Ari Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Happened to be passing a Mercedes main dealer so thought we'd take a quick peak, see if it is any good. Not looking to change in the near future, just keeping an eye on sub £30K convertibles ready for when I do. Looked at a Porsche Boxster a few weeks ago which I loved, but its £34K before you start adding bits, so well north of £35K which is just a bit too rich for me. Anyway, the Merc range kicks off with a SLK 200 Kompressor, which is a 4 cylinder 1.8 litre supercharged engine producing 163hp, almost identical in spec to the 4 cyl 1.8 litre turbocharged engine producing 163hp in my Audi Cabriolet. This comes in at £27,500 on the road, almost exactly the same money as my Audi (to Sport spec). Advantages are rear wheel drive and a physically smaller car means it should have a sportier performance, it has the metal folding roof not fabric so should be more secure, plus it is a Mercedes so in theory at least it should be a bit more "special". Downside is that it is a 2 seater, although don't use the rear seats in my car a lot. First impressions are that it is a very smart looking car from outside, a lot more aggresive and less "girly" than its predecessor. But small compared to my Audi. Inside however it just did nothing for me. The demo car had sat nav and leather, but even with these things it didn't seem to have the quality amibience of my Audi (which has neither). All in all it left both of us "cold". A very nice little car, and the folding roof is magic, but not something I could lust after, and not a patch on the Porsche Boxster we looked at which really did feel like a special place to be. I didn't drive it because I'm not far enough down the road of wanting to change to waste anyones time on it, and maybe I'd have felt different if I had, but all in all I was a little disappointed and if I were changing right now I'd have the Audi Cabrio over the Merc (but the Porsche in preference to either, funds allowing!) Nice car, but not nice enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie123 Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Yep, neighbour has one and it looks nice, although the standard alloys look far too small. You're right about the interior, there's just nothing there to inspire you. I think the new 350Z cabrio could make a very interesting addition to the sub £30k roadster market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 i really like the look of the new SLK. The AMG version gives good performance for the price too. ....shame there's two seats missing though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 I did too, but up close its a much smaller car than you'd think, giving a sort of "wannabe SL" impression, and the interior is just nothing special. In an Audi the silver bits look like aluminium, in the Merc it all felt a bit plastic. Agree the AMG version should be awesome, but for that kind of money (£50K plus extras) you're into a seriously specced up Boxster S, or about £8K off a 911! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I think the new 350Z cabrio could make a very interesting addition to the sub £30k roadster market. [/ QUOTE ] I've read a lot of good things about the 350Z, but I just can't get excited about the prospect of a Japanese car instead of a German one. I know they're very reliable, but tey just don't seem to have that depth of quality to them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 I agree! I considered it as a cheaper option to the porsche and with that roof it was quite an attraction, but the moment I saw the interior I was very disappointed! I really wanted to like the SLK but the dash looked very cheap compared to the Porsche or an audi! I was very disappointed as the cloth roof was always a concern for me, but I will be returning to a cloth roof car as the SLK just doesnt do it for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I've read a lot of good things about the 350Z, but I just can't get excited about the prospect of a Japanese car instead of a German one. I know they're very reliable, but tey just don't seem to have that depth of quality to them... [/ QUOTE ] Go take a look!!! I think you will be surprised at just how nice it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I really wanted to like the SLK but the dash looked very cheap compared to the Porsche or an audi! [/ QUOTE ] Yup, exactly my feelings. Quite surprised really as I'd thought Mercedes had come on a long way of late... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I've read a lot of good things about the 350Z, but I just can't get excited about the prospect of a Japanese car instead of a German one. I know they're very reliable, but tey just don't seem to have that depth of quality to them... [/ QUOTE ] Go take a look!!! I think you will be surprised at just how nice it is! [/ QUOTE ] Yeah I know, but still Japanese. I just love the feel of German cars... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 True, I have to say that I dont think I could buy Japanese, I am on my 4th German car and I cant see me moving. Unless the Murcielago suddenly becomes affordable! (As if!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 [ QUOTE ] True, I have to say that I dont think I could buy Japanese, I am on my 4th German car and I cant see me moving. Unless the Murcielago suddenly becomes affordable! (As if!!) [/ QUOTE ] we could buy one between us. thats only 85K each. where do i sign? PS... i wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 yeah me too!!! You can have it in the week and I will have it for weekends! and as I will only have it for 2 days a week surely I pay less!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 [ QUOTE ] yeah me too!!! You can have it in the week and I will have it for weekends! and as I will only have it for 2 days a week surely I pay less!!! [/ QUOTE ] hmmm, but i'm only getting the weekdays. we have more spare time at weekends. so i should pay less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 tell you what, give me 70K and i'll go for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 if only I had that sort of cash!!! I would buy a 911 turbo!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabster Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Boxster mate they are awsome they drive so good even though there are obviusly faster cars the feel and balance of the car at speed it brilliant. Just do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Drove one of the reps Merc C-coupe's the other day. It was the C180 Komp and only round the block. I thought the dash looked good. They have come a long way since the old C & E Class dashes. This was a 6 speed manual and was Very notchy - so I would obviously pick the auto. The roof plastics did look cheap and felt cheap when they were touched. Engine was gruff and noisy, but revvy. It felt very small, and the seating postion would take ALOT of moving (a girly had it before, so seat was up at the steering wheel!) I stopped, and got out, and the hand brake went on autmaitcally (I hope), as next time I had to remember there was a FOOT OPERATED HANDBRAKE! Kept grabbing air where the normal handbrake is! Needs more power! I suppose the SLK would be like this.........? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Mercedes make me laugh with their "Sport Coupe". No no, Merc, thats a "3 door hatchback"...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 You looked at anything today ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 No no. I'm not looking seriously to change, just happened to be in the vicinity of a Mercedes dealership yesterday and wanted to see the SLK as it could be in the frame in the future. I'm still very much of the opinion that compared to my Audi Cabrio, there genuinely isn't another sub £30K car on the market right now that I'd rather own. Which is a nice feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 was that merc at marsh barton? was there a month ago with a mate who was looking at the SLK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Yup. Was a silver 350 with red leather and sat nav. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 And they feck you around when you order one...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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