Easy to please, 86.2 percent of owners deemed the comfort to be above average. Surprisingly, this seemed to concern relatively few owners who are apparently better-proportioned, genetically perfect specimens. Several staff drivers found that their knees rubbed on an underdash pad and the center console. We judged the seats to be high-school bleacher firm with limited legroom. Unfortunately, our steering gear developed a strange rubbing sound at the loan's end, howling like a mating Walrus, despite properly topped steering fluid. Equally telling, only a mere 2.2 percent found it to be below average.Ĭommunication from the taut chassis is superb, with the telescoping steering wheel giving a good measure of feedback and balanced control. ![]() These criticisms didn't seem to affect surveyed acceleration ratings, which 62.7 percent of owners ranked as above average. Logbook entries draw sonic comparisons to Massey-Ferguson tractors and gripe that highway passing maneuvers cause more engine noise than acceleration. ![]() Numerous owners suggested a V-6 engine as the best solution, like the silken unit employed in the M-Class, but Mercedes chose to fit the four-cylinder for weight and packaging reasons. Our staffers were disappointed with the engine's rough aural character and limited output. It is in this higher rpm zone that the SLK becomes lively, with the excitement hitting a 5800-rpm redline wall. As the revolutions climb to 4000 rpm, the supercharger whirs and the engine produces a raspy snarl that increases to a whiskey-voiced banshee scream. The Sunburst Yellow two-door zips to 60 mph in a swift 6.9 seconds, despite initial throttle laziness common on current Mercedes products. The SLK proved a big success all over the world, especially to women, thus paving way for the R171, a second generation version in 2004.Although known only by impersonal initials, the SLK's middle-name is certainly "Fun." Under the sloping hood lurks a 2.3-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine invigorated by a Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger and an air-to-air intercooler, producing 185 horsepower. Shifting was performed through a 5-speed automatic transmission. The SLK was equipped with a supercharged 2.3L inline-4 that produced 193 HP at 5300 rpm and 206.8 ft-lb of torque at 2500 rpm. ![]() What made it unique in the segment was the folding hardtop, which the company called Vario roof, allowing the car to possess the qualities of both a coupe and convertible. It measured 157.2 inches in overall length, 67.4 inches wide, and 50.6 inches high. The R170 model SLK utilized the C-Class chassis for its foundation with wheelbase shortened to 94.4 inches. And that's exactly what this vehicle was. The car's name was derived from the German Words Sportlich, Leicht, and Kurz which translates to Sporty, Light, and Short. Whether it was a response to the popularity of the Mazda Miata can't be confirmed, but its main rivals turned out to be the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3. In 1997, Mercedes-Benz introduced the SLK, a stylish compact two-seater convertible. ![]() "The Mercedes compact sportscar which utilised the Vario-roof for the first time."
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