Oppopinion: #goals

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
08/24/2016 at 08:45 • Filed to: None

So right now I’m planning in a year to replace all of my vehicles with one car, and I’m very particular about what I want it to be: Blue, RWD, manual, under 100k miles, comfy/some toys to play with, competent in the corners, and decently quick. I’ve been looking at C5 Corvettes, Saturn Sky Redline, S2000s, late-NB Miatas (a bit too slow, though), etc. and I just came across this on CL:

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That’s a fairly decent looking 90s wedge with a hardtop convertible from a German luxury car marque (hnnng dat badge snobbery), the color is fabulous, it has next to no miles, and forced induction because repair bills are fun.

How are these cars? I see quite a few on CL (in black) for cheaper than this and was wondering if it’s something worth keeping my eye on, or if it’s an utter turd of a vehicle I should avoid and never look sideways at again. I parked one once as a valet but it was a smoker vehicle with 160k+ miles and utterly destroyed on the interior so I mostly blocked out the memories of that.

DISCUSSION (67)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 08:48

SW30!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/24/2016 at 08:52

Huh?

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 08:53

The SLK is actually quite solid.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
08/24/2016 at 08:55

They’re all over the damn place. There’s an automatic one at a BHPH lot I might go test drive just to see how the engine and interior is, but this looks like one of the best things to replace both my Miata and Buick while being a blend of both.

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 08:59

This is a Blue RWD Car

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 08:59

Yes.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 08:59

Most of the parts for that year range are available pretty cheap at FCPEuro - but the late 90s is when Benz QC and design engineering were undergoing a bit of fade, so expect a few surprise maintenance issues. I don’t know too much about the SLK in specific, going mostly off the W210 E class.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:00

NB2 Miata all the way! I love the blue color on mine and it is significantly faster than a stock NA 1.6. Honestly, the only time my car has ever felt slow is after driving a Mini Cooper S for a week. For how cheap you can get a clean, lowish miles LS (under $5k easy), it is a good deal. Only issue is of course the space in the car (same as your NA).

C5 corvette is my second vote, will definitely be more practical and powerful. Plus you can probably score a decent one for not much more money. If I cared at all for power, this would be my go to choice versus pretty much anything else.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:01

It’s a bit more of a cruiser so don’t expect it to be anything like a Miata but still way better than the Riviera. There are many low mileage examples around.

ScoobsMcGee > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:02

This is an SW30. Probably a bit slow in stock trim when compared to an S2000 or C5, but right on par with an SLK230.

Kinja'd!!!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:03

What you should be looking at instead of this.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:03

I rented a newer SLK250 once, car was pretty nice. Convertible hard top seemed complicated as hell though so I cant imagine that could be problem free. That one was a 2014 though so it was probably quite different. Top takes up basically the whole trunk which is a huge downside to me.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ScoobsMcGee
08/24/2016 at 09:04

That’s a very modified SW30. I still think the stock ones are absolutely hideous.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tripper
08/24/2016 at 09:06

That’s about two times my budget

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:06

They’re the best looking generation SLK imo, but also probably the worst when it comes to driving dynamics. Hammond’s opinion:

Wouldn’t say no to one though, but if I could choose, I’d probably get a Z4.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/24/2016 at 09:08

C5 Corvette is going to be around $15k for the mileage I’m wanting. An NB with that mileage would be around $6500, an SLK would be $4000-$6000. An NB2 is looking like the way to go though they’re still really slow in a straight line. The reason I care is because Kansas is short on curves and big on large straight expanses of highway.

ScoobsMcGee > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:09

I’ll second that one. While the design has grown on me a bit, the front still reminds me of a frog with an overactive thyroid.

More relevant to the SLK; I’ve never been partial to one, but two of my coworkers have them. One has over 150,000 miles and has never needed a thing beyond basic maintenance. I can’t claim to be enough of an expert to say if that is normal or not, but it is still confidence inspiring.

jimz > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:12

that car was from what was probably the worst era of Mercedes-Benz reliability/durability. I’d take any one of the cars you mentioned above before touching that piece of shit.

TheJWT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:12

Kinja'd!!!

-The same in every aspect

-Isn’t an SLK

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
08/24/2016 at 09:12

A Z4 will run more than twice as much money, though, for something that’s arguably not twice as much car.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:13

What mileage are you looking at on C5's? I had 170k miles with lots of track time on mine and had to replace a thermostat once. Also, some of the easiest cars to work on ever.

Click on my name, I wrote a whole story on it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/24/2016 at 09:13

Nah. Not a fan of the looks at all and the interior does nothing for me. Can’t imagine the midships engine is easy to work on, either.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:14

The advantage of a 1zz engine is that you’ll never have to work on it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
08/24/2016 at 09:15

Mostly looking at 100k or lower because of the clutch issues and iffy transmissions.

Under_Score > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:15

Kinja'd!!!

What about that color? Kinja rotated the pic, I’m sorry. Saw this on Sunday.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > TheJWT
08/24/2016 at 09:15

-far more expensive because bimmertax but my god is that pretty

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Under_Score
08/24/2016 at 09:16

That’s... certainly green.

TheJWT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:17

Convertible e36 M3's have stayed relatively cheap, many seem to be autos though

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/24/2016 at 09:17

The disadvantage is you have to live with a midengined Corolla.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:18

Damn, over here they’re (a lot) closer together. The Sky and S2k are probably in the same ballpark as the Z4 though(?), and it’s a better do-everything car than the others.

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:19

I found a few for 5-8 k less but all SMG:( I hate how auto trader considers that transmission a “manuel”.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:19

FM turbo kit! Its only like $3k for everything lol. Yeah, I figured the C5 might be more than I thought. Have you driven an NB2? I definitely thought the 1.6 NA I drove felt slow compared to my own car. But yeah its still objectively slow, especially if the road is wide and dead straight. I haven’t found it to be an issue, I just ring the car out to 6k all the time! Loud exhaust and intake would help make it sound fast at least. Actually, the Racing beat header and full exhaust system (sells for like $1k) is supposed to make a decent (15+ hp) difference. That is something I have plans to install to get that little bit of extra oomf.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
08/24/2016 at 09:20

True, and I utterly love the way they look. Looks like they’re roughly $10k with 82,000 miles. That’s not bad. Not a huge fan of soft tops but eh. I need to drive one.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:20

Most of the advantages of a Corolla (fuel efficient, reliable, cheap, etc), but fun to drive and convertible? I live with an older mid-engined corolla. Is magnificent. That being said, the ZZ is not the 4a.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:21

Iffy transmissions!? The damned T56 is one of the most solid transmissions ever made. Hell, they used the same, well, everything in the ‘Vette and Viper until the TR6060 came out for the C6. And there are no clutch issues that aren’t someone else’s fault, like riding it and burning it. I kid you not, find a well taken care of 150k miles C5 and you are golden. Obviously, if it were abused, as with any car, avoid, but a nice example can be had now for under $10k out there. Just avoid the ‘97 and probably the ‘99 and you are good to go. Wherever you read trans issues is not a place to be trusted.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:24

You can always get a hardtop for winter. Or channel your inner Brit and drive around roof-down all the time.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:24

If you can deal with a small two-seater the SLK is pretty darn good. The 230 isn’t quite as fast as the crossfire, because it’s heavier and slightly less powerful. But, the Kompressor motors can have their boost turned up easily.

Only problems I’ve heard with these are just small weird electrical quirks that will pop up. Nothing catastrophic. Stupid stuff like the headlight relay will break and be stuck on.

Most everything else on that car is typically Mercedes overbuilt.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
08/24/2016 at 09:25

What’s wrong with the ‘97 and ‘99?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/24/2016 at 09:26

Only Miata I’ve ever driven is my own and it’s had low compression in one cylinder since I got it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
08/24/2016 at 09:27

I don’t think I want to know how much a z4 hard top is.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:33

Sorry, meant, 97 and 98, mostly for first year jitters. Nothing major, but quality control things. 99 and up, no problem.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:38

Should be $500-1500 I guess, but finding one might be the hardest part. Your best bet would be looking for a car that is being sold with one, but for some reason, it appears that hardtops aren’t nearly as popular in the US as in Europe?

crowmolly > random001
08/24/2016 at 09:41

The PCM is different and internal engine components are different.

G0 99+.

The T56, especially the LS1 version, is rated at 450 lb-ft and has been known to take a lot of abuse, even stock. The 4L60-E gets a bad rap but has taken it’s share of hits in LS1 f-cars. A higher stall converter really wakes it up.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:41

Well you ought to try one then. I think the VVT really does make a difference in how acceleration feels. Sure the V6 camrys and Honda odysseys still burn me off the line at traffic lights but those guys are maniacs! It just feels very linear and the 6 speed (while not ideal for autocross) is actually quite nice on the street if you put the right unicorn tears in the trans. I never thought I wanted more power until I was down at Tail of the Dragon and some of the psychopaths down there were running supercharged Miatas and were just so damn fast.

random001 > crowmolly
08/24/2016 at 09:47

I was running 450 ft-lbs out of my LS6 and never had the trans even stutter at me wrong. It's brilliant. And the 4L60 is a great auto if you want to go that way, yes. The most over engineered car on the planet, the Corvette.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:50

15 year old German convertible? Yeah! Sounds like a great idea!

Water leaks in from various roof seals (disclaimer: I live in a place that gets a lot of rain), which then take out electrical components particularly the PSE pump which controls everything pneumatic such as locks and also the alarm system. Supercharger clutch bearings suck, necessitate complete replacement. Every rubber suspension and driveline component will likely be cracking or torn. The M111 engine is excellent for a 4 cylinder of that time, especially for being German, but higher mileage examples occasionally need head gaskets from small coolant leaks at the right rear corner. Belt tensioner. PCV system gets clogged up and sends a disturbing amount of oil into the intercooler over time and eventually kills the MAF (never seen engine damage from this though, it takes a long time to happen). Rear diffs leak from the side seals, which necessitates diff removal. Interior quality is more or less non-existent (though some are still inexplicably perfect), paint will peel from the center console and there will be squeaks and rattles. The manual transmissions are as reliable as rocks but so are their driving dynamics. Same can actually be said for the steering gearbox (not rack and pinion). Though the steering damper and tie rod/drag link assembly will wear out at some point, usually over 150k. Front lower ball joints, but those are cheap and easy, like give me 15 minutes while you grab some coffee easy.

Not every car will have all of these issues of course and they’re really quite easy to work on. But some parts can be expensive. They can be fun to drive but it’s definitely no miata or Z3/4.

If you decide to seriously look at one, the main thing to check is the very bottom of the trunk for signs of water.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:53

Do the roundel once and see how miserable you become with a light wallet. Trust me.

crowmolly > random001
08/24/2016 at 09:55

Biggest bitch I hear about the T56 setup is the clutch hydraulics. That’s really it.

Milky > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 09:59

I have a Chrysler - SLK 320 with 170,000 miles and honestly if you don’t mind turning a wrench its fine. The only thing I have done that was not regular maintenance was the $1000 ignition/key. If you have to jiggle the wheel to start the car, negotiate the price down. Also oil changes on the V6 are expensive (8.5 quarts of mobil 1) but not sure if that applies to 4 or not.

I’ve had to do wheel bearings, tie rod ends, water pump, battery, etc. But all of that is to be expected. I will also say the Crossfire is tuned stiffer and you can take your pick of which one you want for $8k.

yitznewton > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 10:00

I would not consider the S2000 “comfy"

random001 > crowmolly
08/24/2016 at 10:02

I mean, it's not the easiest. It's an 8 hour job to drop the rear subframe and pull it out of the way. It takes time, but it's really not hard.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2016 at 10:13

I was wondering about roof seals. Good to know. Why the fuck does the supercharger have a *CLUTCH*?

Right now an NB2 or NC1 Miata are looking like my best options.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 10:18

Also Consider the GTO

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/5736182379…

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
08/24/2016 at 10:18

I’m weird. I think GTOs are ugly. The G8, however...

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 10:30

I can see that. I love the G8, but the only manual was the seriously limited GTP (I wanted to say GTX, but that’s a video card.)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 10:36

280Z, C3 Corvette, MGB GT, Alfa Spider, 124 Spider.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 10:47

Economy. You don’t need boost during low load conditions so it shuts off. There used to be an aftermarket source for the bearing but last I checked it wasn’t available.

Brian Silvestro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 11:03

986

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Brian Silvestro
08/24/2016 at 11:21

I was talked out of the 986 :( I forget what the logic was.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2016 at 11:22

GM just opens a butterfly valve inside the supercharger that bypasses it.

MrFurzzy > random001
08/24/2016 at 12:21

The GXP is the only one that comes in a manual. My friends cousin has one that is putting out close to 800 WHP. Its a very quick car and he loves to surprise people with it when he cruises highway 100 here in Wisconsin. His brother has a 2003 mustang cobra that runs high 9 second 1/4 miles. It’s fun to cruise with them because both cars look fairly stock other than the tires

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 12:32

If those SLK strike your fancy, you might also look at the Chrysler Crossfire. Same car, looks goofier, but tends to be cheaper because it looks a bit goofy.

random001 > MrFurzzy
08/24/2016 at 12:49

That’s it! I knew it was some combination of those letters! Thanks!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 13:07

Different strokes...

Brian Silvestro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 13:28

Sounds like flawed logic.

dogisbadob > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/24/2016 at 21:15

They’re awesome! And don’t forget the Z3 1.9 too :)

kgman > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/26/2016 at 19:06

I realize that this is an old post and for that I apologize. My father in law has one of these SLK’s and its nice but not fun. Mercedes seems to make anything they touch more of a luxury car than a fun car. The major takeaway I found from my drives (and there have been many) is that the steering is dead. Last winter I drifted a couple different cars around a snowy parking lot (including my 2004 525i which is not the peak of responsiveness) and I just could not figure out what the front tires were doing on the SLK. Otherwise, it has been very reliable for him and it seems very water-proof.