Mercedes SLK reviews

Bought it in 2022 with 45kmi (115km) on it from original owner and all the maintenance+repair paperwork.  I was attracted to the R170 series SLK when it came out and I drove a 185hp SLK230 back then.  But the high new car price ($78k in today's dollars) was not something I wanted to spend.  So 24 years later I'm driving a $14k 349hp AMG version of it.  Sweet!  It's a bit like a 1990 Monster Miata (when they dropped the 5L Mustang engine in a Miata) and I owned a stock drive train but lowered and body kitted 1990 Miata.  But the Benz is no "scooter" like the Miata and is really a smaller SL series....a classy cruiser with a bull dog type engine....and that marvelous retractible hardtop (that Miata has in their RF model today which starts at $36k).  So for less than half the price I cruise around in a classic Benz with nearly twice the hp.  What else can I say. :)

I own a number of cars because i am fortunate to live in the south of france and not face uk tax penalties. I choose cars best suited for the purpose of my outing, so i have a powerful diesel coupe for long haul winter runs, a 4 seater soft top diesel for holidays in spain or italy with my wife and for the sheer joy of driving in the quiet roads and mountains where i live i have the slk 350. When i was a young man i had many different sports cars, mg/triumph/lotus etc plus my favourite an e-type jaguar series 1.5 4.2 soft top.my 350 slk is better than all of them by every measurable standard. It goes faster, stops quicker runs better and has been totally reliable even though it was 8 years old when i bought it with 50k on the clock. The car was ridiculously cheap for what it is, although prices have started to rise recently as for all cars. I probably drive it for maybe 6k miles per year and it only gets driven when the sun is out so that i can have the roof down and enjoy the sound of that naturally aspirated V6 306bhp engine. As i am still a keen driver despite approaching my 69th birthday, i enjoy the emptyroads and mountain passes without feeling the need to race every hot headed hatch driver who passes me on the roads even though the car would easily beat them, i also enjoy the fact that it owes me a tiny fraction of the money that most people pay for their classic cars or porsches with enough horse power to match the slk. It really is a factory built sleeper if you are that way inclined. Reading the automotive media these days with all their talk about the best drivers cars, i am astonished when i see how often they promote far inferior cars as being must haves. The slk 350 is a superbly engineered car that makes a perfect gentlemans weekend or retirement toy at a very realistic price - get one soon before everyone else realises what they are missing

Just purchased an SLK following 10 years ownership of a 2001 Jaguar XKR convertible. I'm a looks & heart man. I need to feel the urge to 'look back with a smile' each time I park. The Mercedes does this ten times over.... in less than a month, I love the car. The earlier reviews point out the boot space problem, but I can never understand an owner who criticises a feature that is endemic to the model. Just don't buy! For me the car is LOOKS & LOOKS. The first few days became necessary to understand the systems. At the least a full day's reading. The car I purchased doesn't have a mark on the coachwork or chrome. Black leather Interior almost as new. Extras I like. Hands free phone, GPS. Garage door opening facility, Ten parking sensors, sixteen pages of air conditioning and climate control. (They should put the Mercedes designers on the global warning problem - but four pages devoted to changing a light bulb!) Body work fitting gaps close to paper thin, wing mirror heating, back and bum ditto, crash cushioning everywhere, cruise control & memory facility, electrical & manual adjustable steering wheel ... steering wheel heating! (out of breath but must continue) parking display both visual & aural. (rear parking display behind seat looking to rear) headlamp cleaning, headlight range adjustment, standard remote locking and alarm (top up & down) and ABS/ESP, warning lamps for every system failure, on board engine diagnostic indicator, 12volt outlet, Then all the other extras fitted to my earlier XKR. Now pause for breath. But cars are for driving ... big fat tyres give reasonable road holding on corners, possibly skittish in the wet. Perfect & responsive steering, but under two-litre acceleration not in the XKR league. Beefy roll bars for those going too fast. Big drop down from raised kerb for entry. rear viz not 100% (use yer mirrors * parking sensors) I'm told the handling over 100mph is still good. Handling in town at low speed only average ... fuel consumption to date has been 560 statute miles for 98 litres ... say 40p per mile. Altogether a fine car for a two person family and the SLK 100 series will become a classic surely. I had a convertible E Type from new a few years back but technically the Jag specification wasn't even a close match to the SLK. (but now worth 20 times more!) I'm surely am happy with my purchase. A gorgeous looking car, and fun to own & drive. Would I buy the later versions for looks. NO. I'm too old to want more performance. Dennis Kenyon. Ross-on-Wye.

I found the company + staff very friendly helpful not at all pushy jumping on you as in so many of the other garage sales courts I’ve been to they keep a good selection of quality used vehicles + I cannot fault them in anyway many thanks to Fiona + her husband well worth a visit by any prospective purchasers

Found that the air-conditioning was not working. Was not told about this when purchasing the car. Apart from that happy with the car.

A great car with the choice of top up or down motoring. The car is a powerful machine that can be driven smoothly whilst returning a good fuel consumption. I like the folding metal roof which I consider to be vastly superior to a rag top but it does steal half the boot space when open. A comfortable versatile car that fulfils the role that it was created for and oozes quality. I tend to do a number of 6+ hours trips to Kent and up to Yorkshire and unlike my Audi TT I find the SLK a lot more comfortable and less tiring to drive.

Purchased new March 2015, extremely pleased with car , slight negatives, boot size is problem sometimes but to be fair roof has to go in, drinks more petrol than official figures ,but every car I have had never ache vied official figure , quality is very good ,leather ,trim , shut lines as you would expect on a Mercedes at this price. Purchased from Mercedes at Brookland and very pleased with the treatment we received when purchasing and when car was serviced , would always return to Brookland , have purchased from many dealers over fifty years but none as professional as Mercedes Brookland . One last comment , the info/entertainment system could be more user friendly ,thank goodness for "youtube".

I didn't buy it for space or practicality! I would have bought manual by preference but couldn't find one nearly new.

I really don't want to trade my baby in.It's white and beautiful and the AMG styling really makes a difference to its looks.I would only change it for a newer version noy the newest blunt nose style as they have lost all the looks of the mcclaren styling.It's speedy and hugs the road like glue.Very little extra noise when the top is down and with air scarf in winter I have it down unless wet!!.Lots of boot space-enough for 2 for a week.Running costs are ok so far-low insurance and great m.pg-25-27 on short runs but 45 approx. on long trip on Mway etc.

Very helpful having the free history checker

Easy and quick to locate make and model you are looking for rather than check all available suppliers.

Responsive on motorways, comfortable at speed, not practical bumpy at town speeds, easy to park, terrific acceleration and braking, excellent grip, antisocial, impractical, brings out the worst in other drivers, a hoot to drive, wish I'd bought one earlier.Does 16mpg short runs in town, 29-31 on long runs.

A stunning looker. Performance sprightly enough for a diesel. More economical but less room inside than a VW up!

I nver had a sports convertible when I was younger. My wife said "get a 2-seater convertible, it'll make you feel better, and you won't be constantly asked to give people lifts" No children at home, just the two of us, boot big enough for weekly shop etc. and the "hard top" convertible gives the car a secure feel when the roof is up.It is comfortable , pleasant and easy to drive. The down side is highish running costs. Reliability is good (It's nearly 10 years old).Overall I am very happy with it.

A lovely small runabout but not that comfortable for long distance journeys. Only ideal for small shopping excusions due to boot and even less space when roof down but a great second car

As the cost of maintenance and fuel escalate, I am being more careful to reduce using my car. However, I love my car, and am not prepared to trade it in for a more economical model.

great fun to drive. Roof retracts easily into boot. economical--- 45 to 50 mpg. comfortable . easy to drive. looks great.

Stunning looks, good performance. Get the highest spec car you can find, one with full history and all the toys.Very tail happy in wet and greasy conditions if one is a press on driver. Expect around 19mpg if driven briskly with the roof down or 30 on a good run roof up driving within speed limits.

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS I LIKE IT AND AS I NEVER TAKE MY CAR TO A GARAGE TO GET IT RUINED BUT HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT MYSELF FIND THE CAR VERY RELIABLE

It's a great car to drive and has excellent features such as cruise control which I use a great deal even at 30 mph to keep within the speed limit. It goes very well with ample power and comfortable. It's great to have a hard top convertible although when the roof is down there's not much space remaining in the boot.