out with the old and in with the new - SLK !!

[pfishwic]

The girlfriend has just sold her SLK230 and we are now in the market for a newer one - got about 17K-18K to spend - was initially looking for a SLK200 but now I've seen that 350's generally come in a much higher spec with extra goodies like COMAND which I really want -

I just have to come to terms with the extra cost of running it - Insurance extra £100 year, Tax - cough - and mpg - seen one for sale with what sounds like a broken heated seat comes on for 20 secs and goes off - Merc have quoted £150 just to look at it ! she wants auto and I heard the 350 box is soooo much better than the 200K auto 7g ??

Anyway I've seen some other threads about these models but if anyone wants to throw in an opinion feel free -

Ta

 

[Smatt]

Don't forget the 280 too!

 

[1wpb]

Changing to the new SLK

I recently changed from a 2002 SLK 320 auto to a 2005 SLK 280 auto. I did initially look at the SLK200k but was so unimpressed with the driving experience (in terms of the engine's responsiveness and sound) that I determined to get a V6 model, either the 350 or 280. I won't buy a manual change - the auto change is, I think, better for this type of car.

I haven't tried the 350 but I'm sure it performs superbly. However, if running costs are an issue, the 350 would hit you harder than the 280 and 200k. Also, it'll probably depreciate faster than those two models given the financial environment we now face.

The SLK 280 auto performs well and is a really good drive. But there aren't that many of them around. I've been surprised to discover that if I choose to drive at around the legal speed limit, the fuel consumption is very good. The twin exhaust sound is just great. Mine has COMAND, which I would recommend if it is within your budget. Since buying the care, I've messed about more with the COMAND system than I have with the rest of the car! This Forum site is just full of queries and discussion about COMAND.

Best of luck in your search for a SLK.

 

[Meldrew2]

I wouldn't get rid of my V reg SLK230 for the world. Not even for "airscarf".

Mind you, she's still only got 32,000 miles, lives in the garage, and won't come out to play if it looks cloudy.....

 

[pfishwic]

Hi all

Got the new SLK yesterday - 05 plate Obsidian Black 350 with lots of bells and whistles COMAND included - The girlfriends quote was ' I've bought a spaceship'

Now just need to work out how it all works !

PF

 

[st4]

Hi all

Got the new SLK yesterday - 05 plate Obsidian Black 350 with lots of bells and whistles COMAND included - The girlfriends quote was ' I've bought a spaceship'

Now just need to work out how it all works !

PF

Nice, one of the forum members brought his to a TGT yesterday and the noise it made when he left was awesome. You'll love it.

 

[wemorgan]

I'm eager to go to a TGT one day and wonder what happens at them, but I think I'll start by going to a GTG first and see how that goes

 

[st4]

I'm eager to go to a TGT one day and wonder what happens at them, but I think I'll start by going to a GTG first and see how that goes

I'm not even going to edit that typo....

 

[pfishwic]

Yeah she drove it home in sports mode (by mistake) 150miles of pretty much motorway driving and 20miles of a roads and got over 29mpg - steady 85/90 not bad I reckon for a motor like that

she says there is a rattle from the passenger seat when no-one is in it so need to try and work out what that is.

But yeah sounds lovely - been so busy at home I've not had chance to drive it yet !! I'll keep in touch with this thread just to let people know how we get on with it and perhaps provide useful info for others looking to buy a 350

Believe it or not we looked at the cost of the car and decided the current climate was the wrong time to spend the amount of money so started to look for cars around the 11K mark - considering we just sold her SLK230 for 5100 - Looked at a Z4 on Friday night - 2.5 pretty tricked up but then it made me realise it just had to be the SLK even for the extra expense of it all - I felt like was spending 11K on the wrong car. I guess it was one of those life is too short experiences and I took the jump.

PF

 

[pfishwic]

So had the car two weeks now - although I've not driven it much due to time mainly - but when I have driven it I love it - still averaging 25-26 mpg round town if you dont boot it - I'm still not familiar with COMAND but we managed to get a phone cradle for a phone we both have so that works well now - The sat nav only having 5 digits for post code is mad so doesnt work aswell as a tom tom .

Can someone tell me how to change the following - Under the gearbox indicator i have a reading that is showing my speed in km/h - Can I change that ??

the g/f caught the front bumper on a high kerb as she pulled into a parking space and cracked it as she reversed it back off - Boy is that flimsy or what - the previous slk230 was much stronger and had a lip at bottom to cater for these driver errors - so need to get that repaired now

PF

 

[pfishwic]

Just wanted to put an update on my slk350

had it now since early October so just over 6 months - No problems yet - Had a service done by Star Motors in caversham Reading which was pretty good - £250 all in - Also got a quote to replace the headlamps with Xenons at about £250 fitted which I didnt think was too bad at all.

On the motorway at 85-90 mph you can average over 30mpg which we did on Reading to Liverpool and Reading to Cornwall - Push it a bit more to 95 and it will drop to around 29. Round town is 23 and shorter steady trips 26 - The car registers 26mpg overall and I think thats pretty accurate.

COMAND is a bit dated I think - 5 digit post code, the voice Navigation isnt brilliant but having the phone integration/radio/sat nav etc all in the one unit is good - Although text messenging takes a bit of getting used to.

The noise I mentioned from the passenger seat was the seat belt banging against the plastic back of the seat.

Gearbox is excellent and the noise is just lovely - roof off - sports mode and floor it - nice

Just getting a set of rear boots for it as we have a nail in one of them and the MOT man (it passed today) advised they are near the limits so may aswell replace the pair.

PF

 

[Colin_b]

Glad its going well I'm impressed with your fuel consumption, 29 is a dream for me....

but then sports mode and the noise with the roof down are addictive...

One of those cars that gets better the more you drive it!

 

[Colin_b]

Forgot to say... the xenon headlamps are excellent, well worth having.

I'm not sure they can just be 'upgraded', I suspect automatic headlamp levelling and washers are required in addition to the proper lenses and reflectors. £250 sounds like just bulbs and the associated bits.

Probably worth checking that the upgrade is properly done and legal.

Not that I'm an expert!

 

[pfishwic]

ta for the info - longevity is important but as I say with the 350, losing rear grip is gonna be easy enough without a tyre up to the job - I'm no demon driver myself and the G/f drive sit most the time but I do like to have my fun in it

- Star Motors did say it was an upgrade kit fitted - I already have lamp washers but yeah will check on the other stuff

Cheers
PF

 

[MrT]

Saw a lovely SLK280 at MB Derby today, Designo Mauritius Blue. Think I prefer the facelift front bumper though.

 

[crockers]

ta for the info - longevity is important but as I say with the 350, losing rear grip is gonna be easy enough without a tyre up to the job - I'm no demon driver myself and the G/f drive sit most the time but I do like to have my fun in it

- Star Motors did say it was an upgrade kit fitted - I already have lamp washers but yeah will check on the other stuff

Cheers
PF

Hi - glad you're enjoying the car.

The upgrade as you put it doesn't have automatic levelling and wont be legal... check out the threads in here ,,much on it.