1. Overview
2. Gallery
   • Photo Gallery (12)
   • 360° View
   • Video
   • Web Videos (163)
3. Trims and Specs
   • Select a Trim (2)
4. More Resources
   • Related News (0)
   • Other Expert Reviews (0)
   • Consumer Opinions (0)
   • Car Tweets
   • Q&A (0)
5. Next Steps
   • Get Mercedes-Benz Insurance Quotes
   • Get Mercedes-Benz Financing Quotes
   • Check Local Classifieds
   • Find a local dealer

     Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Select City
     

     See all Mercedes-Benz dealers

April 3, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mercedes-benz_slk-class_2001

  Sue Mead
EditorSue Mead

Vermont’s green mountains blur into a rich palette of summer as I motor along Route 7 north of Bennington, Vt. An occasional patch of yellow or red is the harbinger of fall, which will soon come to New England. As I shift into sixth gear and settle in for a smooth and tranquil high-speed run up this straight stretch of macadam, I recognize that at-peace-with-the-world feeling that motorcar enthusiasts get when the day is good and the ride is great... and the top is down.

It’s been three years since Mercedes Benz introduced its SLK roadster, a 230 version that turned heads because of its attractive styling and its unique retractable hardtop.

At the time, criticisms chiefly centered around its buzzy four-cylinder engine, which had its work cut out for it with 3000 pounds of metal to propel. To make matters worse, its 185 horses were available only by way of an automatic transmission, consistent with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup, but inconsistent with the sporty image of the SLK’s design. The resultant driving experience was pleasant, solid and intimate, but its performance image and feel was clearly a tad compromised.

Witnessing the sporty roadster market filling up with BMW’s, Audis and Porsches that were more exciting to drive – for a similar amount of money – Mercedes did something about it. Welcome to the 320, the latest version SLK with this German automaker’s potent 3.2-liter V-6 under the hood, which makes a considerably more robust 215 horsepower. And, to add to its fun-to-drive quotient, Mercedes-Benz made optional a six-speed manual transmission, the first stick shift the German carmaker has put in a production Benz in decades.

The supercharged four is still standard fare for the SLK, but is offered at about $2000 less. Its four-cylinder also gets a stick-shift option, but with only five forward gears instead of six.

Vermont’s green mountains blur into a rich palette of summer as I motor along Route 7 north of Bennington, Vt. An occasional patch of yellow or red is the harbinger of fall, which will soon come to New England. As I shift into sixth gear and settle in for a smooth and tranquil high-speed run up this straight stretch of macadam, I recognize that at-peace-with-the-world feeling that motorcar enthusiasts get when the day is good and the ride is great... and the top is down. It’s been three years since Mercedes Benz introduced its SLK roadster, a 230 version that turned heads because of its attractive styling and its unique retractable hardtop. At the time, criticisms chiefly centered around its buzzy four-cylinder engine, which had its work cut out for it with 3000 pounds of metal to propel. To make matters worse, its 185 horses were available only by way of an automatic transmission, consistent with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup, but inconsistent with the sporty image of the SLK’s design. The resultant driving experience was pleasant, solid and intimate, but its performance image and feel was clearly a tad compromised. Witnessing the sporty roadster market filling up with BMW’s, Audis and Porsches that were more exciting to drive – for a similar amount of money – Mercedes did something about it. Welcome to the 320, the latest version SLK with this German automaker’s potent 3.2-liter V-6 under the hood, which makes a considerably more robust 215 horsepower. And, to add to its fun-to-drive quotient, Mercedes-Benz made optional a six-speed manual transmission, the first stick shift the German carmaker has put in a production Benz in decades. The supercharged four is still standard fare for the SLK, but is offered at about $2000 less. Its four-cylinder also gets a stick-shift option, but with only five forward gears instead of six. Vermont’s green mountains blur into a rich palette of summer as I motor along Route 7 north of Bennington, Vt. An occasional patch of yellow or red is the harbinger of fall, which will soon come to New England. As I shift into sixth gear and settle in for a smooth and tranquil ...