Changing the SLK55 for a SL55

[oap750]

I currently own a 2007 SLK55, I have just had it serviced, put some new tyres on it and extended the warranty for 1 year (£780). I paid £31k for the car when prices were low back in early 2009 and I am comfortable with the outlay and the warranty position. The car had a problem with the nav prosessor earlier this year and would have cost £3100 if I had no warranty so this was a bit of a scare. I love the car but fancy a change, all the talk I read about the car cannot put its power down on the road is rubbish it needs more power. I had some thoughts about the kleeman supercharger conversion but the £10k cost would not be recovered should I sell the vehicle.

I have started to look at the SL55 as a replacement and have seen one that I like, it is a pace car with the performance package. My concern is that my budget of £35k will buy me a 2004 car outside the MB network. This causes me some concern after the £3100 near miss with the nav processor on the SLK55. I have not driven the SL55 yet and wonder if it is a good move going from a 2007 AMG car to an even more complicated 2004 AMG car with no MB warranty. My car also has the paddle shift which I like and will miss. I would appreciate your thoughts and experiences with the above and the following questions.

How good will the warranty be from the non MB dealer ?

Can I buy a MB teir 1 warranty for the car ?

Does anyone know an AMG specialist in the South West who would inspect the car ?

How does the button experience compare to the paddle shift ?

How do the driving experiences compare ?

Has any one made the same move ?

Is it a step up or a step sideways ?

All help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[st4]

I'd keep the SLK55 for a bit longer to be honest. How about a CLK63?

 

[timk]

I think the eligibility for Tier 1 depends on whether the car has full MB service history and is under 100k miles at the time the policy is taken out.
Renewal of warranty on a car with one already in place will be a couple of hundred cheaper than one that has had no warranty on it, so you might be looking in the order of £1k-ish to put a warranty on it via MB. Still worth it, but I recall picking my car up from an MB dealer for a warranty claim and talking to the service guy about the Tier 1 - they had an SL55 in for a warranty claim to do with wiring and the bill, which ran to about £7k was not covered by due to the exclusion of water ingress under the terms of the warranty!

Cast iron warranty and inspection are absolute musts IMO, unless you have the funds to 'self insure' and are happy to take on the risk.

I would also think you will notice going from a 2007 car to a 2004 that some of the controls and interior may feel a little more dated - if it is pre facelift it might not have the later style satnav system that your SLK55 has.
Bound to feel much faster though..

 

[dinoy]

how about cls 55 amg

 

[oap750]

Thanks for the help

I am looking at the SL as I would prefer to stick with the wind in the hair experience when required but then it turns in to a hard top via the same button. If I were to go for the hard top it would have to be a C63 but at £40k+ for a 2008 its a step too far and prices seem to be going up not down.

I know what you mean timk about going backwards to a car that feels a little dated and like I said I am concerned about having the buttons and not paddles. My other worry is that the SL will feel like a barge compared with the SLK.

 

[st4]

The SLK will be nimbler than the SL but maybe not as punchy. I'd spend the money supercharging the SLK....

I wouldnt chop in a SLK 55 for a 3yr old SL55 but others may say differently.

 

[timk]

Thanks for the help

I know what you mean timk about going backwards to a car that feels a little dated and like I said I am concerned about having the buttons and not paddles. My other worry is that the SL will feel like a barge compared with the SLK.

Didn't know the SLK had paddles - I thought they were buttons on the reverse of the steering wheel. My C55 (same engine/ gearbox combo as an SLK 55 I think) has gearshift buttons behind the steering wheel and for what its worth I'd prefer paddles as I've accidentally pressed them a couple of times (usually in the middle of an evasive manouver) once dropping down into second at about 70mph... which gave my passenger a shock as the engine bounced off the rev limiter.
I think paddles give you more control - i.e. to grab a paddle and change gear is a deliberate action whereas the buttons are not as ergonomically sound in my opinion..

 

[jasonyw]

You are going the right direction, the slk is a she car, the sl is a he car.

 

[MOCAŠ]

the slk is a she car, the sl is a he car.

 

[BlackC55]

You are going the right direction, the slk is a she car, the sl is a he car.

Nope. The SLK55 is a blokes car 100%

An SLK 200, 230 etc is a female car....

 

[BenzedUP]

I've driven a 54 plate sl55 amg and it just feels heavy and more like a saloon merc the slk55 is allot better to drive plus cost less to run and that was why I went for one!

I'd personally keep the SLK55, it's a pleasure to drive on those sunny days with the roof down

 

[jasonyw]

Even the rear of the slk looks pear shape.

Mark I of slk is OK but not the mark II.

 

[tpwuk]

The SLK is a fab car but doesn't have the status of the SL imo. It doesn't really matter what derivitive of the SL you get because it's still an SL!!

 

[sasha]

On the basis of power, the near 500bhp power of the SL puts it in another league compared to the SLK.

If you don't understand or recognise the value in the statement above, then you will be taking a step back in terms of modernity of the SL compared to the SLK and hence I would stick to the SLK.

Button shift on the SL is nothing special, on the 2004 SL the sat nav is CD based and slow, and most 2004 cars will at best be tired inside and at worst pretty shabby.

I wouldn't touch any AMG without a Tier 1 warranty.

But then you don't buy any AMG for the handling and if you can't afford the very latest gen AMG to enjoy things like HDD sat nav, ipod integration and corning lights, then all that's left is the power and if that turns you on, then real bargains that can be found!

E63s are less than £30k from main dealers.

CLS55s and CLS63s are probably the best value latest gen AMG cars on the dealer forecourt now (in terms of trading off modernity vs. power vs. price).

 

[BlackC55]

On the basis of power, the near 500bhp power of the SL puts it in another league compared to the SLK.

If you don't understand or recognise the value in the statement above, then you will be taking a step back in terms of modernity of the SL compared to the SLK and hence I would stick to the SLK.

Button shift on the SL is nothing special, on the 2004 SL the sat nav is CD based and slow, and most 2004 cars will at best be tired inside and at worst pretty shabby.

I wouldn't touch any AMG without a Tier 1 warranty.

But then you don't buy any AMG for the handling and if you can't afford the very latest gen AMG to enjoy things like HDD sat nav, ipod integration and corning lights, then all that's left is the power and if that turns you on, then real bargains that can be found!

E63s are less than £30k from main dealers.

CLS55s and CLS63s are probably the best value latest gen AMG cars on the dealer forecourt now (in terms of trading off modernity vs. power vs. price).

I don't agree. the SLK55 is as quick as the SL55.

 

[sasha]

I don't agree. the SLK55 is as quick as the SL55.

You are right, having done some quick research I think my post is BS!

Hmmm, maybe the sequence of events should be research and then post...

Hehe

 

[grober]

FIFTH GEAR'S TAKE ON THE SUBJECT YouTube - 5th Gear - Mercedes SL 55 AMG VS SLK 55 AMG

 

[oap750]

"Didn't know the SLK had paddles" As far as I know they came as standard on the SLK55 from 2007 onwards.

 

[BenzedUP]

Mine is a 56 plate and has paddles but I think because it has the Perfomance Pack.

2005-2006 comes with buttons and late 2006+ comes with paddles!