SLK230 K. The K stands for Keine Miata.

"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
07/29/2018 at 16:40 • Filed to: None

Brian Reider called the R170 a“rich man’s miata” and I hope he’s wrong. I’ve never driven a Miata, but can tell you right now that if the NA or NB Miata handle anything like this car does...

it sucks ass.

The R170's full name is Mercedes Benz SLK-class 230 Kompressor. It doesn’t say “supercharged” on the flank because people wanted it to be written in German. In the same way Harley Davidsons appeal to middle age Europeans because the name of the bike is “Fatbob special america freedom screamin’ eagle model” or whatever they call them nowadays.

This isn’t a good handling car; the chassis is as stiff as gelatin at room temperature, the front wheels understeer as much as a puppy on a hardwood floor, and the suspension is as compliant as a spoiled teenager. No matter what you do; roof up or down, traction off or on: this car isn’t a good handling car. which is what makes the 190hp supercharged 2.3l 4cyl engine so redundant. But Mercedes knew that sticking such a powerful engine in such a small car that wasn’t meant to handle was stupid, so rather than fixing the chassis and the suspension’s geometry they put long ass gearing and made it a fantastic highway cruiser instead.

But a rich man’s miata? Fuck no! This is just a poor, impatient man’s SL! Think about it for a moment: When this car came out the R129 was on sale, and the R129 was stylistically a decade late! It was too eighties for the 90s! How about the price for an SL! Bonkers expensive! What was an inpatient/mildly wealthy person to do in 1998 if they wanted a convertible poser machine?

They bought the SLK, that’s what they did in droves. 90's styling,90's B R A N D requirements, 90's optimism about the mechanically complex folding hardtop roof and DOHC engine. Perhaps Mercedes might have looked at the Miata for inspiration, but really, who puts a shortened C class chassis on a sports car? No one! Because it isn’t a darn sports car!

But, dammit, they got it so right because this would’ve been a poser’s dream. Not everyone likes the R170 styling but I think it’s aging nicely, it looks cool and modern, with a hint of Bauhaus thrown into the mix. Yes, in the late 90s this car must’ve looked gaudy as hell, but everything was gaudy in the 90s. Plus, everything that looked gaudy when new looks retro twenty years later.

If you just stop clenching the steering-wheel, slow down and put the roof down you might understand it. Mind you, plan it out because the roof takes ages to lower and if you drive faster than 10km/h when doing it it stops and makes an annoying beeping noise. But once it’s down, the cramped cabin suddenly becomes airy and comfortable, the irritating buzzing inside the cabin suddenly transforms into the raspy 4cyl signing a tune, accompanied by a whistling supercharger. Take a corner 5..10...15 km/h under the speed limit: who cares . You’ll only be there 5 minutes late!

Is it cold out? Again, Who cares? The seat warmers are powerful enough to heat a whole village and, with the windows up and the little mesh attached to the rollover hoops, you can have enjoy a sunny winter morning without messing up your hair or catching a cold: It’s genius, but it isn’t fast, or enjoyable at a fast pace.

If you want to have fun in an SLK, you must make peace with that. If you want to enjoy the low down torque of the 230K you need to make peace with the fact that it is more complex than the v6 version and will probably take a bit more money to maintain. If you wanted a sports car you should’ve bought a Mazda Miata, and you need to make peace with that. Some irritations stand out too, like the gearbox.

The automatic gearbox of this one is just hopeless, it ruins the experience at times because it’s lurchy, and in “manual” mode it takes too long to change gear. I understand that if it’s going to be a cruiser, why not just stick with a slushbox? The control of the stick shift would add to the top down experience in my honest opinion. But that is now, when this car sells for 5,000 euros on Ebay. Back when it was new it was probably expected of it that it came with an automatic box and seat heaters, central locking and what not.

“Back then”, when this wasn’t a fun little car, it was a serious, grown up machine for people too self conscious to own a Miata. Any notion of it being a “hairdresser’s car” was dampened by that huge, honking badge and the straight line capabilities of most R170s, even the 200K. Actually, I bet many Miata owners who raced SLKs at the lights hated the SLKs because, in a straight line, it is faster: even with the long gearing. That says a lot about what would happen in a highway pull if an NA, or even an NB, was to challenge an R170.

But in the end, there’s little left to judge the car from the original owners who might’ve boughten the car as a fashion or socialite statement many years ago. It made them fit in I guess. I would’ve boughten a Miata for sure, and saved myself thousands of dollars. But since these are traded so cheap online, well, it doesn’t have the status it used to have as some sort of big posh boi poserbox. It liberated the SLK and it let people who have the chance not to take it seriously give it a go and let it have some fun.

I know the Oppositelock hive is made up of people who want performance out of their cars, which is why I can’t recommend this thing to any of you. But it’s a fun little car if you like cruising on the highway, just keep in mind that the Miata you left behind miles ago in the freeway is going to overtake you later when you enter a B road. Just make sure you get a manual one.

and those amazing heated seats.

DISCUSSION (33)

AestheticsInMotion > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 16:58

Get your butt in a Miata already.

Spanfeller is a twat > AestheticsInMotion
07/29/2018 at 17:02

Not common in Mexico I’m afraid. We only got the NC and ND iirc.

I also got around to driving the SLK off road, it is very enjoyable and doesn’t get stuck often.

WilliamsSW > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:06

I have never driven an SLK, but that is pretty much the opposite of a Miata.

Miatas don’t have a lot of power, and they’re not all that stiff (more body roll than you might expect when stock) but damn they’re well balanced and fun to drive. The epitome of what it means to have fun driving a slow car fast.

Go drive one and report back - and don’t ever listen to Brian Reider again, he’s clearly an idiot. A rich man’s Miata is called a Boxster.

Spanfeller is a twat > WilliamsSW
07/29/2018 at 17:09

Maybe Mr. Regular didn’t have the chance to hoon the poor little merc like I did and that’s where his opinion comes from.

I’d love to drive a Miata, but if I’m to drive one, I’m driving an NA or NB... and for that I’d need to find one first.

WilliamsSW > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:26

You’re in Spain right now? Plates appear to be EU not MX - Were they not sold there?

AestheticsInMotion > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:26

Eh. Might as well try an NC or ND if they're readily available.

average user > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:29

Your assessment is very correct. I have driven this back in the day (early to mid 2000s?) as a loaner when my W203 was in the shop (and it was always in the shop). If I recall correctly the chassis of R170 is based on the last generation of C class (W202) and the handling shows. It was a floppy thing and the only selling point was that it was much cheaper than the SL and the trick metal roof. It drove like a sedan. It was too heavy to be lively. I drove both the I4 and the V6 versions, and I even have the (mis)fortune of driving the Chrysler version (aka the Crossfire). They are fine (sort of) for regular driving but nothing sporty. Nothing like a Miata.

Spanfeller is a twat > average user
07/29/2018 at 17:41

Yeah. Perhaps I’m just attached to it because it’s been in my family for twenty odd years. I want to get a manual box in it, but on the other hand I’m thinking I should sell it for some sort of NB miata. It’s very low mileage and the weirder engine... so I guess someone will find some value for it.

Spanfeller is a twat > AestheticsInMotion
07/29/2018 at 17:42

I might try! shame Mazda dealers in Mexico are like Kia dealers in America.

I bet those suckers only stock a uto box miatas

DipodomysDeserti > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:45

“ I know the Oppositelock hive is made up of people who want performance out of their cars,”

* Scrolls through Oppo, sees posts praising thirty year-old Toyotas, Nissan Versas and Honda CRV shopping.*

dogisbadob > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:46

I remember Car and Driver reviewing these when they were new, and they said the manual SLK was even worse than the auto.

But I still like the SLK more than I should for some reason.

The real rich man’s Miata would be the Z3 1.9. A shortened E36 but with the E30 rear suspension. I think it had about 130 hp.

Spanfeller is a twat > WilliamsSW
07/29/2018 at 17:46

I do believe they were, but I don’t know anyone who’d like to give me a go in one :(

I did get to test an SLS and an M550D (what a misfortune /s) but no miatas yet. People here don’t like asian cars that much, can’t figure out why they feel this way.

Spanfeller is a twat > DipodomysDeserti
07/29/2018 at 17:47

I mean, you go off road with your jeep.. . HHFP knows a shit ton about off road cars, many of you autocross. AiM takes his Miata off road!

InFierority Complex > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:49

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a26543/mr-regular-mercedes-slk-230/

I don’t know, man. He seems to make the same points you are.

“Worse, the SLK230's five-speed manual has gear ratios longer than the line at a Pennsylvanian State-Store the day before Thanksgiving.”

“You’re meant to drive it like every WASP drives their C5: one mile-per-hour below the speed limit, in top gear, while waving to sidewalk-stroller-pushers. “

It’s not a glowing review despite what the headline says.

Spanfeller is a twat > dogisbadob
07/29/2018 at 17:49

Its a fantastic highway cruiser, better than it has any right to be. We took it all the way to Lourdes, France and it was so comfortable!

fintail > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 17:52

A friend of mine’s parents bought one new. Had so many issues, it was lemon-lawed I think . SLK32 AMG is the one to look for, I suppose.

Now that depreciation is our friend, I’d spend a little more and get a R129.

Kinja'd!!!

That’s more like it.

Spanfeller is a twat > InFierority Complex
07/29/2018 at 17:55

I’m not disagreeing with him at any point.

Spanfeller is a twat > fintail
07/29/2018 at 17:58

I think the SLK32 is auto-only. But this 230K has had no issues other than running low on the pump liquid used to put the top down, which took five years to fix because no one wanted to drive it anyway.

On the SL, I’d wait for a newer gen one. T he R230 was a huge leap forward.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 18:17

I test drove one of these when they were new, specifically to experience the manual transmission. Dreadful. Pointless. Unpleasant. Not fun. If I knew then what I know now I would have bought a Miata, but I was a status-conscious prick with a six figure income and a fancy office in Beverly Hills and driving a Mazda was beneath me (Ironically, I now drive Mazdas exclusively, and will never part with my Mazda5 6MT. I just wish my younger self was as wise then as I am today...)

I got a used 968 instead, which was obviously a much better drive and still a solid, well-built vehicle despite being Porsche’s entry-level model. The SLK just felt cheap, from the choice of materials to the flexy chassis and wheezing engine. Only poseurs then and now want an SLK because it was certainly not designed to attract anyone that actually gives a damn about driving.

Spanfeller is a twat > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
07/29/2018 at 18:36

No one is ever beneath driving a Mazda, specially car folk. Thank goodness you saw the light.

MultiplaOrgasms > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 18:37

Because many japanese cars are uninspiring snoremobiles with dreadful interiors that don’t really do anything better than a comparable european car? And they aren’t more reliable contrary to popular opinion. My one owner 100,000km Nissan was far less reliable than the beat down Renault with triple the mileage I used to drive beforehand. Not to mention less fuel efficient (admittedly V6 vs. Diesel) and with worse rust protection.

AestheticsInMotion > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 18:40

I would love to see an NC to ND comparison review, auto or not. I've driven the ND multiple times and came away loving it, with the only big complaint being poor clutch feel. NC I've yet to drive...

fintail > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 18:42

Yes, AMG = auto only. Manual SLKs are quite rare in the US/Canada - a handful made it over, but 99% will be slushbox.

Earlier R230 can be troublesome, 129s may be older, but if you dodge the wiring harness era, will probably be easier to live with. I’d take a high spec late R129 over a normal R230.

Spanfeller is a twat > MultiplaOrgasms
07/29/2018 at 20:10

I think it has more to do with them being slightly off touch... not that a MB 190 D is any interesting.

Spanfeller is a twat > AestheticsInMotion
07/29/2018 at 20:11

I don ’t like the NC. I’m convinced that if I ever buy a Miata I’d try to get a Mazdaspeed NB.

DipodomysDeserti > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 20:20

I was just messing with you. I think we have a great mix of performance, practicality and aesthetically oriented enthusiasts here.

AestheticsInMotion > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 20:21

From the factory the speed Miatas are... Not great. That said with about $3500 USD sent to a handful of companies, y ou can tackle all of the shortcomings and have a all-around fantastic Miata.

Spanfeller is a twat > AestheticsInMotion
07/29/2018 at 20:27

Do the NB’s have OBDII?

Spanfeller is a twat > DipodomysDeserti
07/29/2018 at 20:28

Yeah, this forum is basically an industry researcher’s wildest dream.

AestheticsInMotion > Spanfeller is a twat
07/29/2018 at 20:31

Yes. As do NA's from 95 onward.

Spanfeller is a twat > AestheticsInMotion
07/29/2018 at 20:34

I love the NB’s design. But it’d be a crazy project to buy one in the US or Cana da and get it registered in Mexico. Our import rules are very stupid, I can bring in any new Euro/American car or any used one older than 6 years but if it’s Asian one it’s forcefully 25 years.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Spanfeller is a twat
07/30/2018 at 16:10

You can buy a Miata with coins you find in your couch cushion so you might as well just have both lol.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Spanfeller is a twat
07/30/2018 at 16:15

Surprised the import rules are that dumb over there. Otherwise I would say just hop over the border real quick and buy a cheap one. There are TON in Southern California in mint condition for very little money. You can get up to a ‘93 legally I guess. I’d say that could be worthwhile although NA’s are kind of overpriced for some reason. You can actually get an NB far cheaper usually. But that would require waiting at least another 6 years.