SLK, a flop?

"El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!" (lightningzone)
10/23/2014 at 16:07 • Filed to: None

Not sure what to think of this car. I don't see many of them around, and I think because the car itself is a compromise. I mean it looks dull, and complacent. Just like a bunch of 90's gold clubs.

Recently, I've heard people saying that it's like the Corolla or the Golf of the sports car, and that's not a good thing for any sports car.

I think the SLK should be reinvented, to morph into a focused sports car, something like a baby, AMG GT, rather than a baby SL. A coupe with a targa top, version.

DISCUSSION (25)

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 16:15

They Should keep making these..

Kinja'd!!!

And i always thinks that SLK is a Bigger miata with much bigger engine. SLK55 only about 300kg heavier than Miata, yet have about twice as much power.

Milky > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 16:18

The name means Sport Light Compact … but it doesn't seem to be very sporty. Not to mention the one you want is $70k …. thats a lot of coin. Esp. when the F-type just seems better.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 16:25

Generation 1 was a huge success, Generation 2 was good and amazing in AMG Form. You are right though, I don't see any Gen 3 SLKs. I think Mercedes needs to give it a proper redesign and repositioning. Make it a light, fun car to catch young customers.

Pedro Rafael > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 16:38

I think this generation looks ugly (same thing with the SL). The previous was cool though.

desertdog5051 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 16:43

Cabin is too small compared to the rest of the car.

TheCraigy > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 16:54

Not a flop, just a limited market.

Originally it was a big deal with the retractable hardtop. And back when it was released people were still buying a lot of convertibles, miatas, etc. Definitely a girl car with limited appeal. The old guys go more for the SL.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 17:00

Here's the problem. The car shares the same nose as this monkey.

Kinja'd!!!

yamahog > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
10/23/2014 at 17:25

My mom has an SLK350 convertible of that generation. Didn't get to drive it while I was visiting because she was worried it'd be dangerous and I'd get hurt since it's a smaller car.... apparently ignoring the fact that I ride motorcycles, but whatever.

Vicente Esteve > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 17:38

The engine in the SLK55 AMG is epic.

phenotyp > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 17:38

(edit: fuckin kinja)

Vicente Esteve > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 17:38

The engine in the SLK55 AMG is epic

phenotyp > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 17:38

I honestly didn't realize they still made it. Huh. Yeah, seems like an ever-diminishing market, and a car without real performance cred. Small interior, limited cargo/utility, odd proportions, and no matter how goddamn big they make that 3-pointed star on its bovine nose, no valet's ever gonna park it up front.

*sadtrombone*

JoeLiebig > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 17:52

It's just too expensive for what it is. It's not the same level of decadence as an SL, and it's not as practical as the awesome E-convertible (with it's amazing aircap). And if I really don't want to spend serious money, the TT is a better offer.

syaieya > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 22:37

I've actually seen a good number of these little guys puttering around. The problem they run into is that they've only gotten more and more expensive and they're kinda running up against more premium names.

In the last 10 years the car has had it's price jump 14000 dollars for the 350 model.

Sure, there's a bit of a power bump but that's a huge amount of money.

Still, it's the cheapest way to get into a convertible mercedes, and they are cute so they sell well in that little market.

Lalkidu > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
10/23/2014 at 23:24

but no manual, so they can rot in hell.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/23/2014 at 23:31

We sell a bunch actually. Fun and comfortable even in SLK250 guise. The price seems high to me though. I do prefer the looks of the 171 over the 172, but the interior of the 172 is much nicer. SLK55 is a blast either way and apparently they're great track cars from what I hear.

Saf1 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/24/2014 at 02:05

Relatively they aren't that popular here I guess but for a different reason - Milton Keynes (England) is luxobarge central, people's first thoughts would be London but there a luxobarge isn't "it". Here, to drive a exec saloon is the dream for most (MK is a very corporate place, being an hour away from London and many head offices being here) so there are so so many 7-series/S Class etc but, if you walk around for an hour in Central MK you are guaranteed to see an SLK, and you will probably see all the other Mercs even A and B class

365Daytonafan > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/24/2014 at 03:58

See plenty of them where I live in the South East of England. Suspect it is a car more focused on Europe than the US anyway. We get a lot more engine choices including a diesel version (We also get a diesel TT incidentally)

Amatix > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/24/2014 at 05:40

Mercedes is my absolute favorite manufacture, but they absolutely need to kill off the SLK. They are just totally wasting their money when they could focus it into a new sports car. Preferably a new SLR.

TheBucketOfTruth > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/24/2014 at 05:55

The folding hard top was novel when the first one came out. Now that you can get that a lot of places, it doesn't have the same advantage. Why would anyone in their right mind buy this crime against eyesight when a BMW Z4 also has a folding hard top and is one of the best looking cars on the road?

Snooder87 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
10/24/2014 at 09:17

Nope.

I like the SLK right where it is. If you want a pure sports car, there are plenty of options from lotus to alpha romeo. For a fun bachelor mobile with decent inside luxury that doesn't require you to own a hedge fund, the SLK is great.

And I prefer the current looks to the previous gen. The pointy nose looks terrible from the wrong angle but the current flat nose looks aggressive which is good.

Boiled Frog > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/24/2014 at 14:51

R Crumb is a fan of that nose.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Lalkidu
10/25/2014 at 03:58

Oh come on, dat V8 is Awesome!

And surprisingly reliable too!

Fresh-Outta-Nissans > Lalkidu
10/26/2014 at 17:56

False: Even in America you can get an SLK250 manual

Conan > Lalkidu
10/27/2014 at 00:36

At least they have other available models with manual, but yes, I agree. Lots more AMG stuff would be targets for me if manual.