Mercedes SLK - first car for a more mature driver - opinoins?

[natalie.]

Ahh, now we get what you are after...Yes, Mercedes cars do have makeup mirrors in both sunvisors...

Well that is another bonus!

 

[swannymere]

If you drive normally rear wheel drive has no implications until its very icy or snowy where exercising a little caution will be fine.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Depends upon the car.

A 2 litre SLK with ESP etc, no.

A 4.2 litre 1949 Allard with no seat belts, airbags, disc brakes, traction control, yes (they are known as Tailwaggers for a reason).

I personally love driving a really well set up RWD but I also love a well sorted FWD. You are buying a car with considerable safety built in and if you really want to learn to drive it very safely, have a day/ half day on a track with a tutor - you'll learn its limits are far far greater than you may think.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

RWD does seem a contentious issue - my views are skewed like i say by MX-5's and 3 people at work telling me not to use them in the snow unless i fancied spinning around!

For me personally, i am a really, really cautious driver (probably too cautious to some people) so zipping up and down and being silly with something that is a. costing at least £5k of my hard earned money and b) could take my life, really doesnt appeal!

Realistically, i will intermittently trot down the M4 but only need to use A roads to get to and from work so obviously, the logical thing for me is if road conditions are bad - take it steady and avoid the motorway!

More importantly, and apologies for the novice question, RWD doesnt impair/add any risks to day-to-day driving in normal or rainy conditions, does it?

Not so long ago virtually all cars were RWD. I don't think it should be a concern to you or factor into your decision making in this case.

Try and find a low mileage example with full dealer service history and one owner. Or as close to this as you can. Genuine mercedes approved used will cost more but you'll be better protected if things go wrong

 

[Dieselman]

All Mercedes cars are setup to do what is known as understeer. That means the front starts to drift before the rear lets go, just like most FWD cars.

Mercedes are paranoid about safety and unless you deliberately provoke a tail happy moment while out on your "favorite drift road", I'd be amazed if you could actually get the rear tyres to lose traction in a 230 SLK. If you did, the engine power would be cut and the rear brakes applied to bring the car back into line, without you having to do anything.

Last R172 I drove was a pre-launch 230-Kompressor imported and on loan from Brabus, and try though we might, we couldn't get it to break free.

Don't be at all bothered about driving a RWD car even in the kind of snow we get in the Uk...if we actually ever get any more.
I've driven through every winter and had no issues.

Go and try some and see whether you like them, if so and the condition is good...buy one. Insurance might be a bit steep for a year, but mine was £1600 first year in this car, it comes down after a while and concentrates your mind on being careful.

 

[Stratman]

At the risk of going off topic (sorry Natalie), my reference to 'going nowhere' was more to do with the tyre width. My old 4.2 XJ6 had 220 bhp on 205 tyres. These days Puntos have 225s (I know, FWD).

Don't let the fact it's RWD be a deal breaker. Mercs are great cars, just keep them happy.

 

[Dieselman]

Not so long ago virtually all cars were RWD.

My first few were certainly a bit slippery at the back. Got chased a few times because of it...

 

[Piff]

Check for rust around the inside edge of the wheel arches.

 

[boxbrownie]

Nothing wrong with RWD, in fact many drivers prefer it more than FWD for the more balanced feel it gives, usually in the form of nicer steering feel.

If you live on an A road or very close you will have no (or not much) problems in the gentle snowey conditions we normally have in the South, if you live more than 200 yards, sorry metres from a main road then with a RWD and summer tyres and dare I say without experience of driving in snow, you will indeed most likely be taking a bus. Forget all the comments on here about "I can drive all winter in the arctic with just bald summer tyres and a string vest and have no problems at all"........they most likely never NEED to drive in real snow so sit indoors and just imagine it would be no problem! Now we wait........

Seriously, you will love the SLK, and have no problems with its RWD at all, just use a bit of common sense when and if we get cold/snowy weather like we have had recently.

 

[cb1965]

If you live on an A road or very close you will have no (or not much) problems in the gentle snowey conditions we normally have in the South, if you live more than 200 yards, sorry metres from a main road then with a RWD and summer tyres and dare I say without experience of driving in snow, you will indeed most likely be taking a bus. Forget all the comments on here about "I can drive all winter in the arctic with just bald summer tyres and a string vest and have no problems at all"........they most likely never NEED to drive in real snow so sit indoors and just imagine it would be no problem! Now we wait........

This ^^^^^ They are also the same people who tell you winter tyres don't work

 

[Dieselman]

In't it funny how it's all the Southern Softies that never get any proper snow, who can't drive in it.
I drive every day in all conditions and other than having difficulty getting off my drive the first year I had this Merc, I've never had trouble in it in the snow.

 

[cb1965]

In't it funny how it's all the Southern Softies that never get any proper snow, who can't drive in it.
I drive every day in all conditions and other than having difficulty getting off my drive the first year I had this Merc, I've never had trouble in it in the snow.

I live on the side of the Pennines down a 1 in 4 hill....send me your number and when it snows this winter we'll give your Merc a try OK?

 

[Charles Morgan]

the Southern Softies

I didn't get the nickname Mr Whippy for nothing you know.

 

[Dieselman]

I live on the side of the Pennines down a 1 in 4 hill....send me your number and when it snows this winter we'll give your Merc a try OK?

NP. A 1 in 4 covered in snow is going to be a challenge for any 2WD car. I don't believe you can traverse it just by using Winter tyres as opposed to Summers.

Is Reading near the Pennines? That's where Natalie was from and asking about snow usage.

 

[Harrythedog]

Natalie, I wouldn't personally let half a dozen days of icy/snowy roads dictate what car I bought so follow your heart. Would you be after a manual or auto box?

 

[Ted]

Natalie
Mrs Ted had an SLK for about seven years, which she very kindly allowed me to drive on occasion.
IMHO
You have nothing to worry about with RWD
As has been said, if it is a 200 or 230, you have nothing to worry about with the power PLUS you can tell all the boys "It has a supercharger"
The SLK is a very well sorted car with very few problems. We had NOTHING go wrong with ours during our time of ownership.
While not being a true (mans ) sports car like a boxter, they are very nice to drive and surefooted.
DO be aware that they can rust. Check the bootlid around the handle/lock carefully, and the wheel arches. Don't assume that because it's a Mercedes it won't rust.
Check all the electrics - especially the roof. The microswitches can fail - best to buy it all working.
That's it. Enjoy what really is a cracking car.

Oh, nearly forgot - we bought it off daughter No1. She loved it too.

 

[kinaero]

Really good advice here guys - keep it coming!

I know this is probably controversial (and no offence to lady drivers!), but i am a typical girl when it comes to cars - wouldnt have even thought about half the points raised here!

Thanks again

LOL! I just realized you are a female, somehow, I read your username as Nathan

 

[Dieselman]

LOL! I just realized you are a female, somehow, I read your username as Nathan

Been on holiday in Bangkok, have you?

 

[cb1965]

NP. A 1 in 4 covered in snow is going to be a challenge for any 2WD car. I don't believe you can traverse it just by using Winter tyres as opposed to Summers.

Well you'd be completely wrong then. And before you feel the need to post some more I have lived here for 23 years so I think I know what does and doesn't go up and down that hill in the snow!

Is Reading near the Pennines? That's where Natalie was from and asking about snow usage.

Yet it was you who started banging on about Southern softies or something like that so I assumed you were doing the roghty toughty Northern hard man thing. My mistake, you must have meant north and south Reading

 

[gaz_l]

Natalie,

As mentioned, look out for rust and check the roof is working properly. The roof is a lovely bit of engineering right up until it goes wrong.

As you're not a boy racer, even the 200K should be brisk enough for you - it has 163 BHP and isn't a heavy car. 0-60 in 8.3 seconds and 137 MPH top speed are still respectable figures.

One thing you might want to consider is whether to buy a manual or automatic. Mercedes manual gearboxes don't have the best reputation, whereas they do make very good autos. Most Mercedes are automatics for that very reason, the SLK is a bit unusual in that the manual was offered in most of the range - presumably to keep in line with it's "sporty" credentials.

Do make sure you have a test drive (preferably several) to make sure that you can get comfortable. I test drove an SLK32 AMG and neither I or my wife could get on with the seats. It may just be the AMG version though.

Anyway, good luck and happy hunting!

Cheers,

Gaz