phileaglesfan

I'll be looking for a convertible/roadster next year for a weekend driver and the SLK55 is definitely on my list. Along with the Vette, Boxster S, Z4 and Lotus Exige. We were planning on going to Germany next year anyways so I might as well drive on the Autobahn for another 2 weeks or so (I lived there for 8 years).

Dave

nevets

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Dave good luck in your search and welcome to the forum...Like you I entertained the same list of cars...after ownership of my SLK for 8 months now, I am pleased to say I made the right choice, great car ...no regrets...well, except maybe not getting the 55

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Steven

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06 SLK 350, Iridium Silver, Blk Int, Chrome Trims, AMG Body,
Aerowings,Wide Base Tire Flares (Thx CDRN) Green Filters,
Filled Sidemarkers, Painted Ant, Komfort Module (Thks NR4L)
Rear Spoiler - Piecha, Brabus springs, R170Moded Ant,
19" TSW Bremma, Mich PS2

phileaglesfan

I'm hoping to test drive an SLK55 Friday if all goes well with the weather. I have seen them all in person, haven't test driven any due to the weather yet. I'll give them all a fair test drive and then most likely decide before winter sets in again.

However, I'm leaning towards the SLK55. I like the Vette but there are too many of them. Exige/Boxster/BMW all have/run a lot better with manuals. I have bad joints so auto would probably be better. The quality of materials in the SLK55 seem to be the best so far.

This is a great website by the way. I'll definitely be a supporting member if I get an SLK.

-1-

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Good luck, I hope things work out with the SLK 55.

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----------------1-----------------
--------SLK 55 ///AMG---------
THE MON55TER ON THE BLOCK

Ikarus

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Weather forecast for Utah on Friday says no rain, so take that roof down in the SLK with the airscarf at full blast and then try the same in those other cars.

alroumi

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Hello and Welcome to the forum, I see you are from Utah and its a great place. My two cousins live in Salt Lake city and they are studying engeneering there and they love the cold.

I would get the SLK55, there is no replacement for displacement my friend. Its an automatic and it can be a quiet a good daily driver if you get acquinted to the interior especially since its got many amenties that are not available on the other cars you have suggested such as the Exige and the Boxster who dont have Airscarf.

The SLK is the best option after the Corvette but you said there are many of those around, however the Boxster S is a great car but is underpowered and when you add up the options leather here and carbon there, it gets as close to a standard 911 carrera.

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06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
06 Porsche Cayenne S
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I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

Ikarus

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295hp, 0-60 in 5 seconds and a best published time around the Ring matching the one of the SLK55 is underpowered for what purpose exactly?

alroumi

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I think the Straight line power and torque is underpowered when I test drove the boxster s, it needs to be revved high until you can go very very fast unlike the SLK55 which by just blipping the throttle you are introduced to gobs of torque instantly which provide you with the grunt and push that the SLK has which distinguishes it from the less muscular Z4M, Cayman S and Boxster interms of mid range power.

The 0-60 in 5.1 seconds for the boxster s in manual gearbox, however say you wanted to get the tip tronic s version and that gets you ro 0-60 in 5.8 seconds which is even slower than the pre facelift slk which has 272/268 when you compare it to the boxster S 295hp.

the manual base carrera 2 barely reaches a 5.2 second sprint with the manual gearbox, what is impressive is both manual and automatic version of the 2009 slk does 0-60 in 5.3 respectively where the porsche cannout get the same time for the automatic gearbox.

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06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
06 Porsche Cayenne S
07 Jaguar XKR Coupe'

I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

Ynot

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Vette, is a bang for the buck, very sporty and fast, but very cheap plasticky interior, everyone and their grandma has one, afterwhile it doesn't turn heads, everyone is peeking in your car to see if you have a mullet.

Boxster, handles like a dream, steer on rails, very capable track car but you can't tell the front from the back, very cramp inside, the ignorant ones will make fun of you b/c you can't afford a 911.

Z4, good stick shift, very sporty ride and feel Questionable looks, some think it looks hideous, a bargain, you can get $10K off MSRP but the sporty feel is very harsh, some might not like it, people might throw eggs at your car for looking so bad. Even more cramp then the boxster, lack of resale value, everyone wants to give you 10K for it in the used market for a 40K car.

Lotus Exige, that thing is a track car, it's hard to get in and out off, very rough and harsh ride, not exactly a daily driver, your back and @ss will be hurting but you do look cool in it.

And your bias winner is the SLK55, V8 in a small roadster, the only roadster with a V8 in the market right now (I believe), comfortable, roomy for a small car, hardtop, airscraft (one of a kind), could be a daily driver, can be a track beast, many positives, except, crappy 7G tronic, not very responsive, no rev match, and no manual transmission.

And welcome to the forum, you'll be a future SLK owner, no doubt.

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rlbawk

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Welcome to the forum and I expect you to be joining soon based your car choice options. Last year I was in the same boat and basicly looking at the same short list of cars. The Corvette no matter how fast and good it may look is like the Mustang in that they are evrywhere and just about everyone has one. The Z4, well other than just being butt ugly (and I am a BMW fan too) just doesn't have the power. I didn't drive the Boxter or the Cayman simply because once I drove the SLK55 I was hooked. It has the power feel of the Corvette but is a much better quality car, I have several friends that have or have had some fast cars and they all rave at the power and the ride of the 55. Plus I live near Atlanta and I see tons of Vettes and Boxters every time I go out but the 55 is not something you see very often....so if owning something that stands out from the crowd then I would reccomend the SLK there too.......Just my 2 cents

Ikarus

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Ok, it's not exactly in the same price range, but what about this?

To be fair, without considering multi-clutch systems, the 7G is actually pretty decent and since the OP says he wants an auto transmission, it shouldn't be a deal-killer.

Ynot

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that's nice, AMV8 Vantage roadster, didn't think about that one.

yeah, that's my disadvantage, not his.

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dsb

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I agree with most everyone's comment so far with exception of the transmission. In that case, I agree with Ikarus's statement. Also, the new model is supposed to have rev-matched downshifts (aka throttle blip) so that'll give a sportier feel. Sounds good too. 2 years ago I thought the 55 was the all-around best buy. That still holds true today.

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dltslk

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rlbawk, I agree with you 100%. We still need to get together so we can at least see each other's 55s.

FishtailnZ

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Same as mentioned by others, I too looked at a lot of those cars when shopping around. The SLK is by far the better all-round car of those mentioned, and it just pressed all my buttons after an extensive test drive - power, comfort, hard top 'vert, wonderful V8 sound, class, and rarity. I've never regretted my decision!

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- Bill

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R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige
Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80

Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

phileaglesfan

The Air Scarf definitely is advantage for the SLK.

I heard the 2009 has matching revs for the tranny, along with direct steering. I'm sure I'll love the 2008 but at least I know the 2009 should be better. I like the new style also of the front end. I know most people seem to dislike it from the other thread. At least it looks unique instead of like most cars out there.

Boxster S is a nice car but did feel a little too cramped. It does have a 20-30hp bump next year though. I wouldn't buy a Porsche with an auto though.

I'm courious to see what the new 4LT interior looks like in a Vette.

I did notice that AMG says the SLK55 will get up to 60 in 4.9 seconds while a lot of mags put them at 4.3 which is like the Vette.

Thanks for the inputs though. I'll let you know how the test drive goes. I'll probably shoot down the interstate with the hardtop at first to give climate control time to warm up for air scarf operation.

Another advantage with the SLK is Germany delivery with a price of MSRP - 7%. Do these cars usually go for around MSRP if bought in the US?

Any comments about the 030 package? I don't know if it is worth over $6k.

Thank you.

FishtailnZ

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Air Scarf is da bomb! *L*

I like the new front end on the SLK55 - it doesn't work so well on the other models though IMHO.

AMG seems to understate the performance a wee bit. The SLK is decently fast, but it's not quite up there with the latest version of the C6 with it's 430hp engine - that car will trap a few tenths quicker and a few mph faster than the '55. But again, that's only one facet of the SLK; depends what's most important to ya.

With the revised (read downgraded) brakes of the 2008+ "base" SLK55, the 030 package is now worth it for the brakes alone. Again IMHO. Good luck with the decision, whatever the results!

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- Bill

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R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige
Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80

Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

cyberdrakon

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The Airscarf warms within 15 seconds, regardless if the engine is warm or not. Operates by electrically heating the air. The best part is when you get in the car in the morning and it's cold, the airscarf combined with seat heaters warms you up instantly.

alroumi