New Slk200

[S2Tigger]

Hi All

First post here, joined the long line last September and have been told I should be getting the car in July :-D

I've spec'd the car in excell (adding options, removing options to get to a price I can afford!!), but one question, should I go for the manual or auto?

I've driven the auto and it seems fine (our first family car is a new ML with auto), but I really want the sound upgrade, but to have this, you need command....my budget won't allow me to have both, so do I get the manual and take command as well or take the auto and only have the 6cd :-?

Any options I should steer well clear of? I seem to want all of them!!

Thanks for your opinions in advance

Darren

ps I have asked the dealer if I can test drive a manual, but he says most if not all are autos!?

 

[pascal]

Welcome to the forum Trigger. Our biggest New SLK fan is SLinKyjoe (or Uncle Joe to freinds here). He's away at the moment, and will be back on Saturday.

He can tell you all the options he thought were best. Or search some of his posts a few weeks ago.

PS: July is getter very close

Pascal

 

[SLinKyjoe]

You will find that COMAND only gives you DVD and sat nav and other things......are you getting the pre-wire for the phone coz if you arent to be honest the standard sound system is very good. the cd changer will fill you small glove box.

auto or manual...easy.....what have you got now? and what do you want? if you like changeing gear and want the above options then go for manual....if you are lazy like me you must have the auto....and then borrow some extra for the options....

I went for ticking and unticking boxes then got bored so i went and said what do i need....sat nav really up there and the dvd option is and it is excelleant for impressing people....espeicaly were you to have it de-drive blanking so you can (illegally) watch it while you smash into the lamp posts.

I insisted on auto tooo....

does any of that help?

 

[S2Tigger]

Thanks for that....now I am confused

My thoughts so far are as follows:

SLK200 with following options:
Alloy wheels (607)
Automatic transmission
Metallic paint
Leather upholstery
Airscarf
Cupholders
Drivers seat electric
Folding exterior mirrors
Heated seats
Heated windscreen washer system
Parktronic
Passenger seat electric
Rain sensing wipers
Remote control for roof
Automatic dimming rear view mirror
Command System
Speaker upgrade
CD Changer
Telephone prewiring
Telephone cradle (Nokia 6230)

I really like a decent stereo in my car, in the past I've always upgraded my car stereo to something half decent, but with the SLK you have to upgrade to command to be able to upgrade the speakers (unless someone knows if this can be down minus the command?) logical?

Anyway, I am steering towards the auto (the ML turbo seems to lag a little), but I don't know if the budget will streach to command too!!

Thanks for you help, any of my options a waste of money? (after all I am a gadget man!! (well my wife says that all the time!! :lol: ))

Darren

 

[Keverstone]

I have had my SLK since last June. In my opinion you do NOT need;

AIRSCARF - it's never that cold in a small car
HEATED SEATS - ditto
PARKTRONIC - it's only a small car and parking is easy
CD CHANGER - surely on a long journey you stop after a couple of hours and can change the CD then, and in any case Classic FM gives you excellent music
TELEPHONE CRADLE - why tell thieves you have a mobile; you should not use the phone while driving anyway.

Go for automatic rather than manual, all you need do is flick the thing sideways and you can change up or down a gear.

My only complaint is the stupid piece of twisted wire for an aerial. Why could they not fit a stub aerial like the CLK has ?

 

[pascal]

Okay. This my best opinion

Alloy wheels (607) Yes (if you like them)
Automatic transmission Yes & Yes again
Metallic paint (yes)
Leather upholstery Yes (goes without saying)
Airscarf Yes
Cupholders Don't know
Drivers seat electric Only if multible drivers
Folding exterior mirrors Maybe (hardly ever use them though)
Heated seats Yes (with leather)
Heated windscreen washer system Yes
Parktronic No (as previous post)
Passenger seat electric No need
Rain sensing wipers Yes
Remote control for roof Maybe yes (for showing off)
Automatic dimming rear view mirror No
Command System Yes
Speaker upgrade Bring your own CD down to dealers to try out
CD Changer Yes
Telephone prewiring see below
Telephone cradle (Nokia 6230) Will become obsolute. Get aftermarket bluetooth

Pascal

 

[SLinKyjoe]

my 83p worth...(and i know okay!)
SLK200 with following options:
Alloy wheels (607): yep 17inch less is more style.
Automatic transmission.: yep
Metallic paint: colour? if its black dont bother. solid black is as good and £600 cheaper.
Leather upholstery: yep but go for a colour. anthracite just looks dull with the normal interior.
Airscarf: yep. this is a must. when driving with the roof off in anything other than really warm weather it is best peice of kit you can imagine. the other choice is to wrap up warm. it does get cold round the back of your neck otherwise. and thats even with the heater on full. it works with the roof up and in cold weather you will like it.
Cupholders: yep
Drivers seat electric: nope....why? you need to have the power steering colum as well if you are the other you are going to gain the beneift from the £600+ for this....and the £350+ for the pax seat...dont bother.
Folding exterior mirrors: dont bother . £190 is far too much for the range of movement it gives you. I move mine by hand.
Heated seats: unbeliavably the best thing when combined with leather seats....the cold mornings and leather just never get on. unless you only ever drive in summer and then you will not be able to sell it on without them..
Heated windscreen washer system. why? do you not think the engine bay will not warm them up for you. and anyway, if you dont say anything you may find them as a surprise...i did.
Parktronic: complete waste of money unless you or your other half is blind. unless you cannot park a car with a rear this short you will never need it ever. the anoying bleeps just get turned off.....maybe exellent on saloon and estates but come on. you are sat next to the rear wheels and you can easily see the bonnet.
Passenger seat electric: as for drivers seat. waste of time.
Rain sensing wipers: altho everyone here says they are a must they aren't. I didnt and can manage happily with the stalk ta. To operate them you have to move it to the intermittant wipe position anyway.
Remote control for roof: well now that leads to an important question, the 2nd hand market demands this option. but you have to stand next to the front door for it to work and you have to stay there un til the roof finishs. 22secs......so unless you are gonna buy the HSE not approved upgrade so as you can fire and forget as it were dont bother....I have this option, and the upgrade is due soon.
Automatic dimming rear view mirror: why? pointless.
Command System: do you mean COMAND? sorry sarky, yes have it.
Speaker upgrade: no need. you only get 11 speakers. the 9 as standard are very good as it happens. you need to get in one to see or hear.
CD Changer: yep. saves dropping disks. I like it but it really does take up all useful space in the glove box.
Telephone prewiring: yep. definatly
Telephone cradle (Nokia 6230): the cradle of course sits out of view inside the top portion of you arm rest unlike the above posting who thinks it is on view. the arm rest locks with the doors. COMAND even does your text messages for you. and if you get a bluetooth headset the COMAND will let you have the option of the phone for the headset and the music for the passenger or vice versa. so you can have descreet calls and the person sat 9 inches from you wont have the first idea what you are talking about. do you have secrets?

I really like a decent stereo in my car, in the past I've always upgraded my car stereo to something half decent, but with the SLK you have to upgrade to command to be able to upgrade the speakers (unless someone knows if this can be down minus the command?) logical? you dont need the upgrade. go have a listen

Anyway, I am steering towards the auto (the ML turbo seems to lag a little), but I don't know if the budget will streach to command too!! it will now i have dumped your list a bit. and your wife can be me chocloates with the extra i saved.

Thanks for you help, any of my options a waste of money? (after all I am a gadget man!! (well my wife says that all the time!! :lol: )): my wife said that too. i am so much a gadet man even she had to go. I wonder what she is doing now? no i dont! I drive a mercedes, why do i care what she is doing!

ask you self why you need your options and whether you can do without.

by my reckoning with your list you are almost able to buy a bog standard 350. for a bit extra you could have that in manual, with leccy seats and stuff for free.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

becase i must answer

I have had my SLK since last June. In my opinion you do NOT need;

AIRSCARF - it's never that cold in a small car. it is in mine.
HEATED SEATS - ditto. i assume you dont take it out when its cold. if you have leather and its a cold morning you know you should have had it. and the 2nd hand markest demands this with leather.
PARKTRONIC - it's only a small car and parking is easy. totally agree.
CD CHANGER - surely on a long journey you stop after a couple of hours and can change the CD then, and in any case Classic FM gives you excellent music. i agree ab out classic fm...but i would still have the changer
TELEPHONE CRADLE - why tell thieves you have a mobile; you should not use the phone while driving anyway. do you have this option. the phone works from the steering wheel thru COMAND. you can send text from COMAND as well. all done on the screen. the phone is hidden away in its cradle in you arem rest. the top section folds sideways to open so thieves are just never going to know!

Go for automatic rather than manual, all you need do is flick the thing sideways and you can change up or down a gear. yep, i like it too.

My only complaint is the stupid piece of twisted wire for an aerial. Why could they not fit a stub aerial like the CLK has ? I think you have a hang up about this. and I really think you need to visit a dealer and have your ariel changed. I assume you dont have the pre wire option so it wont make any difference to your radio recpetiopn. go ask them for a body coloured AMG SL areial and put it on. it will work fine. then take a pic of it so we can all be really jealous as i think the ariel is naff too.

 

[S2Tigger]

Hi

Searched the web for the un-official roof opener, found this site http://www.l-c-t.com/acatalog/EXTERIOR.html

They mention the 2006 model, whats this? Have there been changes to the spec or are there going to be changes to the spec?

Any other sites I should look at, I like the thought of being able to open/close roof without holding button down, but not while driving!! :-o

I am still pondering over your replies, I'll post again when I've given this some real thought.... many thanks for all your posts and advice...

Darren

 

[JustinUK]

My 2p worth...

Hi Darren, an interesting post, I recently acquired an SLK32AMG (auto) but prior to that I had an SLK320 manual.
I've also test driven a new model SLK200 auto and SLK350 manual for a weekend each (I had to really sweet-talk the dealer!).
Having driven the SLK32 auto for a couple of months now, I have decided that a manual box is more fun, however I am addicted to the horsepower, so I'm not going back!
I found the auto box on the 200 took a lot of the fun out of driving the car. The 350 manual was fantastic fun & preferable in my opinion. The manual box on the 350 is so much better than the one on my SLK320. However you should bear in mind that the auto adds a great deal to the resale value. Dealers generally don't like manual Mercedes (as I found out when part exchanging my SLK320).
Anyway here are my views to add to your confusion:

Alloy wheels (607) - nice, but option 782 would be nicer
Automatic transmission - I wouldn't (see above)
Metallic paint - yes - what colour? common (but sleek) silver or something else? Benitoite blue is spectacular.
Leather upholstery - yes - light colours look best but are harder to keep clean.
Airscarf - yes, this is one of the major improvements over the R170. Well worth £340 in my view.
Cupholders - I don't drink in the car, so I wouldn't.
Drivers seat electric - yes
Folding exterior mirrors - I would because my garage is narrow & I live in the city. Not really necessary if you don't.
Heated seats - yes,yes,yes - you can have the roof down on crisp spring days - there's nothing like it.
Heated windscreen washer system - maybe in Scotland, but not necessary in Trowbridge in my view.
Parktronic - only if you do a lot of parallel parking (in a city), but the beeping is offputting.
Passenger seat electric - yes, the wife will like it
Rain sensing wipers - a gadget, but only £90
Remote control for roof - Neither of the R171 cars I drove had this, so I don't know. I did fit a BVRC to my SLK320, but it is a bit unnecessary really.
Automatic dimming rear view mirror - cool, but too expensive in my view at £250
Command System - You don't have to get this to get the Harman/Kardon speaker upgrade, you could go for the Audio 50 with APS instead (it's cheaper by £800).
Speaker upgrade - nice, but expensive with the Audio50.
CD Changer - there will be no room in the glove box if you get this.
Telephone prewiring - obviously if you use your phone in the car
Telephone cradle (Nokia 6230) - ditto

I would replace some of the options with;
Heated steering wheel - nice with the roof down on cold days (this is England!)
Tyre pressure loss warning - only £50
Xenon headlamps - much brighter for night driving, but expensive.
Drop me a line if you want to meet up to discuss as I'm not that far away from you.

 

[S2Tigger]

Alloy wheels (607) - nice, but option 782 would be nicer

They would, but another £1,110 to options list...

Automatic transmission - I wouldn't (see above)

I think I going auto...but the driver in me says manual

Metallic paint - yes - what colour? common (but sleek) silver or something
else? Benitoite blue is spectacular.

Colours: Tellur silver or possibly a blue of some kind, but not benitoite (costs too much )

Leather upholstery - yes - light colours look best but are harder to keep clean.

Black / blue / red - no idea till I see the leather in real life???

Airscarf - yes, this is one of the major improvements over the R170. Well worth £340 in my view.

On the list of options and will not come off

Cupholders - I don't drink in the car, so I wouldn't.

Fair point, but that occasional trip to MDs, it is a must!!

Drivers seat electric - yes

Thats staying on the list too

Folding exterior mirrors - I would because my garage is narrow & I live in the city. Not really necessary if you don't.

Have them on the ML and use them all the time, but then again it is a little bigger!!, will keep them on the list for now...( a gadget man I am!!)

Heated seats - yes,yes,yes - you can have the roof down on crisp spring days - there's nothing like it.

I've got a smart car cabrio at moment (work car, with advertising!), have the roof open most days as long as its not raining !! Wife thinks I'm mad !!

Heated windscreen washer system - maybe in Scotland, but not necessary in Trowbridge in my view.

Taken off options list, must have slipped in when I wasn't looking

Parktronic - only if you do a lot of parallel parking (in a city), but the beeping is offputting.

Have it on the ML and wife wants it on the SLK, god has spoken!!

Passenger seat electric - yes, the wife will like it

Ditto above!

Rain sensing wipers - a gadget, but only £90

Again, gadget man takes over!

Remote control for roof - Neither of the R171 cars I drove had this, so I don't know. I did fit a BVRC to my SLK320, but it is a bit unnecessary really.

Ditto above!

Automatic dimming rear view mirror - cool, but too expensive in my view at £250

Have it on the ML and I like it, also side mirrors are dimming(? is this std?)

Command System - You don't have to get this to get the Harman/Kardon speaker upgrade, you could go for the Audio 50 with APS instead (it's cheaper by £800).
Speaker upgrade - nice, but expensive with the Audio50.

Both of above off list, will check out the std radio again....

CD Changer - there will be no room in the glove box if you get this.

I've always had one and like the choice, saves getting cds out ....don't like keeping stuff in the car anyway

Telephone prewiring - obviously if you use your phone in the car
Telephone cradle (Nokia 6230) - ditto

Tele kit is staying in, a must now...

I would replace some of the options with;
Heated steering wheel - nice with the roof down on cold days (this is England!)

Overlooked this one, added to list (what extra functions does it have, if any?)

Tyre pressure loss warning - only £50

This has been added too...again only £50....

Xenon headlamps - much brighter for night driving, but expensive.

Would like these, but way too expensive

So far the price of the car inc extras is £35,994, not allowing for any items I can get the dealer to chuck in for free (is that possible for a MD dealer to do????)

May take you up on the offer for a meet.....

Regards

Darren

 

[SLinKyjoe]

sound like you have thought more and well done..


so here is a few thoughts.

unlike the ML the folding mirrors dont fold in that far...look at one and decide if you really need £190 option. i didnt and wouldnt order it.

Tellur sliver. go for it...very good colour....altho i think black is better...but i am biased.

5 spoke wheels ala 350 just right. trust me.


electric seats...why? even if wife likes them. once set you never adjust again...pointless.

heated steering wheel? come on when are you really gonna use it....the leather never gets cold enoguh for this option...even with the roof off...i know, honest.

COMAND. i have and woudlnt be without...but its up to you..i think the dvd's are fab and the nav is very good....


you will get your mats slung in. insist on it. and if you can see if they will do the supaguard treatment or whatever the new one is...but that may be pushing it. You mite even get the optical draught excluder but maybes you may have to drop to insisting on the phone cradle you need to purchase for the pre-wire.

if i get my act sorted i may shove a pic on...

bear in mind a 6month old one with 5k miles on it is fetching £36k. so the market for discount is not much.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

get these wheels.

 

[JustinUK]

Benitoite blue is the same price as all the other metallics according to my dealer (designo colours are more).

The 200 I test drove had folding mirrors which seemed to fold all the way to me!

I think the heated steering wheel also allows you to control the radio/CD.

Only the driver side wing mirror is autodimmed in addition to the central rear view mirror.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

the controls on the steering wheel are standard on all models.

the only thing is you cannot have is heated steering wheel if you chose the wood or colour leather trim inserts.

as far as the folding wing mirrors go. I would go have a look at one with them folded. i dont feel the range of movement is worth the money.

 

[MissMercedes]

S2Tigger,

have your ordered this car yet? Did you look at a CLK as well?

Slinkyjoe,

That picture is too small, do you have a bigger one?

 

[SLinKyjoe]

Not only do I have a bigger one, I have a real one outside my house!

so yes i do have a bigger one thanks for asking. And when I get my act together you can have a look at it. In the meantime you will have to make do with this.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=9875

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Alloy wheels (607) Yes but dont go for oversize, bigger wheels harsher ride on poor surfaces.
Automatic transmission.....Definitely
Metallic paint..probably, for resale but black does look good.
Leather upholstery..definitely ...
Airscarf....definitely
Cupholders...definitely, if only to stop liquid being split into the transmission electrics resulting a huge bill.
Drivers seat electric...definitely, good for moving around on a long journey, multiple drivers etc but needs the steering wheel adjustment electric too.
Folding exterior mirrors...don't have them, useful though in tight spaces.
Heated seats.....essential, you won't impress a passenger in cold leather on a frost night..
Heated windscreen washer system....yes, essential if you are in a hard frost area, however windscreen washer liquid may be as good.
Parktronic....would not bother.
Passenger seat electric...yes but it does confuse unfamiliar passengers.
Rain sensing wipers....yes
Remote control for roof....fun but not for me...
Automatic dimming rear view mirror...I would not be without this.
Command System....for me, no,
Speaker upgrade...I would consult a good audio specialist, in my book the MB options are overpriced.
CD Changer......CD changer essential.
Telephone prewiring.....I would go for a bluetooth option, if not included can be retrofitted easily.
Telephone cradle (Nokia 6230)...not for me....

 

[S2Tigger]

I'm still here :grin:

I've been playing with list further, but still not pinned down the exact spec!!

I've been told by my dealer delivery has slipped from July to early August...

So, seeing the weather should be good, I've told the dealer to book me in for factory pick up and I'll drive it back and then wait till 1st September to register to get the new 55 prefix

Darren

 

[pascal]

Trigger. One word.

AUTO