Old SLK vs New SLK

[Matty H]

Can anybody tell me why they have only introduced a SLK200 & SLK350 in the new R171?

There seems to be too much of a gap between the models, with the 200 surely being underpowered & the 350 looks the business, but the price puts it beyond most people's budget?

I have a '97 SLK230 and was looking to move over to the new model, but don't want to drop to the 200. Wonder if they are thinking of introducing a model to drop in between the current 2?

 

[pascal]

A good point.

Suppose the 350 was mainly for the US.
When the 200 got compressed, it got too close to the 230.
The only other engine is the smaller V6, 240 (think its 2.6 now), and thats not all that fast.
The price difference is mainly cause the 350 has a lot of stuff as standard. If they made a stripped down 350 it would be more affordable. Going on a list from a thread last week, the 200 comes with a very basic spec. I suppose it all boils down to marketing. I suppose most 200 buyers will load it with 5k to 10k of extras.

Joe will be back later, and he will answer this question better than I.

Pascal

 

[Matty H]

Am I right in thinking the new SLK200 is only 160bhp, whereas the 350 is around 270bhp?

Again, a model in between these 2 would be ideal around the 200bhp mark.

It looks like I may have to defect to a Boxster. :-(

 

[mlc]

I only realised this weekend that the 200 is only a 1.8 and 160 ish BHP. Normally new cars come out with the bigger engines first (to get the money in) then follow on with the cheaper versions to keep the sales going, so I am lost at what MB are doing.

I'm sure that I have read that other engines are to follow, including at least one diesel !!! so we will have to wait.

The above isnt the reason why we havent upgraded to a 171, we just cant afford it

Mark.

 

[Matty H]

Yeah it seems a little strange.

If they do a diesel version surely it would have to be approaching the 2.7 mark to gain the much needed power?

Is the R171 lighter than the previous model?

 

[pascal]

I would imagine if they were to put a diesel in it, it would be one of the new V6 diesels. This engine, I imagine, would easily fit in the bay, and is comparable to the petrol equilivent in size.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

cop some of this....the r170 was sent as a 2.3K 4pot auto and got comlaints for those real drivers....4 years later the real deal arrived. a 2Lk 4 pot and a 3.2L. and got complaints from the real drivers.....however the 2l was the big seller.

broing fact. the R170 outsold all the bmw Z3/Boxster sales put together.


so it makes sense now the SLK is an established car to bring the big seller the new 200. with a 1.8K 163hp. the 3.5 V6 has 272 and of course the AMG55 is a 5.4l without Kompressor with around 359hp. This is to replace the 3 models that went.....

the rumour is a 280 is due possibly with 3L engine but i notice that the new 3l diesel just out knocks out 224hp.....so 163, 224, 272...fits dont it? altho it may be a new petrol 3l too. and rumour of a tri-turbo deisel altho why 3 i dont know....

the 350 3.5V6 is going in the facelift sl to replace the tractor engine 3.7 v6 spoiling it at the mo. so my spies tell me.......i am popping in to my dealers this week for coffee so i will see what else i can gain.....

 

[mlc]

Uncle Slinky - lots of good info as always.

Dont agree that it makes sense to start a new model with an entry level engine. If we assume that MB still have a waiting list (which I think they do) why are they not taking advantage of all those people that would have given anything (another £5k for instance) to get a new SLK and would have bought (say) the 2.3 220bhp version.

It is normal for a new model to have new, better, faster engines, so why not the 171? Last time arounbd they kept us waiting for about four years before you could have a cheaper version. how much more powerful than the original 1997 car would the new one have had to be just to keep up with competition?

Mark.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

market forces i should think...they upped the rpice by around 4K for the new 200 and wanted to get them out on the roads....this allows to charge a premium for the higher spec models....i think it is to do with continuity of sales...as the 200 was the best seller of the r170 if stands that not many would have gone for a bigger engine unless it would have ben a comaprable price to the old 200...this way they get the best of both worlds...and also will pick up the 230 buyers when the new one is launched....

they did get a few complaints when they launched the SL with the 500 and 55. they waited 6 months or so to bring out the 350 and the sales picked up was noticable so they told me...while they tried to offload an 03,sl55 on me....for £72k..yeah right....maybes it the way...but the sales figures from Jan suggest they have it right. the SLK and CLK took 25% of Merc sales in Europe.


The also think the resale of the 350 is not gonna be as high as the 200 so they are leaving it without competiton to see if it sells as well as they hope. it competes directly with the boxster.

still will aks when i call in and see if they can point towards anything...its been a few months since i called in and they keep leaving me messages....must be hoping i will be in for a new one...

 

[Matty H]

cop some of this....the r170 was sent as a 2.3K 4pot auto and got comlaints for those real drivers....4 years later the real deal arrived. a 2Lk 4 pot and a 3.2L. and got complaints from the real drivers.....however the 2l was the big seller.

broing fact. the R170 outsold all the bmw Z3/Boxster sales put together.


so it makes sense now the SLK is an established car to bring the big seller the new 200. with a 1.8K 163hp. the 3.5 V6 has 272 and of course the AMG55 is a 5.4l without Kompressor with around 359hp. This is to replace the 3 models that went.....

the rumour is a 280 is due possibly with 3L engine but i notice that the new 3l diesel just out knocks out 224hp.....so 163, 224, 272...fits dont it? altho it may be a new petrol 3l too. and rumour of a tri-turbo deisel altho why 3 i dont know....

the 350 3.5V6 is going in the facelift sl to replace the tractor engine 3.7 v6 spoiling it at the mo. so my spies tell me.......i am popping in to my dealers this week for coffee so i will see what else i can gain.....

I like your boring fact on the SLK outselling Boxster / Z3, but it seems a little strange that you don't seem to see as many SLK's on the road as the other 2?? Certainly not the Z3 - they're everywhere... YUK

Anyway, back to the new vs old issue - I certainly wouldn't like to drop to a lower powered car, so the 200 is out the window & the 350 is out my reach...

I want a 2 seater - so any suggestions what I should look at? Perhaps a newer R170, AMG32? The residuals should have dropped slightly with the new model, yes?

 

[JustinUK]

I agree.

That was exactly my thinking. I didn't want to go for a 200 (no offence to the 200 owners out there), but the 350s are way too expensive at the moment, so I went for the SLK32AMG.

 

[peterchurch]

SLK are very common down here And too right ! they were much nicer than the other marque brands...

If you fancy a change without the silly price tag though why not test a Honda S2000 or an MR2 both cars were out standing sports cars and will give you the power you want I understand that Toyota are going to unleash a turbo version of the 2 That will be a serious power house and for about 24K If they go ahead the car will be in the same sort of power range as a new 911!

regards,

Peter