Desirable V6 car. No winters, everything works, runs and drives very well. Fantastic color combination, top works properly, leather in very good condition. Very affordable Mercedes-Benz fun!
The color is called Sunburst Yellow, and it may be a bit showy for traditional Mercedes-Benz customers, but on a lightweight, fun roadster, it’s just about the ideal choice. Obviously a car like this isn’t a daily driver and a powerful rear-wheel-drive convertible is a terrible idea in the snow, so it has never seen harsh weather and is therefore not rusty or structurally compromised like so many of its rust-belt siblings. The paint shines up quite nicely and while it’s been touched up here and there over the years, but none of it detracts from the clean overall look. The only notable demerits are a scuffed chin spoiler and the rear-mounted antenna is a little limp, but otherwise it’s pretty darned nice. And when you head out, it still attracts more than its fair share of attention out on the road. Hey, nobody has to know how affordable it is!
The charcoal gray leather interior is likewise nicely preserved. As a Mercedes-Benz (this car cost nearly $50,000 when it was new, and those were 2001 dollars!) everything is standard equipment, from power seats, windows, locks, and mirrors, to a powerful HVAC system to the dramatic folding hardtop. Better still, you know it all works properly, with the only notable issue being that the thermometer seems to read about 40 degrees too cold—I’m sure you can deal with that. The driver’s outer bolster shows the most wear since this is a high-traffic area, but it’s not critical and certainly in line with the car’s age and mileage. Other goodies include heated seats, which are awesome in a convertible and really extend top-down season, traction control that gives this car the moves of a much lighter vehicle, and a 5-speed automatic transmission that always seems to be in the right gear. The big button on the console automatically raises and lowers the top, including latching and unlatching it from the windshield header and powering the quarter windows into position. All you need to do is hold the button and open-air motoring is a few seconds away. And unlike Ford’s retractable hardtops, this one retains a usable trunk that’s accessible the conventional way, making the SLK a no-compromises little roadster.
With 215 horsepower and 229 pounds of torque, the 3.2 liter V6 is remarkably strong in such a small package and the SLK never feels overwhelmed. It scoots through traffic with impressive agility and if you punch the throttle and let it unwind, there are plenty of Mustang owners who might be surprised. The stout V6 emits a distinctive howl from the exhaust that’s worth the price of admission by itself. This one hums like a tenor but never annoys and on the highway with the top up, it just whispers along, barely audible. The aluminum block and heads help keep curb weight down around 3100 pounds and the engine bay is extremely clean, again showing a car that has not seen heavy winter weather. It’s completely stock and very well maintained, including a recent coil pack service that cost about $2000.
Turn the key and the SLK sparks to life instantly and idles perfectly, even when it’s cold. Drop it into gear and the engine’s torque pulls it around with enthusiasm and the 5-speed automatic shifts seamlessly. The suspension is, of course, fully independent and delivers a nice compromise between sporty handling and excellent ride quality, with an edge towards keeping you comfortable. Large 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS keep you safely out of trouble and the exhaust system, as I mentioned, has a great sound and has plenty of life left in it yet. No major structural rust, just the usual road grime and surface scale underneath, so you can buy this car and enjoy it for years to come. Factory alloys are in excellent condition and wear staggered 205/55/16 front and 225/50/16 rear performance radials.
Just a cool little car with lots of luxury and performance for a shockingly small price. If you like the prestige of the three-pointed star, this is a great example and nobody else will know just how reasonable it is to own. This is a car that just gets everything right. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
