SLK upgrade time

[Nickmupp]

Time to get rid of them COVID blues.
My tonic is to sell my SLK 350 and move up to a R172 SLK 55.I have searched forum for buying advice but if any owners could post their comments,It would be appreciated.The downside is these cars are rare in classified adds.Budget wise circa £25000
Nick

 

[Smart320]

I sold mine , a 2012 R172 model with 23k miles , to a specialist dealer in October for £20 k .
It was then advertised at £26 k and had gone within 3 weeks. Still wish I had kept it

 

[Nickmupp]

I sold mine , a 2012 R172 model with 23k miles , to a specialist dealer in October for £20 k .
It was then advertised at £26 k and had gone within 3 weeks. Still wish I had kept it

Gutted I would of ripped your hand off at that price.Any thoughts on your car regarding things you liked or didn’t

 

[Smart320]

Great engine , loved the sound , really good long distance cruiser , 33 mpg on motorway with Eco on. seats best I ever had. PM me if you want more info

 

[st13phil]

Two words of advice from someone who has trodden that path: Do it!

I posted this thread back in 2016 and while much of it is a travelogue, I did include commentary on how I thought the R172 SLK55 compares to a R171 SLK350.

If you have any questions, fire away.

 

[C240Sport97]

Drive one before you commit. The very heavy front axle, couple with a short wheelbase makes for an unruly rear axle, especially over diagonal ridges on the road.

 

[Jules335]

Time to get rid of them COVID blues.
My tonic is to sell my SLK 350 and move up to a R172 SLK 55.I have searched forum for buying advice but if any owners could post their comments,It would be appreciated.The downside is these cars are rare in classified adds.Budget wise circa £25000
Nick

There is one for sale here.

Used Cars | Chertsey Road, Shepperton | JCT9

View the wide range of used cars available from JCT9 in Chertsey Road, Shepperton. Explore the models in stock and our affordable used car offers available online.

www.jct9.com

It looks in very nice condition.

 

[Smart320]

Sold mine to Parkway Specialist Cars, they have a couple at present. Not cheap but they only seem to buy in decent motors with low miles and full history . Mine was absolutely faultless ,
Wasn't feeling well when I sold it, feeling even worse now

 

[st13phil]

Drive one before you commit. The very heavy front axle, couple with a short wheelbase makes for an unruly rear axle, especially over diagonal ridges on the road.

Fair criticism.

As I've said (often) before, if you want/need handling precision buy a Lotus or a Porsche.

Alternatively, if you want a more relaxed roadster with a thundering V8, buy an SLK55.

 

[Nickmupp]

Fair criticism.

As I've said (often) before, if you want/need handling precision buy a Lotus or a Porsche.

Alternatively, if you want a more relaxed roadster with a thundering V8, buy an SLK55.

Phil
As I’m no spring chicken now its not the handling,fast road driving for me.I have a Tiger Super 6 (Lotus 7);hiding in garage , which is like a motorcycle with 4 wheels.I have a SLK 350 which will be sold or px before I buy.My mrs is disabled and believe it or not the wheelchair fits in boot with roof down
So truth be known it’s the V8 ,never owned one and since childhood always craved one.

 

[st13phil]

So truth be known it’s the V8 ,never owned one and since childhood always craved one.

They're lots of fun - it's hard to imagine that more than 400bhp in a car the size of an SLK wouldn't be - and I completely understand the need to scratch the V8 itch.

If you take an R171 SLK350 as the reference point, the R172 SLK55 is more refined and more comfortable, and with lots more performance.

 

[Smart320]

I'm no spring chicken either , 74 and would have another in a flash if I had £ 25 k spare,
Unfortunately just funding a house renovation

 

[V6GBJ]

Time to get rid of them COVID blues.
My tonic is to sell my SLK 350 and move up to a R172 SLK 55.I have searched forum for buying advice but if any owners could post their comments,It would be appreciated.The downside is these cars are rare in classified adds.Budget wise circa £25000
Nick

For not so much more cash you could be in R231 SL400 or SL500 country. Plenty of power that you'll rarely use and fewer complications. See Rorywquins posts about his comparison between the 2 but maybe the V8 is a must have.

 

[Nickmupp]

Won’t lie not a lot of cars on the market at the moment.I think it’s going to be a waiting game for the right car to come around

 

[alistairmb]

Two words of advice from someone who has trodden that path: Do it!

I posted this thread back in 2016 and while much of it is a travelogue, I did include commentary on how I thought the R172 SLK55 compares to a R171 SLK350.

If you have any questions, fire away.

Couldnt find any

Two words of advice from someone who has trodden that path: Do it!

I posted this thread back in 2016 and while much of it is a travelogue, I did include commentary on how I thought the R172 SLK55 compares to a R171 SLK350.

If you have any questions, fire away.

Hi Phil i enjoyed your travelog what brought me to you was the differences between would love a slk 55 Amy but i have to keep to a budget and i just don't really need one a slk 350 would be fine maybe avoid sports suspension and large wheels and run flat tyres. I'm looking at 2012 £12.500 is that an ok year i read about balancer shafts but i think earlier models is there years that i should avoid? Thanks

 

[st13phil]

Hi and welcome.

a slk 350 would be fine maybe avoid sports suspension and large wheels and run flat tyres. I'm looking at 2012

As a 2012 car you're looking at an R172 model. My only reference in that model is the 55, but the 350 should be fine. It's a different engine in the R172, so no issue with balancer shafts.

 

[alistairmb]

Later models i find are a bit thin on the ground 2012 model was the only one to look at couldn't find much else . I think floating discs are a minor expence on this model. I think the the 55 is more likely to become a classic in the future if you can afford the maintenance and electrical issues. I wonder about the myriad of newer models most seem to be diesel's though.

 

[Jeff120976]

Hi new to the looking for the slk 55. Is the electrical issues really serious on these i was looking at a lesser 250 cdi and read a lot about issues and leaky roofs and thought if im to spend £14k on a disel should i just the whole hog and the v8 and just enjoy it. I dont mind maintenance costs etc but dont fancy anything that has the potential to cripple me

 

[MEMERC7]

My suggestion in view of your dilemma is simple although might be difficult & inconvenient in view of travel restrictions & that is to try each model. Your car is personal to you & whilst advice is essential as you are witnessing here, there is no other way of properly evaluating what is right for your needs.
The V8 IS a joy, & will certainly be THE classic SLK but ....... there are reliability issues, as soon as you build up the mileage the value goes down, running costs MIGHT be an issue now or possibly in the future. Consider whether you REALLY will use the performance on our congested roads but of course there is the cache pride & bragging rights of having the most powerful version with the best noise & what is most important of all to many - an AMG badge!.
The V6 will give comparable performance without some of the reliability & cost issues, they are thin on the ground & it's not a V8 which might prove irksome.
The diesel will surprise you torque-wise, depress you noise-wise & thrill you running cost-wise if the latter is your choice of delight. The last time I looked the adverts. were awash with Derv jobs, most with bogo-basic specifications, so make of that what you will. Certainly the budget route to SLK ownership though.

Leaks seemed to be mainly related to pre-glass roofs about which Mercedes were well aware & according to most sufferers the manufacturer & even more their dealers couldn't care less about. DIY application of lubricant & a little adjustment generally solved matters.

 

[Jeff120976]

My suggestion in view of your dilemma is simple although might be difficult & inconvenient in view of travel restrictions & that is to try each model. Your car is personal to you & whilst advice is essential as you are witnessing here, there is no other way of properly evaluating what is right for your needs.
The V8 IS a joy, & will certainly be THE classic SLK but ....... there are reliability issues, as soon as you build up the mileage the value goes down, running costs MIGHT be an issue now or possibly in the future. Consider whether you REALLY will use the performance on our congested roads but of course there is the cache pride & bragging rights of having the most powerful version with the best noise & what is most important of all to many - an AMG badge!.
The V6 will give comparable performance without some of the reliability & cost issues, they are thin on the ground & it's not a V8 which might prove irksome.
The diesel will surprise you torque-wise, depress you noise-wise & thrill you running cost-wise if the latter is your choice of delight. The last time I looked the adverts. were awash with Derv jobs, most with bogo-basic specifications, so make of that what you will. Certainly the budget route to SLK ownership though.

Leaks seemed to be mainly related to pre-glass roofs about which Mercedes were well aware & according to most sufferers the manufacturer & even more their dealers couldn't care less about. DIY application of lubricant & a little adjustment generally solved matters.

Very useful info thanks and kind of confirms what ive been reading etc. Food for thought thanks