Vehicle Description
1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Kompressor Convertible
"Drawing inspiration from the 300SL and 190SL yesteryear roadsters,
the lean SLK shares their timeless proportions on a diminutive
modern platform with a profile that appears to be moving even at a
standstill. Parking lot friendly, the SLK measures 19.8 inches
shorter than big brother SL convertibles, and weighs 1200 pounds
less." MotorTrend magazine, Dec. 1998
For consignment, a 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 Kompressor convertible
with a title verified 127,724 actual miles. MotorTrend continues,
"Succeeding to bridge the gap between fixed roof coupe and
convertible in such a tidy package without sacrifices is an
impressive accomplishment that sets a high engineering benchmark
for future roadsters.".
Exterior
Brilliant Silver Metallic covers our little roadster with a rear
wing that enhances performance potential, or at least, the looks of
it! The rounded wedge veers from pointy nosed sportscars and
carries all of the Mercedes DNA, from the headlights and grille to
the tail lights with vertical bands of clear lenses, and the 3
point star making an appearance of nose, back, and of course, the
16-inch Mercedes wheels. The rounded hardtop fits neatly and
virtually seamlessly on the body, while body colored sport mirrors
flank a steeply raked windshield. Fog lights are integrated into
the chin spoiler and subtle body lines on the hood give the front
even more character. Condition wise, we note some touched up chips,
some scuffs and scratches, and some curb rash and clear coat/paint
issues on the wheel edges.
Interior
Not just basic black in this German sports car, but blue inserts
framed by black on the door panels for an unexpected bit of pizazz,
and it's all tight and clean and in good shape. The bucket seats
repeat the pattern with some compression of the driver's seat
leather, as expected, but in overall nice condition with high
headrests and roll bars behind each seat. Blue horn buttons
contrast on the black steering wheel wearing an aftermarket, faux
woodgrain cover. Blue frames the instrument panel where white faced
gauges live in coves, each dial sporting a digital window as well,
for time display, temperature, and odometer. A carbon fiber-esque
panel backs the center stack where A/C dials tops an AM/FM/Cassette
radio and an in-dash cell phone panel. The black dash pad caps off
the passenger side, over a blue glove box. A stout shifter lives in
the center console and low pile gray carpet cleanly covers the
floor. A small trunk is present but is mostly reserved for the
folding hardtop.
Drivetrain
A clean, driver quality 2.3 liter DOHC supercharged 4 cylinder
engine lives under the hood, fuel injected and rated at 190
horsepower. It's backed by a Daimler-Benz W5A330 5-speed manual
transmission which true to its sportscar roots, sends power to the
rear axle with 3.27 gears. Only the best for this little silver
bullet, and power disc brakes are found front and rear.
Undercarriage
Lacking any invasive rust, this driver quality underside is fully
intact. We do note some oil on the rear differential and some
residual towards the front, but otherwise relatively clean and dry
where belly pans take up a good amount of space underneath. The
dual exhaust splits momentarily to run two catalytic converters,
then joins to find an original muffler out back, exiting via twin
pipes through a single, oval tip. Macpherson struts make up the
front suspension with coil springs equipping the independent
rear.
Drive-Ability
Settling into the comfortable bucket, we realize there are lots of
bells and whistles and features on this 1998 car. If the Germans
have been accused of over engineering, it bears out somewhat by all
the buttons and options. The brochure reads, "the interior of the
new SLK promises to be just as fun, functional as the car's
striking exterior.". Meanwhile, it delivers smooth power with the
low boost supercharger and feels surefooted on slight staggered
size tires and low center of gravity. It is indeed a tossable
treat! And bonus, all functions operate as intended. While Classic
Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time
of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be
working at the time of your purchase.
As the brochure continues, "The SLK, first as a show car, now in
production form, has captured something rare and elusive. It's a
design that's innovative and advanced, yet evokes the rich
tradition of Mercedes-Benz.". Well, we can't argue with that. This
car, nearly 30 years later, still seems fresh in design and
exciting on the road. They were nearly $40,000 when new, but here's
one you can drive for a fraction of theprice.
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.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
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
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
