Hello, new guy here.

[Pontio]

Hi every1. as i have said in the heading, i am new to this forum and apart from saying hello i would also like to ask some questions.
1) Am i correct in thinking the 1996 on SLK 320 is a group 16 if bought after 2002?
2) For those of you that have driven a few do you prefer the auto or manual? the auto 0-60 is a fraction quicker at 6.7 seconds, but does it feel better? i have never had an automatic car for myself because when i like to drive hard i always prefer the manual for picking up speed and slowing down too.
3)Are they good cars? any problems?
4) would the 230k be a better buy seen as the performance is not far off?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Mozzer]

Where abouts are ya ? If you're near me you can have a play in a 230K.

M

 

[R2D2]

Welcome to our forum! 230k SLK are not racing cars but they are built properly. Mercedes make excellent auto boxes that come with a magic button on the floor beyond normal kickdown. Fun can be had in an Auto! 230 should be cheaper to buy/run/afford but if money is no object then a 320 will be smoother and more refined.

 

[pammy]

Have to agree. I test drove the 230 but felt it didn't have that little bit extra I was looking for and the engine note was lacking. The 320 V6 auto is beyond what I'd dreamt it would be however .

It moves really well - holds the road beautifully although that will be affected by your wheels and tyres obviously. The gear change is incredibly smooth and it learns from your driving style to adapt to how you will want it to perform. The almost secret extra kickdown is amazing.

Many find the 230 is more than enough for them - for me it wasn't. The only way to be sure is to try one. But don't let the auto box deter you - it is a very very good box and has delighted me.

You can slip into manual mode anyway, with the steptronic it has which I thought I would use all the time - never bother with it

I love my car and have absolultely no regrets whatsoever. I was looking for a TT orginially which is a more sporty feel but the SLK has speed performance and comfort way beyond the TT(and they're not as common )

 

[DanW]

I've got a 2004 320 and I test drove a 230.

The 230 engine felt a little wheezy and weak in comparison to the 320 which is the smoothest 6 cyl engine I've even driven.

The auto box is wonderful and I even like the steptronic, you just need to use it to get used to it. It's good on country lanes but you've just got to time your down shifts right to take advantage of the engine breaking, as it all comes at once, you cant feed the clutch out for progressive engine breaking like a manual.

If I was to be picky, I dont like the way that when I'm using the steptronic and I've got my foot to the floor, if I upshift, I want to upshift NOW, not when the engine hits 6K.....NOW!!!!!!! Seems Mercedes have not heard of short shifting......it's my car and when I want it to change gear it should damn well change gear.

If you can afford the 320....it's a no brainer mate

 

[DanW]

Oh and the traction control is always off.........that damn light bugs the hell out of me though

 

[Shude]

Oh and the traction control is always off.........that damn light bugs the hell out of me though

Traction control is always on unless you disabled it somehow, pressing the button just turns half of it off! I am planning to build a device from oem parts that shuts it off properly

 

[Pontio]

thanks for all the replies guys.
im in North London Mozzer.
Dont tell any1 but i do work for bmw so i know to a certain extent what steptronic feels like but havent driven a merc with a manual box lately and i like the clutch but roomers are that merc's manual boxes are not all that..
Does no1 know if the 320 is a group 16?
Shude- maybe its similar to bmw's tc control, if you keep the button down for 10 seconds rather then just press it and let off it switches it all off.

 

[pammy]

according to Parkers it is.

 

[Shude]

Shude- maybe its similar to bmw's tc control, if you keep the button down for 10 seconds rather then just press it and let off it switches it all off.

Interesting idea, but if that really worked then I guess the bottom would fall out of the ASR/ESP killswitch market, the likes of renntech charge about £1500 for that module! The fast way to disable it is to find the fuse and remove it

 

[Pontio]

parkers is where i found out it was group 16 but i just want to double check..
Any other views on auto and manual georboxes welcome..
Thanks again.

 

[Dieselman]

Shude- maybe its similar to bmw's tc control, if you keep the button down for 10 seconds rather then just press it and let off it switches it all off.

I tried this last night and although the TC light went off the car behaved as though it was switched to the off position, i.e. with the light on permanently.

 

[Dieselman]

Traction control is always on unless you disabled it somehow, pressing the button just turns half of it off! I am planning to build a device from oem parts that shuts it off properly

I'm not sure what your insurance company will make of that..

 

[Shude]

I'm not sure what your insurance company will make of that..

The device would only be used for getting true results on a dynamometer.

 

[sym]

The device would only be used for getting true results on a dynamometer.

 

[fuzzer]

Its beyond me why anyone would want to switch the Esp off on a car

 

[DanW]

Its beyond me why anyone would want to switch the Esp off on a car

Because it d**ks around with the handling when you're going for it and I like to be in control of my car.

 

[glojo]

Because it d**ks around with the handling when you're going for it and I like to be in control of my car.

I take it you mean on track days

Regards,
John