Slk

[vito113]

Am I?

My point is that the SLK is a cut and shut C-class, just like the MGB was a cut and shut Austin Cambridge. It's a cheap way of making a sports car - and it has benefits for reliability and practicality. The Mazda MX-5 was NOT a cheap car to produce because it was designed from the ground up.

And if you think the MGB was a rubbish sports car, I'd suggest that you don't actually understand what a sports car is. The SLK is completely different from the SL230. The SL230 is barge - OK a good looking barge - but a barge nonetheless. It can in no way be considered to be a sports car.

At £15k an MX-5 looks pretty cheap to me!

The fact that you keep referring to the MGB as a 'sports car' worries me somewhat, a 'tourer' maybe, but never a 'sports car! I don't think i'm misunderstanding what a sports car is, I've driven a few, as I understand it a 'sports car' should go, stop and handle very well,ie Lotus Elan, and the MGB didn't do any of those very well. MG's went right downhill with the MGB, which as you say was nothing more than the very humble Cambridge in drag. My Father had an MGA 1600, (hence my brief dabble with the idea of MGB ownership), now that WAS a sports car

The SL230 - a barge, sure, its no sports car, but I think 'barge' is a bit harsh.

Andy

 

[MainMan]

I don't think i'm misunderstanding what a sports car is, I've driven a few, as I understand it a 'sports car' should go, stop and handle very well,ie Lotus Elan, and the MGB didn't do any of those very well.
Andy

I guess that's where we disagree. I don't really think a sports car should necessarily go, stop or handle very well. It's more intangible than that. If they were the main criteria then the Mitsubishi Evo and the Imprezza would be sports cars - and I don't think they are. As you said, the B was almost obsolete when they started making it, but it was a brilliant fun car to drive. OK, the roadholding was minimal but who cares - the handling was superb. It's about the nicest car to slide round corners in tha I've ever driven. I sold my Elan Sprint a couple of years ago (which I'd had for many years) and although it would obviously run rings round the MGB I don't really think it was any more of a sports car. Give me a '66 B with wires and o/d or a '67 Healey Mk III any time - I'd have got a lot more money for either of them too. It's all a matter of opinion. The SLK is always regarded as a "tourer" rather than a sports car, probably because most of them are auto, but a good manual 320 actually makes a reasonable track car.

 

[vito113]

Ah, on this we can agree! And an Elan Sprint… Top Man!

I guess that's where we disagree. I don't really think a sports car should necessarily go, stop or handle very well. It's more intangible than that. If they were the main criteria then the Mitsubishi Evo and the Imprezza would be sports cars - and I don't think they are. As you said, the B was almost obsolete when they started making it, but it was a brilliant fun car to drive. OK, the roadholding was minimal but who cares - the handling was superb. It's about the nicest car to slide round corners in tha I've ever driven. I sold my Elan Sprint a couple of years ago (which I'd had for many years) and although it would obviously run rings round the MGB I don't really think it was any more of a sports car. Give me a '66 B with wires and o/d or a '67 Healey Mk III any time - I'd have got a lot more money for either of them too. It's all a matter of opinion. The SLK is always regarded as a "tourer" rather than a sports car, probably because most of them are auto, but a good manual 320 actually makes a reasonable track car.

There we go, we now agree! Glad we didn't end up in a 'flame war'… would have been silly.

Yes, the definition of 'sports car' is a real hard one I'll agree. The Japs don't cut it, too much technology, even a ham fisted amatuer can make some of their electronic marvels go quick through the bends.

Ah, the Elan Sprint… what can I say… probably the finest sports car I ever had a go in, (my friend was a Lotus man, he had an Elan which he then changed for a Esprit… jeez that car was fast!).

66 'B… with wires, nice choice, convertible I assume and British Racing Green. On the criterion of a sports car being 'exciting' to drive, yes, I agree, you certainly had to 'drive' a B.

Never had a chance to drive a Healy, heard it described as "The last of the hairy chested sports cars". One of the MG chaps my father 'clubbed' with let me drive his Costello MGB GT V8, a somewhat rare and exotic beast that handled well with all the suspension mods, but it's performance was a bit TOO exciting! Never went with MG, much to my fathers disgust, he'd had MG's from the mid 50's., I ended up with a Broadspeed tuned Triumph Dolomite Sprint… very British, very fast and great fun, when it didn't blow up!

Andy

 

[gary350]

which one

I am an slk owner s plate 230K with 16k on it, I have had my name down for the new one since mar 2001. My wife is not a fan says its a selfish persons car, but I love it, not faultless mind. I have had a test in both the e & s 320 cdi (my wifes choices) I loved the s but it took my ages to get it in my garage, odds are that I will scratch it some day. My local MB dealer has called to ask me to call in about 5 weeks time to firm up the slk. My problem is that my favourite is the s 320 cdi but its getting on in years in its present shape and likely to fall in value like a stone, I,m not over keen on the e class whiuch leaves the new slk which according to reports is due in jun in 200K, 350K or amg form ,none of these fit my bill - 350 being closest, I was hoping for a 320 cdi or a 3.0 quoted in some of the earlier reports. Which one would you go for?

 

[MainMan]

The 350

Which one would you go for?

The 350 will be the best. It's got more performance than you'll ever be able to use on the road and should also have better economy than the current 320.

 

[gary350]

Thanks MainMan, thats what I will go for.
For those with roof problems, I had the same trouble just would not go down, at my last service the garage said that the problem was the rubber sleeves/seals fitted around the limit switches were fouling them - they just cut around them,works ok now.