Vehicle Description
2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK280 Roadster
What constitutes a rare car? How about an uncommon car? Normal
production of non specialty cars, those intended as commuter cars
can range from one hundred thousand in the U.S., to hundreds of
thousands depending on the make or model. Only 10,410 Mercedes-Benz
SLK's were sold in the U.S. market in 2006. Divided evenly across
the country, that means each state would have only about 200 cars.
Rare? Maybe not. Uncommon? Definitely. Special?
For sure.For consignment, a 2006 Mercedes Benz SLK with a title
verified 43,392 actual miles and owned by our consignor since 2011.
It has been garage kept with temperature control and a cover and
mainly used for day trips and car shows. It doesn't take much time
with this car to realize it's been pampered and well preserved.
Exterior
Firemist Red Metallic is Mercedes' name for crimson, and in this
case it suits this car particularly well. The second generation SLK
had a redesign that resulted in a more aerodynamic nose and
included a raised detail in the hood that terminated with the large
Mercedes star, a feature inspired by Formula 1 cars. The sharp
angle of the nose continues to the steeply raked windshield that
meets a gently rounded roof and full glass rear window. In pure
roadster form, the nose is long, the tail is short, and the power
is sent to the rear wheels. Only the emblems and the chrome exhaust
tips veer from the monochromatic coverage on the car and the
5-spoke 17-inch silver AMG wheels add even more luster. Fitted mud
guards are black and discreet and have probably prevented hundreds
of potential rock chips on the rocker panels and rear fenders.
Other than some nasty chin scrapes, the paint is nearly
flawless.
Interior
Beige and black leather door panels are sporty in comparison to
Mercedes luxury sedans. The wood trimmed door handle has electric
controls that contour with the rounded connection point, clever!
And the door actuator is housed in an elliptical surround that
creates visual interest. Inside, the beige leather sport seats are
high backed and supportive and there, on the side, we find the
Mercedes-Benz trademark seat adjustments, shaped like a seat. This
generation of SLK introduced the Airscarf system wherein warm air
is extruded from vents at neck level. Faux wood mixes with black on
the steering wheel and sporty round gauges feed the driver
information. The center stack has a screen and more buttons than a
Lufthansa aircraft but helps select features that include
navigation and the Harman Kardon AM/FM radio with XM satellite.
Wood trim bisects the black dash and lower, beige half. The shifter
and wood trimmed parking brake occupy the center console along with
a storage bin. A plexiglass windscreen is situated between the
seats. Low pile black carpet lines the floor and the trunk which
when not housing the roof, has substantial storage capacity for a
small car.
Drivetrain
A 2.9 liter V6 is under the long hood and is rated at 228
horsepower. It's fuel injected and has a 7-speed automatic
transmission. 3.27 gears reside in the back and power disc brakes
are front and back. The engine bay is clean and tidy and dressed up
with plastic covers.
Undercarriage
Generally clean and dry underneath with only minor occurrences of
surface rust. The dual exhaust flows through a concave tunnel where
it meets an X-pipe before running tandem to the back where original
mufflers end with chrome tips out the back. Since the exhaust runs
through the middle, panels cover the bottom sides, undoubtedly
helping with aerodynamics. Independent suspension is found at both
ends with 3-link in front and 5-link in the back.
Drive-Ability
The car doesn't feel as small as it is when you're sitting inside
it. It has wonderful ergonomics, comfortable seats, and good
visibility. She starts right up with a twist of the key and the
hardtop folds itself and stows away with the push of a button.
Convenient and a great party trick. Moving on to the test loop, the
car has power on demand and is quite quick, a function of 228
horsepower and feeling faster due to our proximity to the ground
and low center of gravity. Great handling and equally good braking.
A+ for functionality as everything works.
This hardtop roadster is a handsome little car that looks great
with top or or top down. "SLK" was derived
fromsportlich,(sporty),leicht,(lightweight), andkurz,(short), and
it's all those things and more. An uncommon car in a wonderful
color, top down capability, and a strong engine. That's a recipe
for fun.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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