6 months with an SLK

[Colin_b]

A year or so ago I decided I could afford a decent convertable. Checked out a few, and bought a suspect SLK, which went back to the dealer.

I ended up with a new SLK350, with the spec I wanted, thanks to good advice from here, for which I'm grateful.

So, was the advice good - have I bought a peach or a lemon? Let me provide some4 feedback....

Collected the car 6 months ago, after negotiating a discount that seemed sensible to me, the dealer and you.

Collected it from Bremen (good advice from here).

SO what is the car like? Done less miles that I anticipated, only 4,200 in 6 months.

I like -
Performance. Easy to drive in traffic, slowly and calmly. Very stress free.

Ability to overtake, huge reserve of power and control makes passing easy for me and the overtakee(?)

Build quality. So far, not even the hint of a problem.

Auto box (with paddle shift). Foolproof, controllable. It works

Don't like -

Nothing, really. They could have done better with a couple of things..

The Radio/CD is a bit low rent, doesn't do MP3, and is a bit distorted at volume (roof down, motorway speeds), not stupid loud.

Soft paint, does collect stone chips rather readily, but I think that is due to water based paint.

Computer - I have to have speed in KM/h in the lower display, rather than something useful like temp. Slightly fiddly to use, and wrong default displays for me.

I'd have liked to upgrade the audio, but COMAND is a prereq, so silly pricing.

All in all, happy

All that niggles me is that I didn't get an AMG...

 

[crockers]

Can you not get the cluster reset - I did in my W203 by Alfie & Richard

 

[television]

Interesting on the paint as it is supposed to be very hard,, it could of coarse be to hard as that will chip, we have not had that many complaints on this paint

An indie can change the KM display if you wish

AMG's have expensive brakes to service,, I would have liked one too, but in todays motoring climate im happy as it is.

Pleased that you like it

 

[Colin_b]

Interesting on the paint as it is supposed to be very hard,, it could of coarse be to hard as that will chip, we have not had that many complaints on this paint

An indie can change the KM display if you wish

AMG's have expensive brakes to service,, I would have liked one too, but in todays motoring climate im happy as it is.

Pleased that you like it

I gather that the 'paint problem', is generic, not just MB. as paint is water based. Possibly being black it does rather show the chips more than a more neutral colour. I need to sort out how to touch up the chips.

The AMG does appeal, but didn't seem to offer that much for a 350 + 50% cost. I'm happy with the 350, but a lottery win (unlikely, I don't enter!) would tempt me ... as would an Audi R8... choices, huh. The 350 does nicely, but its nice to dream

The km thing does irritate, it seems to be so pointless, but hard to change (impossible, says the dealer), if someone can do it, I'd be happy

 

[television]

I gather that the 'paint problem', is generic, not just MB. as paint is water based. Possibly being black it does rather show the chips more than a more neutral colour. I need to sort out how to touch up the chips.

The AMG does appeal, but didn't seem to offer that much for a 350 + 50% cost. I'm happy with the 350, but a lottery win (unlikely, I don't enter!) would tempt me ... as would an Audi R8... choices, huh. The 350 does nicely, but its nice to dream

The km thing does irritate, it seems to be so pointless, but hard to change (impossible, says the dealer), if someone can do it, I'd be happy

Any indie will change the kmh,, there are plenty where you live

 

[Colin_b]

Any indie will change the kmh,, there are plenty where you live

Anyone recommend someone in Cumbria?

 

[television]

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=45196

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42712

 

[portzy]

Hello Colin.

Glad you like your car and the way its turning out to be. The "best" weather is only just around the corner so things get even better from now on.

On the paint front. Yes, the paint on them does seem to be very brittle, tough when it comes to swirls etc but it cannot seem to withstand stone chips very well. I have a couple on mine, one right on the bonnet leading edge and a few on the plastic lower bumper.

Shame about the COMAND aspect. I dont think the sound quality would have been any better mind, according to those in the know the audio processing parts are in the AGW and those parts are common on both comand and Audio 20 unless you go for the HK. Mine was tinny to start with but I think the speakers have "burnt" in now so the sound is quite rich and well balanced.

Cheers.

Portzy.

 

[kev]

I think your summary pretty much concurs with my views. I've had my SLK 350 for a few months now and love it to bits.

Had a C200 before this and saw the stone chips on the paint on both of them. Both were shades of silver.

Kev.

 

[gary350]

Just sold my SLK350 (it was picked up yesterday) can not really fault it apart from fuel consumption never really got better than 27 mpg, had it from new 1 aug 04 went with 5953 miles on the clock, still a head turner. I would be interested to find out what you think are its best and worse points, mine are.
Best
Engine
Looks from the side
paintwork

Worst
mpg
bonnet design (too busy)
dealer costs (not the fault of the car)
some creaks and groans from the bodywork.

gary

 

[Rory]

On the paint front. Yes, the paint on them does seem to be very brittle, tough when it comes to swirls etc but it cannot seem to withstand stone chips very well. I have a couple on mine, one right on the bonnet leading edge and a few on the plastic lower bumper.

I agree on the paint too - I've never had a car that chips so much - little bits of paint seem to chip off, but without any other damage. On my metallic red car it shows as lots of tiny white spots as the primer shows through.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Blimey Gary, 27mpg from a 3.5 litre petrol sounds pretty good to me.

 

[crockers]

Yes my car has stone chips on the front... I use a little dab of touch up and when dry polish it out...hoping to build up the layers....wish I had thought of having one of those clear plastic undetectable coverings on the front....or are they undetectable..?? (bit like glorified clingfilm i suppose)

 

[kev]

Best
Engine
Looks from the side
paintwork

Worst
mpg
bonnet design (too busy)
dealer costs (not the fault of the car)
some creaks and groans from the bodywork.

Agree with your Best list but I really like the bonnet design!

Creaks and groans are there on mine too but I just ignore them.

I have got 27.5 as a best mpg on a longish run. Mrs Kev reckons she has had 28.8 but I didn't see it - she must drive like an old woman!

Last night had it out for a blast and got 22.8 which is probably more typical. I try not to worry about it and think of a friend who has a CLK350 and rarely gets above 19.0 (must have a very big right foot).

Kev.

 

[jeremytaylor]

The solution to stone-chipping is simple.

STOP TAIL-GATING!!

 

[st4]

19mpg from a 350SLK is shocking. Thats my average from my old 4.4i X5

 

[Colin_b]

The solution to stone-chipping is simple.

STOP TAIL-GATING!!

I don't do that... difficult to avoid gritting lorries which appear to be the culprits

 

[Colin_b]

Just sold my SLK350 (it was picked up yesterday) can not really fault it apart from fuel consumption never really got better than 27 mpg, had it from new 1 aug 04 went with 5953 miles on the clock, still a head turner. I would be interested to find out what you think are its best and worse points, mine are.
Best
Engine
Looks from the side
paintwork

Worst
mpg
bonnet design (too busy)
dealer costs (not the fault of the car)
some creaks and groans from the bodywork.

gary

I'd go with your best list, and add the auto box.

MPG is slightly better than I expected, so I don't have a problem with that. No creaks or groans so far, even on bad roads or speed humps!

Don't know about dealer costs, the car hasn't been to one yet......

 

[gary350]

19mpg from a 350SLK is shocking. Thats my average from my old 4.4i X5

I have a friend who bought his 350 the same time as me he lives in London and I do not think the car went out of the city he was also a lights racer he never got better than 12mpg, he thought there was a problem with the car and kept taking it back. As he was in his very early twenties his motoring was very expensive, he sold it after 12 months. The best I have heard on the fuel front was a guy coming back after picking his car up in Germany he got 34mpg with a pic to prove it. Never mind the fuel enjoy.

gary

 

[Colin_b]

Another 6 months, I've had the car a year. Very uneventful, no breakdowns, problems or events.

Fuel consumption has improved slightly, as the mileage has increased - now covered 7k miles. It does around 23mpg locally, about 27 -28 for longer distances (about 15% worse than my other car, a 1.6 Vauxhall Meriva).

Recently had its first service, and will need a new pair of rear tyres soon.`

Airscarf and heated seats have been excellent and used quite a lot diring this miserable summer, glad I got them.

All in all, I'm still delighted with the car, it does just what I expected and no disappointments at all. (well, maybe I don't get to drive it often enough, it usually gets kidnapped by SWMBO