Help!! 99 SLK 230 Kompressor has caught my eye! Someone talk me out of it!
 

Local lot has it. $26,500 but they'll come down. Silver with grey leather. No dents or dings. Somebody convince me that I DON'T NEED THIS CAR!!! :) These cars are trash, right? They don't run/drive well and don't hold up, right? My wife will kill me,right? Somebody STOP ME!!

Sorry. I've talked to dozens of SLK owners (my wife was strongly considering one) and they seem to be bullet-proof cars without any major problems.

I have yet to find a dissatisfied SLK owner...

time to nut up cap'n

Sorry Cap'n there's two things I won't do - talk someone out of quitting their job or out of buying a car (unless they absolutely, positively can't afford the one they want and would be sacraficing food for the kids to get).

1. It's a car for a woman. 2.3l engine is not for men.
2. The color is blah. Buy it if you want to blend in with the masses. Sure silver is great for not showing dirt, but so what !
3. Buying the entry level of any model is the true sign of a wanna-be. Hold out until you can find/afford the CLK320 or CLK430 if you really want a CLK.

4. Your wife won't kill you, she'll probably just take the car (see #1 above)

those are good little cars and the price sounds attractive. my sister had a '99. she liked it so much she went and got an '02 - a slightly more refined version but basically the same car...

The only Mercedes I talk people out of is a W126 or a W140 with the 3.5 liter diesel engine.

I think these SLK's are bulletproof.

Think about it. Have you ever read one post from an owner of an SLK that has had a problem?

I haven't. Not one.

Three replies have mentioned women...
 

That did it! By the way, last Friday I saw a beautiful black/red SL 500 in town being driven topless by a very well kept looking 50's ish blonde lady. Wonder if she'd want to swap?;)

Huh? Sorry for being blunt, but that's a ridiculous comment. The little 2.3 makes 190hp and in the SLK chassis will suck the headlights out of your 560. Come to think of it, the 2.3L aspro C-Class sedan will keep up with the 560SEL...

You are confused. It's an SLK, not a CLK. Very different cars.

Actually, buying the entry level model, especially when buying new, can be a very prudent move. Look at the W126 SEL cars. When new, the 560SEL was a great deal more expensive than the 420SEL or 300SEL. Today, as used cars, the 560SEL's barely sell for more than their "lesser" models. The original owner took a bigger bath on depreciation.

An SLK is not for everyone. It has only two seats and a small trunk. But, they handle VERY well, and the ride quality is better than one would ever think with such a small car. The body structure is rock solid, and is tight when the top is down. The folding clamshell hardtop makes it a true four season roadster.

Was she driving topless?

Or, did she have the top down....?:D

Silver is an awesome color, but I've seen Yellow work real well on the SLK. I like the 230 Kompressor engines... slightly less HP than a V6 240 but you should have plenty in that chassis.

Kuan

Don't cap'n - think of the kids :)!!

What would you do with the 300E?

You need to find a good W123 if you want to have the "true" MB experience in my opinion :):).

Check out some older silver Mercedes cars and see how the paint is holding up. Usually silver does not hold up well with time as it contains almost the least amount of pigmentation of any other color of paint. This is reflected in the price of the paint. Silver automotive paint costs about half as much as red or black. Why do you see so many silver cars now?

Hilton Smith

HEY blackmercedes!!!
 

If I read the original post correctly, Cap'n wanted to be talked OUT of buying this car. As the other posters have proven, this is a car for a woman.

As far as your points comparing the 2.3 to my 5.6, you are probably correct, but then again, there are probably Ford Mustangs that would beat my car off the line. I prefer mine for the ride it offers at 80-90 mph, truly unbeatable, with room for 5.

I stand behind my comments about "Buying the entry level of any model is the true sign of a wanna-be". As the owner of two of the cheapest cars MB has ever made, you illustrate my point. I prefer driving the flagship, even if I have to wait until it has depreciated to the point that I can afford it.

Sorry if this seems a little aggressive, but hey, I was only trying to talk Cap'n out of buying the little girl toy, and then you had to go start something. ;) ;)

That statement doesn't sit well with me, I'm afraid. If you're suggesting one doesn't belong in the same class if you haven't held out for a 560, and furthermore that owners of compact Benz's epitomize wannabe's, then you are at odds with the spirit I believe belongs here.

On the other hand, I'm hoping perhaps you were just kidding, right?