Thinking of getting an 2nd hand SLK - advice needed

[Goldfish11]

I have always fanced having a sports car (well sporty car) for occasional use and my wife loves the SLK. (Wifey as ever controls my purse strings )

I dont want to buy new or spend loads as the vehicle will be garaged and used once a week or twice a week and if it is nice weather a little more. So this car is just a fun car (which I can also spend many hours polishing, because that what Goldfish does).

My budget is between £10K and £15K so I am trying to understand what I can get for my money. I am not bothered about a big engine but it must have leather. Not bothered about an auto.

To be quite honest a high mileage vehicle would do as I anticipate we would do a about 4 or 5K miles per year maximum.

So I have a few questions:
Should I wait for the new model to drop in price or pay a little extra for this? Is it worth it over the old model?

Where there any model years/ facelifts which are particularly good, when did Mobilo come in?

Is rust a problem anywhere?

Are there any options worth looking for?

Any dealers/independants worth looking at?

Do the roofs break or is there anything I should look for on the roof as I guess this is the one thing that could go wrong and cost loads to fix?

Plus any other questions you think I should ask???

 

[portzy]

Hello.

A couple here to give you a taster, the one with the two tone interior looks particularly nice, (i'm tempted myself for Mrs P, now that she has been given her licence back).

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C18377

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C17112

I have no experience of the R170 personally but Pammy has as you'll know and I'm sure that she will add her valued comments shortly. On the subject of the R171, I was at my local dealers yesterday and they said they were selling as many as they could lay their hands on, new and used. One, (only), on the forecourt was a 2005 200K with what appeared to be specced in a rather lightweight fashion but was going for only about £700 less than new .

Portzy

 

[pammy]

For that budget you're looking at a R170 only(using the term with care) But you could run to a fairly late one at the top end. Cetainly a 2002 model should be easily doable - poss even later.

You will get leather and an auto easily within that limit - especially if you're not that bothered about the 320 and would be happy with a 230. I would avoid the 200 though. You will get a facelift too which I think is when Mobilo came in - but that's dependent on full MB service history and I would say that is a must.

The roof can be troublesome but can't say I've had any trouble with mine once the boot catch was properly aligned.

Rust - yes - they can get it and I thought Edna was succumbing a while ago but I'm not so sure now as there's no further signs of anything.

All in all I think it's a crackin' car and I love mine dearly

 

[geoffd]

re second hand SLK

I went through that 'I'd like a sports car' thought process too. I even went and test drove an MX5, an MG and one of those laughable Toyotas. Then I put my practical head back on and decided that a fabric roof, draughts and leaks weren't on my wish list. Then a very nice man loaned me an SLK for the afternoon...and the rest, after test driving several more, as they say is history.

Yes they have a few faults, and some are definitely 'Friday' cars - thankfully not mine. And they are expensive to own, insure, run and service, but what the hell - it's only money.

You might start off deciding it's a Sunday car, but that won't last. I use mine as my daily driver, wet, dry, summer and winter, and I wouldn't swap it for the world. Well, maybe for an SL.

What should you look out for ? Don't buy a manual - I think Mercedes manuals are 'agricultural' and the clutch defies description. Don't buy one with cloth seats, but do look for heated leather - this is the one thing I don't have and miss. And try to find one with aircon. Try to find a 'facelift' model - one with the indicator repeaters in the door mirrors. The V6 is nice, but the 230 has more than enough oomph.

Anything else ? - beware lifting laquer on six spoke alloys, and stone chips in the bonnet leading edge. And if there's any sign of water in the boot, walk away. Oh, and a full dealer service history is important - and keep it up. Yes, I know some will argue with this, but these cars are only serviced every 10000 miles or so (or every two years to keep the warranty), meaning the cost per year is small for low milages, even though the services themselves can be horrendous prices (and very, very variable).

So, stop thinking, and go testing. Don't buy the first you see.

Good luck. Enjoy.

Geoff

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,

Here is my dads only for sale as he is getting a SL, he has had this years, its a great spec and at this price you would lose VERY little. Its cheap to run and can get 30-35 mpg regularly.

Since he has had it (5 years) its needed only a service and tyres...


So buy this put a private on in and keep your 7K for other toys...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/177887.htm

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,

Couple of things even if you don't buy my dads above

Heated seats in my book a MUST, having had several convertible they are great and amazed that on 30K + convertibles a lot of people don't tick the option (only around £300 when new). I love driving roof down, heater on and bum warmers...ace..

Not that many options you can get on an SLK from standard? not sure on the facelifted ones..

-Amg body kit / wheels (nice)
-Auto (standard on early ones then became an option?
-roof rack preperation (never actually seen this)
-Leather either single or two tone
-Bose amp / speakers (nice when roof down...)
-sump protector (sure that was an option)
-Metalic (some random colours about?? yellow, white...)
-high capacity battery
-mats
-sunglass holder or cup holder..

I have a brochure somewhere, I know at the time my dads had nearly all the boxes ticked

 

[gary350]

On the older models look out for corroded alloys and an iffy PSE, its housed in the bottom of the boot (right side)and can get wet and burned out, it controls c/locking etc and check out sites like the following http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r170-general-discussion/
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170-slk-class/

They are still great cars.

gary