an slk230 from a car enthusiast. And they've been out a LONG time now.

Also, to mthomson.. if you think a TT is ugly you should try looking at an SLK230 LOL.

Different strokes, i know, i know.

SlickDizzy wrote: They were designed and sold as cars for women in middle management and it shows.

I think my previous comment sums up the entire thread.

hold on though... they made a v8 version of the car that if I recall was kickass....

Big V6 was the AMG variant of that generation.

srt6 crossfire is pretty much the baddest slk made so far to my knowledge.

Vigo wrote: srt6 crossfire is pretty much the baddest slk made so far to my knowledge.

Eeesh, not even close my man!

This beauty had more power out of the same motor earlier, and they only got more powerful from there. (This one had 349hp out of a supercharged 3.2 V6)

The next gen had 355hp out of an n/a 5.4 V8, and the new one has 419hp out of an n/a 5.5 v8.

They're doin' it right. I'd prefer to shift my own, but i can appreciate the SLK for what it is, and even shopped for a 1st gen SLK this past summer for a nice-looking sporty cruiser.

Well, after reading all of this the SLK is likely off of the list. Although the one I looked at was an AMG sport in black...just like that picture....decisions decisions....

I bet with some mild suspension work and some sticky rubber it would be a fun car on a track. Don't know how cheap of a track car it would be, though.

I haven't heard anything good about the SLK but I have heard a number of people say good things about the SRT-6 Crossfire. You may want to try one of those out.

In reply to 93EXCivic:

The problem is servicing; M-B dealerships will not touch them and Mother Mopar doesn't know what it's looking at when one comes in. I've a friend that works in the service side ChryCo as a district tech rep (or something like that) for the company and these cars are not well liked in that fashion.

I think the most fun version would be the 2.3 blower motor with the blower clutch done away with, a bit of an exhaust, and all the bushings replaced with non-squishy bits. How easy or pricy all that is I don't know. I've no time with these cars myself so grain of salt.

mthomson22 wrote: Well, after reading all of this the SLK is likely off of the list. Although the one I looked at was an AMG sport in black...just like that picture....decisions decisions....

Hey man, I thought of you today while doing something else completely different and wanted to chime back in. I know you are preferring a RWD convertible type vehicle with good specific ergo for you. We keep forgetting about the 350Z! It looks pretty good, the engine is one of the sweetest 6's ever made, and the auto and vert's aren't bad at all. You just have to get to one personally for your entry/exit and whatnot.

Maybe worth a shot?

Wait what about a Jag XK8?