New Slk

yorkiemup

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Hi I'm thinking of buying a new SLK 200, has anyone got one or driven one and can give me some feedback before I bankrupt myself!!! :p
 

SLinKyjoe

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have you test drive it yet? if not go and do so...if you have give the bmz z4 a crack too...then buy the merc.

and let us know what you think after you have test driven it.

then i may let you now what i think of mine!
 

Mike T

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New SLK the verdict from a first timer

Lo there,
I bought a new SLK late January. In the past (distant past I might add) I've owned a Datsun 240Z (great but a tad heath robinson) a Lancia Monte Carlo (fantastic, but didn't stop, that's why you don't see many they are all embedded in walls) a Lotus Esprit (yes with Allegro handles and all the electrical problems you can shake a stick at) and here almost 20 years on I go and buy an SLK (recapturing past youth? - separated, single, you bet!).

Never mind this crud they tell you about the BM Z4 having more "feel" and being more of a "drivers car" it's just NOT true, this car will kill you before you unstick it (ESP off of course - we're men aren't we - used to rally a BDA Escort which incidentally didn't have it - chuckle) I think it's great although don't forget I'm stepping back in time a tad for a comparison.

It's well put together, looks great and the roof....the roof sold it to me who the hell needs a rag top.

GO ON spoil yourself :)
Mike T
 

pascal

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Welcome to the forum, Yorkiemup.

As you can see Joe likes his SLKs. I cannot comment on the New (r171) Slk, regards driving.
But it's a hell of a good looking car, especially with the roof down.
So I'd say, don't even bother test driving it, take Joes word for it, order it today:lol: .
 

SLinKyjoe

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okay...i shall add a bit more. the new r171 has loads more grip and composure than the old one.....it doesnt inspire you as much as a Subaru WRX but then it dont have the 4x4 either. it does however come as close to one of them better than just about any other car i test drove before finnaly offloading the bank account. (Boxsters are better as they are a more focused sports car, they are noiser, have a rag top, and dont do a sensible version, but they are well engineered. not cheap either. The Lotus elise is fanatastic, but has absolutly no creature comforts at all.)

Dont like the Audi tt soft top. Dont like the audi TT anyway. Feels cheaper than a merc.
The Z4 is absolutily awful on the roads...bit like an RS Focus. tramlines like hell and bumps an crashes about. rag top too. If you really want a compeitve car to that the Honda s2000 is the one to have...altho in normal driving you will never use the 9000rpm limit. and if you dont go above 5600rpm in them it dont pull away.

So what you need to look for is 2 dealers with slk 200's in. one with the sports suspension and one without. test them both. decide which you like. but the Z4 is far harder than the sports suspension merc do. to be honest i would have not bothered but i was too busy ticking boxes and sometimes i think it is just a bit harsh...over road humps mainly.

You need to check which seats you like. leather sells on better. and you also need to sit in one with the electric seat option. loads more seating positons. The standard seat could be described as a bit flat.

If you dont get the telephone pre wire you may find 4 buttons in the car that you never use. I still dont see the point of park assist and didnt bother with it. I have yet to understand why anyone needs rain sensing wipers! The corner lighting is pointless so dont bother with that.

If you get a cd changer it goes in the glove box...nothing else does then.
I have the sat nav option. i dont know how i lived with out it. COMAND plays dvd's (No watching while you drive unless you know someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)With COMAND an fone you can revcie and send texts messages. phone all works thru steering wheel. bluetooth headsets compatible too.

The remote roof opening is pointless unless you buy the device that allows you to just press the button and let go. If not you have to stand ther at the door for 22 secs....may as well sit in it. You get a fabric daught stop standard but for a vast fortune £250 they will sell you the clear one. this is a must. you can leave it in all the time and see out the rear veiw mirror at night with the roof up. do a deal for one. they will throw it in.

Avoid the standard wheels on the 200. They are the most tacky horrid jobs on earth.

auto or 6sp manual...thats up to you.

choose colour carefully. silver may look okay but the tellurit silver looks better...of course black is best.....with red leather seats that is.

with leather you must have heated seats...trust me....cold weather and leather dont mix.....and the Airscarf is excellent..works with roof up too.

having checked auto trader.....6months old slk200 with 5000miles on it at present is selling for £1.5k more than ordering and waiting list prices for new....so thats up to you. if you can wait....tick a few boxes and wait...you will find that someone will give backword on same spec and you get it early...or if you are not too choosy over colour order one and tell them you will take others, and same occurs......you will NOT get a discount.....thats NOT ok.....but ask anyway..they may bump up a part ex a bit but they will shove in mats and the draught stop.....and maybes a few things...they will laugh when you ask for the tracker fitting tho.....and get one..you dont get deadlocks...so the monitor or horizon a must (Or comaprable). reminded them to fill the petrol tank, you pay for that in the delievery costs...and its reallya musing when you have to escort them the petrol station and watch them wince as they fill it up..£68.

mud flaps.....if you must.....i didnt....too fordish.

if you want a discount on one you will need to wait 2 years when they get a backlog of 2nd hand ones they cannot offload above list prices...and the new ones still come thru..

rumour is a 280 with a 3l is comeing out...and i keep seeing a thing about 3xturbo deisel slk due too.......and seeing as peugueot have just announced a 206cc 1.6td it will happen soon.

The boot really is small....very small....with the roof down you will be lucly to get 2 suitcases in. big squishy travel bags ok. with it up you can get 2 suitcases in easy..and maybes a squishey bag. but to access the boot you will need to put the roof up...the opening is 6 inches with it down. about and inch less than my work bag. Compared to the vauxhall tigra it is small. and about 2 times dear...but a million times more classy.

you can put things behind the seats if you are short and stumpyt like me. 5ft 6ins. if you need the seat travel further back thats spaces goes.

the first aid kit is behind the passenger seat in behind a net. the lower central cubby hole/fone section and the glove box locks with the remote. the upper central doesnt but it is meant to hold the handbook and service documents. you can squeeze in your rescue hammer too if you have one.

door pockets okay for small things but 2litres of milk dont go in it. well it does if you pour it out the bottle.

the interior lights only coming on when its dark...so the dont worry in the day time. and at night the footwell lights and rear view mirror lights gently illuminate wich distracts you if you have got you reeboks on as the night stirp reflects the light.....well it suprises you the first time you notice.....and the rear view mirror lights gently illumnate whatever you have in the cup holders or tray if you dont have them. if you dont get cupholders you can get very little in the tray that replaces them


smokers get a cig lighter and ash try in central console. non smokers get power socket underside right on glovebox and full with tray in central console. and a longer life.


bit breif but hey.....let us know what you think.
 

pascal

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I have to disagree with only one of the above.

The rain sensor. Great gadget. Especially when its standard.

I leave it turned on all the time. A drop of rain falls; It wipes it off; Rains a little heavier; Wipes off with variable amounts of wiping; P*sses down; Wipes continuously; Rain slows down; 1 sweep every now and then to keep screen dry; Rain stops; Wipers stop.
 

SLinKyjoe

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point conceeded.....not paying £90 for it tho....and i hear that they sweep when dust settles on the sensor......

altho to be honest i dont have a problem with the stalk......

i should mention that when the wipers are on noramal speed, when you stop at the lights they drop to intermittent wipe till you set off agin...and if you were on superspeed they drop to normal....


and as a further issue...altho it doens bother me.....the rear lights are 3G LED's which means the people behind tend to get blinded by them when you sit at the lights with the footbrake applied.


SLK's come with proper hand brake lever too....not that foot/hand/pedal that need 3 feet and 4 arms for hills starts!!! :eek:
 
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yorkiemup

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Thanks for all that info, really helpful. Took out the 350 but am taking out a 200 on Sun, would probably go for silver so will try to look at other Mercs in the colour.

What sort of fuel cons do you seem to get, I've had a tt which seemed to drink fuel, but it was a small tank!!

Drive the deal quote 18mths but my local dealer reckons Sept?? We'll wait and see!!

Does the sports susp drop the car much, not sure it's worth it from what you say. I thought of going for the 16 inch 5 spokes, can't really stretch much more!!! Will try for the wind deflector, mentioned alloys to the stealer and they just laughed!! Typical.

Have mercedes improved after sales service?? :shock:
 

pascal

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Joe said:
point conceeded.....not paying £90 for it tho....and i hear that they sweep when dust settles on the sensor......
Supose it is possible, in the Sahara:-D
Joe said:
i should mention that when the wipers are on noramal speed, when you stop at the lights they drop to intermittent wipe till you set off agin...and if you were on superspeed they drop to normal....
Speed sensitive wipers. Are they standard on your car.
Joe said:
SLK's come with proper hand brake lever too....not that foot/hand/pedal that need 3 feet and 4 arms for hills starts!!! :eek:
Because they have not got enough room for a proper MB one, when a clutch is fitted:-D.
 

SLinKyjoe

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would go for the 350 17inch 5 spoke alloys. easy to clean.

the sports suspenders lower it around 40mm. try and see if someone will have one with it on so you can decided. it ownt matter if its a 350 with it and you compare a 200 without if you are going for the 200. the 200 is just firmer with it. I wouldnt turn it down if you spec for a car that may arrive and get refused at sale and they offer you it....but i woudlnt choose it again.

they should throw the wond deflector in to make the deal. if they dont and you are ordering, ring up other dealers...tell them what you want and you will plave the order with them if they throw it in.

I like the (i think its called) terrurite silver. it looks better on the slk than the standard silver...but to be honest..unless you have to have silver...go for solid balck and put £600 into travelex and get $1090 and go on holiday in the us with it. I got obsidioan black. parked it next to a solid black..unless you are 4 inch from the car you will not tell.

You can be boring and have anthracite leather inside but dusky red suits all colours...altho the cream look very good in a black car if you get the wood trimmings.

dont order the folding mirrors. checked mine today and they fold 72degrees...not enough to warrant the expense of electic motors....i have to fold mine to get thru the garage door, and i have to get out to open the door so it makes nod difference.

if you have short legs you may change the light switch when you get in or out with you knee so watch out for that.
you should get it this year...18months is nonsense. but if you tell them you will take any spec they will keep letting you know of unsold ones. it suporses me that people order them and then turn it down when they arrive....last october the dealers had shed loads of refused so they made people up the deposit and suggested they would not return it....obvioulsy they would but it stop speculators ordering from 3 different dealers and buying the first one.

has the after sales got better.......nope.....but they are trying...altho that only goes for my local dealer.....dont let that put you off. plenty out there who are better than average. and maybes thru my rose tinted specs, they will actually listen to the custmomers for once and actaully act upon what they say. even better if they get some pride back in their jobs and actually want to help too....
 
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yorkiemup

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Thanks again, will keep you posted!! So far have only tried one dealer, so will see what they'll offer,I'm quite happy to travel to get one!! :grin:
 

SLinKyjoe

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a dealer 48 miles from me was happy to bring it to me just for a test drive....and i still didnt buy it off them.....think i may have forgot to mention i had already ordered what i wanted but though i may have been able to garner a better deal.....i didnt...

organise a price...then email some dealers and see if they will quote better...bet they do...altho not by much...but 20 quid is 20 quid.
 

pascal

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Better to ask if they will throw in something Like a set of MB mats (it only two, you can tell him) + the £90 rain sensors, and the 20 quid.
 

SLinKyjoe

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the thing is you have to order the rain sensor when you make your decsion.....must wont argue over the factory extras...either you choose and pay or you dont choose and save......and to be honest....all of them will throw in the mats....

the optical draught excluding is a dealer spurced paet so you can have them sling that is as it isnt offset against the car just the deal....they gave me a model of mine as a nicety......apparently flowrs are not men things...and they let me lose in an SL55AMG too. just to cheer me up....i think it all pyschology to get me to upgrade it in a few years time.....hahahahaha yeah right!

you might get the tracker or an equivilent slung in depending on the dealer....or the diamond cleen or supaguard stuff if you are lucky...but you are more likly to get better offers on your part ex if you are doing one....depends how good your negotiating skills are....i spent 4 hrs and got the draught stop...and probably £1k extra on the part ex....altho i was going for 3k extra....but they were not having it. and all the other dealers in my area just said, good deal you got there....never even bothered making an effort...mind you they had a few demos they were trying to off load on me at 4K above list......

Oh and one dealer never rang me back..thats right good customer service that is.
 

SLinKyjoe

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pascal said:
Supose it is possible, in the Sahara:-D

okay

pascal said:
Speed sensitive wipers. Are they standard on your car.

YEP.

pascal said:
Because they have not got enough room for a proper MB one, when a clutch is fitted:-D.

Its a Merc. Mercs dont have clutches unless you are a pauper and have to defend changing yourself as some type of driver entertainment issue.


I think SL's have rain sensoing wipers as the Old people who dodder around in them are so blind they are unable to see the rain on the windscreen and if they were able to, their decrepit hands that are unable to operate a normal handbrake, hence the foot operated job, are unable to make the twisty movement on the stalk. And old people just dont have the sense of money worth these days....It all down the the change to decimilaistion or the EURO. they have given up so are happy give the wallet to the man over the counter and take home the change.... thats also why the insist on having big fuel guzzler cars as they still think like yanks....ie. there aint not subsitute for cubes!

so all our great grandchildren will have green skin 8 legs and live in a dome as the atmosphere will have boiled away coz of these selfish old knowall show offs

maybe :p
 
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yorkiemup

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Couldn't make my mind up, they were not the most helpful, the salesman was fine but had only been there 2 weeks and was trying to move elsewhere!! They only had an auto and I'd personally look for a manual, so would like to try one out.


Is the luxury air con the one with the digital screen and is it a must. Also is sport susp necessary, the one I took out had it, didn't seem too bad, but not sure if I'd bother.

Will email a few dealers over the next few days.

Anyone heard if a diesel is coming out?? :???:
 

SLinKyjoe

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The luxury climate control! if you must have thats fine but the only differnec is the auto option, with the standard you have to choose which of the 10 speeds you want and where you want it. with auto of course it chooses for you. you still select the heat/cool for each side.

auto vs manual box.....you choose.

i had a choice of sports supsension and chose it. i would bother again. it make the ride a spot firmer but unless you race the damn thing on a track i dont think it makes much difference. i was just carried away ticking boxes.

i think you need to go see other dealers.....tell them you havent choosen a colour but have narrowed down to engine size and gearbox type. see what they come up with. plus if you tell them you are happy to order and wait but would like to know what come up in the meantime they will attempt the source a suitable spec car for you....which is ahy you dont need to nail the colour, interior trim and suspension. Personally i would bother paying for the luxury air con either..better spent on the air scarf.

Try emailing HL Gorners at Wigan. there email address in on the mercedes-benz web site as approved repairer...and alo they do Brabus. they can source new mercs and may be willing to offer tempting deals if they can find one for you.....altho a franchised dealer can, if they feel like it, offer you a discount. But they dont need to as they sell all coming thru, so why knock em out cheap and lose profit?

Rumour of a tri-turbo deisel SLK soon. and the 280 which has a 3L engine due around Aug/sept. I suspect the 280 to be the 224hp Diesel myself but i will be happy to be wrong. They may do a 280 petrol and a 320Diesel which i would guess will have simialr power outputs to fit the gap. plus the suggestion of a new 230 with the 1.8 uprated to 197hp.....maybes not for the uk tho. They did a 240 of the old one for europe. never made it here.

brabus shoving in the 6.5LV8 but expect it to be around £100k
 
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yorkiemup

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Thanks for that, will send an email to that company and see where we go!! :lol:
 

OlafMaxwell

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CDI EClass estate is the other end of the spectrum......

Rain sensing wipers a must.

Leather on a frosty night........whatever you may think, you will only ever get a one night stand if you don't have heated seats to drive your date home. You will freeze too. Dont even think about it. You can retro fit them but its not the easiest.

Sports suspension, I agree with the other posts. I have avantgarde with standard and not sports suspension and it is more than hard enough. I tried one with sports and it was uncomfortable, even loaded up. You have to try both. Sports is really too hard for country lanes and country roads where the SLK excels.

Wheel sizes will affect the ride, larger give better roadholding, probably look better too but at least if you find them too hard you can sell them on E bay and go back a size if you get the higher aspect ratio tyres to compensate.

Peugeot are putting the 200bhp V6 diesel into their 407 coupe, MB are already putting 224 bhp V6 320 CDI into C class, to follow in CLK and is does seem as if the SLK will get it. I reckon that it would be an awesome package too. However I think they are two different markets and don't see it affecting the resale values much.
 

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My only complaint about the current model SLK 200 is the aerial, which needs to be taken out when going into a carwash.

I am averaging 36 mpg since new. On a long run it can be as good as 39 mpg but I have a lot of urban driving.
 


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