Which SLK55 R172 to Buy?

[E55BOF]

Now that it's sitting on my drive, there's no doubt it was the right decision. The chap who wrote the ad admitted that he had indeed been a salesman in a previous incarnation, for a very upmarket outfit selling high-end sports and classic cars to enthusiasts with the money to indulge themselves; that explains the ad wording, then - much more 'Marques of Distinction' than Bradford backsteet dealer. I checked him out, and it was all true. (He was really slumming it composing an ad for eBay; his old employers wouldn't advertise in trash like Autocar, Motor, Auto Express and the like - Classic and Sports Car was as low they would go...).

He is now employed as one of the Driving Team drivers at MB World at Brooklands. The actual owner, on whose behalf he was selling the car, is a friend and colleague from the old days, a total petrolhead who is now his boss - the Driving Team Lead at MB World. Lovely bloke, and with a string of driving qualifications to his name, including ARDS Race Instructor, and both Car and Motorcycle Instructor at the Nordschleife. Impressed? What do you think?

I didn't bother to take the iCarsoft with me; with that owner, I had no doubt whatsoever that the car would be 100%. It is.

The right decision? Ohhhhhhhh yes....

I've learnt a couple of things already. I'd never been a fan of Dunlops, but the car is on those; if they're good enough for him to spend his own money on, I reckon they're good enough for me.

The most striking thing about the car compared to the 171 is the instant, and I mean instant, throttle response - no characteristic MB lag at all. If anybody wants to know how it's done, I'll post it on here. I'm not sure I like that yet, but I dare say I'll get used to it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Now that it's sitting on my drive, there's no doubt it was the right decision. The chap who wrote the ad admitted that he had indeed been a salesman in a previous incarnation, for a very upmarket outfit selling high-end sports and classic cars to enthusiasts with the money to indulge themselves; that explains the ad wording, then - much more 'Marques of Distinction' than Bradford backsteet dealer. I checked him out, and it was all true. (He was really slumming it composing an ad for eBay; his old employers wouldn't advertise in trash like Autocar, Motor, Auto Express and the like - Classic and Sports Car was as low they would go...).

He is now employed as one of the Driving Team drivers at MB World at Brooklands. The actual owner, on whose behalf he was selling the car, is a friend and colleague from the old days, a total petrolhead who is now his boss - the Driving Team Lead at MB World. Lovely bloke, and with a string of driving qualifications to his name, including ARDS Race Instructor, and both Car and Motorcycle Instructor at the Nordschleife. Impressed? What do you think?

I didn't bother to take the iCarsoft with me; with that owner, I had no doubt whatsoever that the car would be 100%. It is.

The right decision? Ohhhhhhhh yes....

I've learnt a couple of things already. I'd never been a fan of Dunlops, but the car is on those; if they're good enough for him to spend his own money on, I reckon they're good enough for me.

The most striking thing about the car compared to the 171 is the instant, and I mean instant, throttle response - no characteristic MB lag at all. If anybody wants to know how it's done, I'll post it on here. I'm not sure I like that yet, but I dare say I'll get used to it.

Congratulations, sounds like a peach

 

[st13phil]

The most striking thing about the car compared to the 171 is the instant, and I mean instant, throttle response - no characteristic MB lag at all.

Forgot to mention that. They will launch from a standstill pretty hard

Sounds like you fell on your feet with the car. Hope you enjoy it

 

[E55BOF]

Thank you for that; so far so good. Examining the service history, the gearbox service was done in 2017, which is good, but there is one slight niggle; the spark plugs, last done in Dec 2016, are overdue on time if not mileage. There's no invoice for the diff oil, done in 2018 according to the ad, either, but I'd suspect that has just been mislaid. As I said, so far so good.

The exhaust makes nice enough noises, but after the R171, not really enough volume. Time to start tinkering with that soon, I think...

 

[leef44]

Thank you for that; so far so good. Examining the service history, the gearbox service was done in 2017, which is good, but there is one slight niggle; the spark plugs, last done in Dec 2016, are overdue on time if not mileage. There's no invoice for the diff oil, done in 2018 according to the ad, either, but I'd suspect that has just been mislaid. As I said, so far so good.

The exhaust makes nice enough noises, but after the R171, not really enough volume. Time to start tinkering with that soon, I think...

I came to the same conclusion about it being a bit too quiet.

To keep it legal, I kept the cats in place and had the silencer removed. It gives a better V8 rumble on minimal throttle in sports mode and there is no unwanted drone at motorway speed which other solutions may lead to.

It growls at wide open throttle.

The only compromise is that in Eco mode (4 cylinder de-activation), it gives a quiet little idle chuffing noise (i.e. the "Chitty Chitty" bit in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, if you see what I mean). I can live with that. It's all part of the character.

 

[E55BOF]

I took the car for a local run yesterday, and again today. The lack of the Motown Effect (Wall of Sound...) is growing on me, so I think I'm just going to keep it standard for the moment.