"The SLK320 is still not a thoroughbred sports car; that's not its
mission. This sophisticated roadster is a refined alternative to
the raw adrenaline rush of, say, the more boisterous Boxster. It's
a convertible when the weather's good, a securely sealed two seater
coupe when it's not, and an inviting choice for everyday driving,
any day. Now with V6 power, the SLK also rates a couple notches
higher on the fun scale, as well." MotorTrend, August 2000
For consignment, a 2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320 convertible with a
title verified 51,035 actual miles. When the model was first
introduced, MotorTrend wrote, "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
Firemist Red Metallic covers our little roadster and its rounded
edges and domed roof look wind defying from any angle. The 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 with integrated turn
signals 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 along with a mesh-style grille.
Imperfections include some small rock chips around, inclusion on
the A-pillar, rough surfaces on the rocker and bumper, a crack in
the rear bumper along with chips and scratches, scuffs, and chin
scrapes and chin spoiler damage.
Interior
Not just basic black in this German sports car, but tan inserts
framed by black on the door panels and a wooden faceplate for an
unexpected bit of pizazz, and the door handles show some age, but
the rest of the panels are nice. The bucket seats repeat the
pattern with some very slight wear on the driver's seat leather,
but in overall nice condition with high headrests and rollover
hoops behind each seat. Smooth tan 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. Burl wood 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 tan glove box while a
stout shifter lives in the center console surrounded by more wood
and both the boot and surround tan is marked with checking
consistent with the overall patina noted on surfaces. A small trunk
is present but is mostly reserved for the folding hardtop and
presents cleanly.
Drivetrain
Covered in a clean plastic shroud, we find the 3.2 liter SOHC V6
under the hood and its rated at 215 horsepower. Behind it, a
6-speed manual transmission with power routed to the rear axle and
3.27 gears.
Undercarriage
Some age induced patina but otherwise clean and dry underneath. The
single exhaust still flows through original equipment and leaves
the underside through a chrome tip. Power disc brakes are on all
four wheels and suspension is fully independent with coil springs
front and back and multilink assisting in the rear.
Drive-Ability
This Bremen native delivers a spirited run with nimble handling,
good power, and on point braking. The cabin is comfortable and
visibility is very good as C-pillars are kept narrow. All functions
work on this clean roadster however the radio will require a code
to unlock. 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.
MSRP on SLK320's when new was nearly $43,000, in 2001. That equates
to $81,000 today! You have to expect some depreciation over 25
years, but you can also expect Mercedes quality to stand the test
of time, and frankly, this car still looks relevant and special
today. Top down fun at the push of a button and hard top security
all other times. This red roadster is a winner in our book!
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. All prices are before
state, city and county tax, tag, title and license fees. Out of
state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and
fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the
vehicle will be registered. Classic Auto Mall is not responsible
for errors and omissions. Please verify listings with dealer.
Vehicles may require VIN verification and/or safety and emissions
inspections to transfer ownership and register the vehicle in the
declared state of residence. Please check with your local DMV
office to ensure compliance with your state's titling and
registration process.
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!
ClassicCars.com has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, successfully making the Inc. 5000 list in both 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018. This prestigious accolade represents the continued growth of the company, and ClassicCars.com's dominance as the world's largest online marketplace for
buying and selling classic and collector vehicles.
The Stevie Awards, the world's premier business awards recognized
ClassicCars.com's first-class Customer Support team with a Stevie Bronze Award in 2019, celebrating the team's skills as exemplary customer support specialists.
In 2016 The Journal, brought to you by ClassicCars.com, was celebrated as the SECOND MOST INFLUENTIAL automotive blog in the world by NFC Performance.