350 SLK ride/handling

[eng622]

I'm after some feedback on whether this is going to be the right car for me as ride/handling quality is a high priority. There are nasty red speed humps around where I live but hoping the merc has a wide enough track to ride over these with ease. I'm more concerned with B roads and those with potholes which must be most by the end of this winter to how the car will ride and handle. What is regarded as the best set up if there is one. I know there are compromises. Is standard suspension and 17 inch wheels preferred. The 18 inch wheels look nice but do they improve handling and degrade the ride. What about the sports suspension. I read the car is lowered by only 10 mm but the springs are stiffer and if fitted is with 17 inch wheels. So is the handling a lot btter at the sacrifice of ride?
What about direct (parametric) steering, I assume this will make the car easier to handle in fast driving on twisty roads.

 

[GP801]

Personally would not go for the 18s. Its pretty firm on 17s with standard suspension.
Never driven one with parameter steering so cant comment. Standard setup is fine.
In my opinion also avoid the 10 spoke wheel option. It does not look right. Stick with the 17s.

 

[Mactech]

Mine had the sports suspension and 17" wheels. I found the ride and handling to be really good. Firm, but great fun. Certainly not uncomfortable and a great deal less harsh than an E class Sport on 18".
If I had a complaint it was rather too much tyre roar with the roof up. But I never drove the car on anything other than Pirelli Rosso tyres.

 

[st13phil]

The problem is that one person's "firm but acceptable" ride can be another person's "harsh and unforgiving" ride, so you really need to drive a couple of examples on the different wheel size / suspension options and guage for yourself.

My wife's SLK350 is on 18's with Sports Suspension and while it's firmer than on 17's the ride is still reasonably compliant - but then that's my view! By way of comparison, her previous R56 MINI Cooper S on 17-inch runflat's and with Sports Suspension was ludicrously harsh, and running over a matchstick could cause serious spinal trauma...

FWIW, we have some pretty monstrous potholes in roads around us and we haven't had any wheel damage yet, and I fancy that the difference between 17's and 18's in that respect is not that great. Sorry to be non-comittal, but it really is going to come down to personal preference.