The center console houses secondary controls like switches for the power mirrors and a button for the SLK's retractable hardtop. Two large, round gauges house the speedometer and tach, while trip information and other secondary displays are wedged in between. Whereas the previous version looked as if it was lifted straight out of a sedan (granted, a nice sedan), the new SLK brings its rakish exterior look into the cockpit. We also have to give high marks to the SLK350's interior. The compelling acceleration alone is enough to get our attention, but the SLK's operatic exhaust puts the official "sports car" stamp on the whole experience. Too many luxury-branded "sporty" cars offer a cocooned experience where the driver is isolated from the sounds of the engine. Overall, the Mercedes SLK350 is sharp without being harsh, athletic without being uncomfortable.Įven more thrilling is the stellar exhaust note. From 60 mph, they hauled the car down to a stop in 114.68 feet, but can feel a little touchy in everyday driving. The SLK's brakes offer stellar stopping power. The steering is nicely weighted, offering just the right amount of feedback without requiring too much effort. This car is easily one of the best built and best engineered convertibles on the market. Top up or down, the SLK feels remarkably composed and solid. The ride is a bit firm, but the resulting handling is worth the trade-off. Our test car came equipped with a sport suspension option, which adds $200 to the price and includes a lowered, more stiffly tuned suspension. Virtually none of the power seems sapped by the automatic, but with the manual as good as it is, we'd recommend shifting your own gears if you can. The autobox is still a six-speed, but its downshifts can be too noticeable. We had a chance to drive an automatic version as well and found it to be a little jerky. No selected gear ever seems wrong and there's plenty of low-end torque to give the SLK adequate verve without keeping up the revs. By the time you hit second gear, it's apparent this is a serious sports car and not just some look-pretty convertible - something we couldn't say about the previous SLK.Įven in heavy traffic, the six-speed combined with the powerful V6 makes the best of a miserable situation. Launch the car from a stop and it bursts forward with abandon. The real beauty of this transmission is not that it's particularly smooth, but that it is perfectly matched to the engine. The slick new engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission. The outmatched supercharged 2.3-liter four has been dropped for 2005. Mercedes claims a 0-to-60 time of 5.4 seconds, but the closest we could come was 6.3 seconds. With a total of 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque driving the rear wheels, the SLK350 suffers no performance anxiety. The SLK now sports a DOHC 24-valve, 3.5-liter V6 that makes 53 more horsepower than the previous 3.2-liter six and 29 extra pound-feet of grunt. The most notable upgrade is perched just behind that huge Benzorrific badge. It may sound silly, but the ability to store some stuff makes the SLK a better all-around car. But even with the top folded into the trunk, storage space is still adequate. With the top up, the shelf can be moved out of the way to expand the available cargo capacity. It's clearly a more masculine-looking convertible than the car before it.Īlthough it's not generally considered a sports car must, the SLK350's trunk is more spacious and now incorporates a moving plastic shelf. Not so with the new SLK, the wider stance, elongated hood and prominent three-pointed star snout make it look like a baby SLR. While the previous version wasn't bad-looking, it did lack sports car flair. The most striking difference is the exterior. If the German sports car is a 2005 Mercedes SLK350 retractable-hardtop roadster, better still, and we wouldn't complain if Teri Hatcher came along for the ride.Īctually, Mercedes-Benz has totally redone the SLK for 2005, and the results are compelling enough to make you forget ol'-what's-her-name in the seat next to you.Īny 2005 Mercedes SLK350 review begs a comparison to the previous SLK so let's get that out of the way right up front. On the other hand, Teri Hatcher, Speed TV and German sports cars are on our hits list. Here's a short list of things we couldn't care less about: Camilla Parker-Bowles' wedding dress, Lifetime's movie of the week, Ashlee Simpson's latest single, low carbs and used minivans.
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